Arusha has moderate weather, a location near scenic countryside and a lively music scene. Tanzanian hip-hop is popular with the youth market. It is mostly performed in Swahili, with genres influenced by African American music, locally known as African Hip Hop. Some examples of this genre are the band X Plastaz, singers Nakaaya, Nako 2 Nako, Watengwa and Waturutumbi.
Arusha hosts many of Tanzania's festivals, and the yearly festival is hosted by a few Tanzanian corporate sponsors that attract artists from around the world. Artists like Shaggy and Ja Rule have performed in Arusha.
The city hosts the annual Arusha Nane Nane Agricultural show. Nane Nane is one of the many vibrant public holidays in Tanzania, held on August 8 (the 8th of the 8th month, nane nane means "eight eight" in Swahili). Farmers and other stakeholders exchange knowledge and business. It attracts up to a half million people every year.
Arusha is also known for its vibrant night life, with popular local night clubs like the Velocity, Colobus Club and the Blue Triple 'A'.
The National Natural History Museum is in Arusha at the Old German Boma. The museum is small and contains three exhibits on early man, plants and animals of the region, and culture history of the colonial period the city.
There is a small museum adjacent to the Uhuru monument which displays information about the proceedings of the Arusha Declaration in 1967
