The 10 most-read Phoenix New Times arts and culture stories of 2024

The Valley offered plenty to see and do this year. And we helped bring it to you.

In 2024, Phoenix New Times readers took a nostalgia-tinged look at the past, gazed into the skies and turned their attention to those dropping their pants in public.

These were among our most-read arts and culture stories of the past year. Others include an update on the highly anticipated Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, news of actor Rob Schneider teasing a potential run for Arizona Governor and a heartfelt farewell to a beloved rhino at the Phoenix Zoo.

Here are Phoenix New Times’ 10 most-read arts and culture stories from 2024.

10. Will Comet A3 be visible in Arizona tonight? What to know

It was a busy year for skywatching in Arizona, with a solar eclipse, supermoons, and spectacular meteor showers lighting up the skies. In the fall, locals witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Dubbed the “comet of the year” for its brilliance and visibility, the icy, long-tailed interstellar traveler passed Earth on its 80,000-year journey through the solar system. It first appeared just before dawn in the eastern sky in late September, then became visible shortly after sunset on the western horizon in mid-October during its closest approach to Earth.

9. Phoenix's best Christmas lights and holiday displays in 2024

When the holidays are in full swing, Phoenix transforms into a city of lights. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, homes across the Valley — from Gilbert to Goodyear — shine with festive displays. Some homeowners go all out, covering their properties with hundreds of thousands of bulbs, animated figures and enough Christmas cheer to melt even the Grinchiest hearts. This year, our annual roundup of the Valley’s best DIY holiday displays highlighted such standouts as a castle-themed display glowing with 100,000-plus lights and another featuring a 3,000-pixel LED screen where visitors could play “Pac-Man” and “Pong.”

8. Photos: Iconic Phoenix Metrocenter mall over the years

After years of delays, demolition crews began tearing down Phoenix’s Metrocenter Mall in November to make way for The Metropolitan, a 68-acre urban village and townhome complex, and The Loop, a 140,000-square-foot retail center. To mark the occasion, New Times looked back at the rise and fall of Metrocenter, which operated from 1973 to 2020. The two-story, 1.4 million-square-foot landmark was once the pinnacle of mall culture in Phoenix, serving as a premier shopping destination, cultural hub, and beloved hangout for generations of Valley residents before becoming a vacant relic that was killed off by the pandemic.

7. Mattel Adventure Park set to open this year despite VAI Resort delays

Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, a $260 million theme park set to open near VAI Resort, is one of the Valley’s most anticipated projects. Given the nine-acre development will include thrill rides and attractions inspired by popular toys like Barbie, Hot Wheels and Masters of the Universe, it’s no wonder why such excitement is building. The wait for the park’s opening day has, fittingly, been something of a roller coaster. In June, a Mattel Adventure Park spokesperson announced it would debut by the end of 2024, despite delays with VAI Resort. Months later, the park’s opening was postponed to 2025, aligning with VAI Resort’s phase one launch.

6. Here's when to see the supermoon and lunar eclipse over Arizona

A supermoon is always a noteworthy event, as it causes the already brilliant full moon to appear noticeably larger and brighter due to its closer proximity to Earth. The spectacle becomes even more extraordinary when it coincides with another celestial phenomenon. Such was the case on Sept. 17, when the Harvest Supermoon — a supermoon coinciding with the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox — occurred alongside a partial lunar eclipse. This rare combination created a stunning combination as Earth’s shadow partially obscured the glowing supermoon.

5. Actor Rob Schneider threatens to run for Arizona governor

Mind-boggling moments were par for the course on Election Day, November 4. One of the wildest came when actor, comedian, author, and Valley resident Rob Schneider teased a potential run for Arizona Governor in a post on X, responding to Assistant Maricopa County Manager Zach Schira’s statement that final election results could take days to be announced. Schneider, a prominent supporter of the Republican Party and the MAGA movement, has remained quiet about any plans to run for Arizona’s highest office in the weeks since Election Day, though.

4. Here’s what’s happening to the Fry’s Electronics store in Phoenix

The distinctive Fry’s Electronics building in North Phoenix, designed to resemble an Aztec temple, was set to be sacrificed to the gods of progress earlier this year. In June, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved purchasing the 12.5-acre site of the now-closed store to house the new Cactus Park Police Precinct headquarters and a future fire station. The big-box retailer shut down in 2021 following the nationwide closure of Fry’s Electronics. Like other locations, the North Phoenix store featured a unique theme reflecting local history and culture. In this case, it was an Aztec temple theme, complete with a stylized facade and life-sized costumed mannequins inside, endearing it to Valley residents, computer builders and tech enthusiasts.

3. Can you see the northern lights in Arizona tonight?

In May, local skywatchers enjoyed a rare appearance of the northern lights illuminating the night skies in a brilliant purple and pink glow. That’s right. The aurora borealis. At that time of year. In this part of the country. The stunning sight caused by an intense solar geomagnetic storm triggered by multiple coronal mass ejections days prior. As a result, the northern lights were seen as far south as southern California and Alabama. Arizonans got another chance to see the phenomena in October after a second geomagnetic storm occurred.

2. Howard the rhino euthanized after four years at the Phoenix Zoo

In September, Valley residents mourned the loss of Howard, a beloved southern white rhinoceros at the Phoenix Zoo. Veterinarians euthanized the 27-year-old rhino after battling a prolonged and progressive neurological condition that no longer responded to treatment, according to a statement from the zoo. Howard, born at Florida’s White Oak Conservation Center in 1997, began living at the Phoenix Zoo in 2020. He was reportedly an easy-going creature known to stand near his keepers for interactions and frequent scritches.

1. Your guide to the Phoenix No Pants Light Rail Ride 2024

When we previewed the return of the Phoenix No Pants Light Rail Ride after a four-year hiatus in January, it caused a stir. The cheeky, body-positive urban prank — where participants ride Valley Metro Rail trains without pants — sparked controversy among far-right extremists and some Valley residents, who deemed the event an affront to public decency. Originating in NYC in 2002, the ride became an annual Phoenix tradition before being derailed by the pandemic. The story gained a lot of attention, as did our photos of the 2024 ride, which featured more than 100 people dropping trou on trains. No laws were broken, however.