Festivals, fairs, flea markets, fire works!!!! (Phoenix, Glendale: house, neighborhood, closing)

[imdarwinsdream]

O.k., so, the closer I get to the closing on my house the more excited I am about moving our to AZ from NY.

This weekend is labor day and fairs, art shows, and flea markets are happening all around me. Last weekend I went to a really good county fair in my area.

So, what is there to do in AZ this weekend? Do they have fairs in this heat?
I would imagine your summer is like our winter - no fairs, art shows inside,etc.

So, what r u all doing this weekend? What kind of fairs are coming up?

Donna

[MaxPower123]

Things to do this weekend in Arizona

[imdarwinsdream]

Originally Posted by MaxPower123

Things to do this weekend in Arizona

The luau sounds like fun! What other kinds of stuff do you have other times of the year?

Thanks for the info

[redjan1225]

What city are you moving to?

Unfortunately, I just don't find a lot of what you've mentioned here (but I live in Phoenix so maybe someone can speak to other cities in AZ). I used to live in a small town and we had annual festivals to commemorate the harvests (plum festival, peach festival, etc). We don't have that here. We have an annual fair that I try to avoid. I think it is too packed and the crowd is pretty rough. I'm not aware of any flea markets, but you will find farmer's markets scattered around.

I'm sure the festivals and fairs you are used to can be found in some of the smaller communities in AZ. I also know that both Payson and Prescott host annual rodeos that are a blast to attend.

I'm not aware of anything in particular that is being done to commemorate Labor Day. Most people I know are getting out of town, or are hosting a backyard BBQ with friends (they have swimming pools they use to entice people over with). This weekend is supposed to be extremely hot (heat warning today), so I may catch a movie or two to keep cool.

[Phxguy]

There's a corn festival going on in I think Payson or the area around there this weekend. I know in more of the smaller towns in the woods of AZ have pumpkin festivals when the leaves change colors and other little fairs. In Phoenix, there's more big block parties and festivals where thousands attend than the smaller more community type ones.

[twiggy]

One usually moves here to avoid small town life. lol People move out of here to find it. lol It sounds fun out there though.

We will be hanging out by the pool with the kids for a short period of time because of the heat and sunburns, then maybe playing some video games inside away from that sun.

If your young without kids there are a lot of bars that have parties for the weekend. They have festivals but they aren't the kind you're talking about, more drinking fests. Some of the small towns as mentioned above, couple of hours out of town have some I know. A lot of people drive out to the lakes for labor day or go tubing down the salt river.

Oh, and yes, we have a couple of flee markets, one on the west side and one on the east side. Went a long time ago and wasn't impressed though. Maybe some one else will chime in.

[MaxPower123]

Originally Posted by imdarwinsdream

The luau sounds like fun! What other kinds of stuff do you have other times of the year?

Thanks for the info

The state fair will be here sometime in October I think.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by MaxPower123

The state fair will be here sometime in October I think.

The state fair is a scary event! Lots of really rough characters, and in a bad neighborhood. Not really on my list of fun things to do.

However, there are tons of activities, and you'd be better off Googling or checking www.azentral.com throughout the year. Our metro area has a population of nearly 4M and is very spread out. Where you settle will make a huge difference in which events you'll probably choose to visit.

[Phxguy]

There's the State Fair in Midtown Phoenix starting October, Reniassance Festival in March I think outside of the East valley, New Year's/Fourth of July party at Tempe Town Lake, and there's hundreds of other fairs and festivals throughout the year. Like First Fridays, art walks in Scottsdale, the light shows in a few old town areas like Glendale, and much more. Like a previous poster said there's 4 million people living here (almost 5 milliion) so there's going to a lot of activities to do. Just don't expect a small town feel to them.

[imdarwinsdream]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

There's the State Fair in Midtown Phoenix starting October, Reniassance Festival in March I think outside of the East valley, New Year's/Fourth of July party at Tempe Town Lake, and there's hundreds of other fairs and festivals throughout the year. Like First Fridays, art walks in Scottsdale, the light shows in a few old town areas like Glendale, and much more. Like a previous poster said there's 4 million people living here (almost 5 milliion) so there's going to a lot of activities to do. Just don't expect a small town feel to them.

The fairs we have around here aren't really the small time feel. lots of tourists come to the hudson valley, so there are alot of good festivals.I'm in a pretty populated area 1 1/2 hrs from NYC. There really is so much to do here. I hope to have similar in AZ.

Thanks for all the ideas and links. I'm sure i will find lots to do. Tomorrow I am going to an art show - 300 vendors. I collect jewelry and I love when it's hand made.

Didn't someone say once "diamonds are a girl's best friend" LOL