Here are some great things to enjoy doing in Arizona in April.
This is the last weekend - April 2 & April 3 to visit The Arizona Renaissance Festival which features jousting tournaments, ongoing entertainment on the 12 theater stages, rides, arts and crafts and plenty of food. Located 7 miles east of Apache Junction on U.S. Highway 60.
April 1 through April 2 - Get your jazz fill at the 12th Annual Chandler Jazz Festival in Historic Downtown Chandler featuring more than 120 musicians. All performances are free. Fri 5-9:30 pm, Sat noon-9:30 pm. Join the musicians for their Parasol Strolling Walk around San Marcos Plaza at 12:40 Saturday afternoon and you will receive free Mardi Gras beads! www.chandleraz.gov/jazz
Fridays throughout April - The Annual Music in the Garden Spring Concert Series at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Each week features a different excellent musical performance in this amazing desert setting. Reservations recommended, $15-21, Fridays, 7 pm, 480-481-8188 or www.dbg.org
April 1 through April 6 - The 7th Annual International Horror and Sci-fi Film Festival takes place at the Harkins Scottsdale/101 Theatre
7000 E. Mayo Blvd, Phoenix AZ 85054. Featuring the best in independent Horror and Sci-fi feature and shorts,competition films, the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival Hall of Fame, the legendary Saturday Night Costume Party with a cash prize costume contest, Gore Girl Competition, indie & retro titles scattered throughout, 602-955-6444 or www.horrorscifi.com
April 1 through April 20 - Arizona's largest and longest running film festival takes place in Tucson. At the 2011 Annual Arizona International Film Festival you can experience over 130 new works by independent producers from over 25 different countries. Prices varies. www.filmfestivalarizona.com
April 1 through April 3 - The Desert Botanical Garden is the place to go this weekend to see the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Show & Sale. These devoted plant lovers bring their plants to compete for ribbons and trophies with the public invited to choose their favorite. There are also plants for sale so that you can take home a specimen. 480-941-1225 or www.dbg.org
April 1 - Flagstaff - First Friday Art Walk Historic Downtown Flagstaff Live music and refreshment, meet local artists, shop for original artwork, free, 6-9 pm, 928-773-2300 or www.FlagstaffArtWalk.com
April 1 - FREE Admission to The Opening Day at the Arboretum in Flagstaff! Free, 9 am - 5 pm, 928-774-1442 or www.thearb.org
April 1 - Artlink First Fridays Phoenix Self-guided art tour of central Phoenix, galleries, art spaces, studios, first Friday of each month, free shuttle rides, free, 6-10 pm, 602-256-7539 or www.artlinkphoenix.com
April 2 - What a great excuse to visit historic Tombstone - the 2011 Rose Tree Celebration celebrates the 124th blooming of the world's largest rose tree with a rose parade, mariachi music, Folklorico dancers and more, free, 1 pm, 888-457-3929 or www.tombstonechamber.com
April 2 - The Heard Museum in Phoenix is home to the 10th Annual Katsina Doll Marketplace where more than 100 Hopi Katsina doll carvers will display and sell their dolls. This is a fantastic opportunity to talk with the artists, to learn more about these unique dolls, and maybe, to start or add to your collection. Free (unless you buy something) 10 am - 4 pm, www.heard.org
April 2 - The 6th Annual Children's Day Kite and Koi Festival is taking place at the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix. Kite making and kite flying and visiting with colorful Koi are only some of the activities. This event will also feature entertainment, Japanese food, and other cultural activities for children and families. 10 am - 3 pm, www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org
April 2 - There is yet another great reason to visit Tempe Town Lake - and this should prove to be a very yummy one - it is the My Nana's Salsa Challenge taking place at the Tempe Beach Park. More than 85 professional and amateur chefs will compete to see who is the "Numero Uno" salsa maker. There is also a competion amongst local bartenders to see who makes the best Margaritas. Local bands will perform and the kids will love the giant bounce houses and laser tag. And all for a good cause - sponsored by the Arizona Hemophilia Association to benefit children with bleeding disorders. $8-10, 12 and under are free, 11 am - 6 pm, 602-955-1962 or www.salsachallenge.com
April 2 Jerome Art Walk Visit historic Jerome to see more than 30 of the unique art studios and galleries, meet the artists and see handcrafted art including jewelry, pottery, glass, leatherwork, clothing, paintings and sculpture and more made both locally and internationally, free, 5-8 pm, www.jeromeartwalk.com
April 2 through April 3 - Calling all skaters!! Phoenix is home to a huge skateboarding contest this weekend. Desert West Skate Park is home to Cowtown's 10th Anniversary PHX AM Skateboard Contest featuring both professional and semi-professional skateboarding teams from all over the world. Spectator tickets for youth, teens and adults are $5, 10am - 5 pm, 480-642-2697 or htt://www.phxam.com
April 2 through April 3 - Monument Valley Hot Air Balloon Event - Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, www.NavajoNationParks.org
April 2 - 3rd Annual Falcon Field Open House! Runways, Roads and Rails Mesa - Falcon Field Park This event features aircraft displays, a history exhibit, classic cars, model railroads, remote-controlled aircraft displays, food, music, free, 9 am - 3 pm, 480-644-2450 or http://mesaaz..gov/falcon_field/openhouse/
April 2 - The 7th Annual Lake Pleasant Dam Good Run, Walk, Hike Morristown - Lake Pleasant Regional Park Opportunity to run/walk/hike across the Waddel Dam overlooking scenic Lake Pleasant, choose the moderately easy 4-mile route or hike a more challenging 7-mile trail, 7:30 am check in, fundraiser $20-25, 602-372-7460 ext 210 or http://www.maricopa..gov/parks/lake_pleasant/
April 3 -The Sunday A'Fair at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts features the Valley's top entertainers as well as a diverse selection of arts & crafts, hands-on craft activities for children and tours of the outdoor sculptures, free, noon - 4:30 pm, 480-994-ARTS or http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.or
Hope that you enjoy these activities!!
