As someone who grew up going to the original Rawhide in Scottsdale, I was happy to see they…read morecaptured the spirit of the Western town when they brought it South to Chandler. My wife and I were there for the Ostrich Festival which had recently moved from Tumbleweed Park to Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass. A very different footprint from the park, but the behind-the-scenes folks responsible for the festival did a fantastic job in the new location. Known for its concerts, the festival did not disappoint. Kansas, Vanilla Ice, Baby Bash, and The Commodores, among others. Smaller national bands and some local artists graced a smaller stage as well. Top notch entertainment was everywhere this year. Megan the Bubbleologist amazed with her bubbles, Mango and Dango added excitement with their music and dancing, the Cup Guy dazzled with his juggling skills, Off-Axis Stunt Shows were fantastic in three separate shows - BMX, trampoline, and diving. There was a magic show with Sean and Chanelle and their Model T car, live ostriches, a daily evening parade, STEM games, birds, and so much more to see. Already looking forward to next year's Ostrich Festival, held at Rawhide.

Yeehaw! I've been to Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass three times: the first was on a Friday for a Fever…read moreevent on Halloween (Glowing Pumpkins) and the second and third times were on a Saturday and Sunday for Ostrich Festival. Rawhide hosts various events, including bull riding and concerts. For the Fever event, parking was free. For Ostrich Festival, pre-paid parking was $13 or $15 at the gate. You really have no other choice but to park in their lot given that it's basically out there on it's own in Chandler. It's about a 30-minute walk from Gila Casino. Rawhide is a "Western Town." While there isn't any historical context, Rawhide is made to look like an old Western town, dusty roads and saloon-style buildings included. The aesthetic is pretty cool. And it's spacious too. The logistics with the parking situation and getting your shoes dusty, not so much. Depending on the event, there might be vendors selling food, drinks, and more. While the vibe is cool, as the self-appointed king of events in Phoenix, I put this venue close to the end of the pecking order overall.

This was my first year attending. One of the main reasons for the unpleasant experience was the…read moreweather. The venue has no control over that. However, they do have control over the misting truck that was smack dab in the middle of the place. In my opinion, since there was few areas with shade on 100F+ day, there should have been a couple more. I stopped for a little bit to try and watch the pig races. Again, no shade to watch them from. The spectator stands were out in the sun. Sidenote, an umbrella vendor would've made a killing this year. I did see a couple people who were prepared and toted around their umbrellas...but the cheapest one I found when I was there was $15, which I couldn't justify buying. It's a nice little event with carnival games and rides. I just think Mother Nature put a damper on this year's shindig. I won free admission tickets in a raffle, so I just had to pay for parking (and the over priced food). If I had to pay parking plus admission, I think I'd pass. I also know that I cannot survive an outdoor event like this when it is super hot outside. I would've liked to have stayed for the Commodores but they weren't scheduled to take stage til 9pm, which makes it a bit late for me since I still had about an hour drive home.

In 2025, I wanted to attend Ostrich Festival for the first time, but my schedule wouldn't allow it…read more I'm glad I was able to check it out in 2026. I was there for the second weekend, to see The Commodores on Saturday and Baby Bash on Sunday. Some of the other main acts over the course of this two-weekend festival were Kansas and Vanilla Ice. This is the first year the festival has been held at Rawhide. There are some things I really enjoyed about the festival, and some things that I didn't enjoy very much. On the plus side, ticket prices were quite reasonable. That isn't always the case when it comes to festivals. On the other end, you have to pay for parking to attend unless you're using ride share. There's nowhere to park for free that would take you less than a 30 minute walk to get to the entrance. Parking is $15 if you pay at the gate and $13 if you pre-pay online. Take that into account so you have a gauge of the full price of the event. On the plus side, Rawhide is a spacious venue. Beyond the main stage, there was a smaller stage, a ton of food options, carnival games, amusement park rides, and more. I was surprised that the Festival reminded me of a rodeo or state fair more so than a music-centric festival. Given the games and rides, you'll see a lot of kids and families there. On the downside, since it's a "Western town," for the most part, it's dirt, gravel, and grass. Meaning you'll probably be leaving the festival with some dusty shoes. Let's go back to the food. A lot of fair food. Which is going to be overpriced. I had two crepes from AZ Crepe, a pretzel from Wetzel's Pretzels, and a smoothie from Fruitilandia. I wasn't a fan of the smoothie, but the rest met my expectations for the venue. If you'd like to save a little bit on the cost, you can bring in an unopened bottle of water. Next up, the music itself. The stage is pretty solid and it was easy to get right in the center of the action. It's standing room only, unless you get VIP tickets, but you can also bring your own lawn chairs or use some of the chairs that are already there if you can snag one. Festivals are typically pretty consistent when it comes to set times. Baby Bash was scheduled to perform at 8:30. He came on at 9:45. They did share on Instagram that the set times had been pushed back, but I unfortunately didn't see the post in time. My mistake, though from attending a bunch of festivals, it is unusual for the set times to change last minute. While I've been to festivals in other states, the only other ones I've been to in Phoenix are Innings Festival and Extra Innings Festival. I like those festivals more in terms of the overall experience, but I still had a good time at Ostrich Festival. I didn't spot any ostriches, but I hear you can interact with them somewhere at the venue.

It was my first visit and I had a really great experience. I took one of my friends daughter's out…read morefor a morning of Duck Pin Bowling. I had never heard of this, but after reading about it on their website I was game. The bowling concept is the same except I didn't need my bowling shoes that I brought and the balls were palm sized with no holes. It took me quite a few rolls to figure out the best way to knock the pins down. The various screen and floor themes add to the fun. I especially enjoyed the Pinpix theme which creates a facial features and crazy accessories. The only thing that was missing was music. We got there when they first opened at 10am and we were the only ones in the bowling area so it was quiet. The staff was really helpful and explained how everything worked. I love the concept of indoor go-karts, bowling, arcade, food, etc for a fun time.

Checked out Andretti as part of a full day birthday celebration for an adult…read more We chose to do one go kart race and our heat was scheduled about 15 minutes after we purchased the ticket. We were told to check back in five minutes before the heat started. On our way to check in, we saw some other people checking in who we had previously observed partaking in some 'recreational activities' in the parking lot - no judgment on that, but I do have a legitimate concern for my safety driving with others under an influence. I approached the staff member in the check in room and explained the situation and asked if we could postpone to the next heat. I was told I'd have to go back to the front desk and ask if they can make the change and that the next heat wouldn't be for another half hour. We didn't have the flexibility in our schedule to stay that long so we decided to participate in the current heat. The staff member told me I could pull over to the side to get assisted off the track if I needed to at any time. I didn't love that I would have to exit the race because of someone else's behavior. Interestingly, during the race, one person crashed into the wall in front of me and the other person crashed into my partner. Aside from all that drama, the track was pretty fun with lots of hard turns. The vehicles had great traction. The turbo button on the vehicle I was using was not marked or colored, so I was not able to use it during the race which was disappointing. I think that all of the entertainment and activity options were exciting and plentiful. If I had endless time and funds, I could definitely keep myself busy here for several hours, maybe even an entire day. I didn't love that a single go kart race was $30 per person and I didn't love that safety wasn't taken more seriously.

Located within Downtown Chandler is this yearly event (location can shift depending on the year)…read more Parking can be a little crazy, so I suggest trying the parking garage. Sadly, I wanted to like this event more but the heat just makes in intolerable. Plus the food is not authentic in the slightest, and downright not very good. I went last year, and didn't write a review as thought it may be a one off. After a second visit, I've determined this is a pass for me. Additionally, it notes swag available but no indication where to receive so likely an old check in offer. If the weather is better, I would consider trying this event for a third time but overall a pass for me.

Oktoberfest... Puns about the food served at Oktoberfest are…read morethe wurst! We went at 5PM so the weather was great. The sun set behind the grand Santan brewery shortly after and the light breeze made for a pleasant time at this cozy Oktoberfest. I watched an intense game where everybody had to hold up a beer stein of water and the last one standing wins. I was cheering for the hot Chandler PD cop but he didn't win. Womp womp. I also watch a few rounds of people throwing brats at each other to catch in their mouths. I really just wanted to watch the weiner dog race! It's a small Oktoberfest with not too much to offer but still a lot of fun. Come with some friends, enjoy some beer, brats, and pretzels, and have fun! Prost!

could not possibly give a lower rating to EAGLE MOUNTAIN POWERSPORTS ! they have had my jetskis…read morenow for over a year ! jonathan lied repeatedly about their mechanics being certified ! lied about them running great when they did not run all... or left me stranded in the middle of the lake! i have been extremely patient with them knowing that they are starting up but jonathan will just look you in the face and lie ! i even had one of his supposed certified experienced mechanics look me in the eye and say " ive only been doing this for two weeks ! " i have filed complaints and am perusing a lawsuit for damages ! not enough space here for me to relay what has transpired over a year of lies and deception ! note they have been paid for services for over a year now ! be aware of shady businesses !

The owner was great, set us up, a once over and we were off! A fantastic afternoon on the rocks.read more

3.5* rounded up…read more Packet pick up was a breeze the day before, and they had the extra medal and shirt I'd ordered for my Mom. It literally took 10 minutes to peruse the vendors, snap some pics and be on our way. They were giving out water samples, some type of alcohol, donuts, and Orangetheory was offering a free class with your email/cell info, too. Parking was plentiful, and free. Porta Potties were available by start/finish line. The Half Marathon started just 15 minutes before the 5K, but both starts went smoothly. The MC had the crowd pumped, and the whole vibe of the all woman event was empowering; lots of support amongst the ladies on the course. It was a fast course, flat, and well supported by Chandler PD, some volunteers, and residents, with a hydration station just after 1.1 mile marker for the 5K. I was on track for a PR until spotting a stray dog in traffic and trying with another runner - in vain - to secure him. Sadly, after 20 minutes, we weren't able to help more than getting him off of a very busy road where drivers nearly hit us! :::sigh::: Medals and long stemmed roses were presented at the finish, there was hydration, bananas, cake, protein bars, and a stretching booth. My only gripe was the long line to get photos after the race, they only had one printer, but organizers announced several times that they would get more for next races. All photos on the website are watermark free=super! Otherwise very organized, and I'm looking forward to future 131 Production events. I'm a fan!

Had registered for the half very much in advance of race day, and when I registered they shared…read morethere was an option that I could transfer to the virtual option for a small fee. Come closer to race day, I end up needing to work that time, tried to transfer to the virtual option. Was told I couldn't transfer, but I could re-register (for 2x the registration fee!) for the virtual option.