Wing It!  All Things That Fly – February 10^th through May 6^th, 2012

An exhibition that features artwork that showcases our collective fascination with the creatures, inventions and fantasies which allow us to venture up, up and away!

Extreme Pets – May 25^th through September 9^th, 2012

Domestic animals are not possessions. They are members of the family. Whether it be dog, cat, birds, hamsters, lizards, goats, horses or elephants, our pets provide us with unconditional love. Extreme Pets takes an artistic look at the relationship people have with pets and how much they affect our lives.

Show Me The Money – September 28^th through January 20, 2013

Show Me the Money bring to life through art some of the things that make the world go around: dollars, banknotes, bankrolls, bills, bread, bucks, capital, cash, checks, chips, coins, coinage, dough, finances, funds, gold, gravy, greenbacks, hard cash, legal tender, loot, pesos, riches, roll, salary, silver, treasures, wad, wages, and wealth. No matter what you call it, money is an interesting subject to illustrate through art.

Check out membership. For frequent visitors it might be worth considering.

There are a ton of other events listed for 2012. Check the event calendar (link below).

The Museum for Youth isn’t just for kids. There are plenty of things for adults to do as well…in fact there’s a page just for them (see below).

Dates and Times

• Closed Mon
• Tue to Sat 10am to 4pm
• Sun 12pm to 4pm

Admission

• $7.00
• Children under 1 are FREE
• Members are FREE

Address

35 North Robson
Mesa, AZ 85201

Map & Directions

Links

• Arizona Museum for Youth website
• Event Calendar
• Kids & Teens Activity page
• Adult Activity page
• Membership information

After the show’s beginnings at the Arizona Biltmore, Ann McCormick bought 150 acres in Scottsdale and made it into the horse facility known as Paradise Park which served the needs of the show for many years.

Since that time, the show has been held at Westworld in Scottsdale. It has grown from 50 horses to nearly 2400 horses bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world competing for a chance at winning. A win at Scottsdale can mean big money in the breeding barns.

Family Fun Night: Friday on February 24, 2012 admission will be free for ALL spectators after 3pm. Bring the whole family for a fun evening at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Have dinner, peruse the Shopping Expo and watch the beautiful Arabian horses compete for the coveted title of Scottsdale Champion.

Dates and Times
February 16-26, 2012
See schedule for times

Location
Westworld, Scottsdale AZ
Map and Directions

Admission

• General Admission $10/day
• Seniors/Military $7/day
• Children 12 & under Free
• Reserved Bleacher Seating $15/day (must be purchased through TicketMaster or at show Box Office)
• Reserved Box Seating $25/day (must be purchased at show Box Office)
• Championship Night: Evening Performance – February 25, 2012:
  • General Admission $10/evening
  • Reserved Bleacher Seating $15/evening
  • Reserved Box Seating (All Ages) $25/evening (must be purchased at show Box Office)
• Other ticket options available (click here)

Tickets from Ticketmaster
800-745-3000
Ticketmaster link

Links
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show website

As with any event, please check the event website or with the vendor to verify the information posted above. This posting is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for complete accuracy. Please check all dates, times, locations, prices, age restrictions, safety and other information with the event organizer before attending. This information is provided “as is” and accuracy or relevance cannot be verified.

• 14th Annual Peoples Choice Landscape Display Competition: Walk through seven gorgeous landscape displays and either text-vote and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card or fill out your ballot for your favorite. This is your opportunity to get ideas and speak to the landscaping experts before you start your landscape project. At the North Gated Entrance
• Get a great night’s sleep! Check out the Mattress Firm’s Sleep Center in the Plaza Building and register to win a $300 Gift Card towards the Purchase of a new mattress! In the Plaza Building.
• Complimentary walk up landscape consultations for homeowners who bring their backyard measurements and picture sponsored by Horticultural Frontiers Landscape & Design. Garden Pavilion booth 574
• Little Dealer Little Prices will have the NEW solar run Motorhomes on display: no need to plug in any longer! In the Plaza Outdoor area.
• Stop by Quick Trip for a sample sandwich and coupons for local QT’s. Booth 182 in the Exhibit Bldg.
• Be one of the first 500 people to stop by the APS booth each morning and receive a FREE CFL bulb! Booth 267 in the Exhibit Bldg.
• Visit the 100 Club booth for the “100 Club Officers and Firefighters Heroes raffle benefiting families of fallen or injured officers serving our community” and add your ticket to hundreds of fabulous items! Booth 2024 in the Plaza Bldg.
• FREE “How To” Home Improvement Seminars. In the Plaza Bldg
• Learn how to plant a vegetable garden, prune citrus trees, start composting and more at the FREE University of Arizona Master Gardeners seminars. In the Garden Pavilion
• Sample wines from around the world! In the Wesley Bolin and Ag Buildings
• Meet Dave the Garden Guy from 3TV on Saturday as he presents Gardening Seminars! On the Stage in the Plaza Bldg.
• Be safe at home! Check out the Neighborhood Safety Center with Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol, Block Watch, Graffiti, COPS (our volunteer and retired PD group), SafeBiz, Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board, Reserve PD, and Crime Free Multi-Housing. In the Plaza Building.
• Visit the Valley Permaculture Alliance display and seminars for sustainable urban gardening! In the Garden Pavilion.
• Test Drive A LYRIC –A Electric Personal Transportation Vehicle (PTV). In front of Plaza Building.
• Rose Seminars all 3 days with the Metro Phoenix Rose Societies. In the Garden Pavilion.
• Stop by the Dance Starz AZ booth for 2) 40 minute private ballroom dance lessons and 1 week of group fitness for $15.00. Booth 928 in the AG Building.

The Goodyear Fair, billed as “a neighborhood event that will entertain the Goodyear community and promote local charities,” is a family-friendly event for all ages. Admission is free for all. The Goodyear Fair will be held on the second to last weekend of every month, except March (because of spring training baseball).

“We encourage everyone in Goodyear to come out, support your community, and have fun” said Eric Lopez, promoter of the Goodyear Fair. “We are bringing entertainment to the West Valley, so everyone is invited to enjoy the festivities. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the weather and have a great afternoon with the family

Dates and Times
Sunday Nov 20, 2011
10:00 am to 5:00pm

Location
1933 South Ballpark Way
Goodyear, Arizona 85338
Map & Directions

Link to Facebook Page

As with any event, please check the event website or with the vendor to verify the information posted above. This posting is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for complete accuracy. Please check all dates, times, locations, prices, age restrictions, safety and other information with the event organizer before attending. This information is provided “as is” and accuracy or relevance cannot be verified.

Challenge yourself to 3-5 miles of fun and excitement as you travel on foot over and under, around, and through multiple obstacles and a mud pit! You can fly solo, or grab a friend! Teams of 1, 2 or 5 people.

You’ve seen the pics of the mud pit, and you know about the obstacles, but have you ever seen the SOAK ZONE! Kids, bring out your Super Soakers and we’ll fill up some trash can’s with water.

Mad Mud Run Phoenix is four miles of action-packed excitement as you travel up, over, around, and through…well, somewhere really cool – MacDonald’s Ranch in the tranquil Sonoran Desert of north Scottsdale.

Runners will travel on a marked course passing through multiple obstacles along the way, including our very cool mud pit…you haven’t seen one like this before. Obstacles will resemble those which you’d find at a boot camp training course and are doable by the vast majority of people. YOU CAN DO IT!

Dates and Times

• Sat –  Nov 19
• Pre-race meeting (mandatory) 8:45 am
• Race starts 9:00 am

Costs

• $55 to participate
• Waiver required

Location

• MacDonalds Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ
• Map & Directions

Links

• Mad Mud Run Home Page
• Course Map
• Parking Map

• “Hare and Hound” competitions Fri., Sat. and Sunday mornings
• Desert glows Fri. and Sat. evenings
• Family entertainment by Rawhide Western Theme Park
• Skydivers
• Fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union
• Family Fun Zone
• Shopping
• Food

Dates and Times

Fri-Sun, Nov 18-21

Location

Wild Horse Pass

Cost

• Advance Tickets $7
• At-the-gate $10
• Weekend Pass $40

Links

• Arizona Balloon Classic website
• Map and directions
• Tickets

*Due to weather conditions balloons will only fly mornings and evenings Nov. 18 and 19 and morning only on Nov. 20. See schedule of events for exact flight times.

A Colorado floating trip is not “whitewater” rafting (we’ll cover that in another post). Usually the experience is a day, or half-day event, and includes pick-up and drop-off from a number of area hotels and other destinations. The types of trip available depend on what sort of experience you’re looking for.  Most are guided by experienced and knowlegable guides who can not just show you the wonders, but tell you anything you need to know. There are often opportunities to hike, take photos, and just appreciate the majesty of the river and canyons, inaccessible to anyone on foot.

Many of the Colorado River floats run through Glen Canyon, not necessarily the Grand Canyon, so if you want something specific, be sure to check with the operator or the website before you go (information below).  Options include a rowing trip where you (or the crew) can row. This usually means a smaller group, a little exercise, but a lot more intimate experience.

There are several companies that specialize in floating trips, and there are reviews galore on the Internet. Prices range from about $100 for a half day trip to over $200 for a full day, but that is truly a full day of fun and adventure…you’re bound to sleep very well afterwards! Be sure to bring sunscreen, hat and any other gear you’ll need for the trip – be sure to check with the operator for any accessibility or safety, age or other concerns.

Have a wonderful (and safe) float!

Here are a list of some companies and options for getting to and from the river.

Explore Arizona Tours 

• Full day / half day tours leaving from hotels in Sedona and Flagstaff
• Groups of up to 14 people
• Trips all year
• Rowing trips available
• Salt River excursions available
• Link to trips information and prices

* Sat Jul 2nd *

Anthem’s Independence Day Celebration

• Starts 6:00pm
• Fireworks 9:30pm
• FREE Admission
• Rides
• Food
• Dancing
• Link to Event Site

Mesa Celebration of Freedom

• Starts 6:00pm
• Car Show
• Music
• Food
• Beer Garden
• Wet Zones
• Link to Event (PDF)

* Sun July 3rd * 

Ahwatukee Red, White & Bloom

• Starts 6:00pm
• Fireworks 9:00pm
• FREE Admission
• Music
• Contests
• Food
• Drinks
• Link to Event Site

Lake Pleasant Fireworks Show

• Starts 5:00pm
• Fireworks 9:00pm
• Food
• Live Music
• Activities
• Link to Event 

Wickenburg Independence Day Celebration

• Starts 7:00pm
• FREE Admission
• Music
• Food & Drink
• Activities
• Link to Event (PDF) 

* Mon July 4th *

Apache Junction Hometown 4th of July Celebration

• Fireworks 9:00pm
• Events & activites all day
• FREE Admission
• Link to Event Site

Buckeye Old Fashioned 4th of July

• FREE Admission
• Starts 6pm
• Fireworks at dark
• Link to Event Site

Chandler Fireworks Spectacular

• FREE Admission
• Starts 4:00pm
• Fireworks 9:30pm
• Activities
• Water slide
• Games
• Music
• Link to Event

Cottonwood

• FREE Admission
• Starts 4:00pm
• Food & Drinks
• Water slides
• Inflatable Rides
• Link to Event

Flagstaff

• Events all weekend
• FREE Admission
• Fireworks 9:00pm
• Link to Event

Gilbert Lighting Up the Sky to Conquer Hunger

• FREE Admission
• Multiple viewing locations
• Gates open 6:00pm
• Link to Event 

Goodyear’s Star Spangled 4th

• FREE Admission
• Concessions
• Activies
• Live Music
• Starts 6:00pm
• Link to Event 

Maricopa’s Great American Barbecue

• Starts 6:00pm
• FREE Admission
• Food
• Drinks
• Games
• Link to Event 

Payson 

• Events all day
• FREE Admission (Some events require fee)
• Fireworks 9:00pm
• Live music
• Games
• Food & Drinks
• Link to Event 

Phoenix Fabulous 4th

• FREE Admission
• Starts 6:00pm
• Fireworks 9:30pm
• Inflatable Rides
• Music
• Food
• F16 Flyover
• Link to Event 

Surprise

• Starts 4:30pm
• Rookie League Baseball @5:30pm
• FREE Admission (with food donation)
• Link to Event

As with any event, please check the event website or with the vendor to verify the information posted above. This posting is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for complete accuracy. Please check all dates, times, locations, prices, age restrictions, safety and other information with the event organizer before attending. This information is provided “as is” and accuracy or relevance cannot be verified.

Not all events are “cruises”. For example, at the weekly car show at Scottsdale Pavilions, cars are parked and can be viewed close-up. Others are mobile, though there’s often a chance for a closer look and many of the classic car owners love to talk about their ride.

Phoenix is a great place for older cars. The dry climate helps preservation and the myriad of elements that enthusiasts have to fight elsewhere, from raid to salt on the roads in snow, make the Valley a year-round classic car paradise.

Many cruises and gatherings can be spontaneous, which means they don’t always happen as expected. With that in mind, check the event website beforehand, or give the organizer a call (if there’s a number). Events such as the Big Ed’s and Pavilions are reasonably well established, so they should be good to go.

Anyway, take a camera, water. sunscreen, have fun, look both ways before crossing and don’t drink and drive!

We’ve provided links to related sites here because times and locations tend to change at the last minute.

Dates & Times
Friday / Saturday Nights
Usually 5pm to 9pm

Links (up-to-date information)

• Cruisin’ Arizona Cruise-In’s web page
• Desert Cruisers Arizona Calendar web page
• Arizona Auto Scene Cruise Night web page
• Scottsdale Pavilions Classic Car Show web page
• Big Earl’s Greasy Eats (Cave Creek) Car Show web page
• Cactus Cruisers Shows & Events web page
• Arizona Car Shows Events Calendar web page

This isn’t the circus of your childhood (unless you’re a child). This is an experience unlike anything you could imagine. Stars are and acts are as diverse as your tastes. From the Danguir Troupe 4-story highwire act to Fernandez Brothers and Wheels of Steel – the show is something you could imagine watching on TV or at an IMAX show. Want to see a guy get fired from a crossbow? Yeah, they’ve got that….

There’s an opportunity to meet the animals in the “Animal Open House” and a pre-show party, with an opportunity to meet and interact with the show’s acts.

Check the Fully Charged Tour website below for some great photos and video.

The show is in town until 6/27 with one or two performances per day (three on Saturday).

Dates & Times

• Wed Jun 22 7:00 pm
• Thu Jun 23 11:00am & 7:00 pm
• Fri Jun 24 11:00am & 7:00 pm
• Sat Jun 25 11:00am & 3:00pm & 7:00 pm
• Sun Jun 26 1:00pm & 5:00 pm
• Mon Jun 27 11:00am

Tickets

• $13 to $85
• Military discounts available

Links
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged Tour web page
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged Tour Schedule & Tickets page
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged Tour Special Offers web page

As with any event, please check the event website or with the vendor to verify the information posted above. This posting is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for complete accuracy. Please check all dates, times, locations, prices, age restrictions, safety and other information with the event organizer before attending. This information is provided “as is” and accuracy or relevance cannot be verified.