It’s no secret that Phoenix summers are toasty. When a majority of your active lifestyle takes place outdoors, the warm weather can be a deterrent to maintaining those habits. We’ve compiled a list of low-cost, indoor, and free things to do in Phoenix that will help you stay active through these hot months, and you may even learn a thing or two.
* Free activities
- Visit a Museum
Explore top arts and cultural institutions around the Valley for free! A Culture Pass provides no-cost admission to participating popular cultural spots like the Phoenix Art Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Pueblo Grande Museum, the Arizona Science Center, the Heard Museum, and more. Passes can be checked out from a local public library near you.*
A few museums in the Valley are always free to visit: ASU Art Museum, Mesa Contemporary Art Museum, and the Vision Gallery in Chandler. *
A free installation to visit at sunrise or sunset is the James Turrell ASU Skyspace: Air Apparent. Located on the ASU campus, this unique experience draws your eyes upwards. Sit or stand to watch the sky play with the “ceiling” that lights up in various tones.*
Additional free-to-visit and voluntary-donation days at local cultural spots include:
- Desert Botanical Garden: Second Tuesdays of the month, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. *
- Heard Museum: Free evening admission on First Fridays *
- Phoenix Art Museum: Wednesdays from 3–9 p.m., First Fridays 6–10 p.m., Second Sundays noon–5 p.m. *
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: All day on Thursdays, from 5–9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays *
- Children’s Museum of Phoenix: First Fridays of the month.*
- Skate
Dig out those rollerblades or four-wheel roller skates and spend the night zipping around at the skating rink. Choose from Great Skate in Glendale or Skateland locations in Chandler and Mesa. Monday nights offer admission for only $1 at all locations. Check the schedule at each location for weekly specials.
- Learn a New Dance
If you want to learn how to swing dance, check out the Desoto Marketplace calendar in Phoenix. They host monthly swing dance lessons.
On Tuesdays, The Duce in Phoenix offers swing dancing lessons. On Thursdays, they have salsa lessons. It costs $8 to get in.
Bourbon Jack’s in Chandler hosts free two-step lessons on Tuesdays and regular live music. *
The Phoenix New Times also features a round-up of local country music hot spots, with many offering free, weekly lessons. *
- Yoga
Lululemon stores in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler host regular complimentary yoga classes. View their events on the Lululemon Phoenix Facebook page for more information. *
Yoga to the People is a studio in Tempe that offers daily, donation-based — $10 suggested fee — yoga classes.
Mountain Shadows, a resort in Paradise Valley, offers free yoga on Thursday nights on their lawn. Afterward, head to the living room at Hearth 61 for their happy hour. *
- Enjoy a Live Show
On Thursday nights at Phoenix’s ThirdSpace, enjoy a free comedy show.*
In addition to their ticketed shows, Cresent Ballroom in Phoenix regularly offers free live music and comedy acts. View their calendar to see upcoming events. *
The Nash — a jazz club in Phoenix — offers free live shows on First Fridays.
- Make a Splash
Swimming is a great way to get some exercise in while staying cool. If you don’t have access to a pool at home or in your community, head to one of the nearly 30 city of Phoenix pools that are open to the public. Sign your kids up for swim lessons, or purchase passes for open swim. An aquatics season pass, valid at all pools, is $30 for adults and $20 for children and seniors.
- Make Something
In the summer, the Tempe Center for the Arts hosts free, weekly Summer Family Art Workshops on Saturdays. In addition, they also offer a few free Friday Night Maker Workshops this summer, which is geared towards a date night. Check their calendar for dates and information on the activities. *
Gangplank Chandler — a coworking space — offers monthly crafting nights that are open to the public. Bring a project you’ve been working on and enjoy the community. *
Sunshine Craft Co. in Phoenix is a creative space that hosts workshops and classes for making projects. They also host free “community events” regularly: “Snail Mail Soiree,” “Fiber Freeplay,” and open studio times. Visit their website to learn more. *
We hope this list of indoor and free things to do in Phoenix keeps you active and entertained this summer. If you have an injury that’s keeping you from enjoying your summer, make an appointment with us. We’d love to help you get pain-free and back into the activities you enjoy.
