Enjoy some free and exciting events and dance performances with your family this fall at the Ballet Under the Stars, a fantastic outdoor performance series showcasing several contemporary and classical ballet excerpts. The best part is that these events are free and open to the public. You can enjoy the beauty of dance in a unique outdoor setting, complete with a stage, lighting, costumes, and of course, the beautiful Arizona weather. All you need to do is bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a diverse program that ranges from classical to contemporary Ballet. It's a perfect show for the entire family and a great way to introduce Ballet to your children for the first time.
Enjoy an entertainment experience that spans generations at the Phoenix Theatre. As one of the oldest arts organizations in the country, this theater boasts a heavyweight reputation for delivering quality productions that are sure to please audiences of all ages. There's something for everyone at the Phoenix Theatre, with different programs and performance areas available. The Mainstage features professional adult theater productions, while the Cookie Company offers family-friendly shows for youth. Additionally, PT Connections: Education & Outreach takes theater beyond the stage and into outside organizations. The Phoenix Theatre Academy is the perfect place for aspiring performers to improve their skills. For a unique experience, the New Works Festival showcases plays as playwrights and performers are developing them.
Find your green-thumb inspiration in the garden's Berlin Agave Yucca Forest or the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail at the Desert Botanical Garden, a naturalist's dream where they showcase more than 145 acres of stunning desert blooms, flora, and fauna year-round. The site opened in 1939 and now boasts over 21,000 plants, including outdoor exhibits and displays, specialty greenhouses, and endangered and fragile species preservation. One-third of the plants are native to the area, while the remaining plants come from all over the world, including special collections from Australia and Baja California. Ecosystems represented include mesquite bosque, semidesert grassland, and upland chaparral scrub.