Enjoy a day of ice skating, hay rides out to feed Santa’s deer, vegetable picking, train rides and hot chocolate at Schnepf Farms located at 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road. Admission is FREE!  Ice skating for about 45 minutes is $8 per person with Skates included; Train rides for $3; Hay rides for feeding the deer is $3; For a package of  ice skating and unlimited rides is $15 per person. For hours and more information visit www.schnepffarms.com

Home & Garden Show – January 13,14, and 15, 2012 in Phoenix

The annual Home and Garden Show is held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds located at 19th Avenue and McDowell Rd. and begins 10 am each day. where you can get home decor ideas for an interior change or for new landscaping ideas for your yard. You can stroll through the 14th annual Peoples choice landscape display competition of nine lovely landscape displays where you can vote on your favorite or participate in a FREE home improvement seminar and you can even meet the famous Dave the Garden Guy from 3TV and get some tips.  There will be several booths displays to visit and receive giveaways at this event!  Admission is $5.00 per adult, $2.00 ages 3-12 years and 2 and under Free. Free admission on Senior Day, Friday the 13th.  For more information visit www.MCHomeShows.com.

Chandler Multicultural Festival – Saturday, January 14, 2012

At this 17th annual cultural festival you will enjoy celebration of diversity of cultures to appease the eye as well as your adventurous side all for FREE. Valley cultural groups perform their traditions through dance such as Folk performances and hoop dancers. You will listen to drum circles, see colorful flamenco dancers and listen to storytellers by Native American’s.  There are plenty of places to choose to eat from throughout the market place at this festival. For more information call 480-782-2727 or visit www.chandleraz.gov.

Glendale Glitters and Glow Block Party – Saturday, January 14, 2012

This is the 16 annual holiday finale where Glendale toasts off the season with their magnificent glow party of more than 20 colorful hot-air balloons and millions of lights that illuminate the city’s downtown area that can’t be missed. There will be live music bands playing throughout the festival, a variety of food beverages to enjoy and vendor booths to choose from. This FREE festival is located at 58th Avenue and Glendale in downtown Glendale and begins from 4pm to 11pm. for more information visit www.visitglendale.com. or call 623-930-2299.

Bird Watching at Boyce Thompson Arboretum – Monday, January 16, 2012 in Superior, Arizona

Joanne Barr will lead a special bird walk on Monday, January 16, starting at 8:30 am from the visitor center lobby. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located at 37615 U.S. Highway 60. For more information visithttp://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/events/birdwalks.html. For admission and map visit http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/location.html.

Astronomy Nights at Pinnacle Peak Park  – Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Discover the deserts sky at night as you venture into educational talks of solar systems and multiple star systems. You will observe our neighbor the moon, distant planets and view the wonders of nebulae clusters through professional telescopes. this event begins at 6:00 pm and continues for proximately 1 1/2 hours. You will need to register at least a week in advance so there are enough telescopes. Participants must be 8 years or older. For more information and to register call Pinnacle Peak Park at 480- 312-0990.

Cave Creek/Carefree Balloon Festival – Saturday, January 21, 2012

The glow of hot air balloons brings magic to any evening and enlightens the spirit at the night becomes filled with the excitement of glow and hissing of flames up into each colorful balloon! during this lighted event at the Carefree Resort & Conference Center located at 37220 Mule Train Road in Carefree (You can park along Cave Creek road and take the shuttle to the gate of the festival), you will enjoy music from live bands, showers of fireworks, entertainment for the kids and an assortment of food and beverage from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Don’t forget to bring the camera for this special photo-op. Ticket prices are $8 for each adult, $5 for each child, with children age 2 and under admitted free. Bring cash for food inside. For more information visit   www.cavecreekballoonfestival.com.

Desert Botanical Garden’s Design for a Living World – Saturday, January 21, 2012 through to April 1, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona

This exhibit portraits the connection we have with the natural world of human, animals, plants and places across the globe. This event is developed by The Nature Conservancy that tells the relevant story of the life-cycle of materials end the importance of conservation in buildings and landscape design and the movement to use sustainable materials from around the world. For more information call 480-941-1225 or visit dbg.org/events-exhibitions/design-for-a-living-world.

Phoenix Coyotes Carnival – Sunday, January 22, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona

Any Hockey fans?  If you like Hockey then this event is for you. Fans get to meet their favorite Phoenix Coyotes players, talk with the coaches and watch the broadcasters on this day of indoor fun and games while raising money for charity. Classic carnival games such as the “coke bottle ring toss,” “milk can knock-down,” “the wrecking ball” and more will be available for fans to try their luck for a donation. You can have your picture taken with one of the clowns or have your favorite design painted on by face painters. This carnival begins at 12:30 pm and runs til 3:30 pm. and is at the Jobing.com Arena located at 9400 W. Maryland Avenue in Glendale, Arizona. Tickets are $10 per person, while children aged 2 and under are free. for more carnival information or to purchase tickets visit www.phoenixcoyotes.com/coyotescarnival.

Chinese New Year Festival – Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29, 2012 in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona

Happy Chinese New Year! This year represents the year of the Dragon. The animal totem for the year 4710 of the Yellow Sovereign, Huangdi, inventor of the cycle of 60 years. Friday is the official grand opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture and Cuisine Festival featuring the lion and dragon dances and live entertainment. You will be amazed at the color and graceful dance movements throughout this festival along with Eastern smells, tastes, entertainment and sounds of China right in Phoenix’s own backyard. This festival includes Taipei Dragon Boat Display (donated by the city of Taipei, Taiwan to the city of Phoenix in honor of the historic and strong relationship as  sister cities) , the Children’s Pavilion (origami (paper-folding), folk art, Chinese calligraphy and much more fun hands-on activities reflecting 5,000 years of Chinese culture), the Food Pavilion, Chinese culture and history booth “Chinese Cultural Village” (displaying traditional Chinese attire, pictures, inventions and Chinese puppets), Photo Exhibit and a Mahjong Booth (tile art). What ever you fancy, there’s no running out of fun at this Chinese festival. this festival takes place at the Chinese Cultural Center located at 668 North 44th Street (cross streets: 44 street and Van Buren) in downtown Phoenix.  For more information visit phoenixchineseweek.org. For general information contact CC Center 602-273-7268.

“Organics” Exhibition- Friday, January 27, 2012 – April 4, 2012 in Tempe, Arizona

The “Organics” exhibit displays how shapes, color and subject matter, all from nature, gives inspiration for creation for two local artists, Kimberly Harris and Stacy Marko. The focus of this exhibit is on how natural organic elements and the details of nature have been an influence in artists’ works throughout history. the exhibit is on display at Connections Cafe’ in the Tempe Public Library located at 3500 S. Rural Road. For more information call 480-350-2829 or visit www.tempe.gov/arts/exhibitions/library.htm.

Arizona Sun Circuit Quarter Horse Show – Saturday, January 28 through February 5, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Like to horse around? Well, trot on into this event of horses strutting their moves. Multiple Arenas and events will be showing each day. Most days events will begin approximately 7:30 am and finish around 7 pm. Visit over 100 diverse vendors around the show grounds. In addition to the large vendor tent, you will find food, clothing, gear, trailers and more to purchase around the Wendell Arena, and the Equidome. This Sun Circuit event is held at West World located at 16601 N. Pima Rd in North Scottsdale. This event has free parking and admission for everyone. for more information please call 602-853-6764.

Cavalliere’s Family Farmers market – Sunday, January 29, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Come and visit this indoor farmers market at Cavalliere’s Reata Pass (Scottsdale’s most historic and iconic eating spot) every Sunday for a fresh assortment of local vegetables, locally raised organic meats, fresh nest eggs, fresh assortment of Alaskan fish, assortment of olive oils, home-made breads, granola, tasty pies,  tamales, fresh salsa and even home-made dog biscuits for our best friend. Vendors have fresh products weekly along with a few fine arts and crafts vendors with new pieces of art. This event is located at the Reata Pass Steakhouse large outside patio from 10 am to 3 pm located at 27500 N. Alma School Pkwy. For more farmers market information call 480-585-PASS

*JANUARY – BALLET/PLAYS/OPERA/THEATER PERFORMANCES*

Madama Butterfly/Opera – Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona

This Arizona Opera production displays the heartbreak of a lovely Geisha whose heart flutters for a Pinkerton and weds only to find he has married another after she and their daughter, Sorrow wait three years for his return. For all who witness this performance of joy, tenderness and sorrow, you will see how this Geisha gains back her honor. This opera is Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Performing at the Phoenix Symphony Hall located at 75 North Second Street (north from Washington Street). To contact Phoenix Symphony call 602-495-1117. For tickets visit https://secure.azopera.com/tickets.php or call 602-266-7464 (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays)

SHEN YUN/Dance & Orchestra Performance – Friday, January 27 – Sunday 29, 2012 in Tempe, Arizona

Shen Yun takes you on a magical journey into ancient dynasties and ethnic regions of China through mesmerizing dance.  You will inhale a sense of wonder, magic and divine as you melt into another world of rich culture of classical china brought to life through brilliantly colored costumes and dance. This ancient dance is  so powerfully breathtaking that is touches your soul. This enchanting performance is at ASU Gammage Theater located at 1200 South Forest Avenue (on the Tempe Campus of ASU at Mill Avenue & Apache Boulevard)
Tempe, AZ 85287-0105

Tempe, Arizona

My Fair Lady/Play  – Tuesday, January 31 – February 1, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona

“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plane.” Most of us remember this famous saying from the play My Fair Lady. If you want to relax Theater style for a classical performance than this humorous play is for you and it will be in performance at the Mesa Art Center located at One East Main Street in Downtown Mesa which is located at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets. Call 480-644-6500 for ticket times and costs. For directions visit http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/visitmac/directions.
WEEKEND EVENTS POSTED ON WEDNESDAYS!

Sincerely,

Lisa Racz – Your local event writer

Feature mage: jerometimes.com