HEADLINE NEWS
Live entertainment and fun for the whole family at Scottsdale's 10th annual 4th of July Celebration. Get ready for a fun evening of live entertainment and family-friendly activities as Scottsdale gears up for its 10th annual 4th of July Celebration at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road. Taking place from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, the festivities will culminate with one of the largest fireworks display in Arizona. Activities include a rodeo, medieval times junior knight training, slider eating contest, Disney characters, circus performers and the annual Parade of Heroes.
This year’s event aims to be zero waste -- knives, forks and paper and food waste will be composted through a partnership with Recycled City. This is a cashless event. Get more information and buy tickets at Scottsdale4th.com.
July 4 information. Most city offices and facilities will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for Independence Day. Trolleys will not run July 4. Valley Metro bus, light rail and streetcar will operate on a Sunday schedule. Trash and recycling schedules will not be affected. Place your containers out the evening before or by 5 a.m. the morning of collection. Here’s more important information:
To reduce the threat of wildfire, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve will close at noon Tuesday, July 4. It will re-open around 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 5. Pinnacle Peak Park, 26802 N. 102nd Way, will be open from 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 4.
Use of fireworks is prohibited in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Pinnacle Peak Park and all properties located within 1 mile of these fragile desert lands. The use of fireworks is also prohibited on all publicly owned properties, which include but are not limited to, city buildings, city parking lots, city parks, public schools and city streets. Get more information about firework restrictions and safety.
Get a ride, not a DUI! The Scottsdale Police Department will be conducting a DUI patrol through July 4. Plan ahead – designate a sober driver, order a rideshare or take a taxi if you plan on drinking alcohol or using marijuana.
Assist the Scottsdale Fire Department in protecting your family and property from wildfire. You've probably heard about the recent fires that have forced evacuations and devastated parts of Arizona – including the Diamond Fire in the north part of Scottsdale. Fire officials want you to know there are things you can do to protect your loved ones and properties. They include:
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Removing weeds, brush and other invasive vegetation and debris.
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Trimming grass and flowers to four inches or lower.
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Moving combustible materials away from your home.
Excessive heat warnings and watches are in place this week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 700 people die each year from heat-related issues. In addition, about 67,512 people visit emergency departments due to heat-related illness. Common-sense practices will help keep you safe and healthy, including:
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Drink water before you get thirsty to prevent dehydration.
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Don't rely on fans as your primary source of cooling.
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Come indoors frequently to an air-conditioned location to cool your core body temperature.
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Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and light-weight clothing.
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Never leave children or pets inside a parked car.
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Check on friends and neighbors, especially the vulnerable.
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Seek medical care immediately if you have, or someone you know has, heat-associated illness symptoms like muscle cramps, headaches, vomiting, confusion, no longer sweating and rapid heart rate.
Scottsdale Police use cutting-edge drones to rescue a missing elderly man with dementia. It all started when a request was sent for a helicopter to do an air search for the missing man, but no chopper was available from any Valley departments. Instead, officers deployed a drone equipped with advanced imaging. The drone located the man within minutes, and ground officers safely returned him to his family. Watch the rescue.
Travel + Leisure picks Scottsdale as the top place in Arizona to live. With vibrant arts and hospitality scenes, a robust job market (the unemployment rate was just 2.9 percent in April 2023), top-notch schools, plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities, and a major airport only a 20-minute drive from the city, Scottsdale is thriving. Read more.
Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host. Here’s what’s coming up:
Western Spirt: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West offers a variety of summertime programs. Tag along every Tuesday and Wednesday for an amazing lineup of seasonal activities for all ages. Spirit of Summer programs are included with museum admission. Free admission is available for those 5 and younger.
July Western Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:
Enjoy a family Sunset Swim. The fun takes place 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 14, at McDowell Mountain Aquatic Center, 15525 N. Thompson Peak Parkway. Cost for residents is $4 for children and $6 for adults. Learn more.
WestWorld hosts Big Red Bull Riding. Two extremes under one roof – live heavy metal/rock and roll and live bull riding! Thirty of the top bull riders in the Southwest will be going up against some of the toughest bulls to claim the Big Red Guitar and other cash and prizes that go along with winning. The event takes place 7-10 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Costs vary; get details.
Mustang Library hosts “The Magic and Illusions of Eric Giliam.” Join us for a dazzling hour of magic, illusions and sleight of hand in this high energy show. The free program begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 19. Learn more.
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Scottsdale ArtWalk: Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month. Tag along every Tuesday and Wednesday for an amazing lineup of seasonal activities for all ages.
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Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, diverse events throughout the year.
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Find McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events.
Free Ice Cream Socials are back at senior centers. Escape the heat, enjoy a treat:
Join us as we celebrate Park and Recreation Month throughout July.Scottsdale's Parks and Recreation amenities, programs and professionals bring people together to provide essential services – fostering growth in our community. Join the fun by attending a program, visiting a facility or experiencing a park/open space. Don't miss the incredible events planned throughout the month.
The 2021 International Green Construction Code took effect July 1. Scottsdale has led the way on green building initiatives since the 90s – a trend the city has continued with mandatory green building measures. It’s an innovative step toward long-term sustainability, and Scottsdale is the first city in the state and one of only a few nationwide to implement such guidelines.
The change helps Scottsdale strengthen the resiliency of buildings, reduce environmental impacts, protect natural resources and adapt to new building technologies. It’s also expected to cut 20% of each new building’s water use and reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 13%.
This aligns with Scottdale’s General Plan 2035 goal to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the heat island effect in our city. Economic benefits include reduced operating costs, enhanced indoor health, occupant productivity, life-cycle cost savings and improved property value. Social benefits include equity and access to improved quality of life.
Maricopa County is seeing an increase in mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile Virus. Follow the four R’s to reduce your risk and fight the bite:
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Repel mosquitoes using EPA-registered insect repellent
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Remove standing water from your home and yard
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Repair or replace damaged window and door screens
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Remind your family, friends and neighbors about mosquito safety
Job of the Week: Fire Department Systems Integrator. Duties include providing technical software supportto improve computer systems. It also includes testing, evaluating and installing software, hardware and some telecommunication systems. Benefits include: 12 paid holidays; sick leave; medical, dental and vision benefits; tuition reimbursement; participation in Arizona State Retirement System; and more. Learn more and apply.
History: Fourth of July, Summer-time fun in Scottsdale (Courtesy of Scottsdale Historian Joan Fudala). For Scottsdale natives, it's a time for picnics and parties; for transplants from milder climates, celebrating the Fourth of July requires some adaptations. Either way, it's a day full of history and commemoration in Scottsdale.
With Civil War veteran and retired U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott as our namesake and modern-day founder, Scottsdale has very patriotic roots. The handful of pioneer families gathered at Scott's ranch to celebrate holidays, including those who celebrated America such as George Washington's birthday and Fourth of July.
According to Scott's biographer Dick Lynch in his book “Winfield Scott, A Biography of Scottsdale's Founder,” in June 1900, Scott returned to Scottsdale to attend a school board meeting of which he was still a member. There, he offered to buy a flagpole for the schoolhouse (one-room schoolhouse that residents built in 1896) to be erected for the Fourth of July celebration. Although he would not be there, he offered his grove for the community celebration. His offers were accepted.
