Things to do in Arizona
- February 2012
This is a big month for our state as Arizona is turning 100 on February 14th! What better way to help our state celebrate than to get out and enjoy it!
Here are some fun things to do in February in Arizona - I think there is something for everyone - there are many Centennial activities including the Arizona Centennial Best Fest Phoenix as well as chocolate festivals and book and arts & crafts fairs. I hope that you will find something that is perfect for you. I love getting feedback, so please let me know if you enjoyed any of these activities or if there are others that you think I should include. Have a great February!!
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Event dates, times and locations are subject to change. Some events require tickets or may charge fees for attendance. Please check with event organizers before attending.
Jan 1 - Aug 31 - From Story Rock to Story Books: The Children’s Literature Center Commemorates Arizona’s Centennial with Art and Books - Phoenix – Burton Barr Central Library – You will not want to miss this incredible collection of children’s books celebrating the history and culture of Arizona. Included in this collection is the original manuscript of Marguerite Henry’s classic book, Brighty of the Grand Canyon as well as Navajo Artist Shonto Begay's eight-foot wide acrylic painting on canvas, My Story Rock II. These and other items will be on display in the Children's Place and on the 4th Floor of the Burton Barr Central Library http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org
Jan 14 - Mar 25 - 22nd Annual Celebration of Fine Art - Scottsdale – Located in the big white tents on Hayden Rd and Loop 101 Freeway, (exit 35) this 2 month long show is billed as one of the “premiere arts events of the west” ! You can watch over 100+ juried artists create & sell their original works. Note: your Celebration of Fine Art ™ ticket is an all-event pass, good for all 10 weeks of the show and sale $10 - $8, 10 am - 6 pm, 480-443-7695 or http://www.celebrateart.com/
Jan 19 -Apr 1- 8th Annual Arizona Fine Art Expo - Scottsdale - Southwest corner of Jomax & Scottsdale Rd Visit over 100 nationally acclaimed fine artisans working in a studio environment as they give hands-on art demonstrations and workshops. Weekends feature musical entertainment, $10.00 or $8 - you may return as often as you like with your pass! 10 am – 6 pm, 480-837-7163 or http://www.ArizonaFineArtExpo.com
Jan 28 - Feb 5 - Arizona Sun Country Circuit Quarter Horse Show - Scottsdale - WestWorld - This free event is one of the top ten American Quarter Horse shows in the nation. There are youth shows, jumping, cutting and reining competitions and more. Riders from more than 36 states, Canada, Germany and England gather to compete for more than $200,000 in awards & prize money. Free, 8 am - 6 pm, 623-419-6318 or www.suncircuit.com
Jan 30 - Feb 5 - 76th Annual Waste Management Phoenix Open - Scottsdale - Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale – This is one of the PGA Tour's top events, with some ot the largest crowds on the tour coming to see some of the finest golfers in the world compete. $20/day or ticket packages, 8 am - 6 pm, 602-870-0163 or http://wastemanagementphoenixopen.com
Feb 3 – 5th – Glendale Chocolate Affaire – Murphy Park, Glendale – Who doesn’t love chocolate? At this, one 
of Glendale’s most popular events you can tour the nearby Cerreta Candy Co. for free or sign up to take a writing workshop hosted by one of many professional romance writers! And there will be plenty of treats like homemade fudge, sweet-potato fries with chocolate and chocolate dipped key lime pieJ 5-10pm Friday, 10am – 10pm Saturday and noon – 5pm Sunday. Free. 623-930-2299 http://www.glendaleaz.com/events
Feb 4 - 60th Annual Great Canadian Picnic - Phoenix - South Mountain Park - Celebrate Canada Week at this annual event. You can try your hand at hockey, curling, snowboot relays and even calf roping! You can bring a picnic or purchase from Earls Grill, Free, 10 am – 3 pm, 480-255-5865 or http://www.canadianpicnic.com
Feb 4th -Motoring Thru Time - Phoenix - Heritage & Science Park - A Centennial Event! Beautifully restored antique and classic vehicles of all shapes and sizes will be on display in historic Heritage park in downtown Phoenix, Free. 10 am – 4 pm, 602-262-5071 or http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/heritage.html
Feb 10th – 12th – Made in Arizona Festival – Held in the Arts District of downtown Scottsdale this 3 day event will feature handcrafted items, artwork and products from over 100 merchants – all made in Arizona. There will be live music and food vendors as well. 10am – 5pm Friday – Sunday. Free. 480 968-5353 or http://www.888artfest.com
Feb 11 - Feb 12 -56th Annual VNSA Used Book Sale Phoenix - State Fairgrounds - This is one of the nation’s largest book sales! There will be more than 600,000 books, paperbacks, videos, CD's, DVD's, record albums, puzzles and book-related items. Prices range from $1.50 – to over $100.00 for rare items. Proceeds benefit the Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County & the AZ Friends of Foster Children Foundation. Free admission, $ parking, Sat 8 am - 6 pm, Sun 8 am - 4 pm, 602-265-6805 or http://www.vnsabooksale.org
Feb 11 - Feb 12 - Arizona Best Fest – Celebrating Arizona’s Centennial - Centennial Way, Eighth Avenue to 18th Avenue - Phoenix The final in a series of festivals in each of Arizona’s Territorial Capitols. Concerts will be held both days. The “Best of Arizona” will be presented through pavilions (aerospace, natural resources, arts and culture, sports and recreation, health care, technology, renewable energy etc.), cultures (Native American, Latino and Western) and local restaurants, wineries, microbreweries, arts and crafts. Created to be the largest and most educational festival in our state’s history. http://www.az100years.org/
Feb 11 - Arizona Centennial Ball - Phoenix – For this themed dance people are asked to dress Western, either from an historic period or a modern time. Come to celebrate the centennial with live music and dance, $25, http://www.arizonacentennialball.com
Feb 11 - Aug 31 - Geronimo: The Apache Experience -Phoenix - Heard Museum - In this exhibit the Apache culture and Geronimo are examined and the many misrepresentations are explained and cleared up. http://www.heard.org
Feb 11 - Centennial Ride - Phoenix - Join motorcyclists from all over the country as they make this historic ride led by Country music star and Arizona native Dierks Bently on to the Arizona State Capitol and Arizona’s Best Fest. http://www.az100years.org
Feb 12 - 24th Annual Willo Historic Home Tour & Street Festival - Phoenix West of Central Avenue between Thomas and McDowell Roads from 1st-7th Avenues. Here is a great opportunity to view a variety of homes from Tudor to Spanish Revival, Bungalow to Ranch, from the 1920-1940’s. You can hop on the trolley cars that are providing transportation, or you may walk. There is also a street fair. $18, 10 am – 4 pm. http://www.willohistoricdistrict.com
Feb 16 - Feb 26 -57th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show & Shopping Expo - Scottsdale - WestWorld Arabian horses from all over the world come to compete in 100’s of events at this show. Additionally, there is a shopping expo featuring fine art, household items, clothing, jewelry and more! $7-15, 8 am – 10 pm, 480-515-1500 or http://www.scottsdaleshow.com
Feb 17 - Feb 19 Waterfront Fine Art & Wine Festival - Scottsdale Waterfront – Stroll along the waterfront while enjoying the live music, sipping wine and viewing the works of more than 150 juried fine artists. $3, 10 am - 5 pm, 480-837-5637 or http://www.thunderbirdartists.com
Feb 17 - Feb 18 -14th Annual Square Dance Festival – Happy 100th Birthday Arizona - Phoenix - St. Joan of Arc Church Enjoy the special guest appearance by Rex Allen Jr. who will be singing the song “I Love you Arizona” as part of the mini concert. The fee is $45 for dancers for the entire weekend or $15 for non-dancers to enjoy the concert and watch the dancers. http://www.azsquaredance.com/
Feb 18 - Feb 19 - 23rd Annual Desert Woodcarving Show & Sale Mesa - Centennial Hall This is the largest woodcarving show in AZ, featuring wood sculptures by national & local carvers. There will be door prizes, raffles and demonstrations. $5, 9 am - 5 pm, Sun. 10 am – 4 pm, 480- 484-8383 or http://www.desertwoodcarvingshow.com/
Feb 18 – 25th – The Official Arizona Beer Week – Start the week off at the 12th Annual Strong Beer Fest Phoenix - Steele Indian School Park for a tasting of strong beers and specialty and hard to find beers. Throughout the week there will be other events including pub crawls, beer-pairing dinners and educational seminars. 602 341-5724 http://www.arizonabeerweek.com
Feb 18th – 4th Annual Walk in the Wild - Phoenix Zoo – Here is a great way to support your zoo, honor the Sumatran Tiger and get fit all at the same time! At this the fourth annual walk you will receive a commemorative T-shirt, goodie bag and admission into the Zoo for the day. $ http://www.phoenixzoo.org/
Feb 24 -Feb 25 - 48th Annual Arizona Scottish Highland Games Phoenix - Steele Indian School Park You don’t need to be Scottish to enjoy this event with games, food, Highland dancers, competions and live music! $5-15, 7:30 am - 5 pm, 602-431-0095 or http://www.arizonascots.com
Feb 24 - Feb 26 - 26th Annual Great Fair Fountain Hills - With the beautiful fountain as the backdrop this is one of the valley’s largest and best arts and crafts festivals featuring more than 480 juried artists & craftspeople. Free, 10 am - 5 pm, 480-837-1654 or http://www.fountainhillschamber.com or http://visitfhfm.com
Feb 25 - Feb 26 28th Annual Phoenix Antiques, Bottles and Collectibles Club Show & Sale Phoenix - North Phoenix Baptist Church - At this show/sale you will find toys, lanterns, depression glass, dolls, china, coins, signs, insulators, kitchenware, tokens, bottles, Indian artifacts and more! $3, Fri 10 am – 5 pm, Sat 8 am – 4 pm, 602-317-4438 or http://www.phoenixantiquesclub.org
Feb 25 -Feb 26 -28th Annual Matsuri: A Festival of Japan - Phoenix - Heritage Square This beautiful festival celebrates Japanese culture with entertainment, authentic crafts, food & fine arts, including martial arts demos. Free, 10am – 5 pm, 602-262-5029 or http://www.azmatsuri.org
Feb 25 -Feb 26 - 11th Annual Ceramics Studio Tour -Tempe – this is a great opportunity to meet and view the studios of more than 37 professional ceramic artists in the Phoenix metro area, a rare opportunity to view working and living spaces of participating artists. Ther will be artwork for sale. Free, 9 am - 5 pm. http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/studiotour/
That's it folks, however, remember to go to my page Things to do in Arizona where I will be posting more fun events as they become available. You can comment, add your own findings, review other people's discoveries and most important don't forget to click the LIKE button at the top of the page.
As always, if you or anyone you know has any real estate needs or questions, I would love to help out. Just give me a call or send me an e-mail.
Cheers,
David
David Thomas, Realtor®
ABR, e-Pro, CDPE, SFR (Short Sale & Foreclosure Certification)
West USA Realty
602 763-6363
Fax 888-993-8686
David@OnlineArizonaHomes.com
www.OnlineArizonaHomes.com
Wow! Congrats on the centennial. My wife and I have been to Arizona twice and we love it! Perhaps we will get a change to make a short visit during the celebration month ahead. Texas is not that far away!