The Canal Convergence is back!

 

The annual Canal Convergence at the Scottsdale water front is back! This is a FREE ten day event that features different art exhibits installed along the canal near Scottsdale fashion square mall. This is our fourth or fifth year attending, it is nice to walk around for the forty or so minutes it takes to see everything & enjoy the weather. Parking is also free! You can park inside one of the three different mall parking garages. It is located at 7038 E. 5th Ave Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

This is a family friendly event so bring the whole family! It is even pet friendly so your dogs can join as well. Have a stroller? No worries, it is stroller and wheel chair friendly everything is along sidewalks and paths. There is also a small vendor area this year, there was a food truck and they have a wine/beer area for adults. 

The hours for this event are: 

November 11-14th 6-9PM
November 15-16th 6-10PM
November 17th 6-9PM

The fire show times are 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30PM be sure to get to the area about twenty minutes ahead of time to sit & wait so you can have a good spot to see the show. The front row or two fills up quickly & while you can still see the flames over everyone's heads it is a better show if you can see everything. If you would like to see a reel of this event, I have one up on my Instagram! You can see it by CLICKING HERE. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them below or on my Instagram page and I will answer them as best that I can. 

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page).

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places we explore with my followers.

Uwu Con 2024!

 

If you live in Arizona & love Anime conventions and are looking for one in the winter, then Uwu con is your answer! They usually have their event in late October or early November. Over the weekend we attended the 2024 Uwu Con & had a wonderful time. This is our second time at the convention, this year it was hosted at the Westworld of Scottsdale. Let's go over a short run down of this year's event! 

This three-day event offers interactive panels, meet & greets with voice actors, cosplay contests, a car show, dozens of vendors and more. It is a very family friendly event & we always enjoy going with the kids. It is a blast to pick out a cosplay, do some shopping and visit a panel or two. As the convention continues to grow each year, one of the things that I hope improves more and really grows is the panels. There are only a couple panels each day, it would be nice to see a bigger list of options to visit that really range from cosplay, to anime to even board games. 

The vendor alley is always fun to explore, there is a fantastic range of products that include so many fandoms from Marvel & Disney to different anime franchises. Chances are you will find some merch from your favorite characters. You'll also find a range of products including clothing, candles, custom dice, replica weapons and more. 

Getting to see & interact with others who love cosplaying as well is a blast! There are so many amazing and unique costumes at the event & they range from handmade all the way to store bought. While wondering around they have a few photo opportunity spots set up like the Uwu con themed funko box above. They also have a few late-night events for adults like a late-night dance party. I felt like the way everything was set up at this years event was better than how everything was set up last year. So even though Uwu con is done for this year, you should keep it in mind for next year! 

Here is what we purchased from the vendor alley;

Disclaimer- UwU Con. provided media passes for the convention for this review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Maricopa County Home Show!

 

When it comes to the weather in the summer here in Arizona, inside events are a must! Instead of being stuck in the house all day hiding from the heat, going to an indoor event can be a great way to get out of the house while avoiding the sun. The Maricopa County Home Show is a family friendly event where you can not only find services for your home such as yard maintenance, or blinds but there are also small local businesses selling things like soaps, bags, plants and more. You'll also find spots like hotels, dog training and more offering specials for anyone who signs up at the home shows. 

While you are walking through looking at all the booths, you'll also be able to test out certain things like massagers that can be placed onto any chair, full massage chairs, mattresses from some local mattress stores and depending on if food vendors are there, you'll have the chance to try out some treats as well. The vendors at the home shows can vary depending on which location the show is hosted at. When it was hosted at the fairgrounds there seemed to be quite a few more local small businesses selling assorted goodies vs bigger vendors like electricians, windshield replacement, etc. The three main spots the events seem to be hosted at are the Statefarm Stadium, The Fair grounds downtown and Westworld in Scottsdale. 

We enjoy going to the home shows because we like browsing the range of plants sellers have & we usually purchase several while we are there. We also like that they put on live demos and classes showing you different aspects of gardening which can be very helpful for beginners. You can find a list of seminars & workshops on their website prior to the show so you can figure out what time everything starts & where to be. Some of the workshops are simply demonstrations you will watch, and others are hands on with small freebies you can take home like potting succulents or creating small projects. 

If you have children under the age of twelve, they offer a kid's craft corner that has everything your child needs to complete a project they have set up for the day. If you have older kids attending, they also have a handmade headquarter that is similar, but with crafts that are more advanced. Each show last for three days, you can attend just one day or all three days if you want to go back. The next event will be September 27th-29th at Westworld in Scottsdale, tickets are $6 per adult and children under the age of twelve are free. Find more information on their next show on their website!

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page). 

Disclaimer- Maricopa County Home Show provided tickets for us to visit for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Upcoming Arizona Events!

 

This post is for all of my local readers! There are several upcoming events that I think you would be interested in, so I will share all of them here. Some of the events are free & others require you to buy a ticket, I will include that information in the little snippet I include for each event. Drop a comment letting me know which event you are most interested in. If you end up visiting any of the events, let me know how it went. 

The Bao & Dumpling Festival + The Arizona Rice Fest. 

This two-day food festival will feature local food trucks & vendors along with a artist alley where you can purchase a variety of goodies. Tickets to this event range it is $5 for Happy Hour admission (after 3pm), $15 for general admission or $20 for early entry. I've featured the Bao & Dumpling festival in the past, my family and I love visiting this event. It is family friendly, kids under the age of 12 are FREE and it is a great event for foodies. Click on the name of the festival above to be taken to the event page for more info. 

Maricopa Home & Garden Show. 

This is the third Maricopa Home show this year & it is sure to be just as fun as the last two. Stop by this event to shop local small businesses, purchase plants, find companies to make home repairs or sit in on a seminar/workshop. Tickets are $8 for everyone over the age of thirteen, children twelve and under are free. You can score tickets for $2 if you visit between 2pm-5pm on Friday or Sunday. Parking at the event location will be $10. Click on the name of the event above to be taken to their website for more information and to purchase tickets. 

Heroes & Villains Show. 

This is a family friendly comic & anime pop up! The event takes place in the parking lot of a shopping center directly in front of Ready Player 1 Games. There will be dozens of local vendors to browse plus head inside Ready Player 1 to play some arcade games or check out the comic book shop, board game shop or trading card shop. There will be a cosplay contest at this event so feel free to dress up. This event is FREE to enter. 

Tubby Todd x StyleFitFatty 

This is an event being put on by the brand Tubby Todd along side a local influencer StyleFitFatty. This is being hosted at a park in Mesa, Arizona. The event is FREE but you MUST register on their website ahead of time to have your name put on the attendance list. There will be goodie bags for the first 500 families who registered and show up, plus there will be bounce houses, bubbles and more. Click on the name of the event above to be taken to the information + registration page.

Easter Eggstravaganza

The city of Mesa is putting on an Easter event in downtown Mesa. This event is for children ages 9 & under who will be split into two groups depending on their age to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt. There will also be a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny + food and snacks for sale. Along with the egg hunt being put on by the city there is a list of participating business close to where the event is taking place that will also be hanging out eggs if you visit their business. More information on that can be found on the event website which you can visit by clicking on the event name above. This is a FREE event. 

Water Lantern Festival 

The water lantern festival is returning to Surprise, Arizona on April 6th. This is a fun family friendly event where you will decorate a lantern & let it go into the lake. There will also be local vendors set up to shop from & food trucks. Your lantern is included in the cost of admission, no need to worry about fetching your lantern from the lake at the end of the event - they have a clean up crew who will make sure the park is cleaned up after the event. Tickets are $36 until 3/29, they will go up to $46 after the 29th and day of will be $56 so it is best to buy your tickets early. Visit the event page by clicking the name of the event above. 

Arizona Renaissance Festival 

There are only two weekends left to enjoy the Arizona Ren Fest until it is gone again until next year. Tickets are $34 per adult and $22 for children under the age of 12. However if you visit on the last weekend March 30th-31st children will receive FREE entry with the donation of three non-perishable food items. Visit the event page by clicking the name of the event above. 

2024 Arizona Renaissance Festival!

 

If you live in Arizona & haven't been to the Arizona Renaissance Festival yet, no need to worry as the event is still happening until March 31st. It is located at 12601 East US Highway 60 Gold Canyon, AZ 85118. Tickets are $34 per adult and $22 for children ages 5-12 with children under four still being free, parking is still free as usual. This year a new stage area has been added along with some extra performers for the new stage & you will also find some new food items around the festival grounds. 

A few things to keep in mind before visiting; Even when it is cool out, it is a good idea to stay hydrated. You are allowed to bring in one sealed water bottle per person, no other outside food or drink is allowed in. However you are allowed to exit the festival & get a stamp on your hand for re-admission so there is nothing stopping you from having a small picnic out of your car if you want to save money on not buying food at the festival. The majority of the festival events take place in an outdoor setting & there is limited shade so I highly suggest bringing sunscreen as even on overcast days you can still get a small sunburn. We also like bringing a small outdoor blanket or two to use in the grassy areas when watching shows like the birds of prey or eating lunch. If you do purchase food at one of the many food areas around the festival, keep in mind they accept cash only. There is a lot of walking to do, so wear comfortable shoes.

There are lots of shows to see & many shops to visit so time can slip away from you quickly. We like getting to the festival when they first open so we can get the most out of our day. They offer a wide range of shows for all ages & they offer a "LC" advisory on any shows that many not be the most appropriate for children so you can plan out your day. The "LC" stands for Loose Cannon. For small children there aren't only children friendly shows but there is also a petting zoo, a unicorn to take photos with, Mermaids to see and more. I like that they provide a map that includes a list of all performances & their times along with a list of what each food vendor sells making your day planning that much easier. 

You are invited to & more than welcome to dress up for the festival. There is always a wide range of costumes from fantasy creatures to knights, queens, pirates and more. You can always find an assortment of costumes being worn, however if you are looking for a specific time when a large group of people will be dressed in specific costumes they have theme weekends such as Pirate weekend and Time Travelers weekend. You can find a schedule on their website.   

Along with shows, vendors and food you'll also find some man powered rides! None of the rides operate off of electricity, instead everything is set up to allow the rides to be powered by the staff who run them. The whole event can be a lot of fun for families & can be a great spot for couples and groups of friends to do as well. This year we caught a few of our favorite acts from previous years & watched a new show or two. 

Have you ever been to a Renaissance Festival? If you enjoy dressing up, what would you enjoy dressing as for the event?

Disclaimer-  The Arizona Renaissance Festival provided four tickets to the festival for the review  free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Maricopa County Home Show Review!

 

I've seen plenty of ads in the past for the Maricopa Country Home show, but I had never gone to one until recently. We weren't entirely sure what to expect, but we had a fantastic time, it is a great event for families to visit together. If you are looking for ways to make improvements around your home or in your yard this is a great place to find a lot of information & businesses all in one spot which can really help cut down on research time and gives you the opportunity to talk with them one on one. 

Along with the obvious businesses like landscapers & repairmen you'll also find a wide range of local business that sell food, jewelry & more. Aside from just browsing shopping booths and talking with local business about what they have to offer, you will also find classes & seminars to attend, a kid's zone, and more. There were multiple buildings full of booths and areas to visit, we were at the show for about four hours, maybe a little longer. 

It was a lovely time being able to check out all of the vendors and doing a little shopping. There were five of us in total who went together & all of us ended up buying at least one thing during the event. I ended up purchasing some freeze-dried candy, local honey and some new plants. Even if you do not end up purchasing anything from the vendors, you'll still end up going home with some goodies. Many of the vendors were giving away free samples or little promo items with their logo on it when you stopped by the booth. 

There was a building where it was just food & drink vendors, all of whom were letting guests try their goods before purchasing. There were samples of wine, whiskey, salsa, coffee, tea, honey, beef jerky & more. The samples were very helpful not only to the guests but also to the sellers as I felt it helped drive sales. Promo item wise it ranged from frisbees to flashlights, stress balls, mini food samples and even plants! 

It was a lot of information to take in & we enjoyed the wide range of businesses who attended, we were able to find some we will be purchasing from again in the future. I thought they did a good job setting everything up, there was an easy-to-follow flow of traffic. If this is an event that would be helpful to you or if you want to check it out with your family they have another event coming up on February 23-25th at the State Farm Stadium. 

Does this sound like an event you would enjoy attending? What do you think your favorite part would be?

Disclaimer- Maricopa County Home Show provided tickets for us to visit for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Yuletide at Old Tucson!

 

Did you know there is an old western town in Tucson that was built in 1939 & is a movie set used in multiple movie scenes including moves like the Three Amigos & Tombstone and shows like Little House on the Prairie. That location is called Old Tucson! It is still open as a filming location & when there isn't anything being filmed there you can visit to explore the town or participate in one of their holiday events. On December 23rd, we took a road trip to Old Tucson to experience Yuletide the old west way. The tickets may seem slightly pricey however all of the shows & rides at the park are included in the price of admission & there is quite a bit to do. 

When you first arrive, the first show is the opening ceremony. You'll learn the story of how the "West Pole" came to be & how Santa made his secondary home Old Tucson. Santa is brought into town in a wagon & he welcomes everyone to Old Tucson with a tree lighting ceremony. However, things don't go quite as planned when Jack Frost shows up to try & ruin the night. Everyone at Yuletide is invited to help join in the festivities to chase Jack Frost away and show the power of Christmas Magic. 

For entertainment there are magic shows, stunt shows, trivia games for kids, live blacksmith demonstrations, The goofs on the roof which are two adorable elves that sit on top one of the buildings talking with all of the guests. There is also a horse drawn carriage ride where you can sing Christmas carols, a train ride that takes you around the circumference of Old Tucson allowing you to see some sights & buildings you aren't able to see from inside of the town. 

That isn't all, they had a small movie theatre playing classic holiday movies, a small maze for kids, skee ball, a carousel, face painting, a shooting range, photo opportunities & you can explore Jack Frosts layer to see what he has been up to at Old Tucson. If you are looking for a way to warm up in the chilly night there is hot chocolate for sale along with a few spots to grab food or you can head inside for some in doors activities like pictures with Santa, Story time with Mrs. Claus or write a letter to Santa. There is also a small museum with movies props from films/shows that have taken place there, two sweets shops and of course gift shops. 

As mentioned, there was a lot to do! We went from one show or ride right to another, they kept the schedule packed and well organized. We spent a few hours at Old Tucson & enjoyed everything they had to offer especially the stunt show. There were a few neat stunts, but that isn't what really made the show, the actors themselves are what made the show quite entertaining. While this event might be over for the time being, if you are close & able to travel to Tucson you should consider visiting this event at the end of 2024!

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" (Click or locate it on the right-hand side of my page) section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. This was not a sponsored review, we paid to get into the zoo ourselves. I enjoy being able to share spots like this with my readers who may not be able to visit in person but are still interested in learning more about these spots, or for anyone planning vacations in the area.