Arizona Cities and Towns work year-round to produce events that bring together both residents and visitors alike to celebrate everything from major holidays to small-scale celebrations. Events are an important component of prosperous and viable communities: they attract tourism, enhance economic growth and create positive quality-of-life for residents. Throughout the next several months, cities and towns across Arizona will be hosting unique and exciting events. Here are a few you won’t want to miss:
Sierra Vista – Hummingbird Banding
Hold tiny hummingbirds in your hands in Sierra Vista! From April through October, more than 10 species of hummingbirds migrate through Southern Arizona while en route from their tropical winter retreats or northern nesting grounds. Known as the “Hummingbird Capital of the United States,” Sierra Vista is home to two hummingbird banding sites, giving visitors an up-close and hands-on experience as researchers capture, band, record vital statistics, then release these brilliantly colored birds. Find a schedule and learn more at www.VisitSierraVista.com
Phoenix- Night Flight Golf
Grab your glow-in-the-dark golf clubs and head down to Palo Verde Golf Course. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is offering golfers a unique way to escape the daytime heat this summer with night golf at the city’s Palo Verde 9-hole course. The course will be lined with glow lights and players will receive a glow necklace and glow ball. Each event will run in a tournament format as a four-person scramble and include fun prizes and a goodie bag for each player. For a full schedule of upcoming night golf outings and to register, visit www.phoenix.gov/golf.
Tempe – Healing Field
To remember and honor the nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Tempe will hold the annual Healing Field Tribute at Tempe Beach Park. The public is invited to view the display of American flags representing the victims of that terrible day. A moving display of patriotism and unity, Tempe’s Healing Field Memorial is the nation’s longest consecutive running event.
Flags will be placed at Tempe Beach Park Tuesday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 14. A memorial ceremony will be held at 5:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and a candlelight vigil will be held at 7 p.m. that evening. For more information, visit www.Tempe.gov/HealingField
Avondale- Tres Rios Festival
The city of Avondale took one of its natural resources and turned it into an outdoor community celebration. The Tres Rios Nature Festival is one-of-a-kind, focusing on the rich diversity of wildlife, habitat, history and ecology of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria Rivers. The festival, which began 10 years ago, is an exciting opportunity for the Avondale community and visitors to learn and embrace amazing wildlife habitat and history of these systems. Attendees can participate in boating, paddleboarding, fishing, archery, hiking and wildlife viewing. The Tres Rios Nature Fall Festival will be held on Oct. 26. Find out more at http://www.TresRiosNatureFestival.com
