Spring Attractions in Phoenix, AZ on a Budget
Laughs, Amazement, and Sports in the Cool Desert Springtime
Mar 17, 2009
Many interesting all-day or just two-hour attractions unique to Phoenix’s 2009 season, await young and old for great prices, with the roadside desert wildflowers flagging the way to each one.
Arizona Renaissance Festival
Step into history’s fun side in the medieval era at the 21st Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival. The entertainment extravaganza touts itself as a Renaissance theme park, with jousting tournaments, 12 stage theaters, street performers, arts and crafts fair, and a 30-acre circus-adventure.
Favorite stage performances include the sword and whip talents of “Don Juan & Miguel” mixed with their hysterical and slyly tinged humor. The “Tortuga Twins” leave audiences literally rolling in laughter, and there are many other talented, comedic, gifted performers throughout the fair.
Feb.7 – Mar. 29, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Free parking. Tickets: $20/adults, $17/seniors age 60 & up, $10/children age 5-12, Free /under age 5, group pricing available, call 520-463-2600, ext. 112. Google the AZ Renaissance Festival website for directions and more details.
Chihuly : The Nature of Glass
Dale Chihuly does things with glass that defies logic. His hand blown creations are admired world-wide, with one of his most famous displays across the lobby ceiling of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. From Jerusalem to Venice and Chicago to San Francisco, Chihuly’s work has circled the world, and now Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is honored with custom-created Chihuly exhibits through May 2009.
The southwest sun dances off the surreal hand-blown glass forms, as visitors stroll the meandering trails through the Garden. Chihuly’s sculptures don’t seem like glass at all. Visitors at the Desert Oasis Exhibit are often overheard saying, “Look at the giant ice blocks floating on the water!”
It’s hard to keep focused on the fact that larger than life creations are truly hand blown glass at sight of each unique exhibit in the Garden. Minds are fooled at every site! Not one Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden looks at all like hand blown glass. Dale Chihuly has outdone himself yet again.
Amateur photographers are flocking to the Garden, in hopes of winning the Arizona Highways magazine’s Chihuly: Nature of Glass Photo Contest. Deadline for photo contest is June 1, 2009.
Reservations are required during this special event to keep the flow of visitors through the Garden at a comfortable number and ensure a quality viewing experience for all visitors. Ticket costs include $15.00/adults, $13.50/seniors (age 60 & older), $7.50/students (ages 13-18 & college with ID), $5.00/children (age 3-12), Children under age 3 are Free.
Other Desert Botanical Garden Spring Events
The Desert Botanical Garden is springing into other fun with: “Spiked! Presents Chihuly Nights” through May 14th, “Spring Butterfly Exhibit” through May 31st, “Jazz in the Garden” on Friday nights through June. See the Desert Botanical Garden website for details on all these fabulous events and more, like the Annual Spring Plant Sales, with maps, dates, times, and additional costs, if any.
Major League Baseball
The Arizona Diamondbacks call Phoenix their home base during the regular season, which begins on April 3, 2009. Ten other MLB teams call the greater Phoenix area home during the Cactus League Spring Training season. In 2009, Spring Training games continue through April 2nd in Phoenix and in Tucson.
In these trying economic times, fans are coming out in higher numbers to the games than last year, especially at the Tucson home games for the Colorado Rockies and the Diamondbacks. Ten more Cactus League teams make the Phoenix area their home base.
For further reading, see:
Phoenix Area Restaurant Reviews
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