February is a great month to get out and about town here in Scottsdale, AZ. The weather is gorgeous and some really fun family friendly events are happening out doors. This list has a little bit of everything and is jammed packed. Read it over, pick what your family would want to do most and get out there and make memories. But just remember, mama, you cannot do it all. Choose carefully and don’t forget to leave margin for the best family friendly event of all, relaxing and spending time together to connect and grow. That’s when the best memories are made.
Sunday A’Faire Minifestivals – Feb 18 & 25, at Scottsdale Civic Park. Featuring free outdoor concerts in Scottsdale Civic Center Park by top Arizona musicians, along with an arts-and-crafts market, fun activities for children and families, and free docent-led tours of the sculptures in the park. Guests are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of great entertainment. Delicious foods from the grill, snacks and cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks are available for purchase. Admission is free. Click here for more details.
Dinosaurs in the Desert – Now through April 30. They move. They make sounds. About the only thing they won’t do is bite you. Dinosaurs In the Desert at the Phoenix Zoo. Featuring some of the most lifelike animatronic dinosaurs you’ve ever seen, a fossil dig for kids, photo-ops and much more. This exhibit is a self-guided experience along the Zoo’s Desert Lives Trail. Members $4, general public $5. Don’t miss Dinosaurs in the Desert at the Phoenix Zoo through April 30th. It’s gonna be prehistoric! Visit the zoo’s website for more details.
Groundhog Day – February 2. Will he see his shadow or will he not? That is the question! Groundhog Day is observed each year in the United States and Canada. For a nice welcomed break during the winter, on this day the groundhog awakens from his nap and goes outside to see if he can see his shadow. It is believed by many that if the groundhog sees his shadow that there will then be six more weeks of winter. If this is so, he then retrieves back into his den and goes back to sleep. If he is not able to see his shadow, the groundhog remains outside to play and people celebrate believing that spring is just around the corner.
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.
Hashknife Pony Express Mail Service – February 2-9, throughout the state of Arizona. Neither rain, sleet, nor dark of night can stop the Hashknife Pony Express. Each January/February for the last 59 years, the old west is brought to life as an elite group of riders thunder through Arizona. This exciting event is the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world. Each rider is sworn in as an honorary mail messenger braving weather, terrain, and modern-day obstacles to deliver the United States mail. Beginning in historic Holbrook, Arizona the horseback mail route covers over 200 miles from the majestic Mogollon Rim through the wilderness of the Mazatzal range to the desert city of Scottsdale, Arizona. See the schedule of events and where you can meet up with these brave mail carriers of the west.
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Hashknife Pony Express Mail Arrives in Scottsdale on Feb. 9th at 12 noon, at the Museum of the West on 2nd Street & Marshall Way. Meet the riders, receive the mail, and enjoy activities for the kids.
Parada del Sol Parade – Saturday, February 10, 10am. The 65th Annual Parada del Sol has grown to be one of the world’s longest horse-drawn parades and boasts more than 100 entries, including floats, bands and individual riders. The parade takes the streets starting at 10 a.m. and embarks from Drinkwater Boulevard and Scottsdale Road before heading south and finishing at Brown Avenue and Indian School Road. Immediately following the parade is the Trail’s End Festival in Old Town District of downtown Scottsdale. This block party is great fun for all ages and includes live music, delicious food, shopping opportunities and a Kids’ Area with games, pony rides and much more! You won’t want to miss out on the fun! This event is FREE for the whole family to enjoy. Visit the Parada del Sol website for all the details about where to park, etc.
Wild Arizona – February 10, 9am-4pm at Phoenix Zoo. Join us as we celebrate Arizona statehood and amazing native species. Animal encounters, bounce house, games and much more! Visit the zoo’s website for more details.
Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace – February 10 and running every Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm until April 1 (rain or shine). The Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 13-stage theatre, a 30-acre circus, an arts and crafts faire, a Jousting Tournament and a feast, all rolled into one non-stop, day-long, family adventure! Advance discount tickets available at Fry’s Food Stores are $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages 5 –12, and children under 5 are always FREE. Tickets purchased at the Festival Box Office are $2 more. Parking is free. The Ren Fest is 7 miles east of Apache Junction on US Highway 60. For more information visit renfestinfo.com.
Smokey Bear, Live Animals & Animal Poop – Saturday, February 10, 11am to 2pm at Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company. Bring the kids and learn some things about our public lands and the animals that inhabit them. Also, learn more about the trails you love to hike, those you have never been on, and other cool stuff. The following organizations will be there to share information and their vast knowledge.
• Liberty Wildlife
• Arizona Trail Association
• Smokey Bear and Tonto National Forest
• Defecation Station – identify the animals of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve by their poop. Yep, that’s right…poop.
• Scottsdale Community College – Center for Native and Urban Wildlife
• Arizona Game and Fish “Bone Box”
• and more!
This is a free event but donations are more than welcome to help these organizations maintain trails, rehabilitate injured wildlife, and keep the places we love to explore, well, explorable. For more details, visit their website or email [email protected] 8658 E. Shea Blvd Ste 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Free Movie in the Desert – LEGO Movie! Saturday, February 10, 5PM pre-movie activities begin, 6:30PM movie showtime. FREE outside in the OdySea in the Desert Courtyard. No admission required. Come experience “Movies in the Desert” presented by Cox Communications and Johnny Rockets OdySea. A free family event with music, games, and tons of prizes. Come early to claim your spot, as space will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Event venue recommends bringing your own folding chairs.
Valentine’s Day – February 14. Celebrate the ones you love by presenting flowers, offering confectionery and sending Valentine cards.
Arizona Statehood Day – February 14. Celebrate Arizona’s birthday as well as V-Day. Find a way to incorporate the 5 C’s of AZ into your day. If you don’t have an elementary school kiddo or didn’t grow up here yourself to have this drilled into your brain, the 5 C’s are cattle, citrus, cotton, copper, & climate. Ditat Deus.
Moxie Matters Tour with Jen Hatmaker & Nichole Nordeman – Friday, February 16 7PM – 10PM, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson. I know, Tucson is far. But I’m including this event for Scottsdale Moms because I know that Jen is a voice for many of the moms that I know and you might just love her enough to drive a couple hours to hear her speak words of encouragement straight into your heart. I know that I feel that way. Also, Nichole’s singing voice is so beautiful. Join Jen Hatmaker and Nichole Nordeman for a night of lively conversation and soulful music on wrangling delight out of the mess of life. Tickets available
Motown Community Concert – Saturday, February 17 starting at 4pm. Enjoy free outdoor concerts and community diversity. Join the city’s first-ever Motown Community Concert. The event will feature the unique and powerful sound of The George Howard Band from Tucson, AZ and Outside the Line from Chandler, AZ as they sing hits from Motown favorites like the Supremes, Temptations, Mary and Wells and more! Relax and bring your family, lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and friends to this one-of-a kind, generational and diversity event. Food is available for purchase. Train and Carousel rides are $2. Children two and under ride free with a paying adult.
National Margarita Day – February 22. Cheers, Scottsdale Moms! Get a margarita and use #NationalMargaritaDay to post on social media. Don’t forget to tag @scottsdalemoms. Remember, always drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Duh.
National Chili Day – February 22. The fourth Thursday in February honors one of America’s favorite winter dishes–chili. Which happens to go perfectly with that margarita. Some ideas to serve up your chili are chili dogs, chili fries, chili stuffed baked potatoes, and chili mac. Use #NationalChiliDay to post on social media and tag @scottsdalemoms
Conservation Science Night – February 23, 6-8pm at The Phoenix Zoo. Celebrate the SciTech Festival at the Phoenix Zoo with our Conservation Science Night. Put on your science hat and join our conservation community! Engage with hands-on activities, meet real conservation scientists, learn about the Phoenix Zoo’s important conservation work in Arizona and discover ways that you can participate in conservation. The event is free, but advanced registration is required as space is limited. Explore a variety of experiential activity booths to try your hand at conservation science activities.
Picnic in the Park – Saturday, February 24, 4pm – 7pm. Pack your picnic basket and blanket and join us for a Picnic in the Park. This free community event at Scottsdale Ranch Park, 10400 East Via Linda, will include live entertainment, games, community info booths, food trucks, and raffles. Presented by Scottsdale Parks & Recreation. See you at the park!
National Tortilla Chip Day – February 24. A staple snack of the southwest. Go and get your favorite dip and enjoy some tortilla chips. Use #NationalTortillaChipDay to post on social media and remember to tag your friends @scottsdalemoms
Have you joined one of our community groups yet?
We have two Facebook groups for Scottsdale moms to connect, support and encourage each other. Join a group based on what part of Scottsdale you’re in, North or South. Visit the links below and request to join today! Please feel free to share any events you are aware of that other local mamas should know about, too.
