Game on, arts and events fan.
Football isn’t the only big deal kicking off in September.
Mercifully, in the books is another brutal August.
Though the summer of 2025 temperatures didn’t quite match the records set over the last two years, it was hot enough – and more.
“I’ve never seen foot traffic for all of Old Town this dead in the summer,” groused Bob Pejman, a longtime Old Town gallery owner.
He pointed to the recent closings of several Old Town mainstay restaurants, including RA Sushi, RnR Gatropub and Buca di Beppo.
But, like the flick of a switch, the beginning of September is the end of the misery period for Scottsdale businesses.
As Mark Stanton, president and CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, put it, “All indicators point to a strong and robust season, and we’re already seeing encouraging signs of business picking up as we head into September.”
Going hand and hand with the local business scene, artists and big shows seem to melt into the horizon whenever summer camps out like an unwanted guest in Scottsdale.
Welcome, September – when performances rise out of the summer’s ashes.
September kicks off Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ 50th anniversary season, for one.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the “Sippin’ Series” launches with “artisan-crafted, award-winning rums and ready-to-drink canned cocktails from Club Kokomo Rum.”
Also setting sail Sept. 20 is James Perkins’ “Burying Painting” exhibit at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Information and tickets: ScottsdaleArts.org.
Compared to Pejman, Mayor Lisa Borowsky had a vastly different view, saying she was “looking forward to receiving the data on our summer tax revenue and visitor stays.
“My tourism sources report business was steady over the summer in spite of the temperatures,” Borowsky said.
Even so, she said she was looking forward to the coming weeks: “our event season is right around the corner, with a wide variety of offerings for all to enjoy, beginning with the Scottsdale Rodeo (Sept. 5-7) at Westworld.”
Coming soon is the third Dreamy Draw Music Festival, with the Lumineers and Vampire Weekend headlining a music-filled weekend at Scottsdale Civic Center Nov. 7-8.
Also Nov. 7, Canal Convergence returns to light up Scottsdale’s skies for 10 nights.
This is the annual large-scale, light-based public artworks. Canal Convergence features live music and dance performances, with workshops, tours and activities.
The event is also an example of what could be called “repurposed tax dollars.”
As its tagline notes, “Canal Convergence is made possible with the support of many partners and sponsors, including the City of Scottsdale.”
In one of its biggest expenditures from the Tourism Development Fund, Scottsdale annually sends $750,000 to the Canal Convergence producers.
According to an Aug. 19 presentation, 130,000 attended the 2024 Canal Convergence – with 21% of those from “out of state.”
If many of those out-of-staters were staying in hotels, they were indirectly funding this year’s event …
The “bed tax” portion of hotel stays received by the city generates upwards of $40 million annually.
The city spends around $30 million of that for personnel and contractual services.
Another $17 million is set aside for “destination marketing” – via a contract with Experience Scottsdale.
A council work study session on tourism has yet to be scheduled.
The role played by city marketing contractor Experience Scottsdale likely will be dissected.
According to Rachel Sacco, president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale, “Tourism is a fiercely competitive industry, and this growth in visitation speaks to the strength of Scottsdale’s brand.
“Our visitors can choose anywhere in the world, and they choose to come to Scottsdale year after year.”
Pejman has been a critic of how the city spends its bed tax funds.
“Recently, the bed tax has been around $35 million per year. About $1.4 million of that amount is slated for Old Town marketing,” Pejman said.
He calls for more transparency in how that money is spent.
“Per council rules, any expenditure item over $50,000 appears on the Council agenda – or at a minimum the Consent Agenda) for approval,” Pejman said.
“But for some odd reason the $1.4 million marketing contracts for Old Town advertising bypass the Council vote entirely.”
He accused the Tourism and Events Department of “essentially devising marketing plans and spending bed tax funds behind closed doors, without council approval and public comment.”
Pejman’s view is seconded by French Thompson, owner of a jewelry gallery (online now after years in Old Town) and a Scottsdale Gallery Association board member.
Thompson and Pejman both criticize a marketing effort they say is luring “the bar and nightclub crowd” to Scottsdale.
As Thompson sees it, the younger demographic coming to Old Town “doesn’t do any good for all the small businesses … they really need to make a major change.”
He calls Old Town “a luxury brand. We need to bring in people that have the money.
“Older people don’t go to nightclubs,” he added.
Thompson insists the 55-and-older clientele that purchase high-end items “are overwhelmed by bachelorette parties and the ‘drunkmobiles’ … Somehow, the city has gotten a great reputation as a great place to have a bachelorette party.”
In contrast to Borowsky, Thompson shared Pejman’s view of Old Town struggling through a rough summer: “I’ve been here 28 years and I see a whole lot less people on the street than I’ve ever seen,” Thompson said.
“People who own small businesses say this is the worst year they’ve had.”
Yet Thompson and Pejman look forward to the near future, hoping a closer eye on how the city markets Old Town will help businesses.
“I’m optimistic a change can happen,” Thompson said. “It’s just having a direction – and the will to go in the right direction.
“You have to put effort into being a luxury brand.”
Pejman, for one, will be closely watching the coming study session on bed tax spending and marketing.
“I am hopeful that our new council and city manager will shed light on this currently behind-closed-door process,” Pejman said.
Events promoted
Two weeks ago, City Council approved the Tourism Development Commission’s recommendation of writing a $225,000 check – from bed tax funds – to the host committee of the NCAA 2026 Women’s Final Four Tournament.
At its Aug. 19 meeting, the Tourism Development Commission unanimously approved “bed tax expenditure up to $150,000 to Lore Southwest Media and Arts to support the Scottsdale Dia De Los Muertos and Art Installation Experience and Event.”
In June, the commission approved bed tax funding of $75,000 for the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championship.
The tourism commission also approved $75,000 for the Barrett Jackson Auction Company’s annual WestWorld event.
Other funding approvals this year:
- Arizona Bike Week, $75,000;
- Persian New Year Festival, $48,125;
- Fourth of July Celebration (M Culinary); $39,000;
- Scottsdale Jazz Festival, $30,000;
- Parada del Sol Rodeo, $27,500;
- Cactus Classic Peruvian Horse Show, $12,500;
- Scottsdale Fair and Festival, $15,000;
- USA Ultimate 2025 SW Regional- $12,000
- The Derby, $12,000;
- Scottsdale Cup, $12,000;
- Desert Super Cup, $12,000;
- Triple Crown Spring Championship, $12,000;
- Day of the Dog Festival, $14,500;
- Arabian Breeders Final, $30,000;
- The West’s Most Western Rodeo, $16,000;
- Scottsdale Family ArtsFest, $6,000;
- AZ Academy Cup, $12,000.
50th anniversary show
In the fall of 1975, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors to the public with an inaugural concert by the Roger “King of the Road” Miller.
A half-century later, the Civic Center venue celebrates turning 50 by hosting Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.
Tickets starting at starting at $275 include a red-carpet arrival, cocktail hour and post-event festivities. “Top tier” tickets of $1,500 include an exclusive artist meet and greet.
Info/tickets: ScottsdaleArt