Downstream – Arizona Boating & Watersports Events is a continuing list of outstanding events that take place in and around Arizona throughout the year.
Boating
To our friends at Bartlett Lake Marina. Thank you to Sarah, Bryan and Eric Church — founders and owners of Bartlett Lake Marina — for the many happy times we have spent with you at your very special corner of our state.
LAKE PLEASANT REGIONAL PARK: Paddlefest 2018; It is a great time for everyone to come out to Lake Pleasant Regional Park and try different forms of paddle craft (sit on top, touring, sea and Hobie pedal kayaks, outriggers, rafts, white water kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards)! You can bring your own paddle craft too.
17-22 LAKE HAVASU CITY: 20th Annual Desert Storm Poker Run & Shootout – One of the top five poker runs in the nation with world-class performance boats racing on Lake Havasu. Speeds upwards of 160+ MPH from high-performance boats are not uncommon. Wednesday night open house, Thursday street party, Friday boat parade and poker run, Saturday shootout with over 67 runs. Three-day beach party and banquet at Rotary Park.
Downstream – Arizona Boating & Watersports Events will tell you about great boating events such as Day On The Lake presented by Barrow Neurological and Bartlett Lake
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 / Outdoor Activities
7 MESA: 27th Annual Holualoa El Tour de Mesa – Red Mountain Park. 74- & 26-mile bicycle rides, also 4-mile & 1/4-mile kids fun rides, medallions to all finishers, traffic control, support stations. $15-55. 7 am. 520-745-
7 TUCSON: Music in the Mountains Concert Series: Nancy Elliott – Catalina State Park. Enjoy an evening concert of at the Trailhead with standard park admission, bring a chair and your own food and water, concerts will be canceled during severe weather, sponsored by the Friends of Catalina SP. $7 per vehicle. 5 pm. 520-628-5798
8 TUCSON: Cyclovia – Downtown Tucson. An annual car-free event that opens selected streets to people so that they can walk, skate, run, bicycle, and socialize with their neighbors, it’s a free event, packed with activities, open to the public and fun for people of all ages. Free. 10 am – 3 pm. 520-261-8777
Downstream – Arizona Boating & Watersports Events will point you toward the Arizona Game And Fish Outdoor Expo.
14-15 SHOW LOW: Arizona Family Campout – Fool Hollow Lake 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.
20-22 KINGMAN: 16th Annual Home & Garden Expo – Mohave County Fairgrounds. Featuring home & garden products and services, demonstrations, carnival for the kids. 928-753-2636
28 CORNVILLE: Rocks in the Park II – Windmill Park. Verde River Rockhounds present a rock and mineral sale. 9 am – 5 pm.
28 WILLCOX: 3rd Annual Willcox West Fest – Ranch Rodeo – Quail Sports Park. A fun filled day with real cowboys competing in real ranch work. Events include ranch cutting horse, trailer loading, ranch bronc riding. Willcox Ranch Rodeo in the cattle capitol of the World. $5. Kids under 10 free.
28-29 SAFFORD: Arizona Family Campout – Roper Lake 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.
29 WILLCOX: Full Moon Walks – Chiricahua National Monument. Join a ranger for a half-mile walk around the Massai Point Nature Trail under the full moon. Come discover how to be comfortable under the full moon, using all your senses, and see the similarities between humans and nocturnal animals. While humans primarily rely on sight, our other senses are just as useful, especially when exploring at night. Limited to 20, must pre-register. 8 pm. 520-824-3560 x9302
PROTECT-A-PARK: Ongoing — Boaters, anglers, divers needed to adopt Lake Pleasant’s shoreline areas and coves for regular litter removal in 2009; (602) 372-7460, ext. 200
Classes/Seminars
AZGFD, CG AUXILIARY, PHOENIX POWER SQUADRON BOATING CLASSES: Ongoing
Community And Seasonal
5-8 FLORENCE: 2018 Country Thunder – 4 days of the hottest country acts, this year headliners include in addition to 20 other national and local country acts. 866-802-6418
7 DRAGOON: 5th Annual Amerind’s Texas Canyon Trail Run – Amerind Museum in partnership with Bisbee Vogue Inc. present the run, see remote areas of Texas Canyon. This 10k run will take runners (or walkers) through the amazing quartz monzolite rock formations of Texas Canyon on trails that have never been open to the public.
7 ELGIN: 40th Annual Blessing of the Sonoita Vineyards Festival – Sonoita Vineyards. No reservations needed, admission includes wine tasting with souvenir glass, souvenir corkscrew, food and wine pairings, it includes tastings, pairings, tours of the winery and vineyard and a procession through the vineyard behind Father Greg, who has been giving the vineyard its annual blessing for years. $20-25, 10 am – 4 pm. 520-455-5893
14 QUEEN CREEK: 8th Annual Over the Hill Gang Classic Car Show – Schnepf Farms. Showing Hot Rods, Custom, Muscle, Classics, raffle, music, vote your favorite car, benefits Hospice of the Valley. Free. 8 am – 3 pm.
11-15 PHOENIX: 43rd Annual Maricopa County Fair – State Fairgrounds. An annual occasion to celebrate & pursue the traditional values of educational opportunity, agricultural prosperity & love of family, midway, commercial exhibits, hobbies, agriculture & youth exhibits, motorized events. $9, children 7 & under are free. 602-252-0717 or http://www.maricopacountyfair.org
14 LAKE PLEASANT: Lanterns at the Lake
14-15 CAMP VERDE: History of the Solider – Fort Verde State Historic Park. Visitors experience a military timeline of history form the Revolutionary War to present day. Features speakers, reenactments, military encampments and other demonstrators. Honors the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of military men and women from the Armed Forces of all eras. We invite veterans from around the state to attend this event. $4-7. 9 am.
19 LAKE HAVASU CITY: Desert Storm Street Party 2018 – Kick-off to the Desert Storm Poker Run & Shootout. Multi-million dollar presentation of high-performance race boats displayed on McCulloch Blvd (Downtown District). Crowds of over 10,000 can meet the drivers/owners. Custom autos, tow vehicles, PWCs, and a full range of marine electronics, products and accessories for sale. Vendors, live music, food vendors, entertainment and giveaways. Free. noon – 10 pm. 623-238-1330
19 CASA GRANDE: Day Out Downtown Living History Tour – Main Street Patio. Historical walking tour, refreshments, living history tour, merchant scavenger hunt and more on each third Thursday through April. 9:30 am.
Expos And Shows
6 – 8 LAKE HAVASU BOAT SHOW
Fishing
ARIZONA FLYCASTERS CLUB MEETINGS: Second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. — Sunnyslope Community Center
Downstream – Arizona Boating & Watersports Events can take you kayak fishing at the Arizona Kayak Fishing Tournaments.
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
BEN AVERY CLAY TARGET CENTER: Ongoing — Open seven days a week; (623) 434-8119
Watersports
Ongoing — SAGUARO DIVING & SPORTS: Ongoing — Learn to Scuba Dive, Open Water Certification Dives, Private Class & Pool, Private Lake
Frozen
Ongoing — Learn To Curl lessons
Wildlife
7 CLARKDALE: Raptors on the Rails with Liberty Wildlife – Verde Canyon Railroad. As breathtaking as an eagle is in flight, a face-to-face encounter with a raptor is an equally astounding event. Our friends from Scottsdale’s Liberty Wildlife share the majesty of a rescued bald eagle with visitors at the depot and on the train on select days throughout the year. Everyone has the opportunity for personal interaction.
BENSON: Earth Day/Bat Day – Kartchner Caverns State Park. Day filled with presentations and hands-on activities, visiting bat experts plus family activities throughout the day. 9 am – 5 pm. 520-586-2283
21 FOUNTAIN HILLS: Fountain Hills Dark Sky Festival – Fountain Hills Community Center. Events include nationally known speakers, a mobile planetarium, exhibits, photo and art contests, animal display, a star party and food and craft beers. Celebrating the new Dark Sky designation for Fountain Hills. Free. 3-10 pm. http://fhdarksky.com/events/fountain-hills-dark-sky-festival/
COTTONWOOD: 18th Annual Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival – Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Field trips, local tours, workshops & seminars, educational activities for kids, exhibits, key-note speaker, entertainment. $. 928-282-2202
21 CHANDLER: Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration – Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park. Experience hands-on activities, live animal presentations and discover ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle from on-site vendors and exhibitors. Free. 9 am – noon. 480-782-
Through 4/30 PHOENIX: Dinosaurs in the Desert – Phoenix 23 prehistoric creatures stand along the Zoo’s Desert Lives Trail. The self-guided tour includes animatronic dinosaur structures which move and make various sounds including the infamous roar of the tyrannosaurus rex. A fossil dig and a photo op with a pachyrhino are also available. Educational signage and guides highlight size and interesting facts.
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 furandfeatheranimalassistance@gmail.com.
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; Jodi Polanski.
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.
