Tempe Junction Outdoor Activities

Cloud-capped mountains provide a majestic backdrop for DeWitt Stables, a full-service boarding and riding stable nestled along the Salt River. There, visitors may feel as though they’ve been transplanted into a Western movie, surrounded by high-stacked bails of hay, empty wagons resting unhinged, and roosters chugging energy drinks after a 4 a.m. call time. Horses bear riders along scenic trails during lessons or romantic dates and lead seasonal wagon rides through winter and autumn, when DeWitt Stables also opens its annual pumpkin patch. When they aren’t busy riding in parades or celebrating the changing seasons on the stables, staffers also host horse, mule, and wagon auctions and make birthdays extra special with petting-zoo parties.

In 1957, 21 men who cared deeply about their Italian heritage as well as their community in Phoenix came together to found the Arizona American Italian Club. Today, the club continues to be a resource for Italian Americans and their neighbors living in the area. Along with housing a lounge and Italian eatery, the club hosts bingo and bocce games, as well as events such as fashion shows, Italian car shows, wine tastings, and spaghetti nights. Each month, club members sponsor a different charity and rain cloud, furthering their support and investment in the Phoenix community.

Dozens of balloons take flight at once, filling the dawn sky with brilliant blues, purples, oranges, and reds as they begin an aerial hare-and-hound race. After sunset, they return to Earth and once tethered, begin to glow, lighting up in time with festive music. For one weekend each year, visitors gather on the grounds outside the Gilbert Civic Center for the Arizona Balloon Classic––a three-day festival celebrating hot air balloon flight and culture. Live music fills the grounds throughout the weekend, attendees browse exhibits, and children play in a family-friendly area.

The annual balloon event is organized by Action Entertainment Group, which was founded by a duo special event planners to gather Arizonans for music, food, and amusement. The group also produces events such as the Arizona HogFest, the Elegant Affair, and TribStock––A Tribute Band Music Festival.