If you’re in Phoenix this week and wondering what to do, you’ve picked a perfect time to get out and explore. The city is buzzing with holiday energy, live music, dazzling lights, and plenty of ways to enjoy those cool desert evenings.

Let’s start with tonight’s big stage options. According to the City of Phoenix events listing for the Orpheum Theatre, The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show hits downtown this evening at 7 p.m., bringing campy comedy, music, and over–the–top holiday fun from RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme. If you’re in the mood for something theatrical but a bit more classic, Vivid Seats notes that A Christmas Carol is on stage tonight at The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Stephenson Theatre, offering that cozy, Dickens-style holiday nostalgia in live, local form.

Music fans have a full week lined up. Phoenix Magazine highlights a run of major concerts around the Valley: progressive metal icons Queensrÿche are in town on their Volume and Vengeance Tour at The Van Buren, giving rock fans a loud, late–week escape. Later in the week, Smokey Robinson brings timeless Motown hits to the Showroom at Gila River Resort in Chandler, a rare chance to hear a true legend in an intimate setting. Phoenix Magazine also points to a swinging holiday show from Squirrel Nut Zippers at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, where they’ll mix tunes from their Christmas Caravan album with vintage jazz and lounge favorites. And to cap the weekend, LeAnn Rimes is set to perform at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, blending her country hits with holiday vibes for a perfect night out.

If you’d rather stroll than sit, Artlink’s Artinerary Calendar spotlights In Your Wildest Dreams at the Phoenix Zoo, a nighttime experience where the zoo transforms with immersive light displays and artful installations along the paths. It’s family–friendly, very Instagrammable, and a great excuse to bundle up and wander under the stars.

For a quieter cultural break during the week, the Phoenix Art Museum invites listeners to explore its extensive collection of more than 21,000 works, from ancient to contemporary. The museum is open into the evening on select days, and its new restaurant, Alden at PhxArt, serves New American cuisine next to the Dorrance Sculpture Garden, making it a smooth one–stop night of art and dining.

Professionals looking to mix learning with networking can check out the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion – Empower Teams event listed on Eventbrite, taking place in Phoenix this week and focused on building stronger, more inclusive workplaces. It’s a solid way to use a weekday afternoon or evening to sharpen leadership skills before heading into the new year.

However you like to spend your time – laughing at a drag holiday spectacular, singing along with legends, wandering through zoo lights, or soaking in world–class art – Phoenix is serving up plenty of options for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss what’s happening around the Valley.

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI