The 18 Best Memorial Day Weekend 2017 Parties in Metro Phoenix

So it's Memorial Day weekend, which equals three days and four nights devoted to rest, relaxation, and thoughtful reflection, right? Not so much, especially when it comes to anyone who's ready to party.

MDW, as the holiday weekend has become known, is typically wall-to-wall with pool parties, club nights, and dance events. Folks who are up for celebrating and down for anything tend to get out and go hard all three days, whether it means dancing in a club or drinking at some poolside soiree.

And a variety of big-name DJs will be headed to town to spin at many of MDW's biggest events, including Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Kill Paris, and Eddie Amador.

Here's the lowdown on 18 of the best Memorial Day weekend parties that will be happening from Friday, May 26, to Sunday, May 29.

DJ Green Lantern at Salt
The famed trap and hip-hop selector will be holding it down at this Westgate taqueria and party spot on Friday, May 26. Expect drinks, dancing, and plenty of dope music. Things get going at 9 p.m. It’s free if you RSVP online or $10 for general admission.

Good Times Disco Party at Rips Ales & Cocktails
Turn the beat around at this “disco party for boys and girls” on Friday, May 26, at the 16th Street rock bar. DJ Mercurius FM and special guests will spin disco, electro boogie, proto-house, and Italo-disco all evening as costumed patrons shake a tailfeather. Drink specials and free pizza will be available. Admission is free, and the disco ball starts spinning at 9 p.m.

If It Isn't Neon It Shouldn't Be On at Club Red in Mesa
Ravers and kandi kids will be in abundance at this neon-themed dance party on Friday, May 26, that’s aimed at the 18-and-over crowd. Headlining DJs include Astronaut and Rivero, and the lineup will feature locals like Grund, Kromatik, Skelefriend, and Arietta spinning such genres as hardstyle and drum ‘n’ bass. Doors open at 8 p.m. General admission is $15, VIP access (which includes a lanyard, poster, express entry, and other perks) is $25, and premium tickets are $50. Full details can be found here.

Memorial Day Weekend at Maya Day & Nightclub in Scottsdale
Of course, Maya will have a party lined up for Memorial Day weekend. Duh. It'll have two, actually, each with its own DJ. To wit: Felix Cartal will get things going on Friday, May 26, with his brand of high-energy EDM. Doors open at 10 p.m., and it's free with an RSVP. Maya resident Jerzy will take over the following evening on Saturday, May 27, and will spin up plenty of Top 40 hits and crowd-pleasing tracks. The party starts at 10 p.m., and admission is $10.

Kill Paris at Shady Park in Tempe
Hit up the Beatport profile for Kill Paris and you’ll discover dozens of tracks from the realms of dubstep, glitch hop, and drum ‘n’ bass. It’s the same styles that will be blasted throughout the patio area of Shady Park in Tempe on Friday, May 26. Electric Mantis, Dirty Doses, and Mustache Sweat will open the gig, which starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Gabriel & Dresden at Monarch Theatre
This progressive house duo, who have been kicking around the DJ world since 2001, returns to the Valley for a Memorial Day weekend gig on Saturday, May 27, in the Monarch Theatre's upstairs lounge. Local DJs will open the evening, which will go from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. Tickets are $15.

D.A.N.C.E. - An Indie Dance Party at Valley Bar
Mitch Freedom and Jared Alan will tag-team the mixers at Valley Bar on Saturday, May 27, during the Memorial Day weekend edition of this monthly dance party. Both discerning DJs will spin indie dance music of the new and classic variety for the delight of those in attendance. Local bands MRCH and Navvi will also perform live sets. The party starts at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover.

All-American Weekend at Lustre Rooftop Bar
Four straight days of celebrations will take place around the pool at the Hotel Palomar's outdoor bar and open-air lounge. Events will happen daily from Friday, May 26, to Monday, May 29, and feature a mix of barbecue, bottle service, guest DJs, live music, and specials on Tito's Handmade Vodka. The pool opens daily at 11 a.m. and it's free to attend.

Swim Meet: Memorial Day Weekend at The Saguaro
The Scottsdale boutique hotel will launch its new “Swim Meet” holiday pool party series with this lively affair on Saturday, May 27. A total of eight local DJs – including Trilltone, Simplyput, Axion, Skelefriend, and Austin Feldman – will spin throughout the afternoon and various food and drink specials will be available. The party runs from noon until 6 p.m. It's free to attend if you RSVP online before 1 p.m. on the day of the event and $10 general admission thereafter.

Cherry Bomb! Burlesque & Dance Party at Rogue Bar in Scottsdale
DJ Betty Blackheart of Cupcake! will pull double duty as DJ and host during this sexy and cheeky affair on Saturday, May 27, at The Rogue. Burlesque artists such as Dita Dame, Lily LaVamp, Lydia Wilts, and Vailence will provide revealing performances and giveaways and drink specials will be offered. Door are at 9 p.m. RSVP on the Facebook page and show up before 10 p.m. to get in free. Otherwise, there’s a $5 cover.

Memorial Day Weekend at W Scottsdale Hotel
As is the case during any three-day holiday weekend, the W Scottsdale will offer a pair of stylish swim soirees on its second-floor WET Deck in honor of MDW 2017. The festivities kick off on Saturday, May 27, with hot spins from DJ/fashion designer Allie Teilz, who’s opened for Arcade Fire, Radiohead and M83. Remix artist Speaker of the House, who’s reworking of Dada Life’s “One Last Night on Earth” earned millions of listens, will perform at the W’s second Memorial Day weekend party on Sunday, May 28. Both events start at noon and will feature high-end cocktails, bottle service, and other posh perks. Admission is $20 each day.

Steve Aoki at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale
When superstar DJ/producer/party fiend Steve Aoki headlines Talking Stick’s Release pool party on Saturday, May 27, you can expect any combination of the following: big moments of high-energy electro, bottles being popped, sheet cakes getting tossed at the crowd, and swimsuit-clad partiers losing their shit. In other words, all the hallmarks of a Steve Aoki show. Gates open at 11 a.m. and Aoki will hit the stage in the late afternoon. Tickets are $25.

Desert Hearts Presents at Monarch Theatre
A quartet of DJs – including Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Marbs, and Porkchop – will invade the Monarch on Sunday, May 28, each with their own take on electronic dance music. Doors are at 9 p.m. Admission is $20.

Afrojack at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale
Nick van de Wall has been doing the DJ thing for almost two decade as Afrojack. And in that time, he's seen a lot of things change with EDM. One thing that hasn’t is the fact that people still go crazy for his sounds, which we expect will be the case when he performs at the Release pool party at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale on Sunday, May 28. Gates open at 11 a.m. Tickets are $30.

Saint WKND at Bar Smith
Maximilian Seethaler, better known as Saint WKND, creates house and electronic dance sounds in the funky and soulful vein. You can hear 'em for yourself up on Bar Smith's rooftop patio on Sunday, May 28, when Seethaler winds down Memorial Day weekend at the club. Doors are at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10-$15.

RedMonkey at Monarch Theatre
Local DJ scene godfather Pete Salaz will serve up a special Memorial Day weekend edition of his popular RedMonkey dance party on Sunday, May 28, in the Monarch Theatre’s upstairs lounge. Grammy-nominated house music legend Eddie Amador will headline the event, which will also include sets by Turner and Heit, Cocoe and Santos, Sean Watson, Cormac, and Salaz himself. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the party goes until 5 a.m. Tickets are $10.