If you live in Fountain Hills, you feel it every winter and spring: certain weeks get busier, rentals book faster, and visitors fill restaurants and trails. You’re not imagining it. Major events like the WM Phoenix Open and the Fountain Festival draw big crowds that ripple into housing, rentals, and even the timing of home sales. In this guide, you’ll learn how these events affect demand, what to plan for as an owner or buyer, and how to use the calendar to your advantage. Let’s dive in.
How big events shape demand
Event weeks concentrate visitors, which boosts short-term lodging rates and occupancy. When nearby hotels sell out or raise prices, guests widen their search and book in surrounding towns, including Fountain Hills. Academic studies find that major events create measurable increases in overnight stays and local consumption, with effects shaped by event size and available rentals (peer-reviewed research on event impacts).
For you, that can mean stronger returns if you host a compliant short-term rental, more traffic near festival areas, and a timely window to market a home. It does not mean home values jump overnight. Prices still hinge on broader supply, rates, and local fundamentals.
WM Phoenix Open: what it means for Fountain Hills
The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is widely known for huge crowds and national attention. Organizers profile the event as a marquee PGA Tour week with massive attendance and visitor demand (official TPC overview). During tournament week, Scottsdale also reports elevated public-safety activity, reflecting how concentrated the demand spike can be (Scottsdale Police statistics).
Because Fountain Hills is roughly 18 to 20 miles from Scottsdale, about a 25 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic, it’s a practical base for attendees when closer hotels are full or expensive (drive-time reference). News coverage routinely notes sellouts around high-profile sports weeks, which pushes more bookings into nearby markets (hotel sellout context). If you plan to host, set pricing and minimum stays well in advance.
Fountain Festival weekends: local surge
Fountain Hills’ Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts and related fairs are signature in-town events with juried vendors, live music, and food along Avenue of the Fountains. The Chamber highlights these festivals as major regional draws with strong weekend turnout (Chamber event page). While not as large as the WM Open, the impact is focused inside Fountain Hills. Expect busy restaurants, higher local lodging demand, and tighter parking near the festival footprint.
For hosts, festival weekends can be among the most reliable local booking windows. For homeowners thinking about selling, these weekends bring out-of-area visitors who might be exploring neighborhoods and lifestyle amenities.
If you plan to host short term
Running a short-term rental in Fountain Hills is allowed under Arizona law, but you must register and follow local rules.
Compliance checklist
- Obtain an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license.
- Register the rental with the Maricopa County Assessor.
- Complete the Town of Fountain Hills short-term rental registration and pay the $250 annual fee. The Town outlines steps, neighbor notifications, and complaint procedures on its compliance page (Town STR requirements).
- Follow state law on what cities can require, including safety, nuisance, and insurance provisions (A.R.S. §9-500.39).
Collect and remit applicable taxes even if a platform collects on your behalf. Noncompliance can lead to penalties, license issues, and possible suspension.
Pricing and prep for event weeks
Seasonal analytics for the Scottsdale area show strong rates and occupancy in peak months, and event weeks are among the highest-earning periods for compliant hosts (seasonality and ADR signals). To maximize results:
- Update minimum stays, nightly pricing, and cleaning schedules 60 to 90 days ahead.
- Add clear house rules and quiet hours to reduce complaints.
- Share fast directions to TPC Scottsdale and festival sites, plus parking tips.
- Stock for higher turnover: linens, consumables, and backup supplies.
Buying an investment in Fountain Hills
Event weeks can lift short-term revenue, but they are not a substitute for a solid year-round plan. Before you buy:
- Build a conservative pro forma that includes registration fees, taxes, insurance, utilities, and vacancy.
- Confirm HOA or neighborhood rules about short-term rentals.
- Stress test returns outside peak weeks and account for operations and cleaning.
Use event-driven demand as the icing, not the cake. It can improve your occupancy and ADR, especially during winter and festival weekends, but long-term performance still drives outcomes.
Selling during event season
Events rarely change a home’s fair market value, but they can improve your marketing window. During the WM Open and Fountain Festival weekends, more potential buyers are in town and exploring nearby neighborhoods.
Use that to your advantage:
- Time open houses to capture weekend foot traffic.
- Highlight location benefits like quick access to Scottsdale and the town center.
- Coordinate professional photography and video ahead of the peak calendar.
Plan your calendar
The WM Phoenix Open typically runs in early February at TPC Scottsdale. The Fountain Festival holds fall and spring editions in the Fountain Hills town center. Always confirm the current year’s dates on the official pages: the tournament site for the WM Open (TPC schedule and info) and the Chamber’s festival listing for Fountain Hills (festival dates and details).
Bottom line
Big events bring real, short-term demand to Fountain Hills, from festival weekends in town to WM Phoenix Open spillover. If you host, follow the rules and update pricing early. If you’re buying, underwrite for fundamentals and treat event weeks as upside. If you’re selling, use the calendar to amplify exposure.
Want a tailored plan for your property or investment goals? Connect with the experienced local team at Hoyt Homes Group for data-driven pricing, compliant hosting guidance, and a smooth sale or purchase.
FAQs
How far is Fountain Hills from TPC Scottsdale during WM Phoenix Open week?
- It is roughly 18 to 20 miles, or about a 25 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic and route (drive-time reference).
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Fountain Hills?
- Yes. You need an Arizona TPT license, Maricopa County rental registration, and the Town’s annual short-term rental registration with a $250 fee (Town STR requirements).
Will big events raise my home’s value in Fountain Hills?
- Not directly. Events drive short-term visitor demand and bookings, but sale prices are set by broader supply, rates, and local market factors.
How should I price my rental for WM Phoenix Open week?
- Use seasonal analytics to benchmark higher demand, then set dynamic rates and minimum stays 60 to 90 days out; event weeks often support higher ADRs in the Scottsdale area (seasonality and ADR signals).
What should sellers do if listing during the Fountain Festival?
- Align open houses with festival hours, emphasize proximity to the Avenue of the Fountains, and prep marketing assets early to capture increased weekend traffic (festival dates and details).
