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Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday

More than two dozen Valley protests are planned as part of a nationwide day of action.

News

More than two dozen Valley demonstrations are planned for Saturday&#x27;s nationwide <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No Kings protest against President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" target="_self">No Kings protest against President Trump</a>.Why it matters: Thousands are expected to take to the streets to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="denounce ICE&#x27;s expected enforcement ramp-up in Phoenix" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/25/phoenix-council-city-property-ice-immigration-prohibition" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/25/phoenix-council-city-property-ice-immigration-prohibition" target="_self">denounce ICE&#x27;s expected enforcement ramp-up in Phoenix</a>, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iran war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-polls-americans-skeptical" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-polls-americans-skeptical" target="_self">Iran war</a> and other Trump priorities.

Shipping container housing opens for homeless seniors

The complex has 40 transitional housing units, and residents will have access to case managers and social services.

A newly opened project in Phoenix offers transitional housing made from shipping containers for older adults who are experiencing homelessness.State of play: City officials and others gathered Wednesday morning for the opening of Senior Bridge, which provides 40 individual transitional housing units for homeless seniors at 28th and Van Buren streets.

Charles Barkley blimp returns to Phoenix skies

The Charles Barkley blimp is back as Final Four week begins.

Keep an eye on the sky for a rare migratory sighting: The 128-foot Charles Barkley blimp is back in Phoenix for the first time in two years.Why it matters: We&#x27;ve missed Soar Charles (also called: Charles Flightly, The Up Chuck, Air Chuck One and The Ugly Chuckling).

Krav Mama: A self-defense class designed for new moms

A Tempe instructor created a postpartum workout where moms train with their babies.

<figure><img alt="A gif of a woman holding a baby and kicking a heavy bag in a gym." height="600" id="671d5f45-200d-469c-8060-0a3462c8e142" src="https://images.axios.com/ZstKyMUT41Amr56A_Usmnb3bB_w=/2026/03/26/1774548998563.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Jessica and her daughter test out Krav Mama. Photo: Courtesy of EVKM Self Defense &amp; Fitness</figcaption></figure>Tempe Krav Maga instructor and new mom Sara Ullenbruch-Zarezadeh has developed a postpartum version of the popular Israeli self-defense training. <ul><li>She&#x27;s calling it Krav Mama.</li></ul>Why it matters: Protecting yourself looks different when you have a baby in your arms or a tot by your side.

Heat wave forces changes to Valley events

We only get so many mild weekends a year, and this heat wave is disrupting one.

This weekend&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extreme heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/11/poll-phoenix-heat-100-degrees" data-vars-content-id="0ef03278-e5ac-431e-8d5d-5e26719e24d8" data-vars-headline="Heat wave forces changes to Valley events" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/11/poll-phoenix-heat-100-degrees" target="_self">extreme heat</a> — with temperatures expected to hit 105 degrees — is derailing the Valley&#x27;s prime <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="event" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/things-to-do" data-vars-content-id="0ef03278-e5ac-431e-8d5d-5e26719e24d8" data-vars-headline="Heat wave forces changes to Valley events" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/things-to-do" target="_self">event</a> and tourism season.Why it matters: We only get so many mild weekends a year, which is why many of our festivals and outdoor activities are crammed into March.

Valley splash pad season starts as temps climb

Many splash pads are open now, with more set to open through May.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Triple-digit temperatures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/11/poll-phoenix-heat-100-degrees" data-vars-content-id="9efbaa19-a25f-4f69-89ee-b821dadb1ba4" data-vars-headline="Valley splash pad season starts as temps climb" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/11/poll-phoenix-heat-100-degrees" target="_self">Triple-digit temperatures</a> in March mean the Valley&#x27;s splash pad season has arrived early.Why it matters: It&#x27;s too early for indoor-only days — water features make the heat manageable.

Spring Training turns the Valley into baseball's home away from home

Fans flock to the Cactus League for sunshine, community and $764M in impact.

Baseball fans from across the country are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fleeing winter for the desert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/23/baseball-fans-winter-spring-training-arizona-sloan-park-glendale-mesa" data-vars-content-id="1fae854b-3591-48fa-8d92-4dd40cb835db" data-vars-headline="Spring Training turns the Valley into baseball&#x27;s home away from home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/23/baseball-fans-winter-spring-training-arizona-sloan-park-glendale-mesa" target="_self">fleeing winter for the desert</a> this week as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spring Training season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/10/catchers-and-pitchers-report-for-arizona-spring-training" data-vars-content-id="1fae854b-3591-48fa-8d92-4dd40cb835db" data-vars-headline="Spring Training turns the Valley into baseball&#x27;s home away from home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/10/catchers-and-pitchers-report-for-arizona-spring-training" target="_self">Spring Training season</a> kicks off across the Phoenix area.The big picture: This year marks the 79th year of the Cactus League, which now boasts 15 teams training across 10 Valley stadiums.

Free NCAA Women's Final Four fan events in downtown Phoenix

Free fan festivals, concerts and open practices will take over downtown April 2–5.

Phoenix is weeks away from hosting the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NCAA Women&#x27;s Final Four" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/12/10/pic-du-jour-final-four-southwestern-style" data-vars-content-id="f8397986-95c5-4770-9f48-e98b095f39d3" data-vars-headline="Free NCAA Women&#x27;s Final Four fan events in downtown Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/12/10/pic-du-jour-final-four-southwestern-style" target="_self">NCAA Women&#x27;s Final Four</a> for the first time and the local organizing committee on Tuesday announced a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ballin&#x27; lineup of fan events" data-vars-click-url="https://phoenixfinalfour.com/arizona-prepares-for-states-ncaa-womens-final-four/" data-vars-content-id="f8397986-95c5-4770-9f48-e98b095f39d3" data-vars-headline="Free NCAA Women&#x27;s Final Four fan events in downtown Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://phoenixfinalfour.com/arizona-prepares-for-states-ncaa-womens-final-four/" target="_blank">ballin&#x27; lineup of fan events</a> leading up to the games.Mark your calendars: All events are free and in downtown Phoenix.

Global virtual reality company Sandbox VR opening first Arizona location

Sandbox VR will bring its immersive "full body" virtual reality experience to Arizona this spring.

A virtual reality company that offers immersive &quot;full-body&quot; gaming experiences is opening its first location in Arizona.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sandbox VR" data-vars-click-url="https://sandboxvr.com/about-us" data-vars-content-id="2dfa0e6b-1811-4f29-964a-638e13ebf2ec" data-vars-headline="Global virtual reality company Sandbox VR opening first Arizona location" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sandboxvr.com/about-us" target="_blank">Sandbox VR</a>, which has 74 locations globally, is coming to Gilbert this spring.

Curling slides into the spotlight in the Valley

Olympic hype is driving new players to try curling.

Forget <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pickleball" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/08/10/metro-phoenix-mecca-pickleball-players" data-vars-content-id="5ca119ee-dddc-413e-a20d-ed2566c5a498" data-vars-headline="Curling slides into the spotlight in the Valley" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/08/10/metro-phoenix-mecca-pickleball-players" target="_self">pickleball</a>. The trendiest sport in the Valley (at least for the next few weeks) may be the one played with brooms on ice.Why it matters: Every Winter Olympics, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="curling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/what-is-curling-sweeping-rules" data-vars-content-id="5ca119ee-dddc-413e-a20d-ed2566c5a498" data-vars-headline="Curling slides into the spotlight in the Valley" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/what-is-curling-sweeping-rules" target="_self">curling</a> becomes the &quot;toast of the town&quot; as the world watches men and women sweep away at the ice in a highly strategic — but not super strenuous — competition, Coyotes Curling Club board member Darryl Horsman told Axios.

Rick Steves says travel can bridge America's divides

The travel expert says curiosity and humility abroad can help heal divides at home.

European travel guru Rick Steves is coming to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Phoenix Travel &amp; Adventure Show" data-vars-click-url="https://travelshows.com/shows/phoenix/" data-vars-content-id="b6d6bca9-1d7d-4ec8-a996-20286f27cfb2" data-vars-headline="Rick Steves says travel can bridge America&#x27;s divides" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://travelshows.com/shows/phoenix/" target="_blank">Phoenix Travel &amp; Adventure Show</a> this weekend with a singular goal: Convince Americans to embrace culture shock and venture beyond Orlando.Why it matters: Steves has spent decades encouraging Americans to explore the world with humility and curiosity and he told us the key to mending our fractured country may lie in international exploration.

Poll: Best Phoenix first dates

It's February: A month to celebrate relationships, friendships — and maybe a new romance?

It&#x27;s February: A month to celebrate relationships, friendships — and maybe a new romance?State of play: Valentine&#x27;s Day can be tough for our single brethren so we want to help with a roundup of the best places for a first date.

Things to Do 🗓

Charles Barkley blimp returns to Phoenix skies

Krav Mama: A self-defense class designed for new moms

Heat wave forces changes to Valley events

Ballet Arizona debuts "Cacti & Other Works" this weekend

Valley splash pad season starts as temps climb