Winter Festivals, Parades, and Races, Oh My!
Starbucks has brought back the seasonal winter cups and that means one thing – winter holidays are here! The San Tan Valley has many activities to offer during the holiday season. Here are some upcoming events open to the public that you and your family don’t want to miss!
Thanksgiving Weekend Fall Foliage Festival
November 27, 2011 11:00am-3:00pm
Every November, the Chinese pistachio trees around the Boyce Thompson Aboretum offer an autumn foliage show as impressive as any red maple from Maine or New Hampshire. Color usually peaks on Thanksgiving weekend, just in time for a 2-day festival featuring live music from Scot Schaefer and Jim Pipkin and arts and craft vendors. Make sure you bring cash to enjoy hot spiced cider along the walks in the garden. For more information, e-mail btainfo@ag.arizona.edu.
Queen Creek Holiday Festival & Parade
December 3, 2011 10:00am-3:00pm
Check out the 29th annual local Holiday Festival and Parade in Queen Creek brought to you by the Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek. The parade starts at the south end of Ellsworth Rd. near Sierra Park and ends approximately 8 miles later on Heritage Road just past the Queen Creek Library. The Festival will be held in the library immediately after the parade. Find more on the Queen Creek Holiday Festival & Parade.
Apache Junction Holiday Program & Light Parade
December 3, 2011 8:00am -9:00pm
For the entire day, the Old Basha’s Plaza in Downtown Apache Junction will be filled with snow, live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and inflatables, a light parade, a jolly Santa and more. Find more information for the Holiday Program & Light Parade.
12K’s of Christmas
December 10, 2011
Check out Gilbert, Arizona on the 10th of December for a day of hundreds of Santas and Reindeers running through the streets! There are several choices for you and your family including a 12K run/walk, 6K run/walk, a 1.2K Santa Sled race and Santa Paws race. Other festivities include a pet village, Christmas Bazaar, Christmas caroling and more. Find more information and registration for 12K’s of Christmas.
PolarFest
December 10, 2011 11:00am – 5:00pm
The public is invited to Walker Butte K-8 School in Johnson Ranch for their 9th Annual San Tan Valley PolarFest. An $8 wristband is required for all games and attractions that include arts and crafts, snow games, pony rides, hay rides, ferris wheel, rock wall, carnival rides, great prizes and more. Activities with additional cost include Pancakes with Santa, helicopter rides and pictures with Santa! Click here to find more information on PolarFest.
Olive Harvest Festival
Every Saturday through December 11th
Queen Creek Olive Mill at 25062 S. Meridian Road is holidng its Olive Harvest Festival every Saturday until December 11th. Enjoy wine and product tasting from local vendors and live music in the grove from 10:00am – 2:00pm and take a tour to see olives being freshly pressed into extra virgin olive oil. For details, call (480) 888-9290 or check the Olive Harvest Festival website.