Fun and Festivals in Gilbert Arizona

You don’t have to wait until January to get moving – check out some of these great events in Gilbert, Arizona this month and into next year.

Riparian After Dark
December 16th & 17th
5:30 – 9 p.m.
The Riparian Preserve comes alive with a holiday glow!  Stroll around the candle-lit trail at Water Ranch lake with hundreds of luminaries as well as numerous festive light displays at every turn. This is a rare opportunity for those who appreciate nature to experience the thrill of  nighttime at the preserve.

In addition to the lighted trail, we will feature a variety of school choirs, carolers and other live holiday entertainment.  There will be light refreshments available for purchase.  All trails are ADA accessible.

25th Annual ZooLights
The Phoenix Zoo
Through Jan 8th , 2017

Join the Phoenix Zoo at the Valley’s brightest holiday tradition: ZooLights presented by SRP! Celebrating 25 years, ZooLights shines with millions of lights, a three-story-high holiday tree, hundreds of glimmering light displays and lakeside music-in-motion shows. ZooLights is open to the public Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, January 8, 2017.

2016 Fishmas at SEA LIFE Aquarium
Through December 24th

Join SEA LIFE Aquarium every weekend in December, through the 24th, as they celebrate the holidays with decorations, activities and much more! Don’t miss Underwater Santa, holiday scavenger hunts, and ornament decorating.

Holiday Bricktacular
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Through December 25th

Celebrate the holidays with special LEGO® themed activities at the Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND®  Discovery Center Arizona, every weekend in December. Participants get to enjoy building a LEGO® ornament, Christmas in Miniland®, LEGO® Winter Wonderland, and holiday decorations all throughout the attraction.

Gilbert’s Global Village Festival
TBD
Gilbert’s Global Village Festival is a multicultural celebration for all ages. The festival brings neighbors together in a friendly, educational way to learn more about each other. Community members, schools, non-profits and service organizations are invited to join us in 2017 for the 13th annual Gilbert Global Village Festival. This family event highlights some of the traditional and contemporary forms of dance, music, children’s activities, arts & crafts and ethnic foods from countries far away on the green open spaces of the Gilbert Civic Center North Campus. Our mission is to create opportunities for individuals and communities to celebrate, share and sustain the arts and the rich cultural traditions of countries from around the world.

2017 Rock N’ Roll Arizona
Tempe Beach Park
Jan 14th & 15th

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon January 14-15, 2017 combines running, travel and entertainment, providing a world-class event atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. An assortment of live music and local high school cheerleading squads are staged approximately every mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses. The marathon begins in Phoenix, races through Scottsdale and finishes in Tempe. The ½ marathon course begins and ends in Tempe.

Family Bird Walk
Desert Rivers Audobon
Jan 21st & Jan 28th

Desert Rivers Audubon Family Bird Walks. We provide loaner binoculars, Bird Bingo Cards for kids, and expert leaders to take you around the ponds at both locations. We also have field guide books and other nature items for sale at our display tent. Walks leave every 15 minutes or so and last about 45 minutes. No fees or admission charge and no pre-registration…just show up!!!

UCP 3rd Annual Fun, Run, Walk & Roll
Kiwanis Park
Feb 5th

The United Cerebral Palsy’s 10K/5K/1 mile walk benefits those with special needs, such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities.

Gilbert Outdoors Expo
Feb 25th
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Put on your camouflage, boots and head over to the Gilbert Outdoors Expo presented by Banner Health Centers at the Riparian Preserve.

You will have a chance to brush up on various outdoor activities or learn new  skills, including fishing, camping, hunting, hiking and much more.  This premier event will draw exhibitors and attendees statewide with an expected attendance of over 4,000 people.

 KA-POW! Superhero Adventure Run
 March 19th|
8 am. – ??

Get ready to tie on your capes and be a Superhero at The KA-POW! Superhero Adventure Run on Saturday, March 19th presented by Banner Health Center. This is a costumed run fit for the whole family with fun and challenging obstacles. Runners are encouraged to wear their favorite superhero costume as they participate in a family friendly course with 20 + playful obstacles, with a distance just under 2 miles. The Adventure run course includes many challenging obstacles such as the Spiderman Tower, Thor Tires, Iron Man Crawl, Wonder Woman Wall, and back by popular demand the Aqua-man’s waterslide. Plus, this year there will be a 4 story high water slide- Don’t miss out!

This post is sponsored by Earnhardt Chrysler Jeep Dodge.