Well it’s March again and there are plenty of events, sports, festivals and other happenings around the valley.
Nascar is on Mar. 17-19th at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale for the 4th race of the Nascar season. Last week’s Daytona 500 in Florida is always the first race of the season. The circuit will return in November for it’s usual 2nd last race of the year that together with the March 19th race makes Phoenix a very important city on the Nascar circuit.
Campers will be on the grounds for most of the week to enjoy the races, the midway, the displays, bands and food once again!
Major League Baseball Spring Training officially started Feb 25th with 15 teams in the Cactus League training and playing exhibition games in 10 ball parks around the valley. The whole valley is abuzz with locals & visitors alike for this fan favourite that lasts the whole month of March.
There are ballparks in Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Goodyear, 2 in Phoenix, 2 in Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. The California Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, 2017 World Series winners Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers all play ball!
The Phoenix Coyotes NHL hockey club are looking to finish the season strong. They skate at the Mullett Arena in Tempe sharing the facility with Arizona State University’s Sun Devils. This is a temporary facility while they they plan and build a new building
It is time for the annual Ostrich Festival running since 1989 in Chandler. It is a more recent history event that honours the history of Ostrich farms in Chandler back in the 1920s when ostrich feathers were a fashion accessory. It also honours the memory of the founder of Chandler who was among the first to have ostrich ranches….Dr AJ Chandler. He was a Canadian that was born and raised in Quebec and graduate of McGill University who pioneered the area back in the first decade of the 20th century as Arizona’s first veterinary general.
The festival starts with a parade on March 4th and then from Mar 10-12th are the regular hilarious ostrich races with human jockeys, petting zoo, reptile exhibits, bands and food that promises to be a fun-filled event.
The Arizona Renaissance Festival is one of the most interactive entertainment shows ever created with wonderful amusements and antics on going all around you! Enjoy non-stop entertainment presented on 12 stages every event day. There is comedy, music, dancing, circus performers, jousting knights on horseback, and much more! Sit back and relax or become a part of the action as you are surrounded by over 500 costumed characters roaming the festival village.
It runs every Saturday and Sunday from Feb 11-April 2nd in the Gold Canyon area out in the east valley just east Of Apache Junction along the US 60.
Of course there is Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball, over 200 golf courses, shopping, The Waste Management Phoenix Open ( February), the World Wildlife Zoo, the Mesa Beer Festival, The Fiesta Bowl ( January) as well as a gazillion other things to do in the Valley of the Sun. With 25 cities and towns that make up the Greater Phoenix area there is always something happening every day and every weekend somewhere!!
