Big
list of Memorial Day events in Greater Phoenix
Check out our big list of Memorial Day events in Greater
Phoenix.
Ride of Honor & Cycling Rally: 8:45-11 a.m. May 19. A
family-friendly, non-competitive 10-mile ride serves as a visual memorial to cyclists
injured or killed on Arizona roadways, presented by the Not One More
Foundation, an organization that promotes cycling awareness, safety and
road-sharing and assists cyclists and their families after an accident. Local
teams, riders and clubs meet at 8:45 a.m. at one of four Valley locations:
Kiwanis Park, Tempe; Ashley Furniture Homestore Pavilion, Phoenix; Peoria and
25th Avenues, Peoria; and Tempe Beach Park, Tempe. Riders cycle to the Arizona
State Capitol where they'll rally at 10 a.m. to hear speeches from Not One More
Foundation co-founders Sterling Baer and Dara Schulenberg, and listen to
testimonies from cyclists who have been involved in accidents. No registration
required. Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Free. 602-369-7452.
facebook.com/events/288850051201143.
Armed Forces Day: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 19. All
active and retired military members receive free admission when they present ID
at ticket windows. A discount admission price of $19.95 is also offered to
military all season long. All others receive a 50 percent discount on admission
when they donate three non-perishable food items to benefit St. Mary's Food Bank
Alliance. The park offers several water slides in addition to Waikiki Beach, a
2.5-million-gallon wave pool with a wave every 3 minutes. Big Surf Water Park,
1500 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe. $26.95 general admission, 50 percent discount
with donation of three non-perishable food items, free for military with ID.
480-994-2297. www.bigsurffun.com/.
Phoenix Comicon: Thursday through Sunday,
May 24-27. Meet stars like Patrick Stewart, Casper Van Dien, Erin Gray, Colin
Ferguson, Brent Spiner, Levar Burton, Marina Sirtis and Lou Ferrigno and
comic-book writers and artists like Garth Ennis, Brett Booth, George Perez and
P.C. Cast at the event that bills itself as "the signature pop-culture
event of the Southwest." More than 25 events are scheduled at Phoenix
Convention Center and at host hotels Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel and
Hyatt Regency Phoenix. Among them are a William Shatner meet-and-greet, a film
festival, a zombie beauty pageant, geek speed-dating, a steampunk ball, Vic
Mignogna concert, a sketch off, a Doctor Who "Party Like a Time Lord"
dance, and fashion shows. Convention Center program hours are 6:30-11:30 p.m.
May 24; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. May 25 and 26; and 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May
27. Visit website for complete schedule of events and membership purchase.
Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St., Phoenix. $40-$45 for full-event
membership, $15-$35 for single-day membership, free for a limit of two children
12 and younger with a paid adult 18 or older. 602-635-1711. phoenixcomicon.com.
Salute to Our Heroes: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday
and Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday through Monday, May 24-28. Wet 'n' Wild
Phoenix salutes our nation's heroes and thanks them for their service by
offering free admission for members and veterans of our U.S. military and first
responders such as active-duty police, sheriff, highway patrol, active-duty
firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. Family members pay just $19.99 each plus tax
for up to six people. Veterans, military and first responders must be present
and provide a valid government ID or badge to receive free admission and to get
discount tickets. Tickets are valid on the day of distribution only. Wet 'n'
Wild Phoenix, 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale. Free for veterans and
active-duty military and first responders, $19.99 each plus tax for up to six
family members. 623-201-2000. wetnwildphoenix.com/Events/Upcoming-Events-.htm.
The Red, White and Blue Bash: 7 p.m. May 24. The recently
renovated restaurant, now under new ownership with a new menu and
indoor-outdoor bar, hosts a pre-Memorial Day girls night out party. Drink
specials just for the ladies include $1 Bud and Bud Lights; $2 red, white and
blue Jell-O shots; $3 Pinnacle flavors; and $4 Jagermeister shots. A local DJ
plays tunes and from 9 to 10 p.m. Pinnacle Vodka hosts shots of its Atomic
Hots, Vanilla and Blueberry flavors. Iguana Mack's, 1371 N. Alma School Road,
Chandler. $1 Bud and Bud Lights; $2 red, white and blue Jell-O shots; $3
Pinnacle flavors; $4 Jagermeister shots. 480-899-6735. www.iguanamacks.com/.
Boots, BBQ and Beer: Friday through Monday, May
25-28. Escape to the White Mountains for Memorial Day weekend a concert
featuring Arrowhead, an all-female country band who perform 5 p.m. May 27. Get
barbecue items like hot dogs, baby back ribs, burgers and chicken. Non-alcoholic
drinks are included. Beer and cocktails are additional. Reservations are
required. Luxurious 900-square-foot cabin accommodations are available and a
rancher's package includes the barbecue and concert plus activities like a
fishing derby at the pond, canoe races, archery and horseshoe contests,
horseback riding, and an orienteering competition. Call or go online to make
required reservations. Check-in time is 2 p.m. for those staying in cabins.
Hidden Meadows Ranch, 620 County Road 1325, Greer. $675 per double occupancy
per night, $50 for barbecue and concert. 928-333-1000. hiddenmeadow.com/news-events.
Memorial Day Weekend: Friday through Monday, May
25-28. Hotel Valley Ho features a weekend of live music poolside, special room
rates and brunch at ZuZu. Elvis Before Noon plays retro and modern tunes
poolside from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, and DJ P-Body spins music 1:30 to 5:30
p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Drink specials include $6 cocktails, $3 beers, and $15
beer pails. Brunch at ZuZu from 11:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
features options like the breakfast parfait, florentine frittata, and the
Sonora burger. Visit the Bloody Mary and make your own from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
Sunday. Registered hotel guests only at OH Pool (pictured) on Saturday and
Sunday. Private cabanas are available at the pool from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for
$99-$249 and room rates begin at $179 Friday and Sunday, and at $219 for
Saturday. (Photo courtesy Hotel Valley Ho) Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St.,
Scottsdale. $179-$219 room rates, $99-$249 cabana rentals, $3-$17 brunch items,
$15 beer pails, $6 cocktails, $3 beers. 480-248-2000. www.hotelvalleyho.com.
Tiffany Haddish: Friday and Saturday, May
25-26. Tiffany Haddish makes her Stand-up, Scottsdale! comedy debut on Memorial
Day weekend. Haddish, seen on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" and "Bill
Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes" is currently appearing opposite Ice Cube in
"The Janky Promoters." A two-drink minimum applies. Drinks range from
$3 to $9 with no food item more than $10. Shows at 7 and 9 p.m. both nights.
Stand-up, Scottsdale! Comedy Club, 6820 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. $15 plus a
two-drink minimum. 480-882-0730. www.standupscottsdale.com.
Memorial Day Family Fun: Friday through Sunday, May
25-28. Get your summer started off right with a relaxing rejuvenating three-day
Memorial Day weekend beginning on May 26, at the Oasis Pool. The entire family
can swim, watch dive-in movies at dusk on Saturday and Sunday, enjoy DJ music,
drink specials, and seasonal dining with summer rates starting at $100 per
night. Take advantage of the "Extend Your Weekend" special. When you
check in on Friday and stay three nights you can receive a late checkout at 6
p.m. on Monday for no additional charge. The Lookout Bar & Grille will
offer a poolside menu for lunch and dinner including prickly pear chicken
sandwich and Sonoran Cobb salad. The Gold Restaurant serves breakfast all
weekend and dinner on Friday and Saturday, offering contemporary American
cuisine enhanced with fresh herbs and spices. Summer drink specials will also
continue throughout the weekend at both restaurants, as well as live rock music
from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Lookout Bar & Grille. Swimming, tennis,
hiking and horseback riding are available along with spa services at the
nature-inspired Sonoran Spa. Westward Look Resort, 245 E. Ina Road, Tucson.
$100 starting room rate. 520-297-1151. www.westwardlook.com.
Holiday Weekend Singles Dance: 8 p.m. May 26. Singles
group Calculated Couples hosts a dance for singles at the resort on Memorial
Day weekend. Dance to music provided by a DJ, browse the "personal ad
wall" and meet and mingle with other singles. For age 39 to retirement and
older. Dress to impress. No jeans or sneakers. Bring a pet food or toy donation
for donation to an animal rescue for a discount on admission. Go online for
more details. Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, 11111 N. Seventh St.,
Phoenix. $10, $9 with pet food or toy donation. 602-765-0200. cupidhelp.com.
Twilight Camp: 6:15-8 p.m. May 26. Visit
the zoo after hours for an experience that includes a guided trail hike, animal
encounters,, activities, a late-night snack and a night-camp souvenir. Price
includes admission for one child age 5 and older and one adult. Reservations
are required. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. $40, $35 for members.
602-914-4333. www.phoenixzoo.org.
Hollywood & Wine: A Night Under the Stars: 7
p.m. May 26. See an all-ages stage show directed and choreographed by Louis Van
Amstel featuring performances by past and present stars as seen on
"Dancing With the Stars," "So You Think You Can Dance," and
"American Idol," all backed by an incredible band. Present e-mail
confirmation from online purchase as your ticket. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cash bar
and concessions are available. Must be age 21 or older to purchase alcohol.
Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. $100 for VIP seating and cast
meet-and-greet, $65 for VIP seating only, $40, $25 for children. 602-955-6600. cvent.com/d/zcqp3s.
Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks & BBQ: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday, May 26-27. Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix offers its slides and attractions
and hosts an all-you-can-eat barbecue from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Red Rock
Ravine picnic area, including options like grilled barbecue chicken, hot dogs,
green salad, Western-style beans, corn-on-the-cob, sliced seasonal fruit and
Coca-Cola beverages. Fireworks displays are featured Saturday and Sunday
evenings at 9:30 p.m., which are free with park admission. Meal tickets are
additional. Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix, 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale.
$29.99-$36.99 for admission, $11.99 for barbecue meal ticket for age 12 and
older, $9.99 for barbecue meal ticket for gold and season pass holders, and for
ages 3-11, $7 for parking, free admission for 2 and younger. 623-201-2000. wetnwildphoenix.com/.
Southwest Indian Arts Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday, May 26-27. Dancing and music performances from world champion hoop
dancer Tony Duncan, Estun-Bah & the Yellowbird Dancers are featured at noon
and 2 p.m. in the Grace Sparks Activity Center with ample seating available. A
variety of Indian Artists demonstrate their art indoors in the Pueblo building.
Artists also display and sell their work at booths in the museum's parking
lots, and a children's craft area is available. Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona
St., Prescott. $5 admission, item prices vary. 928-445-1230. www.smokimuseum.org.
Al Harbison Legends of Arizona Metal Tribute:
6
p.m. May 26. This Memorial Day weekend celebration honors more than 30 years of
Harbison's dedication to his music, his musician brothers and their success.
More than 30 musicians ages 16-62 perform and seven bands: Warhead, Ghost 211,
Downhill Trend, Chemicals of Democracy, Dying Tribe, Tynator and the Human
Condition. Three all-star jams are also featured. All proceeds benefit homeless
and in-need veterans and their pets with fostering, pet food and veterinary
care while the veterans get on their feet. The event also benefits Valley Dogs
Rescue, a local nonprofit agency that helps homeless/disabled veterans and
their pets. Tickets available online. (Photo courtesy of Lucky Man Concerts)
Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $17, $15 in advance. 480-829-0607 or
480-829-1300. etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1620780.
Remember the Fallen: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. May 26. This
event honors all those who served us with a barbecue cookoff open to all
challengers, live music from three bands and a Veterans Memorial Ceremony from
11 a.m. to noon, featuring guest speakers and the Marine Corps League Honor
Guard. A variety of vendors attend and sell food, beverages and merchandise. A
veteran wall is available for people to write the names of fallen service
members. Ambulances, helicopters and a stock car are on display and a raffle is
also featured. Call John at 928-522-5974 for more information, available vendor
spots and raffle donation details. Presented by the Flagstaff nonprofit
organization Vets Serving Vets. Funds raised will help build a Flagstaff
sanctuary for veterans. Fort Tuthill County Park, Interstate 17, Exit 337, Flagstaff.
Free admission and parking, food and beverage prices vary. 928-522-5974. flagstaffnightout.com/entertainment.
Daylily Flower Show 2012: 2-5 p.m. May 26. The
public is invited to come to the Scottsdale Civic Center Library to see a
variety of daylilies on display like the pumpkin bandit, a favorite (pictured).
Other varieties that may be seen include tropical smoothie, fiesta spirit,
Asian, Pele's tears, under the big top and more. Admission is free. (Photo
courtesy Jeff Corbett) Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater
Blvd., Scottsdale. Free. 480-515-2648. www.scottsdalelibrary.org.
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's: 8:30 p.m. May 26. Since
earning a buzz for the melancholy chamber-pop of 2006 "The Dust of
Retreat," these Indianapolis rockers have moved in a grittier direction
without necessarily shaking the echoes of Elliott Smith and the '70s classics
that inspired Smith's best work. And there's no shame in that. The end result,
as captured on "Rot Gut, Domestic," their latest release, suggests
where the Replacement could have gone but didn't after "Pleased to Meet
Me." Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. $14-$16.
602-716-2222. crescentphx.com.
Memorial Day Ride and Concert: 4:30 p.m. May 27. Be a
part of the second annual ride honoring fallen American heroes. Day-of
registration begins at 2:30 for a 4:30 p.m. departure from Buddy Stubbs
Harley-Davidson. Mike Broomhead from NewsTalk KFYI-AM (550) flies a gold-star
flag in honor of his brother Tom, who was killed in action. Riders make a stop
at the National Cemetery, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road in Phoenix, regroup at 6:30 p.m.
at Park West Shopping Center, 101 and Northern Ave. and then ride as a group to
Dillon's Restaurant at Wildlife World Zoo, 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield
Park for a concert and after-party from 7-11 p.m. featuring headlining band
Western Bred. Ride fee includes concert entrance. Be among the first 300
registered by May 11 and get a free Memorial Day Ride T-shirt. Proceeds benefit
Patriot Guard Riders AZ Chapter and the American Legion Riders Post 138 Legacy
Fund. Registration, commemorative ride coin and T-shirt purchases, and
donations can be made online. Click the "register here" link at the
Facebook page. Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson, 13850 N. Cave Creek Road,
Phoenix. $40 per bike for two riders, $25 per biker, $20 for concert only, $15 for
commemorative coin or two for $25, $10 for T-shirt or ladies tank.
602-971-3400. facebook.com/azmemorialdayride.
Memorial Day Concert With Mark Chesnutt: May 28. Mark Chesnutt,
whose hits include "Bubba Shot the Jukebox," "Goin' Through the
Big D" and "Too Cold at Home" performs a special acoustic
concert in honor of Memorial Day. Shows at 2 and 5 p.m. Seating is available on
a first-come, first-served basis. Oasis Lounge, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino 15406
N. Maricopa Road, Ak-Chin Reservation. Free. 480-802-5000. www.harrahs.com.
Bark in the Park: 11:30 a.m. May 27. Baseball
fans and their canine companions can spend a day at the ballpark together. A
pre-game puppy rally and parade on the track at Chase Field is held for dogs
who are registered by 11:30 a.m. Water is provided. Pups and people can then
watch the Arizona Diamondbacks versus the Milwaukee Brewers game, which begins
at 1:10 p.m. Presented by Pet Club, in conjunction with the Arizona
Diamondbacks, who donate $5 of every ticket sold to the Arizona Animal Welfare
League and the Arizona Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Pre-registration is required to attend the game with your dog - no walk-ups are
permitted. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and have a current license.
Owners must be able to provide a copy of current vaccinations from a licensed
veterinarian. A custom Diamondbacks-themed dog house is raffled and tickets are
available for purchase prior to the game. Call or visit AAWL website for more
details. (Photo courtesy the Arizona Diamondbacks) Chase Field, 401 E.
Jefferson St., Phoenix. $25 per person and per dog for baseline reserve, $18
per person and per dog for the bleachers and picnic pavilion, $5 each or 5
raffle tickets for $20. 602-273-6852. aawl.org.
Memorial Day Concert With Mark Chesnutt: May 28. Mark Chesnutt,
whose hits include "Bubba Shot the Jukebox," "Goin' Through the
Big D" and "Too Cold at Home" performs a special acoustic
concert in honor of Memorial Day. Shows at 2 and 5 p.m. Seating is available on
a first-come, first-served basis. Oasis Lounge, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino 15406
N. Maricopa Road, Ak-Chin Reservation. Free. 480-802-5000. www.harrahs.com.
Memorial Day Buffet: 7-11 a.m. May 28. All
current and former military members with valid ID can enjoy "A Meal Fit
for a Hero" breakfast buffet for free from 7 to 11 a.m. at Cafe 24/7
inside the casino. Scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy,
oatmeal, pastries, fresh fruit and orange juice are featured. Military who are
also Player's Club members receive a complimentary T-shirt while supplies last,
beginning at 6 a.m. Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass
Blvd., Gila River Reservation. $12.99, free for current and former military
with ID. 520-796-7777. www.wingilariver.com.
Memorial Day Observance: 9 a.m. May 28.
Representatives of several of the Valley's historic organizations attend.
Included are tours of the 1897 Smurthwaite House, self-guided tours of the
cemeteries, book signings by noted authors such as Debe Branning, "Grand
Canyon Ghost Stories"; Pat Grady, "Out of the Ruins: Pioneer Life in
Frontier Phoenix, Arizona Territory 1867-1881"; and Lisa Schnebly
Heidinger, "Arizona 100 Years Grand". Historical re-enactor Don
Shields portrays George W.P. Hunt, Arizona's first governor. Light refreshments
are served. Gates open at 8 a.m., the ceremony begins at 9, and gates close at
noon. Presented by the Pioneers' Cemetery Association. Pioneer and Military
Memorial Park, 15th Ave. and Jefferson St., Phoenix. Free. 602-534-1262. azhistcemeteries.org.
A Tribute to WWII Veterans: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28.
Dine on restaurant specialties like frozen custard and steakburgers, or on
other menu items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and shakes on Memorial Day
when 10 percent of sales is donated to Honor Flight Arizona, a nonprofit
organization that flies America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the
National WWII Memorial at no cost to the veteran. Volunteers from Honor Flight
Arizona are available to answer questions about the program. All five Valley
locations of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers participate. Freddy's
co-founder Freddy Simon is a WWII veteran. Visit website to find a location
nearest you. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 2065 E. Baseline Road,
Gilbert. Menu prices vary. 480-633-7988. www.freddysfrozencustard.com.
A Tribute to WWII Veterans: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28.
Dine on restaurant specialties like frozen custard and steakburgers, or on
other menu items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and shakes on Memorial Day
when 10 percent of sales is donated to Honor Flight Arizona, a nonprofit
organization that flies America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the
National WWII Memorial at no cost to the veteran. Volunteers from Honor Flight
Arizona are available to answer questions about the program. All five Valley
locations of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers participate. Freddy's
co-founder Freddy Simon is a WWII veteran. Visit website to find a location
nearest you. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 1340 N. Litchfield
Road, Goodyear. Menu prices vary. 623-547-2563. www.freddysfrozencustard.com.
A Tribute to WWII Veterans: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28.
Dine on restaurant specialties like frozen custard and steakburgers, or on
other menu items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and shakes on Memorial Day
when 10 percent of sales is donated to Honor Flight Arizona, a nonprofit
organization that flies America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the
National WWII Memorial at no cost to the veteran. Volunteers from Honor Flight
Arizona are available to answer questions about the program. All five Valley
locations of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers participate. Freddy's
co-founder Freddy Simon is a WWII veteran. Visit website to find a location
nearest you. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 3476 W. Frye Road,
Chandler. Menu prices vary. 480-857-8815. www.freddysusa.com.
A Tribute to WWII Veterans: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28.
Dine on restaurant specialties like frozen custard and steakburgers, or on
other menu items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and shakes on Memorial Day
when 10 percent of sales is donated to Honor Flight Arizona, a nonprofit
organization that flies America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the
National WWII Memorial at no cost to the veteran. Volunteers from Honor Flight
Arizona are available to answer questions about the program. All five Valley
locations of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers participate. Freddy's
co-founder Freddy Simon is a WWII veteran. Visit website to find a location
nearest you. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 129 E. Williams Field
Road, Gilbert. Menu prices vary. 480-899-3500. www.freddysusa.com.
A Tribute to WWII Veterans: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. May 28.
Dine on restaurant specialties like frozen custard and steakburgers, or on
other menu items such as chicken fingers, hot dogs and shakes on Memorial Day
when 10 percent of sales is donated to Honor Flight Arizona, a nonprofit
organization that flies America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the
National WWII Memorial at no cost to the veteran. Volunteers from Honor Flight
Arizona are available to answer questions about the program. All five Valley
locations of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers participate. Freddy's
co-founder Freddy Simon is a WWII veteran. Visit website to find a location nearest
you. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, 4929 W. Bell Road, Glendale.
Menu prices vary. 602-843-2663. www.freddysfrozencustard.com.
Sunset Memorial Day Service: 7-8 p.m. May 28. The
public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the outdoor amphitheater
for a program that features a posting of the colors, "taps," a solemn
POW/MIA table ceremony and a candle-lighting remembrance. A wreath is on
display to honor the memory of fallen members of the armed forces on the
flag-lined path which features bricks engraved with names of veterans and flags
representing each of the six branches of the military. Presented by the City of
Avondale, in partnership with the American Legion Crandall Palmer Post 61, VFW
Pat Tillman Memorial Post 40, Scottish American Military Society, and the Blue
Star Moms of the Southwest Valley. Avondale Civic Center, 11465 W. Civic Center
Drive, Avondale. Free. 623-333-2400. www.ci.avondale.az.us.
Memorial Day Rally: 6:30-8 a.m. May 28.
Hundreds of motorcycles and American flags line Cave Creek and Pinnacle Peak
roads approaching the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, to let entering
family members know the sacrifices of their loved ones will never be forgotten.
An official state-sponsored ceremony begins inside at 8 a.m. All bikes and
riders are welcome. More information and flag sponsorships in memory of those
who served are available online. Presented by Riders United for a Sovereign
America, Corp. National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road,
Phoenix. Free, $10 flag sponsorships. 480-203-1051. ridersusa.net.
Memorial Day Benefit: 9 a.m.-noon May 28. The
restaurant donates all its profits from 9 a.m. to noon to the Crohn's and
Colitis Foundation of America, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to
finding a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both Raising Cane's
Phoenix locations participate and at each location, one lucky customer will win
a year's worth of meals at Raising Cane's. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, 4325
E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Menu prices vary, all proceeds benefit charity.
602-256-0888. www.ilovecanes.com.
Memorial Day Benefit: 9 a.m.-noon May 28. The
restaurant donates all its profits from 9 a.m. to noon to the Crohn's and
Colitis Foundation of America, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to
finding a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both Raising Cane's
Phoenix locations participate and at each location, one lucky customer will win
a year's worth of meals at Raising Cane's. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, 2715
W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix. Menu prices vary, all proceeds benefit charity.
602-795-3550. www.ilovecanes.com.
Salute to the Troops Concert and Barbecue: 5-10 p.m. May 28. The
historic resort begins a new tradition on Memorial Day, celebrating our
nation's heroes beginning with a barbecue at 5 p.m. on the front lawn and a
concert performed by Luke Air Force Base's own classic rock band, the Screamin'
Javelinas. All-you-can-eat barbecue is included and refreshing drinks are
available from the Wigwam's culinary team. A discounted room rate of $79
(regular room rate starts at $169) is offered on May 27 for active duty,
reservists and retired members of the U.S. military and Arizona's
law-enforcement officials and firefighters. A portion of proceeds is donated to
the Fighter Country Foundation, a nonprofit group focused on supporting
programs and services at Luke Air Force Base that aid, support and honor airmen
and their families in need. Wigwam Resort and Golf Club, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd.,
Litchfield Park. $15, $7 for children, free for 4 and younger, $169 starting
room rate, $79 discounted room rate for military, law enforcement and
firefighters. 623-935-3811. www.wigwamresort.com/arizona-golf-resorts.php.
Memorial Day Service: 9 a.m. May 28. This annual
service honors fallen heroes with a traditional ceremony that includes a
posting of the colors, a wreath presentation, rifle salute and taps. Valley of
the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler. Free.
480-895-9232. www.valleyofthesuncemetery.com.
"Beat the Heat" Fitness Hike: 7-8:30 a.m. May 31. Take a
3.5-mile hike through the upper Sonoran desert and see amazing views of Cave
Creek Regional Park. Tips on general fitness, hiking gear and strategies for
hiking during warmer months are discussed along the way. Wear sturdy closed-toe
shoes, dress appropriately for the weather and bring more water than you think
you will need. Meet at the Nature Center. Cave Creek Regional Park, 37900 N.
Cave Creek Parkway, Cave Creek. $6 per vehicle. 623-465-0431. www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek/.
Memorial Day Program: 10 a.m. May 28. The annual
event honors all those who have passed, and especially those who served in our
military. An inspirational message, music and the laying of the wreath at the
Veterans Columbarium are followed by the release of several white doves. More
than 80 United States flags are flown, which are donated to the Avenue of
Flags, for families of deceased U.S. veterans to honor their service to our
country. The public is invited. Refreshments are served following the program.
The Red Cross Bloodmobile is on-site from 1 to 6 p.m. for all those who wish to
donate blood in honor of their loved one. Call 480-830-4422 or visit redcrossblood.org
and register using sponsor code: dignity. Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and
Funeral Care, 6747 E. Broadway Road, Mesa. Free. 480-830-4422. www.mariposagardens.com.
Friday Night Franks: 5-10 p.m. Fridays, through
May 31. Enjoy a cookout experience with the family in the Sonoran Desert. Live
entertainment, horseshoes, corn hole and wagon rides are available. An
old-fashioned wiener roast features $3 hot dogs, $5 brats, $3 beers, and $3
s'mores. Offered from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Fort McDowell Adventures,
14803 N. Hiawatha Hood Road, Fort McDowell. Free to attend, reserved seating
and packages available for groups of 10 or more. 480-816-6465.
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