ValleyGoPHX
Free days & deals
Recurring free and discounted days around the Valley, checked on each venue's official page. Times are Arizona time. Confirm before you go.
Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays
Kid-friendlyPhoenix Art Museum · Phoenix
General admission by voluntary donation
When: Every Wed 3–8 pm · Next: Wed, Oct 21 3 pm–8 pm; Wed, Oct 28 3 pm–8 pm; Wed, Nov 4 3 pm–8 pm
Cost: Pay what you wish
Special exhibitions need a ticket (price varies). Online reservation recommended
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
First Friday at PhxArt
Kid-friendlyPhoenix Art Museum · Phoenix
Free general admission plus sketching, resident DJ, library pop-up, food vendors, docent tours
When: 1st Fri monthly 5–8 pm · Next: Fri, Nov 6 5 pm–8 pm; Fri, Dec 4 5 pm–8 pm
Cost: Free
Special exhibitions ticketed. Food and drinks extra
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Museums on Us weekend
Kid-friendlyPhoenix Art Museum · Phoenix
Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust credit/debit cardholders
When: First full weekend monthly (Sat–Sun). 2026 remaining: Nov 7–8, Dec 5–6 · Next: Sat, Nov 7 museum hours; Sun, Nov 8 museum hours; Sat, Dec 5 museum hours
Cost: Free (with card)
Bank of America / Merrill cardholders
Official page: 'free general admission on the first full weekend of every month to visitors who present a valid Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and U.S. Trust credit or debit card'. One general admission per cardholder; can't be combined with other offers
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Museums on Us weekend
Kid-friendlyHeard Museum · Phoenix
One free general admission for Bank of America / Merrill cardholders
When: First full weekend monthly (Sat–Sun). 2026 remaining: Nov 7–8, Dec 5–6 · Next: Sat, Nov 7 10 am–4 pm; Sun, Nov 8 10 am–4 pm; Sat, Dec 5 10 am–4 pm
Cost: Free (with card + photo ID)
Bank of America / Merrill cardholders
Bank of America program. Heard hours 10 am–4 pm
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Community Day: Pay What You Can
Kid-friendlyDesert Botanical Garden · Phoenix
General admission at any price you choose ($5, $10, $15 or any amount)
When: 2nd Tue monthly · Next: Tue, Nov 10 during open hours; Tue, Dec 8 during open hours
Cost: Pay what you can
Excludes special ticketed events, exhibitions, classes
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Free First Friday Night
Kid-friendlyChildren's Museum of Phoenix · Phoenix
Free admission for everyone
When: 1st Fri monthly 5–9 pm · Next: Fri, Dec 4 5 pm–9 pm
Cost: Free
No November 2026 event. Next: Dec 4
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Pay-What-You-Wish Thursdays
Kid-friendlyScottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) · Scottsdale
Admission by voluntary amount
When: Every Thu 11 am–7 pm · Next: Thu, Oct 22 11 am–7 pm (museum hours); Thu, Oct 29 11 am–7 pm (museum hours); Thu, Nov 5 11 am–7 pm (museum hours)
Cost: Pay what you wish
Ages 18 and under always free with ID. Regular price $16. PWYW time window not stated separately; 11 am–7 pm is the posted Thursday museum hours (re-checked 2026-10-17)
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Pay-What-You-Wish 2nd Saturdays
Kid-friendlyScottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) · Scottsdale
Admission by voluntary amount
When: 2nd Sat monthly (museum open Sat 11 am–5 pm) · Next: Sat, Nov 14 11 am–5 pm (museum hours); Sat, Dec 12 11 am–5 pm (museum hours)
Cost: Pay what you wish
The official page says PWYW 'every second Saturday' but gives no separate PWYW window. Times are the museum's posted Saturday hours (re-checked 2026-10-17). Closed Mon–Tue
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Always-free art museum
Kid-friendlyASU Art Museum · Tempe
Admission is always free
When: ⚠️ AMBIGUOUS: the official page says both Wed–Sun and Fri–Sun, 11 am–5 pm · Next: Sat, Oct 17 11 am–5 pm; Sun, Oct 18 11 am–5 pm; Fri, Oct 23 11 am–5 pm
Cost: Free
Ambiguous on the official page (two different open-day lists). Don't promote a Wed/Thu visit until confirmed; the safe days are Fri–Sun
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Always-free history museum
Kid-friendlyChandler Museum · Chandler
Free admission
When: Tue–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 1–5 pm · Next: Sat, Oct 17 10 am–5 pm; Sun, Oct 18 1 pm–5 pm; Tue, Oct 20 10 am–5 pm
Cost: Free
300 S. Chandler Village Dr
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Culture Pass
Kid-friendlyPhoenix Public Library (all branches) · Phoenix
Free admission for 2 at participating museums (e.g., Phoenix Art Museum, Heard, SMoCA, Desert Botanical Garden, Western Spirit, S'edav Va'aki)
When: During library hours. Valid 7 days from checkout
Cost: Free with a library card
Needs a library card
First come, first served. 1 pass per family at a time, 2 per month. General admission only. Other Valley libraries also take part (Act One program)
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
First Fridays art walk
Artlink (Roosevelt Row, Grand Ave, Melrose, Midtown) · Phoenix
Studios, galleries and venues open free to the public
When: 1st Fri monthly, evening (start time unknown; not stated on the official page) · Next: Fri, Nov 6 evening; Fri, Dec 4 evening
Cost: Free
Start time not stated on the page. Point users to Artlink's map/Artinerary
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Thursday ArtWalk
Scottsdale Gallery Association (Old Town galleries) · Scottsdale
Weekly evening gallery walk ("the nation's longest running art walk")
When: Every Thu evening (start time unknown; not stated on the official page) · Next: Thu, Oct 22 evening; Thu, Oct 29 evening; Thu, Nov 5 evening
Cost: Free
Exact hours not stated. Gold Palette ArtWalks add extended hours on select dates
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Monday community run
Phoenix Run Club · Phoenix
Free 3- or 5-mile social run through downtown neighborhoods
When: Every Mon 6:30 pm, Roses by the Stairs · Next: Mon, Oct 19 6:30 pm; Mon, Oct 26 6:30 pm; Mon, Nov 2 6:30 pm
Cost: Free
All levels. Limited lot parking, street parking nearby. Updates on Heylo
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Thursday Tempe Town Lake run
Phoenix Run Club · Tempe
Free 3- or 5-mile run around Tempe Town Lake, pace groups
When: Every Thu 7:00 pm, east side of the boat launch · Next: Thu, Oct 22 7 pm; Thu, Oct 29 7 pm; Thu, Nov 5 7 pm
Cost: Free
Free runs Mon, Thu and most weekends. Paid membership optional
Official page · verified 2026-10-16
Friday Trivia Night
Dink & Dine Pickle Park · Mesa
Free trivia, solo or teams up to 4, prizes for top 3
When: Every Fri 7 pm (~90 min) · Next: Fri, Oct 23 7 pm; Fri, Oct 30 7 pm; Fri, Nov 6 7 pm
Cost: Free (no cover)
Walk in, no sign-up. Kitchen and bar open
Official page · verified 2026-10-16