You can find a variety of no‑cost options across metro Phoenix this weekend, from museum exhibits and gallery openings to live performances and themed pop‑ups. Events span the Valley and include family‑friendly attractions as well as late‑night markets and community gatherings.
“Radio That Rocked the Valley” is on display at the Chandler Museum through Sept. 27. The exhibition traces local broadcasting from early AM transmissions in the 1920s through stations such as KRUX, KOY and KZZP, with museum hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Chandler Museum is located at 300 S. Chandler Village Drive in Chandler.
Horror fans can stop by Terror Trader in Chandler on Friday, May 15, for an “Obsession” scavenger hunt tied to the new film’s release. The free pop‑up runs from 4 to 6 p.m.; visitors who find a movie‑related Post‑It note hidden in the space win an official “Obsession” T‑shirt. Terror Trader is at 941 W. Elliot Road, #3.
Also on Friday, the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts presents the next installment of the city’s Global Sounds concert series. The evening features Serenity Dance, a student‑led Arizona group performing Vietnamese traditional dance and modern K‑pop. The performance begins at 7 p.m. and runs roughly 80 to 90 minutes including intermission; complimentary tickets may be reserved through the TheaterWorks box office or by calling 623‑815‑7930.
Alwun House will host the opening reception for “Nappy Roots, The Homecoming” on Friday, May 15, from 6 to 10 p.m. Paintings by Myja Lark explore Black identity using hair and heritage as central themes. Myja Lark painting on display at Alwun House — one of the free art exhibits highlighted for the weekend in Phoenix.
Finish the weekend at Thunderbird Lounge’s Monster Market on Sunday, May 17. The final market of the season runs from 5 to 10 p.m., with about 30 vendors and DJs curated by Cult Classics, plus food and drink for purchase; the event is all‑ages and takes place at 710 W. Montecito Ave.
Several ongoing free options are available across the Valley. The ASU Art Museum is free whenever it’s open, and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum offers free admission at all times. Phoenix Art Museum operates on a pay‑what‑you‑wish schedule on Wednesdays from 3 to 8 p.m., while the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is pay‑what‑you‑wish on Thursdays and every second Saturday. For outdoor attractions, the Estrella Star Tower in Goodyear is illuminated beginning at dusk and open daily until 8:15 p.m.; visitors are asked to stay on marked paths and be respectful as the tower is part of a residential neighborhood. Illuminated suspended public‑art installation over a downtown outdoor stage, shown lit at night and listed as a free outdoor attraction this weekend.
For sweeping Valley views, Dobbins Lookout on South Mountain (10919 S. Central Ave.) offers unobstructed panoramas at 2,330 feet; check the Phoenix Parks & Recreation website for current hours and closures. Regular free community offerings include the Phoenix Run Club’s Wednesday evening runs at 6:30 p.m. from the Biltmore Fashion Park center lawn, The Nash’s Thursday Jazz Happy Hour beginning at 5 p.m., and the longtime Scottsdale Art Walk on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Old Town Scottsdale.