Imaginarium Phoenix Review!

 

Imaginarium Phoenix is a light art installation mixed with photo booth opportunities galore. If you've ever wanted to visit a spot that has a ton of pretty backgrounds to take photos in front of, then this is the spot for you. There are over a dozen different photo rooms each with their own theme & set up where you can take photos. This event is only open until November 10th! So, there are still a few days left to check it out and since it is close to the end of the event tickets are slightly cheaper than they were. It is located at the back of the Phoenix Premium outlets in Chandler. Weekday tickets are $21 per person and weekends are $23 per person. 

If you are going alone, I highly recommend bringing a selfie stick or even a tripod otherwise you won't be able to get the full effect of each booth. There were a few solo people at the event when we were there that had to rely on asking other guests to help snap a few photos of them. So going with someone else or as a group may be the best option. The event starts at 7pm, we arrived around 8:30 and it was packed, the line to get in wrapped around the corner. Close to closing time around 10pm the amount of people inside started to die down and there was no line outside which still gave everyone an hour to look at everything before they closed. 

Almost all of the guests were patient & had the common courtesy to wait their turn in line for each photo opportunity, you will of course run into a few of the inconsiderate people who just don't care and will cut directly in front of you. Each photo booth line ranged in length; some took about five minutes to wait in while others took only about a minute. They had some pretty cool set ups from trippy light tunnels to spaces with flowers & swings or seats and even an under the sea room. Most of the rooms were level with the sidewalk so a wheelchair user could easily take photos in the room as well, however I would say 10% of the rooms such as the light tunnel above have a several inch lift that wouldn't be easy to get a wheelchair over.

There were also many fields of flower lights that looked quite beautiful, large light sculptures and a mystical flower forest you could explore to find a wide range of fantasy creatures to take photos of or with. Plus, at different times of the event there is a small circus performance in the middle of the venue. I personally loved the light tunnels and the rooms with different light displays, they were beautiful & fun to look at. Quite a few of the flower rooms I loved as well especially since each booth had its own color scheme which was fun & you could get some photos with your favorite colors. 

🌵 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-  Imaginarium provided this experience to us 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!

 

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.

Harlem Globetrotters Live!

 

I am not really a fan of any sport, however one show I am more than happy to see is the Harlem Globetrotters. They are not just basketball, but a whole spectacular that is enjoyable for the whole family. I've known about the Globetrotters since I was young as my great grandmother loved watching them every time they were on TV, so getting to see them live is extra exciting because it reminds me of her. They are currently on their 2023 tour & recently stopped in Arizona for a few days, we were lucky to catch one of their shows while they were here. 

We had a lot of fun the last time we seen them so the kids were excited to see them again this year. There are always fans of all ages from small babies to seniors, and everyone always looks like they are having a fantastic time. Best of all the shows are always different, our experience this time was completely different from the last along with a change up in the roster so we were able to see players we haven't seen yet. The entire event is fast paced & will keep you on your toes waiting to see what happens next. It is crazy how quickly the show goes by, you'll be having so much fun you won't even be watching the time. As I mentioned, they aren't playing just basketball but they are also putting on a show so it breaks up the game a bit, gets the crowed laughing & happy.

I like that they have two different show times during the day, one at 2pm and another at 7pm. This time around we decided to go with the 2pm show. We had a lot of fun at the show, there are so pretty cool tricks to see & they always involve the crowd which adds an intimate setting to it. Looking for ways to save some money while at an event like this with the family? The footprint center where this event was held recently started a program where you can get a free ride on the metro to the event (and back) with your ticket to the event. So if you don't mind a slightly longer commute you can park at a park & ride then ride for free to the event saving $30+ on parking. I would also suggest eating ahead of time as the food/drinks can be a bit pricey at the venue. 

After the show the team sticks around to sign shirts, basketballs, etc. so if you are a big fan & want an autograph be sure not to miss it. If you don't have something for them to sign, there is merchandise for sale around the venue. Check out their tour schedule to see if they are headed to a city near you, you won't regret going to one of their shows. I will be sharing some highlights from the show over on my instagram page.

Disclaimer- The Harlem Globetrotters provided four tickets to the show 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. 

Water Lantern Festival Review!

I've always loved the movie Tangled & the scene where Rapunzel and Flynn are out on the boat and you see all the lanterns floating on the water that start to rise up into the sky. When I saw that a event called the Water Lantern Festival was coming that mimics part of the scene I knew it was something I wanted to check out. The Water Lantern festival isn't specific to one state, they have dates for all over the country and recently announced their 2022 dates (they will be adding more), the event we went to was in Tempe,AZ.

Tickets range in price, there are some discounts if you order early. The basic prices with fees are $31.96 for adults and $14.47 for children, each ticket comes with a draw string bag that contains a lantern kit, a marker, & a scavenger hunt ticket. Deluxe tickets are $45.96 and come with everything mentioned along with a mandala throw. Along side the festival there were several food trucks, and several different local vendors to shop from as well as the water festival merch booth and stage.

The event was at Kiwanis Park, We've never been to the park before so we weren't sure what to expect. Parking when we got there was a little crazy as the park is inside of a neighbor hood and parking lot space was limited so the entire neighborhood was packed with cars looking for spots in front of houses, waiting for people to leave etc. There was also a church event and a memorial going on at the same park so there was a lot going on! Thankfully we did find a parking spot about a quarter mile away with an easy walking path to the event. 

Even with the large amount of people at the park the event staff had everything moving along quite smoothly. We got into the check out line and were only in it for two minutes before being called up to be helped, they were well organized, speedy and friendly. We had the deluxe packs that came with a mandala throw, we ended up getting all of the same color so I asked if there was anyway to swap for another color as my daughter wanted an orange one and the staff said it was no problem and quickly switched it out.

There was a nice range of food trucks and vendors to check out and the event staff had a small stage set up where they were allowing people to sing, show off their talents, etc. As it drew closer to launch time for the lanterns they asked anyone who wanted to come up and share why they were there to do so. Some were there just to have fun, to go on a date night, to get out of the house, and others were there to remember a loved one, send their dreams or goals out into the ether and just relax. 

Everything was calm, the event seemed pretty mellow and everyone seemed to be having a good time. A large portion of the event was just relaxing in the grass decorating the lanterns, it was fun but also a pain trying to figure out what I wanted on each side of the lantern! It was awesome seeing all the different designs my kids and husband did. When everyone started putting their lanterns in it was beautiful to watch all of them floating out into the water. Shortly after we got in our car and went home. Where do the lanterns go? They have a clean up crew who goes through and picks up everything from the water and around the park to make sure the park is in the same condition (if not cleaner) than it was when they arrived. 

Disclaimer- The Water Lantern Festival provided a four tickets to the event for free for the review , 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. 

Kidtopia 2018!

**This was not a paid post. My honest opinions were used, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. I received four tickets to the Kidtopia 2018 through Entercom Communications in exchange for the promotional post below featuring the newest section of this center.**

Sometimes in the morning on the way to work if I am not listening to my MP3 player I enjoy listening to 94.5 Kool FM and for the last week or so I've been listening to them more and heard them talking about an event catered completely to kids for kids. My kids were very excited when I told them we were going to be headed out to the Kidtopia event today March 10th! The event was held at the Gilbert Civic Center out in Gilbert,AZ so it was about an hours drive for us but the kids didn't mind. The event was outside and the weather today was absolutely perfect for this event.

Once we started getting closer to the civic center the event was very easy to spot because they had a long row of giant inflatables and amusement park rides set up so we knew exactly where to go. The parking lot was easy to manage and we found a spot right away which was nice since we arrive about an hour after it started. Entrance was a breeze as well, they did a bag check and a wand check then we were on our way to having fun. They had dozens of sponsor tents set up for local businesses and brands that signed up for the event, some had crafting tables, others had spinning wheels where you could win prizes. My kids had a lot of fun with the spinning wheels because you never know what you might win!

Along with some smaller craft tables they also had one big crafting area, a dance zone, selfie galleries,  food trucks, games and more for the kids to enjoy. A few special guest starts such as In Real Life and Evie Clair stopped by to perform for the crowd and everything was set up pretty well allowing plenty of space for everyone to move around while enjoying the festivities.

I really like that they made this event suited for kids of all ages, there was something for each age group to do and enjoy plus they had some fun characters there (Spiderman & Elsa) visiting with the kids and taking pictures. It was also nice that all of the rides and activities were free to do with the entry ticket instead of having to pay to get in and then paying again for rides and games. Everyone was really friendly and helpful if you needed anything, I thought as a whole this was a great family related event to attend. I hope they decide to do another Kidtopia event next year and I look forward to seeing what it has to offer!

Peter Pan 360 Tickets Giveaway!

***This is not a paid post, I will be receiving complimented tickets in exchange for this post. All opinions about this show are my own and may vary from others.****

Are you in Phoenix or the surrounding areas? I have a wonderful event and opportunity to share with you. A live event called Peter Pan 360 is heading to Scottsdale, what is Peter Pan 360? Escape to Neverland in a whole new way with this spectacular, innovative live stage production of PETER PAN that combines intimate theater-in-the-round and overhead surround CGI projection; with actors in dazzling flying sequences forty feet in the air and whimsical puppets that bring J.M. Barrie’s classic tale to fantastical life, creating a truly unique environmental theatrical experience! This event will be held at The Pavilions at Talking Stick in Scottsdale Presented in Association with Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Opens January 13, 2016.

Fun facts:

-       Threesixty Theatre is a state of the art, climate-controlled tent and very intimate at only 13 rows deep!  There is not a bad seat in the house!

-       The tent is 100 feet high and takes over 4 days to build

 

The CGI Projection Screens make this version of PETER PAN unlike anything you have ever seen or experienced before!

-       The CGI is delivered by 12 video projectors each providing 30 degrees of the image. We use edge-blending software so that each projection blends seamlessly with those either side of it to create our continuous 360 degree virtual set.

-       The CGI provides 15,000 square feet of video, larger than the biggest imax cinema.

-       Each projector provides 20,000 lumens of light (1 Lumen = the level of light perceived by the human eye) A good home-cinema projector gives out approximately 2000 lm on average

-       The longest sequence of CGI in the show is the Flight to Neverland for which 400 square miles of Edwardian London was rendered for the 4½  minute flight. This involved the use of 300 computers running continuously for 2 weeks.

 

 Want to Experience the magic? and see Peter Pan 360 for yourself? I am giving one lucky valley family a Four pack of tickets for the January 20th show. If you are interesting in buying tickets you can get 15% off your ticket purchase using the promo code BLOG15. 

Enter to win the tickets by filling out the form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Butterfly Wonderland Scottsdale,AZ Review

****This was not a paid post and my honest opinion was used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. I received a ticket to the Butterfly Wonderland free of charge in exchange for the review***



This year has been quite busy for my family & I, it seems like we are our running errands, house hunting, looking for a new car, you name it were doing it. Although we have been keeping busy we like to put time aside to do things as a family such as game nights, going out to eat or going to a local event. I was recently allowed a ticket to visit the Butterfly Wonderland center which recently opened here in Scottsdale,Arizona I decided to make a small family day out of it so my mother, her boyfriend, my two children and myself went out for lunch then went to the Butterfly Wonderland.



The first thing I notice when we pulled up was that I thought the parking lot would be bigger, We went on a Sunday and it was quite busy I noticed a few cars parking along the dirt areas looking for a spot. Once we got up to the window everything moved along at a pretty fast past, I received my ticket at Will Call and we purchased tickets for the rest of the family as well. After entering the building you are lead to an area for a 3D movie featuring the migration of butterflies, Depending on when you get there you will have to wait 5-15 minutes to get into the viewing we had about a five minute wait. The 3D movie was great and educational, next you were brought into the Butterfly Emergence gallery where they have dozens of cocoons on display waiting to be hatched, if your lucky enough you will get to see a butterfly emerge from its cocoon or you will get to see them drying their wings. I found this room fascinating there were some vibrant gold and metallic silver cocoons I never knew existed I thought all butterfly cocoons looked the same.



Next was onto the Butterfly Atrium, A group of 10-20 people are brought into a small room which has two doors dividing the emergence gallery from the Atrium this is to prevent the butterflies from getting out many are not from this area or even from the US and a employee goes over the rules such as Do not touch the butterflies. As soon as you step food into the atrium you will see butterflies flying right past you at eye level, butterflies on plants and lots of fun plant life, though the wonderland was quite busy there was plenty of room to walk around to enjoy the atrium. My mother was a little disappointed it wasn't bigger but I beleive if there were slightly less visitors it would have seemed much bigger. The butterflies are fearless and used to visitors, I had my camera just an inch away from a few butterflies and they simply sat where they were unafraid of harm, this made for some wonderful photo opportunies. While exiting from the Atrium an employee has you check in a large mirror for any hitchhikers that may be attached to your clothing,hair or bags we were good to go and shown into the next area after spending about an hour or so in the Atrium. The area directly after the Atrium is a small cafe, it smelled wonderful but since we had just been to Olive Garden before arriving we were quite full so we didn't buy anything this trip.



Passing through the cafe you wander into a small room which contains some containers with scorpions, ants and Bees. We loved the Bee hive, you were able to look for and point out the Queen bee as well as watch them come in from outside via a plastic tube leading out side. It was fun to watch the ants come back with little sacks of different colored pollen on their back legs ready to deposit it at the hive. Think the tour is over now? You would be mistaken there are still two more areas to visit and enjoy the first being a few large Aquariums hosting a number of exotic fish, and a string ray petting bay where you are able to not only see but touch some small spotted string rays which are quite friendly and fun to watch my kids loved this area. Finally you walk through the gift shop on your way out where they offer clothing,toys,snacks and more all at affordable prices. We enjoyed our experience and agreed we would all visit again, The tickets are Adults: $18.95 + tax, Children (ages 3 to 11): $9.95 + tax, military (with ID) and seniors (62+): $16.95 + tax and Children 2 and under are FREE seem a bit pricey but for everything you get to see the tickets are 100% worth the price. They also offer Birthday Party packages!