34 March 7-March 13th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | become the Valley’s biggest old-school arcade with 100-plus pinball machines and more than 170 old-school arcade titles set to “free play” mode. A lounge area will also host such classic gaming consoles as the Atari 2600, Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. Tournaments and competitions for prizes, including Danger Dann’s annual Pinball Rodeo, are also planned. Doors open at 10 a.m. each day. Admission is $25 to $35 per day and $50 for weekend passes. Children 3 to 12 will receive discount admission and kids under 3 are free. ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in concert March 15 to 17 Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St. “Star Wars: A New Hope” without John Williams’ memorable score just wouldn’t be the same, and no less a source than George Lucas has admitted as much. When the legendary composer was awarded an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2016, the director told the assembled crowd that Williams’ epic and soul-stirring orchestral themes raised the 1977 sci-fi flick “to a level of art [that] would stand the test of time.” In mid-March, the Phoenix Symphony will play every note of Williams’ Oscar-winning score from “Star Wars: A New Hope” while the film is projected on a giant screen. Costumes are encouraged. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on March 15, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on March 16 and 2:30 p.m. on March 17. Tickets are $45 to $145. Game On Expo 2024 March 15 to 17 Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St. Game On Expo has undergone a major upgrade for its 2024 edition. The multi- media gaming and anime convention, which previously took place in the summer, has moved to mid-March and bigger digs inside the Phoenix Convention Center’s North Building. The upshot? Organizers say there will be more room for gaming, esports competitions, vendors, cosplay and programming during the three-day event. This year’s Game On Expo will also showcase concerts by gaming-inspired performers such as geek rapper Mega Ran, tournaments with over $10,000 in cash prizes, and its largest lineup of special guests yet, including Princess Zelda voice actress Patricia Summersett and Sonic the Hedgehog voice actor Roger Craig Smith. Event hours vary. Daily admission is $45 to $55, full event passes are $75 and VIP packages are $165 to $230. Oak Street Alley Mural Festival March 16 Oak Street Alley, 1498 E. Oak St. Geeks and art nerds alike can appreciate the vibrant murals adorning the cinder- block walls along Oak Street between 14th and 15th streets in the Coronado Neighborhood. Each boasts masterful work by prominent local artists, some of whom incorporate imagery like robots or such pop-culture characters as Superman or Boba Fett. These street art pieces are created every March during the free Oak Street Alley Mural Festival, widely considered one of the more unique cultural events in the Valley. This year’s festival will include live mural painting by such artists as Aztec Smurf, Lucretia Torva, Shell Shaker, BacPac, Bisie, Maxx Vart and Dapper Dan. There will also be vendors, food trucks and music from live bands and DJs. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. Complete details are available here. Geeks Night Out 2024 March 27 Tempe Community Complex, 3500 S. Rural Road, Tempe Given its nerdy bent, Tempe’s annual Geeks Night Out is typically a haven for all manner of cosplayers and costumed crusaders. That being said, the true heroes of the event are the folks putting on its wealth of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (or STEAM) activities and programming. More than 60 local organizations and institutions — including the University of Advancing Technology, Tempe Union High School’s Innovation Center and the East Valley Institute of Technology — will present a mix of inter- active and hands-on experiments, demon- strations and science experiments. Live entertainment, vendors and food trucks will also be part of the all-ages event, which runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Geek Out from p 32 A player versus player battle at last year’s Game On Expo. (Photo by Benjamin Leatherman)