SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 20, 2024) – As the Autumn breeze rolls in, so does an exciting season of outdoor festivals, new culinary delights, a refreshed resort and spa scene, and engaging art. Read on for all the reasons to fall for Scottsdale this season.

RESORT ROUNDUP

THE BIG NEWS: With a phased, full property renovation underway, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch expects to unveil its highly anticipated $115 million property-wide renovation and rebrand to Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort in early October, marking the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. The newly reimagined luxury resort with 496 rooms invites guests to connect with the captivating spirit of the American Southwest, complemented by six elevated dining concepts in partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais, a 10-acre pool complex and a refreshed Spa Avania.

• JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa’s new Celestial Retreat whisks guests away to a private luxury sundeck casita where they can revel in the twinkling canvas of the Sonoran Desert night sky. Upon arrival, a welcome basket filled with celestial-themed treats awaits, coupled with a $100 resort credit, allowing astro-tourists to immerse themselves in the wonders of the cosmos while indulging in the resort's unparalleled amenities and accommodations. 
• The Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale is a nature-lover’s paradise where the plant life has been left virtually untouched to prosper. Native cacti bearing prickly pear fruit have just yielded more than 75 pounds of ripe prickly pear and to celebrate the fall harvest,  the Boulders’ four restaurants and bars have incorporated freshly-harvested prickly pear fruit and its tart juice in everything from breakfast syrups to its signature Prickly Pear Smoothies. The fall season also brings culinary events, like the Cigar & Bourbon Dinners held on the Duck Pond Lawn, an especially scenic spot that overlooks majestic mountains, ancient rock formations and an emerald green fairway.
• Located within walking distance from Old Town, Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort is currently undergoing renovations to enhance the guest’s stay, such as a significant upgrade to the pool area, including the addition of a new outdoor bar, blending fresh drinks and smoothies. For the meeting-goer or event planner, the Silverman Terrace Project will revamp the hotel’s largest outdoor space with a lush lawn and inviting lighting.
• For families, fall means it’s time to get spooky at Great Wolf Lodge Arizonaduring its annual Howl-O-Ween celebration throughout October. Corn stalks, hay bales, autumn leaves, gourds and other cozy fall décor will adorn the lodge, while this year’s event will include family favorites such as the Trick-Or-Treat Trail, Monster Bash Dancy Party, Costume Contest, Howl-O-Ween crafts and trivia.

ALL ABOUT WELLNESS

• Following the completion of The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, a Curio Collection Resort by Hilton’s $40 million renovation this spring, Luna Spa is now welcoming guests into its sanctuary where tranquility and rejuvenation meet in perfect harmony. The reimagined 3,200-square-foot spa features nine indoor treatment rooms and a diverse range of treatments tailored to meet the needs of every guest.
• The benefits of deep, restorative sleep are abundant, from reducing stress and improving mood, to enhancing mental clarity. CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa’s new Sleep Studios supply guests with a restful stay complete with ‘Wind Down Rituals’ and in-room sleep enhancing amenities, including a Hatch Alarm Clock and Vitruvi Oil Diffuser. In tandem with the resort’s dedicated sleep accommodations, CIVANA offers a range of unique on-property wellness programming meant to improve quality of sleep and boost energy levels, from specialized dishes and mocktails to a range of restorative treatments at their state-of-the-art spa. The CIVANA Calm spa treatment incorporates magnesium tonic for stress-relief and the Unwind treatment activates the parasympathetic nervous system to prepare for deep sleep.
• Alvadora Spa at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa brings elements of the outdoors, inside, with its new Ocotillo Blossom Scrub. The seasonal spa treatment uses wildcrafted Ocotillo flowers and extracts from the inner plant bark for an invigorating scrub, followed by a relaxing massage with a botanical oil of Ocotillo, Red Root and Calendula.

ART + ENTERTAINMENT

THE BIG NEWS: Scottsdale Arts’ Canal Convergence will explore the profound importance of reflections in both literal and metaphorical realms through engaging public art, performances and programming from Nov. 8-17, at the Scottsdale Waterfront. The free, annual, 10-night event spotlights large-scale public artworks created by artists from around the world alongside live music and dance performances, creative workshops, educational tours and activities, food trucks, a mini film festival and a beer and wine garden. In addition to the event’s perennial focus on interactivity, sustainability and the union of water, art and light, this year's theme is “Reflections.” 

• Sept. 20: Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will soon celebrate the opening of four new exhibitions and two immersive installations. The exhibitions on-view during the event — “Exploding Native Inevitable,” “Brains and Beauty: At the Intersection of Art and Neuroscience,” “Cybele Lyle: Floating Seeds Make Deep Forms” and, “poetics of dissonance”— will open this month. The two new installations by Phoenix-based artist Shomit Barua will be open to the public for the first time during the free-to-attend September celebration, which is part of an ongoing series of events honoring the museum’s 25th anniversary.
• Sept. 28: Opening with a bang, the Ravenscroft 2024 Concert Series begins with a performance from powerhouse group, Tarbaby with Orrin Evans, Eric Revis, and Nasheet Waits. This dynamic, modern jazz group will deliver an unforgettable performance to start the season. In addition to the popular concert series, Jazzbird Nights are back with shows on Fridays and select Saturdays. Jazzbird is a first-class jazz lounge which hosts music from popular and up-and-coming local musicians accompanied by a fine selection of wine, local craft beers and catered meals for purchase. 
• Oct. 26: The Maker’s Hive Market – an outdoor market full of local artisan vendors – will soon make its way to The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Guests can stroll, shop and sip through nearly 40 unique and diverse small businesses for a day full of shopping including clothing bars, permanent jewelry and hand-crafted candles.
• Nov. 1-2: Dreamy Draw Music Festival has just announced the lineup for the second-annual edition of the acclaimed music and arts festival, returning to Old Town Scottsdale. Headlined by indie rock icons, Mt. Joy, and Lone-Star State Country-Folk superstars, Flatland Cavalry, this two-day, three-stage outdoor music and arts festival is set to once-again host more than 10,000 attendees at Scottsdale Civic Center, a 40-acre oasis in the heart of the city’s entertainment district.
• Nov. 22-23: ​Over the course of two days, the Arizona Indigenous Food Symposium and Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience will present a unique opportunity to gather with and learn from Indigenous peoples while celebrating and revitalizing their food traditions. With a focus on food sovereignty, environmental justice, health and wellness, and preserving cultural food practices and relationships with land and natural resources, the symposium promises to enlighten and inspire. On the second day, the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association (AAITA) will present the Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience in celebration of Native American Heritage Month and showcasing Native Arizona cuisine, arts, and live performances.
• Travelers looking to try their hands at something new can look no further than Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North’s new classes and workshops. Guests can take a culinary adventure to Spain with the Paella workshop, make a sweet treat at the cake decorating workshop, shake things up with a mixology class, or let the creativity – and the vino – flow with a wine and painting experience.
• Candytopia is now open at Scottsdale Fashion Square. This sprawling sanctuary of confectionery bliss has captivated major cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Atlanta with its one-of-a-kind sensory adventure, all centered around one of life’s most wonderful pleasures — candy. It boasts 11,000 square feet of hand-crafted candy sculptures, interactive environments and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.
• In addition to the opening of Candytopia and completion of myriad upscale renovations inside and outside this summer, Scottsdale Fashion Square continues to enhance its portfolio with in-demand fashion retailers. Blue Nile, Lululemon, Maje, Princess Polly, SANDRO, Swarovski, True Classic and Vuori are among the latest additions.

SIP + SAVOR

• Brody's Italian, formerly well-known locally as Nick's Italian, acquired a new owner, Jason Brody. Born and raised in Arizona, Brody was 15 when he started his hospitality journey working at Nick’s Italian. After 20 years of working in various positions at all three locations, Brody purchased the restaurant bordering Scottsdale and Phoenix and gave it a new life as Brody’s Italian. The menu features a famous non-breaded Chicken Parmesan, piping hot lasagna, seafood dishes, a variety of pizzas, fresh homemade pastas, desserts and craft cocktails. Brody remains anchored by a profound sense of philanthropy passed down by his father and champions causes close to his heart to serve his community. 
• Famed for its house-made mozzarella, scratch wood-fired pizza and commitment to Arizona beer, Craft 64 was crowned a “Top 50 Pizzeria” in the U.S. by 50 Top Pizza, the guide to the best pizzerias in the world, for the third year in a row.
• The Maggiore Group, the restaurant powerhouse group behind several of the Valley of the Sun’s most popular concepts, has announced its newest masterpiece opening in mid-September in Scottsdale, The Italiano. Lead by Chef Joey Maggiore, The Italiano’s menu will highlight the flavors of old-school red sauce Italian cuisine with a Chef Joey touch. Interactive tableside elements will include an antipasto cart where guests can curate their own plate with over 30 different items. There will also be a must-try Limoncello cocktail cart and a Zabaione dessert cart. 
• Coming to the destination this season, The Frybread Lounge will be the first and only Indigenous-owned restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale. With Chef Darryl Montana, an O'odham Community member, at the helm, the restaurant will provide an elevated menu of appetizers, and entrees inspired by local Indigenous communities. 
• Seasoned restaurateur Nick Mathers and Wish You Were Here Group are bringing the buzzing coastal Italian restaurant and bar, Élephante to Scottsdale Fashion Square this fall. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant will be the first location outside of Los Angeles and will serve up an extensive beverage program, plus its signature wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas and the famed whipped eggplant dip. Élephante will also take on more expansive offerings, including a new grill section with a curated selection of premium meats, consciously selected seafood, and larger family-style dishes.

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Laura McMurchie, Vice President of Communications
480-429-2253, lmcmurchie@experiencescottsdale.com

Christina Dicksen, Director of Communications
480-889-2709, cdicksen@experiencescottsdale.com