SHOWS/EXPOS
February 9th – March 31st, 2019 – Arizona Renaissance Festival – A medieval amusement park, a 13-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an arts & crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure. 520-463-2600
3/21-24 SCOTTSDALE: International Sportsmen’s Expo at WestWorld. The International Sportsmen’s Expo has the ‘latest and greatest’!
Arizona is a year-around outdoor paradise for boaters, campers, offroaders, RVers as well as anglers and hunters. The Expo offers plenty for all of those adventures — gear, destinations, free advice and lessons, plus try-out areas and fun activities for the entire family. See details on page 1 of this issue.
30-31 PHOENIX: Arizona Game & Fish Department Outdoor Expo – Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Hands-on activities, demonstrations and exhibits on hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, archery, off-highway vehicle (OHV) and watercraft recreation, conservation and wildlife education, camping and other outdoor elements. Free. Sat 9 am – 5 pm, Sun 9 am – 4 pm. 602-942-3000 or http://www.azgfd.gov/expo
April 5-7, 2019 – Lake Havasu Boat Show 2019 – www.lakehavasuboatshow.com
Largest Boat Show in Arizona & Nevada – There won’t be a shortage of new 2019 models for visitors to the 28th Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show to peruse come April 5-7 at Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4 event venue. Maybe the most impressive will be the assortment of brand new high performance sportboats from several of the most prominent west coast boat builders.
BEYOND ARIZONA
FUR AND FEATHER ANIMAL ASSISTANCE, INC.: Ongoing — A permanent residential facility for dogs and cats designed for comfort, well being, and CARE for LIFE. Where Every “One” Deserves a Chance, PO Box 555 Pie Town, NM 87827, e-mail to furandfeatheranimalassistance@gmail.com.
BOATING
3/1-mid-May, SALT RIVER: Rafting on the Salt River
4/5-7 LAKE HAVASU STATE PARK: Lake Havasu Boat Show; see details on page 1 of this issue.
30-31 TEMPE: 16th Annual Arizona Dragon Boat Festival – Tempe Town Lake Marina. 100 dragon boat racing teams from all over the world including youth, college and adaptive sports teams as well as breast cancer survivors are expected to participate. 40-foot-long rowing canoes, 20 paddlers, one steersperson & a drummer in a 500-meter race. Features competitive and recreational dragon boat races, vendors, and Asian and Pacific inspired talented entertainment. Free. 9 am – 4 pm.
4/24-28 LONDON BRIDGE RESORT, LAKE HAVASU: Desert Storm 2019
LEARN TO SAIL: Current — If you know someone who would like to learn to sail, turn them on to the Arizona Sailing Foundation’s Adult Beginning Sailing class.
AZ YACHT CLUB MEETINGS: Second Tuesday of every month 7 p.m. — in the Caddy Shack at Rolling Hills Golf Course, 1415 N. Mill Ave., Tempe
US SAILING/ RED CROSS ONLINE TRAINING: Ongoing — To make it easier for prospective US SAILING-certified instructors to fulfill course requirements for CPR and First Aid certification, US SAILING teams up with the American Red Cross to provide an online training program.
CAMPING/RVING/AZ OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
2-3 AVONDALE: Tres Rios Nature Festival – Meridian Wildlife Area. Tres Rios Nature Festival is a two-day event in the spring. This free outdoor festival showcases the rich diversity of wildlife habitat, history and culture of the Gila River drainage, which is made up of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria Rivers. From guided bird tours, canoeing on the river, archery, fishing and learning about Southwest wildlife, there is something for everyone during the best time of year to enjoy the Arizona weather! Free. Sat 10 am – 7:30 pm, Sun 10 am – 4 pm. 623-333-2400
9-10 ROOSEVELT: Heritage Days – Tonto National Monument. Includes cultural demonstrations, kids activities and visitors may hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling or to the Upper Cliff Dwelling which is normally available only on ranger-guided tours and requires an advance reservation; fee free event. 8 am – 5 pm. https://www.nps.gov/tont/index.htm
16-17 APACHE JUNCTION: Arizona Family Campout – Lost Dutchman State Park. Arizona Family Campout Programs are designed for families who have little or no experience camping. We’ll introduce you to the experiences you can share with your family and inspire you to continue to explore the great outdoors! Learn how to set up a tent and to cook outside, plus you will get to try some fun activities you can do while camping! $90 for a family of up to 4.
23-24 TUCSON: Arizona Family Campout – Catalina State Park. Arizona Family Campout Programs are designed for families who have little or no experience camping. We’ll introduce you to the experiences you can share with your family and inspire you to continue to explore the great outdoors! Learn how to set up a tent and to cook outside, plus you will get to try some fun activities you can do while camping! $90 for a family of up to 4.
CLASSES/SEMINARS
AZGFD, CG AUXILIARY, PHOENIX POWER SQUADRON BOATING CLASSES: Ongoing (See page 3 of this issue.)
COMMUNITY AND SEASONAL
6 PHOENIX: Hellraising, Heroic and Hidden Women of the Old West – Pueblo Grande Museum. Do you know the names of the women who helped settle the West? Join Jana Bummersbach to find out who they were. Although history tries to tell us ONLY men settled the Old West, that is shattered by Jana’s verbal tour through some of the amazing women who made all the difference. Free. 6:30 pm.
8-10 CHANDLER: 31st Annual Ostrich Festival – Tumbleweed Regional Park. Ostrich races, carnival rides, live headline entertainment each day and the Music Coop showcasing local community performing groups and bands, exotic petting zoo, camel and pony rides, Kidzone, arts & crafts vendors. $7-10. General admission Fri. 2 pm – midnight, Sat 10 am – midnight, Sun 10 am – 11 pm. 480-963-4571
16 PHOENIX: 36th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Family Faire – 3rd Street Virginia to Margaret T. Hance Park. parade at 10 am with pipe bands, marching bands, floats, Irish step dancers, Faire follows parade until 6 pm. $10, 3 stages of Irish music and dancers, crafts, genealogy, Irish clubs, kids area, 602-280-9221
23 PHOENIX: Mountain Days: The John Muir Musical in Concert – North Valley Christian Academy. ProMusica is proud to present the Arizona Premier of this magnificent story of naturalist John Muir, one of the early founders of the National Park System. $12-22. 7:30 pm. 623-326-5172
Through 3/31GOLD CANYON: 31st Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival – A medieval amusement park, a 13-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an arts & crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure. $18-28, Sat-Sun & President’s Day. 10 am – 6 pm rain or shine. 520-463-2600
FISHING
SRT BASS PHOENIX CHAPTER MEETINGS: Ongoing — Shake, Rattle & Troll BASS Club; volunteers needed; new members (boaters and non-boaters), families, children, friends are welcome; (623) 221-7655
SHOOTING SPORTS/ARCHERY
BEN AVERY CLAY TARGET CENTER: Ongoing — Open seven days a week; (623) 434-8119
WATERSPORTS/WATER-RELATED
2-3 PARKER: 34th Anniversary Parker International Marathon IWSRA Ski Races – Blue Water Casino, water ski racing, marathon events range between 35 to 65 miles in length with a Mini Marathon running approximately 25 miles. 928 669-6511
Diving
Ongoing — SAGUARO DIVING & SPORTS: Ongoing — Learn to Scuba Dive, Open Water Certification Dives, Private Class & Pool, Private Lake
Frozen
Ongoing — Learn To Curl lessons: learntocurl@coyotescurling.com
WILDLIFE/ ANIMAL-RELATED
14-17 QUEEN CREEK: Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek – Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre. . PRCA Pro-Rodeo showcasing the country’s top cowboys and cowgirls. Carnival, rodeo dance, petting zoo, pony rides, vendors, horse meet n’ greet and demonstrations. Free western-themed family activities Saturday morning, including Kids N’ Kritters, Ranch Dressing and Xtreme Teen Rodeo.
7-9 PARKER: La Paz County Fair – See What the Buzz is All About – 4-H exhibits, numerous rides, motorcross race, food, beer garden, fine arts, 4H projects, petting zoo and much more. $8-25. 928-669-8100
EMPTY PET FOOD BANK IN TEMPE: Ongoing — A unique food bank which serves cats and dogs needs your help. Lost Our Home Pet Foundation has been providing food and pet supplies to the pets of family in need since 2009, all through community donations. Donations can be made at the shelter location at 2323 S. Hardy Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282
NO-KILL SHELTER NEEDS HELP: http://animalsbenefitclub.com/index2.html.
Editor’s Note: Please submit announcements for AZBW/WOT’s calendar of events —-“Downstream” — to editor@azbw.com. To guarantee placement, as room allows, items must be received by the tenth (10th) of the month prior to publication. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy, but we assume no responsibility for print errors or omissions. We also reserve the right to edit each item. Please include the name of the event, the date and time, the location, the organization, and contact information. You may also submit your event individually at http://www.westernoutdoortimes.com/classifieds.
