Essential Info for Attendees

Daily schedule
hotel
parking
faq & pro tips
sponsors
2026 CONVENTION DATES
Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18, 2026
Pre-convention events Thursday, July 16

PRE-REGISTRATION ONLINE
April 2 - June 26
Register early and save!
AFHE members receive discount pricing.
Join AFHE today to register at the member rate!

CHECKING IN AT THE CONVENTION
Registration counters in the main lobby of the South Building will open at 7:30 AM Friday and 8:00 AM Saturday.
Registration will be available onsite.
Pre-register as an AFHE member for a significant discount on admission pricing!

EXHIBIT HALL SHOPPING HOURS
Friday 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall access is included with convention registration. We do not offer a "shopping only" or "exhibit hall only" pass.

VENUE:
Phoenix Convention Center South Building
33 South Third Street, Phoenix 85004

Visit dtphx.org for info on downtown road conditions,
restaurants, parking, and shopping.

Daily Schedule & Highlights

THURSDAY July 16
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Dissection Labs (High School Science)
See AFHE's Events page in May for complete details.

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
YOU CAN HOMESCHOOL! Mini-conference for New Homeschoolers
FREE EVENT! More info coming soon at the You Can Homeschool! page and Events page.

1:00-4:00 PM
Registration sales counter and pre-registered check-in

1:00-3:00 PM
(TBA)
FRIDAY July 17
7:30 AM - 6:45 PM  Registration Counter Open
8:30-10:00 AM  Opening Keynote Session (South Ballroom)
10:00 AM - 6:30 PM  Exhibit Hall booths and features (open all day)
10:30-11:30 AM  Workshop Session 1 (featured and exhibitor workshops; teen program)
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM  Lunch break and shopping (lunchtime exhibitor workshops)
1:00-2:00 PM  Workshop Session 2
2:30-3:30 PM  Workshop Session 3
4:00-5:00 PM  Workshop Session 4
5:00-6:00 PM  Keynote Reception
6:30-8:30 PM HERITAGE of FREEDOM CELEBRATION (South Ballroom)
SATURDAY July 18
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM  Registration Counter Open
8:30-10:00 AM  Opening Keynote Session (South Ballroom)
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM  Exhibit Hall booths and features (open all day)
10:30-11:30 AM  Workshop Session 1 (featured and exhibitor workshops; teen program)
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM  Lunch break and shopping (lunchtime exhibitor workshops)
1:00-2:00 PM  Workshop Session 2
2:30-3:30 PM  Workshop Session 3
4:00-5:00 PM  Workshop Session 4
6:00 PM  Exhibit Hall Closes
5:45-7:00 PM Buy It Here! Prize Drawing (South Ballroom) 
reserve rooms for july 16-17 with this link
COURTYARD by Marriott and RESIDENCE INN by Marriott 
 602-603-2000 | 132 South Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004

USE THIS LINK for reservations in our discount room block for Thursday, 7/16 and Friday, 7/17. 

To make a reservation that extends before or after these dates, contact the group sales manager Leah Nelson: leah.nelson@marriott.com. The discount room rate is available July 13-20.

Guests qualify for discount valet parking ($25/day); not included in room rate.
Complimentary wireless internet is included.

Our hotel is a short three-block walk from the Phoenix Convention Center South Building, and just one block from Fry's grocery store.

NOTE: We regularly fill our room block by the end of May. Book early to take advantage of the discount!
SCAM ALERT:  AFHE does not contract with any other hotels than those listed on this page nor do we have arrangements with any companies or aggregators that book rooms for our event. Your privacy is important to us. We do not give out attendee or exhibitor information.
DOWNTOWN PARKING
When we secure discount parking passes (for pre-purchase by attendees), that information will sent out via email and posted here.

There are many places to park downtown. Please realize that there are other large events taking place the same weekend as our convention, including Diamondbacks baseball games on both Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Demand for parking will be high, and it is best that you make a plan as early as possible for your transportation to/from downtown Phoenix.

Here are some suggestions for daily rate parking (no overnight parking). AFHE has no arrangement or agreement with any of the parking options listed below. These are options we have researched and collected on this page for your convenience. You might find or know of others than those we have listed here.
1. ParkWhiz.com will show the capacity in nearby garages for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
2. At AceParking.com you can pre-purchase passes for other garages very close by: the East Garage, Regency Garage, North Garage, and more. Visit their website and enter your selection for days and times.
3. Farther away, there are options with LAZParking, although it does not appear that you can pre-purchase to guarantee a spot. You might have to create a profile in order to place an order.

Other options are:
  1. Use Valley Metro Rail (the lightrail system) that runs from northwest Phoenix through Tempe and out to Mesa. This could be especially helpful if you are coming from out of town and want to avoid driving in the downtown area. Some stations are set up for park & ride, and there is a stop right next to the Convention Center. There are also hotels located along several of the lightrail lines. The system map, park & ride info, and pricing are all found at https://www.valleymetro.org/maps-schedules/rail.
  2. If you are staying at a downtown hotel or rental property, there should be free or discounted parking available there.
  3. Carpool with friends -- or set up a "vanpool"! Does your church have a van or bus? See if there is a staff member or church member who could drive a group to the convention in the morning and pick you up at the end of the day. Or if you are authorized to drive the church van, it could be parked in one of the surface lots and the cost of parking shared.

Faq & PRO TIPS (click through the topics below)

NAME BADGES
Your name badge is your admission to workshops, keynotes, and the exhibit hall. Name badges must be worn at all times while at the AFHE Convention. Name badges may not be shared or transferred. First and last names are required on all name badges.

PICK UP YOUR NAME BADGE(S) ON-SITE
For those who register online, your name badges will be available for pick up on-site. Look for the PRE-REGISTRATION sign. Name badges will be not be mailed. On Friday the registration counter will open at 7:30 AM for pre-registered attendees to pick up their name badges and welcome bags, and for onsite registration (member and nonmember).

Those who register at the door will be issued a handwritten name badge at on-site registration.
VOLUNTEER
The AFHE Convention is run almost entirely by amazing, generous, friendly volunteers. Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the annual Arizona Home Education Convention hosted by AFHE. Our volunteer workers help keep costs to a minimum while continuing to provide an excellent conference. We are thankful to each and every volunteer who serves the community and helps to make this event a success!

Learn more about applying and volunteer duties at the Convention Volunteer webpage.
 
Volunteers who serve 5 or more hours* during the convention can earn free admission (for one adult). Complete the online convention volunteer application, then once your volunteer shifts are scheduled, you will receive a special registration link.
*Six volunteer hours are the minimum to qualify for free admission for primary adult + spouse.

The opportunity to volunteer is a benefit of membership. Current AFHE Membership expiring August 1, 2026 or later is required. 
CONVENTION CENTER FOOD POLICY
Aventura Catering is the exclusive provider of food and beverage at the Phoenix Convention Center. Visitors to the Phoenix Convention Center are prohibited from bringing outside food and beverage into the facility. Aventura and AFHE have worked to provide expanded options that serve a wide range of dietary and budgetary interests for attendees at the 2025 AFHE Home Education Convention. It is possible to make accommodations for a person with specific health concerns or an allergen-related need; please contact convention@afhe.org for more information.

Concessions located in the South Building (the location for our Convention) will offer an expanded menu developed specifically for our event, including more options for kids and more detailed labeling to address dietary considerations. Items purchased at eateries in the  North Building are permitted in the South Building. 
REFUND POLICY
AFHE Membership and Convention Registration are non-refundable and non-transferrable. If you registered but are unable to attend this year’s AFHE Convention, please know that AFHE appreciates your support for this non-profit organization that serves the Arizona homeschool community all year long.

Unredeemed registrations are considered a tax-deductible contribution to AFHE and, upon written request, we will provide a receipt for tax purposes.
SPANISH TRANSLATION • SESIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Closed caption translation screens will be placed in the Ballroom for the keynote sessions on Friday and Saturday mornings.
BOOK CHECK & STROLLER PARKING
The Book Locker & Stroller Parking service is located in the exhibit hall for your convenience. You may leave your purchases, wheeled carts/bags, and strollers with our Book Locker team for $3/day ($5 for both days). You will receive a claim number which will allow you to pick up items or add to your stored items, with in-and-out privileges throughout the day.

Due to space limitations and the hazards of blocked aisles in workshop rooms, strollers will only be permitted in designated spaces in the back rows. Strollers and roller bags may be parked in the book locker area (space available basis) for a small fee. There are no restrictions on strollers in the Ballroom, exhibitor workshop pavilions, and in the exhibit hall. 
CLOSED CAPTIONS for DEAF & HOH
At the 2026 Convention, AFHE will provide a screen with closed-captioning in the Ballroom during the keynote sessions each day and in our largest workshop room (155-157) for both Friday and Saturday. We must also know by July 1 if closed captioning for deaf/HOH will be needed for our events taking place on Thursday, July 16 (high school dissection labs 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM; You Can Homeschool! 9:30 AM-12:30 PM). Contact convention@afhe.org to make arrangements for Thursday events.
 
If you prefer to bring a friend or relative to interpret for you, we will provide free convention admission for this person to accompany you. Please contact us at convention@afhe.org prior to July 1 to arrange for your guest interpreter's registration. In the exhibit hall, vendor booths will have signage indicating whether they have staff who are able to serve customers using ASL. 
CONTINUING EDUCATION FORMS
AFHE will provide a Continuing Education form for foster parents, childcare workers, and others who need to accrue professional development hours. If you need a form, please ask at the registration counter. An AFHE representative will sign the form and the attendee will write in the workshops he/she attended along with the presenters’ names. AFHE does not have information about which sessions qualify for hours needed for the recipient. 
AFHE's PHOTO/VIDEO USAGE DISCLAIMER
Photographs or video taken by AFHE at this event may be published in the AFHE magazine, on the AFHE website, on AFHE social media pages, or in other AFHE publications. Official event photographers will be identified with AFHE-issue credentials. AFHE does not provide compensation or royalties in conjunction with publication or use of these materials. Any photographs, video, or audio used by AFHE from this event will be used with the purpose of celebrating and promoting homeschooling in Arizona. 
PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY FOR ATTENDEES
Audio or video recording or live streaming ANY PORTION of the keynote sessions, workshop sessions, or exhibitor workshops is not allowed. Brief live videos or posts highlighting the Convention on social media are welcome. Photography by attendees is expected to be respectful of others' privacy and dignity.

convention sponsors

Visit our SPONSORS page to learn more about all of our other outstanding sponsor partners.
They are here to support you in your homeschool endeavors, and their generosity helps to keep AFHE serving the Arizona homeschool community year-round.
Homeschool Vision Sponsor
Friday Keynote Sponsor
Saturday Keynote Sponsor
Faith & Family Sponsor