11 Best Labor Day Weekend Parties in Metro Phoenix

Congratulations, you've almost made it through the summer. It may not feel like it at the moment, considering that temperatures are still up in the triple digits, but we're only a couple of weeks away from the promised land of cooler climes. If nothing else, that's cause enough for celebration, and since the Labor Day Weekend (which ostensibly is the home stretch for the summertime) is a few days hence, you'll have many chances to let loose.

Three straight days and nights of activities and adventures – like club shindigs, dance fiestas, pool parties, outdoor events, and other places wear you can sport swimwear one last time – beckon to those who are lucky enough to be off from work. That any includes any of the following 11 affairs happening between Saturday, September 4, and Monday, September 7.

As always, be sure to know your limits and get home safe. 

Maya Day & Nightclub
The Labor Day Weekend party action over at Maya in Scottsdale will offer all the hallmarks of one of its holiday weekend ragers, such as costumed go-go girls, all manner of inflatable playthings, bottles being popped, plenty of shenanigans both inside its dance club and out around the pool, and (naturally) some world-renowned DJs in the mix. The lineup of special guests includes an evening session by Vicetone on Friday, September 4, followed by afternoon performances by Skrillex on Saturday, September 5, and Headhunterz on Sunday, September 6. Doors open at 9 p.m on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices vary per day.

Club DWNTWN
Thanks to the fact that Labor Day holiday happens to occur on first weekend of the September allows it to coincide with the monthly HÄXAN affair at Club DWNTWN. As per usual, the “doomed disco-tech” will involved dancers dressed in freaky and fetishistic fashion writhing and grinding away to gloomy and eclectic sounds courtesy of the night's resident DJs inside the nightclub up 3:30 a.m. while the video artists of Gestalt Theory project “unsettling visuals” on the walls. This month, HÄXAN features a theme inspired by the “Curse of the White Witch” and patrons are encouraged to wear their “most sinister white adornments” while attempting to eliminate said curse in what's described as a “mass ritual” of dance. Doors open at 9 p.m., admission is $8, and those 18-and-over are welcomed after 2 a.m.

The Saguaro Hotel
The Distrito bar inside the Saguaro will host an All White Affair on Friday, September 4, with three DJs spinning R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, Top 40, classics, and other high-energy dance music all night long. Drink and bottle specials include $100 Ciroc and Hennesy, $150 Moet Rose, and reverse happy hour prices, until 11 p.m. Naturally, stylish and chic attire of an all-white nature is required. Good thing the event is before Labor Day. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is free for ladies and $5 for guys before 11 p.m. for those who sign up for the online guest list.   

Bad Water Brewing
An indoor and outdoor celebration of barbecue and beer will take place on Saturday, September 5, during a streetside festival in honor of Labor Day at this Scottsdale brewery. Kicking off in the afternoon, the 21-and-over event (sorry parents) will run until the evening and also promise live music, games, giveaways, and other distractions. Hours are from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Hotel Palomar
The upscale hotel's “100 Days of Summer” will wrap up its run during Labor Day weekend with back-to-back parties at the Lustre Rooftop Garden on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6. Both events will include specialty cocktails from the bar, live music, local DJs, giveaways, and the chance to either take a dip in the adjacent pool or simply lounge around and soak up some rays. The events start at 11 a.m. each day and admission is free for hotel guests and tickets are $10 for the general public.


W Scottsdale
There will be excess opportunities to people-watch over Labor Day at the W, as it holiday weekend pool parties on the WET Deck will definitely be a place to see and be seen. Not only will it boast a variety of eye-candy in the form of its model-quality staff and clientele, the talents behind the mixers will be pretty pulchritudinous themselves. Australian-born model/DJ/actress Brooke Evers is scheduled to perform at the hotel, followed by a gig by Kim Lee and Katrina Nov (a.k.a. KimKat) on Sunday, September 6. High-end libations and specialty cocktails will be available at both events, which start at noon. Tickets are $20 each for either party.

Talking Stick Resort
While most cats are likely to be spending the actual Labor Day holiday itself recovering from the prior two days of partying, those with enough excess energy and disposable income leftover will probably be going strong up at Talking Stick in Scottsdale on Monday, September 7, along with Miami's DJ Tony G. during the last of three Release Pool Parties being staged over the holiday weekend. There are also two off-the-chain poolside affairs happening during the preceding days at the resort, which will include performances by Zeds Dead on Saturday, September 5, and Laidback Luke on Sunday, September 6. All three parties will include VIP and cabana rentals, drinks available at two different bars, giveaways, and copious amounts of dancing. Gates open at 11 a.m. each day. Admission prices vary.

FilmBar
The lounge at FilmBar will groove with music, movement, and energy during the monthly Cosmic dance party on Saturday, August 5. Funky and soulful sounds from three different decades will be spun by a crew of DJs throughout the evening at the 21-and-over event and Chef Renetto-Mario Etsitty will have his RezBot pop-up eatery going with frybread and Navajo tacos available for purchase. Dance the night away from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is free.

El Hefe Scottsdale
The Labor Day Weekend version of El Hefe's insanely lively 4-2-10 Sundays is likely to be even livelier than usual, owing to the fact that most of those in attendance have neither work nor school the next day. And the staff at the Scottsdale spot plan to step things up when the party monster masses visit the event on Sunday, September 6, in the form of a slew of special guest DJs, loads of confetti blasters, free swag, and booze aplenty. Doors open at 11 a.m. and there's no cover.

Grimaldi's 
The summer is slowly slipping away, as are your excuses to sport a bikini or some board shorts. But ifa pool party isn't your bag (and if your swimwear offers sufficient protection to certain tender areas) consider climbing aboard your bike and participating in the Labor Day Bathing Suit Brews Cruise being organized by the folks at SanTan. This bar crawl and bike ride on Sunday, September 6, will wind around downtown Scottsdale to several drinkeries and eateries (including Grimaldi's Brat Haus and Dos Gringos) before winding up at Boondocks for a big celebration with a dunk tank, water guns, live music, and more. The cruise kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Grimaldi's near Indian School and Scottsdale roads. Tickets are $30 and include food and drink.

Linger Longer Lounge
There's tends to be a bit of both wish fulfillment and colorful escapism taking place at almost every one of the monthly Tongue Tied theme parties put on by Michele “Roya” Chinichian and Jay “Funkfinger” Wiggins. To wit: even since the event launched last year, it's allowed attendees to become Olympic athletes, superheroes, Jedi Knights, video game characters, heavy metal rockers, and even magical unicorns. This month's edition, which takes place on Saturday, September 6, will offer the opportunity to relive your teenage years as it features a “High School Homecoming” theme. Corsages, crowns, and clumsy dancing will be in abundance during the affair, which will also include a king and queen being selected. The party starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.