Moms About Town – SMB Guide to Family Friendly Events for April 2017

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With the average temperature around 83 degrees, April is a great month to get out and about with the family in Scottsdale. From Easter egg hunts to free events at the museum, this guide has the mom about town covered for family friendly events around Scottsdale.  

Here are just some of the many local, family friendly offerings happening this month. Check it out! 

April events

Sandfest 2017 – April 1-2, 9am-4pm at Phoenix Children’s Museum of Phoenix. Can you dig it? All ages are invited to ignite imagination through sand play inside & out, giant sand sculptures, food trucks, music, & more. PLUS, Sunday offers FREE admission and activities just for grandparents and grandchildren visiting together. This event will be SAND-sational! For more information, including admission & other activities, please visit Children’s Museum of Phoenix

April Fools Day – Saturday, April 1. It’s one of life’s simplest joys to prank your kids, and April Fools Day is the best day to do it. Especially if they are still little and don’t even know that it’s a thing, or know how to follow a calendar. My personal favorite is the idea to put googly eyes on all the contents of the fridge. Here’s some ideas from Parenting and from Buzzfeed.  

Drive in Movies at Promenade Scottsdale – Watch a family friendly movie every Saturday evening in April. Each film will start at 7:30 p.m. and be shown on a 32-foot inflatable screen. Viewers are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets or other portable seating options. Many choose to watch the film from their cars and take advantage of the authentic “Drive-in” feeling. Info here.

AZ Bike Week – April 5-9 (10am-11pm) at Westworld of Scottsdale. Not traditionally viewed as “family friendly,” AZ Bike Week could be a fun expo to take kids who are into motorcycles. Arizona Bike Week turns 21 this year, and it is time to celebrate!  Nightly concerts, including Bret Michaels, Credence Clearwater Revisited, Korn, and Alice Cooper. Demo rides, and hundreds of vendors. For details, visit AZ Bike Week. 

Target Free First Friday – April 7, 5pm-9pm at Children’s Museum of Phoenix. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is open to the public free of charge on the first Friday night of most months. This event is supported by Target. For more information and directions to Museum via light rail, visit Children’s Museum of Phoenix calendar of events. 

March for Babies – Saturday, April 8 at Wesley Bolin Plaza (1700 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007). Every baby deserves the chance to be born healthy, the chance to do something great. But they cannot do it alone. Lifesaving breakthroughs funded by the March of Dimes help give all babies a fighting chance. Together we can help more babies be born healthy. Walk distance is 2.5 miles. For more details, including sign up & fundraising, visit March for Babies

Scottsdale Culinary Festival – April 8 & 9 at Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Expert chefs, scrumptious food creations and enthralling entertainment are all part of the mix, culminating with the Great Arizona Picnic. General Admission is $12 online and $15 at the door. VIP experience is $150 Saturday and $125 Sunday. The beer garden is $42 online and $45 at the door. Food & beverages sold separately. All ages welcome. Kids 12 & under are free. Hours are Saturday noon to 9 pm and Sunday noon to 6 pm. Leann Rimes is the headlining act. For more details, visit Scottsdale Culinary Festival. 

Take Me Out to the Campout! A Stadium Sleepover – April 8, 4pm – April 9, 8:30am at Scottsdale Stadium. This sounds like so much fun! Join us in the Outfield Saturday April 8 for a family fun sleepover at the stadium! Bring your tents and sleeping bags and take part in baseball themed activities like stadium tours, home-run derby, batting cages and a play area for the kids. Then team up as a family and take on the stadium scavenger hunt or bring your favorite stuffed animal for teddy bear fireside stories. Dinner will be provided and the night will be capped off with a movie on the field before lights out. The event has 200 spots available and the cost is $30 per person for residents and $45 for non-residents, 3 and under are free. Registration opened March 20, so if there’s an interest, register now! For more information and to register, visit City of Scottsdale

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day – April 12. Grilled cheese sandwiches are among one of the top comfort foods in the United States. The basic recipe of the sandwich is perfection if you ask me, but here are 50 ways to elevate your grilled cheese game from the Food Network

Phoenix Pet Expo – April 14 & 15, 2pm- 6pm, at Westworld of Scottsdale. Hundreds of exhibitors, giveaways, discounted vaccinations, free nail trims, obedience demos, and so much more.  Stop by the Mega-Adoption Area sponsored by Petfinder, and you just might meet your new best friend! For more information, visit Pet Expo

Carnival Soiree at Children’s Learning Adventure – April 22, 10 am-12 pm. This is a fun and FREE family event. It will be packed with fun as you and your children have the opportunity to explore Children Learning Adventure and enjoy all that their state of the art facility has to offer. There will be games, arts & crafts, carnival eats, swag, and giveaways. More information here

Kids Closet Connection – April 20-22, 10am-7pm, Westworld of Scottsdale. It’s like a huge yard sale with gently used kids’ stuff! Gently-used items for sale including clothing, toys, books, shoes, play equipment, and more.  For more information, go to Kids Closet Connection

Farmer’s Markets – There are a number of Farmer’s Markets all around the valley.  The Old Town Scottsdale Farmer’s Market located at Brown & 1st Ave is a great one to check out. It’s open on Saturdays from 8am-1pm and features local growers and specialty food producers. Be ready to find a wide variety of organic, and pesticide free produce, seasonal specialties such as cider and apples, flowers, natural pork, beef, fish, and free range eggs, and local cheeses, freshly baked artisan breads, Amish friendship breads, jams, picadillies, and tamales are just some of the great local foods you’ll find. Family friendly, and well mannered pets welcome! Check out Arizona Community Farmer Markets for details.  

Food Truck Roundup – April 21, 11am-2pm at Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Salt River. Join the final Food Truck Roundup of the season and enjoy good eats, good music and good vibes. The Food Truck Roundup is rounding up some of your favorite food trucks from around the valley. 

Earth Day – April 22. Roll out the green carpet for our planet and find ways to reduce, reuse, & recycle, as well as get outside and enjoy this beautiful planet Earth.  Here’s some ideas to get your kiddos involved. #MakeEveryDayEarthDay

Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market – April 28-30, at Westworld of Scottsdale. Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market is the Valley’s original and best shopping experience! This weekend event will feature over 200 of the finest vintage and handmade vendors selling all things chippy, rusty, vintagey and handmade.  The Market, featuring an array of items, will combine one-of-a-kind vintage shopping with live local music, food trucks, and a special lounge for nursing moms to create an inspiring atmosphere and fun-filled event. Visit Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market for more details, including admission & parking. 

Easter Egg Hunts

Valley Presbyterian Church – 9am-noon at Kiva Elementary School Field. Join us for a community egg hung, games, crafts, snacks, and the Easter Bunny! Don’t miss out on this fun morning for the whole family. Visit VPC for details. 

Pinnacle Presbyterian Church – Saturday, April 15, 10:00 am-  Fellowship Hall & Green Easter Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt. Visit PPC for more information. 

Westin Kierland Resort – Join us Sunday, April 16 for an awesome Easter experience for the entire family! Held exclusively for Resort, Villas & Easter Brunch guests, the ticketed event includes family games, arts & crafts, face painting, and access to a 25,000-egg hunt, along with a Tiny Tots Hunt for children under 4 years old. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. and the egg hunt begins at 9:30 a.m. after the Easter Bunny makes a grand entrance that is sure to impress the crowd. Champagne Brunch follows the hunt. For more information, including brunch pricing or accommodations at the resort visit Kierland Resort.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – Sunday, April 16, 9am-3pm. Don’t be late… for our Easter Wonderland Celebration! Follow us down the rabbit hole as we celebrate Easter with a whimsical twist inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Easter Brunch at the resort includes admission into Bunnyland and hourly Easter egg hunts as well as a complimentary family photo with the Easter Bunny. Reservations can be made by calling 480.585.2694. For information on pricing, etc visit Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

The Phoenician – Sunday April 16, 9am-12pm. Smiles are sure to appear when your child sees all the fun we have planned with activities such as face painting, caricature artist, balloon artist and Easter crafts, and of course, an Easter egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself! This event is complimentary for all families staying or dining at the Phoenician. Visit The Phoenician for more information. 

What are your favorite family friendly events happening this month? Are there any that I haven’t covered? Please comment below and let me know how you’ll be enjoying the beautiful month of April here in Scottsdale.