On your road trip to Arizona, don’t overlook the smaller towns when you set your itinerary. The hidden gems of Arizona’s towns, such as Gilbert, have a lot to offer. Just a 30-minute drive away from Downtown Phoenix, Gilbert has some fantastic family attractions that will make your family vacation even more memorable. In this charming small town, the fun doesn’t stop after dark; Gilbert has so much to offer when it comes to nightlife. Below, we have compiled a closely curated Gilbert nightlife attractions sampling to help you plan for your nighttime revelries.
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Gilbert Nightlife Guide: Small Town Charm, Farm-Fresh Food, Riparian Wildlife & More!
Nightlife in Gilbert has the small-town charm that you miss while living in a metropolitan area. You will find a mix of everything, including live music, entertainment, and much more. You can see a movie in the park while having a family picnic under the clear, starry sky. You might even enjoy some overnight camping or special holiday celebrations in the Riparian Preserve. Further, Gilbert offers farm-to-table food and locally brewed beer that will blow you away. So don’t think twice before spending a weekend in this city.
1. Live Music & Entertainment in Gilbert
Live entertainment is one of the most attractive elements of the nightlife in Gilbert. The top place to check out your favorite music concerts, movies, or comedy is the Gilbert Regional Park. They have a Friday evening music concert series, where people can enjoy all kinds of music and talented artists from the valley. Further, if you love to watch movies while stargazing, this is the place to be.
You can pack a picnic, spread out your sheet or lawn chairs, and enjoy some amazing family-friendly movies. Occasionally, the park also hosts comedy nights in their amphitheater complete with food and drinks. Some of the comedians who have performed here are Adam Hunter, Jamie Kennedy, and Erica Rhodes, among others.
A visit to the Gilbert Regional Park is an excellent way to start your nightlife experience. You will have to reserve your tickets for the shows, so check out the event calendar to figure out which one you want to attend. You might grab dinner after the show to complete your nightlife experience.
Another great form of live entertainment that you can find in Gilbert is live theater performances. One of the best places to enjoy the theatrical arts is the Hale Centre Theatre. Showcasing a unique setup of theater known as “in the round,” the stage at Hale Theatre is positioned in the center of the auditorium with the audience seated all around. This unique expression of live performance paired with familiar Broadway musicals and classic plays is sure to entertain.
Although the theater offers concessions and snacks, you may wish to grab a bite before or after a show. Located in downtown Gilbert, Hale Theatre is within walking distance to many top restaurants where you can enjoy a meal with your friends and loved ones.
2. Try Some Best Beer In Gilbert
What is nightlife without some beer? On this score, the nightlife in Gilbert does not disappoint. If you love the brewing process as much as you love beer, then you must visit Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. There, you can try some of the best hand-crafted artisan-style beer made from locally sourced ingredients, from Arizona’s vast agricultural community.
You can enjoy an expansive variety of beer on tap, locally made mixers, cocktails, liquors, frozen drinks, and so much more! Further, they have a full-fledged food menu, including freshly prepared salads, Mexican treats served with house-made sauces, and more. This is a perfect place to enjoy your dinner with some of the best beer and alcoholic beverages in Gilbert.
Another top place for tasty drinks is Culinary Dropout. You can try some of the best Arizona-brewed four peaks ‘Kilt Lifter’, or a can of Huss brewing Scottsdale Blonde. The red and white wine varieties will blow your mind, and you will miss out big time if you don’t try the Jalapeno Margarita while you are there.
Not to mention, Culinary Dropout has a wide variety of food on their menu, including a kids’ menu. While you’re waiting, be sure to take advantage of various games located on the back patio. You can play “Corn Hole”, and hang out near the various fire pits while you enjoy the great weather. The restaurant is family-friendly but still one of the best places to have a delicious drink.
If you are a cigar connoisseur, you are in luck when you are in Gilbert. You must check out the Fox Cigar Bar. They have both indoor and patio seating. They pride themselves in having the best selection of cigars and spirits. They boast of having the largest walk-in humidors and 400+ different spirits rotating on their tap brews. You even get to enjoy your favorite game on the big screen here.
3. Enjoy Delicious Food In Gilbert
The freshly prepared food in this city is sure to tempt the foodie on their nightlife excursion in Gilbert. To enjoy an envious variety and safe food, you must try the Liberty Market. The dinner menu offers some of the tastiest wood-fired pizzas and all-day breakfast items, including the Smothered Vegan Burrito.
The specials include the famous Chip and Dip Burger with creamy onion dip, and their desserts are a must-have, especially the giant cinnamon roll. Combine your meal with their beer on tap, white or red wine, cocktails, or espresso, and you will soon have an experience to remember.
When you are in a small town, you must enjoy farm-fresh food. The best place to do so is Joe’s Farm Grill. They take great pride in serving common food prepared uncommonly well. To make this possible, they source most of their ingredients locally. Also, they even harvest vegetables, fruits, and herbs at the local Farm of Agritopia and source other ingredients from farms all over Arizona.
The farm-fresh ingredients make the food served at Joe’s taste exemplary. You can choose from a vast menu, including pizzas, waffles & ribs, the Farm Burger, and many delicious sandwiches. They even have a kid’s menu and three mouthwatering cheesecake options. While you are there, don’t forget to try their delicious milkshakes or other non-alcoholic beverages.
Next door, you’ll definitely want to visit TOPO, which is Spanish for gopher. You can’t miss this place since the small building is topped with a giant gopher wearing a hat! They serve unique soft serve ice cream flavors such as Prickly Pear and spicy burritos.
Gilbert also hosts an annual food-truck festival by the name of Truck-a-Palooza at the Gilbert Regional Park. If you are in town during the event, take your family to this festival to sample some of the best food trucks and vendors in the area. Admission is free; you only pay for what you buy.
If you are on a short trip, you might even try a walking tasting tour offered three days a week. This tour allows you to taste a variety of foods and cocktails at five restaurants in downtown Gilbert.
4. Dive into the Night’s Natural Attractions
If the Arizona midday heat puts you off to exploring the beauty and nature of the desert, then the Riparian After Dark might be just the thing for you. At nighttime, the Riparian Preserve is lit up in the dark with millions of glowing lights during the holiday season. It is a breathtaking time of the year to visit the city. The nature preserve provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beautiful desert scenery with family and kids. It is the perfect holiday spot with carolers and live entertainment during the holiday season.
If you are not traveling during the holiday season, you can schedule your trip in April for a unique experience. The Riparian Preserve offers overnight camping that includes fun family activities such as s’mores, archery, fishing, and hiking, among others. You need to pack your own camping gear and dinner for the night, but refreshments are offered the following morning.
Another unique way to spend your evening in Gilbert is by watching a softball game at the Cactus Yards. The field is modeled like the league fields, and you can even enjoy the delicious comfort food from the catering partners Craft Culinary Concepts.
Wrapping Up
Gilbert’s nightlife is amazingly diverse, yet very family friendly. It is the ideal place for a family vacation. You get to enjoy softball games, live movies in the park, picnics, nature preserves, overnight camping, and much more. The farm-fresh food and the local brews are sure to tempt your palate and make your trip memorable.
If you are looking for some excellent accommodations near the best nightlife spots in Gilbert, check out our platform Rental Trader. We have a vast selection of vacation rentals, hotels, homestays, and more. If you want to know more about these accommodations, visit our website and contact us with any questions you may have.
