Spring Training Day Trips in Downtown Tempe

 

The Los Angeles Angels returned to Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 24 with their first 2024 Spring Training home game against the LA Dodgers (check out the rest of their home games at Diablo Stadium on the Cactus League site).  If you're new to Spring Training in Arizona, you may not know the majority of the games are played at 1:10 p.m., leaving plenty of time before and after the games to explore Downtown Tempe. 

There are PLENTY of ways to have a good time in Downtown Tempe and many of them are free - so grab your friends and family and planning your Spring Training Day Trips in Downtown Tempe!

Downtown Tempe has a plethora of free things to do and amazing local businesses that include restaurants, retail and much more.

If you’re hungry, we got you.

If you want a great place to come hang out, we got you.

If you want to soak up some art and culture, we got you.

Downtown Tempe is ready for all you spring time fans to invade the downtown area and enjoy all we have to offer!

DAY TRIP OPTION 1: Ticketed Event
Innings Festival & Extra Innings, February 23-24 & March 1-2

Spring Training kicks off with the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park. This is a ticketed event with doors opening 12:30PM and performances running 12:50 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday both weekends. Catch your Spring Training games and come back to Tempe for a good meal at Spinelli's before seeing your headliner! In/out privileges until 7pm with wristband--but you can always stroll by and hear the music from outside the park for free.

DAY TRIP OPTION 2: Free admission and live music 
Tempe Festival of the Arts, March 8 - 10

This spring, the Tempe Festival of the Arts comes back for its 47th spring season! Art from all backgrounds, talents and materials will take over Mill Ave. and Downtown Tempe to showcase their work and sell you one-of-a-kind pieces of art.

In addition to the unique local art, the festival will also have its signature Arizona Wine & Spirits Tasting in Centerpoint Plaza right next to a local favorite brewery – Pedal Haus. Pedal Haus and Four Peaks brews will be available in the beer garden along Maple Ave while you peruse our up-and-coming artist section and enjoy 3 different live music stages.

Along this route as well is the Young Artist Exhibition, which showcases art from youth all over the state, and Kids Block, where your little ones can build an upcycles city, start their own art collection, or just make some art of their own!

The Tempe Festival of the Arts takes over Downtown Tempe from March 8-10 from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily!

DAY TRIP OPTION 3
Mill Around Mill

Any day you choose you can see what's going on in our walkable college town. Stroll through ASU campus, grab breakfast at Daily Jam, Snooze, Morning Squeeze or Sunbar, or any meal outside with great people watching with all of our patio ready and dog friendly eatery's. Make a custom scent or lotion at Lotions and Potions, get a funky tan line with custom henna art and try Shark Tank famous Crispy Cones! Feeling risky? Get a Spring Training spontaneous tattoo or tooth gem at Dazey Aesthetic.  

DAY TRIP OPTION 4: Free admission, live music and performances
Arizona Aloha Festival, March 16 & 17

Who’s ready for some tropical fun in the spring?

The annual Arizona Aloha Festival is back at Tempe Beach Park to celebrate their 30th Anniversary! Come check yourself into paradise while learning more about the South Pacific Islands and Hawaii.

Not only do you get to wear a beautiful Lei while perusing the festival, you can also learn how to pay the ‘ukulele, make some Keiki crafts, play some fun games and explore the ‘Ohana Village!

The festival will also house three different food courts that will satisfy any craving you bring with you to the festival. Once you’ve got your fill of yummy food, you can make your way over to the Island Marketplace where there will be a ton of island merchandise, to help you bring home that tropical essence.

DAY TRIP OPTION 4
St. Patrick's Day on Mill Avenue, March 17

Luck o'the Irish - St. Pat's is on a Friday this year! That translates into leaving the ball park a bit early and finding a great patio spot to people watch in downtown Tempe.  Try Cornish Pasty for a pint at the corner of 5th Street & Mill, Loco Patron for a green marg at 3rd & Mill or the new University Sports Grill at 7th & Mill. 

DAY TRIP OPTION 5: Free admission
Tempe Beach Concours, March 23

Vroom vroom! 11am-5pm Come Experience the 2nd Annual Tempe Beach Concours at Tempe Beach Park with over 300 featured vehicles, food vendors, industry vendors, product demo, live music & entertainment, industry competitions. Free general admission and special VIP experiences for purchase -and all for a good cause, Phoenix Children's Hospital.

DAY TRIP OPTION 6: Free admission
Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, March 23 & 24

Next, head over the Mill Avenue bridge to the Tempe Town Lake Marina to watch competitors from all over the world compete in the 18th Annual Arizona Dragon Boat Festival. Ten competitive divisions and two fun divisions offer plenty of serious competition.

                        

DAY TRIP OPTION 7
Tempe Tales Scavenger Hunt

Tempe Tales is a free public art project turned scavenger hunt that will get you movin' all through the downtown district in search of life-sized jackrabbits. Tucson artist Mark Rossi was commissioned to bring the original 14 jackrabbits to life and they've been placed around downtown waiting for you to find them. Use the online clues to find the rabbits. A few of them are not currently on the scavenger hunt due to construction, but you can find most of them!

Along the way, stop for happy hour at Bang Bang Sushi and pick up a cool treat at Sparky's Old Town Creamery, Dragon Tea or Slickables Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

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