Cookout at the Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at the event?

Will children enjoy it?

Should I bring my checkbook? Can I use a credit card?

What should I wear?

How hot will it be?

Are out-of-town visitors welcome?

Will I have the opportunity to dance?

What type of items are available at the silent auction?

Why should a business donate an auction or raffle item? How is it done?

How can a homeowners association or civic group contribute?

What types of organizations will have exhibits?

Who are the organizers?

Who benefits?

Are tickets tax deductible?

What happens at the event?

The short answer is that everybody relaxes and has a great time under the desert stars. Here is a longer answer.

When you arrive at the parking lot at MacDonald’s Ranch, which is located on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads, you will be greeted by volunteers. They will check your tickets and give you a program. You can then take the horse-drawn wagon or the van to the cookout site. When you near the site you will probably hear live country & western music.

The cookout site is outside and guests seat themselves at picnic tables. Find a place to sit and if you don’t know the other folks at the table introduce yourself. You never know who you might meet. It might be a neighbor or a visitor from some exotic place. Incidentally, it is possible to reserve a table for 8 adults in advance of the event. See ticket information.

Near the eating area there are exhibits and tables where you can bid on silent auction items and buy tickets for the Firewater Drawing. It's also where you can purchase tickets for water, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

The most popular attraction in the exhibit area is usually wildlife. You’ll also find interesting exhibits about local history, preservation activities and community affairs. Visiting the exhibits is a convenient and enjoyable way to learn about our community.

The Stragglers with Geoff Conklin will be performing most of the evening. Outback serves dinner buffet style. Just before the sun sets, Wild At Heart will release a great horned owl. Be on-time, you don't want to miss the owl's memorable flight to freedom. Later in the evening, there will be a brief program, which will include the drawing of winning tickets for the complimentary door prize and the Firewater Drawing.

Towards the end of the evening the horse-drawn wagons or van will take you back to the parking lot.

Will children enjoy it?

The Cookout is a great educational opportunity and children are very welcome. Younger children tend to get restless once they’ve taken the hayride, eaten dinner, seen the wildlife exhibits, and enjoyed the western and equestrian entertainment.

Should I bring my checkbook? Can I use a credit card?

Yes. You will need cash to buy Firewater Drawing tickets, Cookout Raffle, and beverage tickets. You can use a cash, checks and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, or American Express ) to purchase silent auction items ($10 - $500) and tickets to Cookout at the Ranch.

What should I wear?

Relax. This is Arizona and it will probably be warm, cooling off as the evening goes along. Wear jeans, slacks, or your cowboy duds. Depending on the weather that day, you might want to consider bringing a light jacket.

How hot will it be?

MacDonald’s Ranch is at 1,100’ elevation and the Cookout site is surrounded by lush desert, so it tends to be cooler than the rest of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Since this year’s event is in early October, the odds are good that we will have comfortably warm temperatures as the evening progresses. Come out and find out!

Will I have the opportunity to dance?

You bet and talent is not required. There is a small concrete dance floor in front of the bandstand and toward the end of the evening Mindy Hubbard, professional dance instructor, will teach the willing a few fun and easy line dances. Lots of fun. When the line dancing concludes, the band will continue playing.

Are out-of-town visitors welcome?

Absolutely, and it is not unusual for hotel and resort guests to “do what the locals do” and come to Cookout at the Ranch. Frankly, we can't think of a better way to enjoy Arizona, an Outback Steakhouse meal and some great country music. Plus, the informal exhibits provide a perfect opportunity to learn about Sonoran wildlife, preservation efforts and the local community. And, visitors have something in common with almost all the friendly people who will be at the event. They too, originally came here as visitors.

Are MacDonald’s Ranch, Outback Steakhouse, and Desert Foothills Cookouts reimbursed for co-sponsoring the event?

This event would not be possible without their generosity. Outback makes a generation donation towards its food and catering services. Desert Foothills Cookouts donates the use of the Cookout site. We reimburse MacDonald's Ranch for the cost of the cowboys who run the hayrides and assist with the cookout.

What type of items are available at the silent auction?

The event is supported by many local merchants who donate a variety of items including gift certificates, dinner at popular restaurants, golf, paintings, souvenirs from professional sports teams and more.

Why should a business donate an auction or raffle item? How is it done?

Of course the short answer to these questions is to help preserve the desert and support wildlife rehabilitation, Pinnacle Peak Park, and the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Items can be donated online using this Web site.

How can a homeowners association (HOA) or civic group contribute?

We welcome the support of associations and groups. They can help by making a donation to any of the Cookout organizers, purchasing a reserved table at the Cookout, publicizing the Cookout in their newsletters, and distributing flyers and pamphlets in their neighborhoods.

What organizations will have exhibits?

Cookout at the Ranch will feature a variety of interesting exhibits sponsored by organizations involved in wildlife rehabilitation and animal rescue, preservation, local history, natural history and community affairs. Check the event's promotional page for an up-to-date list of exhibitors.

Who are the organizers?

Friends of the Scenic Drive, which is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, is the primary organizer of the event. Friends organized the first Cookout at the Ranch in 1996 with the support of Outback Steakhouse, Desert Foothills Cookouts, and MacDonald’s Ranch. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy began helping in 1998. In 1999, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association became a co-organizer. Friends of Pinnacle Peak Park began helping to organize the event in 2006. These organizations are nonprofit, Arizona corporations involved in the work of preserving the natural history and beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The City of Scottsdale has been a staunch supporter from the event's inception.

Friends of the Scenic Drive focuses on the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive , the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy has led the effort to create and manage Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association promotes community activism, desert preservation and wildlife conservation and publishes A Peek at the Peak magazine, The Peak, as a free community service. Friends of Pinnacle Peak Park volunteers suupport Scottsdale's most popular park.

Who benefits?

All of the proceeds of the event are spent on efforts related to preservation. Current residents and visitors to the northeast valley benefit from the event. And, it is our fervent hope that future generations of residents and visitors will enjoy the natural beauty that the Cookout's sponsors, organizers and volunteers are seeking to preserve. Specifically, Friends of the Scenic Drive/Greater Pinnacle Peak Association uses proceeds from the event to make donations to Wild At Heart, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Friends of Pinnacle Peak Park, and support its own nonprofit programs that include utilizing its publications to support North Scottsdale and Desert Foothills nonprofits, and an annual educational grant.

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I cannot attend. Can I make a donation to support your efforts?

You can probably guess the answer to this question. Your support is sincerely appreciated. The best way to support our efforts is to become a member of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association.

Are tickets tax deductible?

Everyone's financial situation is different. Friends of the Scenic Drive is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, a non-profit, 501 c(3) organization. A portion of the ticket price may be tax deductible.