On June 2, 2024, the City of Phoenix officially celebrated 602 Day for the first time. The City partnered with more than 100 local businesses and organizations to offer $6.02 deals and host events to celebrate the Phoenix community and honor 602 as the city’s most historically significant area code.
“I am thrilled to declare the first official 602 Day an incredible success,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Families got to enjoy iconic institutions at a discount, our local businesses benefitted from increased revenue, and community members came together to celebrate and show their Phoenix pride. We even honored talented mixologists by naming our City’s first official cocktail. I cannot wait for 602 Day 2025, and want to thank all of the amazing partners and City staff who made the day possible!”
The 602 Day promotions attracted both visitors and locals from around the Valley to Phoenix in support of shops, attractions and retailers. June typically marks the decline of the peak-season for many businesses in Phoenix, but by leveraging the 602 Day campaign, many businesses saw a significant increase in sales. For example, Valley Coffee Company co-owner Donny Peper said that the 602 Day celebration exceeded their expectations, with 146 people ordering their 602 special and sales up 34% compared to the previous Sunday. “This significant boost is a testament to the strong community spirit here in Phoenix,” he explained.
The more than 100 participating organizations offered a wide array of 602 Day discounts and experiences, including service providers – barber shops, dance studios, mechanics, and more – who found unique ways to participate and saw benefit in doing so. Marisol Bovo, owner of Loving Hands Healing Hands, a wellness company in north Phoenix said that she couldn’t imagine how successful 602 would be for her business. “The event brought incredible exposure, resulting in numerous calls and four new clients booked! I’m deeply appreciative of the opportunity and the boost it has provided to my practice,” she said.
Many staple Phoenix institutions rallied behind the city to celebrate 602 Day including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Science Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Children’s Museum, Arizona Rattlers, and more. “We were excited to see so many people enjoying all the Zoo has to offer, and know we saw families who have never been to the Zoo before. Kudos to the City of Phoenix for creating this incredible celebration of our community!” said Linda Hardwick, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Events. She shared that the Phoenix Zoo welcomed 9,347 guests on the inaugural 602 Day – and with temperatures over 100 degrees, they would typically expect around 1,000 visitors on a summer day.
Many City of Phoenix Departments also found ways to celebrate the community for 602 Day. The Phoenix Fire Department distributed 602 smoke detectors to promote fire prevention safety, the Parks and Recreation Department offered free 602 Day t-shirts and water safety tips at multiple City pools and the Phoenix Public Library created a 602 Day badge for the Summer Reading Program as well as had their Bookmobile out in the community on 602 Day.
Additionally, several City of Phoenix senior centers participated in the 602-themed celebrations. The Desert West Senior Center hosted a Memory Café session led by an instructor from the Phoenix Center for the Arts. Members were asked to design an image related to a 602-area memory. The Paradise Valley Senior Center created a mini-essay contest where participants shared their time in the 602 area code and their favorite 602 activities.
The City of Phoenix is excited to celebrate 602 Day again on June 2, 2025. Businesses and community members who would like to participate should check back at 602Day.com in spring 2025 for more information.
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