Ostrich Fest stays in East Valley, but not in Chandler

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce, Gila River Indian Community, and the city of Chandler have announced that a signature East Valley event is moving.

A news release from LeVine Entertainment states that for several reasons, the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival will move to Rawhide Western Town and Event Center “for the 2026 festival and beyond” to support the event’s continued growth.

Rawhide is located off of I-10 and Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, just southwest of the Chandler city limits.

The big change comes after more than 20 years of the event being held at Tumbleweed Park, one of Chandler’s largest municipal parks.

“The Ostrich Festival has become such a beloved and expansive event that it’s ready for a new home,” Terri Kimble, president of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, said in the news release. “Rawhide provides the space and infrastructure to take the festival experience to the next level for our community.”

The year’s festival will once again take place over two weekends. This year, its March 13-15 and March 20-22. The headline entertainment will be announced in the weeks ahead.

The release states that with new amenities in place at Tumbleweed Park, including an 18-court pickleball facility, a four-field diamond sports complex, and multiple multi-purpose athletic fields, the festival will move to Rawhide to accommodate future growth.

Last year, the parking crunch was apparent even while the pickleball facility was under construction.

The move to Rawhide and beyond supports the continued expansion of the Ostrich Festival at a venue equipped to accommodate increased attendance rates, additional parking, and infrastructure, the release states.

The festival will also feature a refreshed layout and updated Rawhide amenities, including indoor vendor space, permanent restrooms and running water throughout the grounds.

There will be more room for attractions, carnival rides and activities, as well as opportunities to learn more about the rich history of the festival, it states.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, who has embraced the festival to the level of making ostriches a theme of fictional themed promotional videos for other city events, praised festival organizers for pivoting and keeping the festival going.

“The Ostrich Festival has long been one of Chandler’s most cherished traditions, celebrating our unique history with ostriches,” Hartke said. “We’re grateful to the chamber and its partners for their commitment to build on the festival’s success while honoring the heritage and family-friendly attractions that make this a truly special event.”

Founded in 1989 to celebrate Chandler’s early ostrich ranching heritage, the festival has grown from a downtown event into a regional celebration and the city’s largest event.

After relocating to Tumbleweed Park in 2003, the event built enough momentum to offer two weekends of all-ages entertainment featuring known headliners, including The Beach Boys, Shaggy, Walker Hayes, Nelly, Train, Sublime With Rome, Andy Grammer, Flo Rida and The Commodores.

Last year’s entertainers included The Fray, MaryJo, Natasha Bedingfield and Tyler Hubbard.

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