Scottsdale events & things to do in March 2027
Start with McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Pinnacle Peak Park, plus Taliesin West. March in Scottsdale averages 23°C / 73°F highs, 8°C / 47°F nights, and about 6 rainy days.
Expect 23°C/73°F days and about 6 rainy ones in March. Start with these:
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve★ 4.8 · 2.5k reviewsLarge desert preserve with saguaro-lined hiking and biking trails, best early in the day outside winter.
- Pinnacle Peak Park★ 4.8 · 1.7k reviewsPopular north Scottsdale trail with granite boulders, city views, and a manageable out-and-back route.
- Charles Lewis Quintet + 1Mar 3ASU Kerr · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Scottsdale in March 2027
Weather
TempTemperature
73°F / 47°F
22.9°C / 8.4°C
RainPrecipitation
6d
1.3in · 33.5mm
LightDaylight
11.5h
Spring training, wildflowers, golf, and patios make March one of the busiest months.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Mar 1 – Mar 31
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Spring Exhibition
A month-long exhibition featuring contemporary artists with new installations and interactive displays.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Mar 5 – Mar 7
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
A three-day event celebrating Scottsdale's vibrant food scene with tastings, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Mar 12
Show all 8 events for March
- Mar 13
- Mar 13 – Mar 14
Scottsdale Arts Festival
Annual outdoor festival showcasing local and national artists with live music, food vendors, and family activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Mar 13
- Mar 17
Scottsdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
A lively parade through downtown Scottsdale followed by a festival with Irish music, food, and cultural activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Mar 18 – Mar 21
Scottsdale International Film Festival
Screenings of independent and international films held at various venues across Scottsdale.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
About Scottsdale
City overview
Scottsdale is the desert-resort edge of metro Phoenix, with Old Town galleries, Sonoran trailheads, spa hotels, spring-training baseball, and golf spread between walkable historic blocks and car-dependent resort districts. The best months are sharply seasonal: winter and spring are premium outdoor windows, while summer is an extreme-heat trip built around pools, early starts, and indoor backups.
Food & drink
Scottsdale dining splits between resort restaurants, Sonoran and Mexican food, steakhouses, cocktail bars, health-conscious brunch spots, and polished Old Town dining rooms. Old Town works without a car for dinner, while North Scottsdale resorts and trailhead restaurants require rideshare or driving.
Top sights
Ranked for March suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Taliesin West
- 2Butterfly Wonderland
- 3Spring Training Baseball
- 4Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
- 5Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 6Old Town Scottsdale
1Taliesin West
4.6★ · 2,679outdoorClosed Tue/WedFrank Lloyd Wright winter home and architecture campus at the foot of the McDowell Mountains.
Wikipedia
2Butterfly Wonderland
4.6★ · 7,442outdoorOpen dailyIndoor rainforest conservatory in the Salt River area, useful for families and hot or rainy afternoons.
- 3
Spring Training Baseball
4.5★ · 55outdoorCactus League games at Scottsdale Stadium and nearby Phoenix-area ballparks during late February and March.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
- 5Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 6Old Town Scottsdale
Neighborhoods
1Old Town
First-time base for galleries, restaurants, nightlife, museums, and walkable resort shuttles.
2Arts District
Main Street and Marshall Way galleries, Thursday art walks, public art, and dinner reservations.
3South Scottsdale
Lower-key local restaurants, breweries, and easier access to Tempe and Papago Park.
Day trips
15km / 20 min by car
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix cactus garden with Sonoran desert plants, seasonal art installations, and Papago Park views.
70km / 1.5h by car
Apache Trail & Canyon Lake
Desert scenic drive with lake views, Superstition Mountain scenery, and old-stagecoach-road drama.
200km / 2.25h by car
Sedona
Red-rock hiking, galleries, and vortex-viewpoint day trip, best started early from Scottsdale.
Getting around
Old Town is walkable, but Scottsdale as a whole is spread out. Use a car or rideshare for resorts, trailheads, golf courses, Kierland, and day trips; in summer, avoid exposed trail time after mid-morning.
Planning a Scottsdale trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in March.
Common questions about Scottsdale in March
- What to pack for Scottsdale in March
Pack for March's weather, not a generic Scottsdale checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 23°C / 73°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 8°C / 47°F.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 6 days.
- How many days do you need in Scottsdale
- 3 days covers the main Scottsdale highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Scottsdale worth visiting in March
- Yes. March in Scottsdale averages 23°C / 73°F highs, 8°C / 47°F nights, and about 6 rainy days.
Ready to plan Scottsdale?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Scottsdale plan for March 2027, every place checked for your exact dates.