Whether you're craving an over-the-top milkshake, a little time in the great outdoors or an afternoon with your nose in the books, the Valley (and beyond) has a slew of family fun on the agenda the weekend of July 20-22.
Friday:
Backpack SOS (Support Our Students) Drive
As Arizonans prepare for the upcoming school year, The Salvation Army is partnering with Fry’s Food Stores, FOX10 Phoenix, Bank of Arizona, 99.9 FM KEZ and American Express for the Backpack SOS (Support Our Students) drive, providing neighbors most in need with school supplies to help underprivileged children achieve academic success. Now through July 27, donations can be dropped off at any Fry's Food Store in Arizona, as well as any Bank of Arizona location in the Phoenix metro area. Needed items include backpacks, folders, markers, rulers, crayons and more.
Unicorn Milkshakes
Have a sweet tooth? You’re in luck. Two Valley restaurants have debuted a unicorn milkshake with plenty of pink, sprinkles, swirly lollipops and fluffy cotton candy. Click here for more.
The overwhelmingly popular Bodies Revealed exhibit is now open at OdySea in the Desert and explores the human body in an intimate and informative way. The 12,000-sq.-ft. exhibition will remain on display until March 2019. Bodies Revealed gives an in-depth view of the complex and intricate network of internal organs and systems in a very up-close and personal way, with more than 200 whole and partial preserved human body specimens. There are nine self-guided galleries, each one providing a detailed look into a specific part of the body, its functions and its importance to the rest of the body.
Family Camping Trip
How about taking the fam on a camping trip to beat the heat before the school season starts? Check out the latest gear for a cool camping experience here.
Saturday:
Dog Days of Summer Casting Call
Pup parents, if you think you have the best dog in the world then we want your fur baby for AZ Foothills Eighth Annual Dog Days of Summer Cutest Dog Contest. One pooch will take home the title of AZ Foothills' “Top Dog,” win $500 cash, snag a full-page feature in Arizona Foothills Magazine and more. Enter your pup at our totally pawsome canine casting call on Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scottsdale Quarter.
#DiscoverChandler Scavenger Hunt
Find all the best sights and hidden recreation gems in Chandler with your kids, friends or family during to #DiscoverChandler. Armed with your smartphone as your tour guide, you’ll locate hotspots, unlock challenges and climb the scoreboard. One super team will win the ultimate parks and recreation treasure – valued at $2,500! Register at chandleraz.gov/parkandrecmonth.
Take in some cool mountain air during the fourth-annual Payson Book Festival, a free celebration of books and literacy from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino. This family-friendly event offers book lovers of all ages an opportunity to meet more than 80 Arizona authors who will sign and sell both fiction and non-fiction books. Plus, enjoy the workshops and seminars that highlight your favorite authors, entertainment, food and door prizes.
TheaterWorks Presents “Disney's The Little Mermaid" Sensory Friendly Performance
TheaterWorks heads under the sea with its summer production, “Disney's The Little Mermaid" directed by Chris Hamby. The production runs July 13 to July 22 at Gyder Theater at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. As part of TheaterWorks commitment to increasing access and inclusion to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory and social cognitive disabilities, The Little Mermaid will also feature a Sensory Friendly performance on Saturday, July 21, at 2 p.m. Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families with children with autism or with disabilities that create sensory sensitivities. Tickets are $38 per adult; $16 per student and youth and $33 per senior.
Sunday:
A Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature at the Arizona Science Center
Want to give your kids a treat while expanding their knowledge? Well, the Arizona Science Center has a new exhibit perfect for you. Guests will have the opportunity to explore a seemingly infinite repeating pattern of mirrors in this exhibition created by the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). So, be sure to grab your favorite selfie stick and prepare for many twists and turns around dead ends. Oh! And maze explorers will ultimately discover a small secret room with bonus puzzles, imagery and artifacts.
Summer of Sharks at OdySea Aquarium
With more than 40 visitors of nine different species living in the Aquarium, guests are invited to marvel at the largest and most diverse collection of sharks in Arizona. To celebrate “Shark Week” and the magnificent and the mysterious creature, OdySea Aquarium will be offering a variety of special programs, activities and educational opportunities for guests that are free with admission from July 1 to July 31. So be prepared for a Jaws-dropping time.
