Flagstaff's free Soar Into Spring Kite festival this weekend

Join Flagstaff Recreation Services at the 10th annual Soar into Spring Kite Festival this Saturday, May 12, 2012 from noon to 4pm at Foxglenn Park (4200 East Butler Avenue).

This event has been voted Arizona Parks and Recreation’s Most Outstanding Community Event.
The day will include kite flying, arts and crafts with the Northern AZ Celtic Heritage Society, carnival games, bounce houses, yummy carnival food, face painting, the Flagstaff Library Activities and Kiddie Kaboose Train.
Most activities are free.  $3.00 wristband for unlimited rides on the Kiddie Caboose and bounce houses.

Free Flagstaff Family Fun: Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day at Mormon Lake Lodge

Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day at Mormon Lake Lodge. They're hosting a free event for families from 10a-3p Saturday, June 9, 2012.

On the agenda of fun:

• Lots of kids’ activities including fishing in the trout pond, archery, shooting in the air rifle trailer, games, wildlife viewing.
• Exhibitors- Over 40 sportsmen/conservation groups, government agencies and others working for outdoors, natural resources, wildlife conservation and environmental education programs.
• See live wildlife from the Arizona Game & Fish Department Adobe Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
• See a live snake display from the Arizona Herpetological Assn.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department displays and information about condors, watchable wildlife, fishing, archery, shooting, etc.
• Students from AAEC High School in Phoenix will have a special interactive fun and informative program about how to catch, clean and cook environmental invasive crayfish. • OHV information regarding safety, available trails, etc.
• 4WD Rangers, mountain bike and horseback riding available for a fee.
• Self guided hikes to the nearby Arizona National Scenic Trail.

Mormon Lake Lodge is about 30 minutes south of Flagstaff via Lake Mary Road. Call them for more info at 928-354-2227.

Flagstaff Youth Theater's Beauty and the Beast April 13-29

Flagstaff Youth Theater is putting on Disney's Beauty and the Beast, weekends beginning tonight.
The theater group of 80+ students is performing the musical version of the story with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice.

Performances are all at Flagstaff High School's Main Auditorium (400 W. Elm—entrance on Kendrick St), evenings on Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and also a matinee Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm from April 13-29.

Dates:
Apr 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

Times/Prices:
*Evenings (Fri/Sat) 7pm $8.00 adults/$6.00 youth 12 & under
*Matinees (Sat/Sun) 2pm $7.00 adults/$5.00 youth 12 & under
Tickets available at the door (donate a can of food &receive $1.00 off your admission price)


For more information call: 928 310-039.

Free Family Fun: Flagstaff Easter Egg Hunt

This Sunday is the city of Flagstaff's third annual Easter egg hunt. This event is free to everyone. There are free egg hunts, egg decorating, face painting and meet the Easter Bunny! There will also be a raffle, food vendors and bounce house (unlimited rides for $2) that cost money.
The fun takes place at Bushmaster Park, 3150 N Alta Vista, Sunday, April 8, 2012 from 11a-1p.

Grand Canyon Railway spring break special

Grand Canyon Railway has announced a series of last-minute, discounted getaway packages during spring break, March 2 through 29. 

The specially discounted packages include lodging for one, two or three nights, roundtrip travel to Grand Canyon National Park aboard the train and some meals. 

The spring break getaway packages are priced for coach class travel and a standard hotel room. Upgrades to a different class of service on the train or to a deluxe room or suite are also available for an additional fee. Children under the age of 15 are only permitted in coach and first class. Interactive online tours of each class of services are available at www.thetrain.com/Grand-Canyon-Train-5677.html.
The One-Night Railway Getaway is priced at $306 per couple and $59 for each child, a savings of $36 off the regular package rate. This package includes a roundtrip coach class train tour, one night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, and one breakfast and one dinner for each person at the Grand Depot Café in Williams.
The Two-Night Railway Getaway Plus is priced at $477 per couple and $78 for each child, a savings of $72 off the regular package rate. This package includes a roundtrip coach class train tour, two nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, and two breakfasts and dinners for each person at the Grand Depot Café.
The Three-Night Canyon Limited Plus is priced at $734 per couple and $78 for each child, a savings of $49 off the regular package rate. This package includes a roundtrip coach class train tour, motorcoach tour at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, two nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, one night at Maswik Lodge inside the park, plus two breakfasts and dinners per person at the Grand Depot Café.

The train trip from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park runs 65 miles through ponderosa pine forests and scenic high-desert landscapes.
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel was designed to resemble the historic Fray Marcos Hotel and Williams Depot structures that stand nearby. The hotel is comprised of 199 standard rooms, 87 deluxe rooms, 10 suites and one luxury suite – the Rail Baron Suite – as well as a spacious meeting room available for wedding receptions, seminars and other functions; a large courtyard with barbecue and wet bar; a game room for children; a large enclosed crescent-shaped pool and hot tub and an exercise room.

For more information, www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).

Spring Break camp at Flagstaff's Summit Gymnastics

Summit Gymnastics (SGA) is holding a Spring Break Camp Monday, March 12th through Friday, March 16th.
The camp is from 7:30am until 5:30pm each day.
Children 4 to 12 years old are invited to spend the day practicing gymnastics skills and playing high energy games.
Campers need to bring a sack lunch and 2 snacks for the day plus a show and tell item.
The cost is $125/wk or $35/day or $8/hr.
Register by visiting the Summit Gymnastics front desk, emailing info@SummitGymnasticsAcademy.com, or calling (928) 526-0644.

Free olive oil tasting event fundraiser for Camp Colton

Montessori Schools of Flagstaff is having an Olive Oil (& Balsamic!) Social Event to send their  sixth graders to Camp Colton. Locally owned Olio Primo of Flagstaff will sample their finest gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars - all for free - Thursday, Feb. 9th from 5-7pm at their Switzer Mesa Campus, 850 N Locust St.

The free event offer an opportunity to learn about varieties of olives from around the world and how balsamic vinegar is made in the true artisan tradition. 

$5 of every $15 bottle sold during the event goes toward their Camp Colton 6th grade trip.

Nature drawing for Tiny Tots at Flagstaff's Montoya Center

Desert Cottontail by Zack

This week a new session of "nature drawing for tiny tots" kicks off at the Joe C Montoya Community Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd). The classes aimed at kiddos 3 to 6 years old start this Thursday Feb 2, then repeat Feb 9th and 23rd - all from 10-11am. Cost is $10 per class. Wildlife artist and naturalist Zack Zdinak leads the courses. You can per-register or just walk in. More info at lifedraw.com/education.

Free Family Fun: Centennial Skate Celebration in Flagstaff

Arizona marks its 100th year of statehood on February 14, 2012. To celebrate, Jay Lively Ice Center is having a free ice skating celebration session. On Feb. 14th, from 2:30-4pm, everyone can go ice skating for free and get free skate rentals. Plus they'll have cake and hot cocoa!

Verde Canyon Railroad named "Best Railroad of the West"

Verde Canyon Railroad, about an hour south of Flagstaff, has been named the best railroad of the west by True West Magazine.This is a fun ride for kids of all ages to enjoy a quick choo choo trip (there are even special holiday trips available).
True West says about the VCR:
This 20-mile ride is not only majestic, with its spectacular earthy canyons, Indian ruins and Bald Eagle sightings on the river side, it is also extremely viewer friendly, with its open gondola cars. Plus, you get to see remnants of Perkinsville, featured in How the West Was Won (which you can now watch in its remastered Blu-ray glory). Our residential train expert, Jim Clark, cites the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale, Arizona, as a “well run railroad” with “well maintained rolling stock and streamliner locomotives.”
True West Magazine also let readers vote on their favorite railroad of the west. The winner was the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, CO.