Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Celebration of Fine Arts

Celebration of Fine Arts is Underway

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:42:39 +0000

Art lovers and artist are mingling it this awesome opportunity to get close to art. Here are a few videos of ceramic artists, Joseph Woodford, firing a large ceramic piece.

Read more about it on the Celebration of Fine Arts blog.

Cold Weather Blues Nowhere to Be Found With Array of Outdoor Events

Josh Kenzer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:09:07 +0000

As the cold winter weather continues in most cities, Scottsdale visitors can experience a myriad of outdoor events while soaking up the mild temperatures and sunny skies.

Foodies should make their way to Scottsdale April 14-19, 2009, to experience the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, an extravaganza presented by Scottsdale League for the Arts that draws more than 40,000 patrons each year. Events include the James Beard dinner, Cooks & Corks and the Great Arizona Picnic, an outdoor event boasting food samples from more than 50 restaurants and cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs. Enjoy special appearances by local and national celebrity chefs, including Robin Miller of the Food Network and “Top Chef” season five winner Lee Ann Wong during the 31st annual event. For more information, visit www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org.

For a true Western experience, look no further than the Parada del Sol. For 55 years, Scottsdale residents and visitors have experienced this month-long celebration culminating in a magnificent parade and five action-packed professional rodeo performances. The events kick off on Jan. 30, 2009, when the Hashknife Pony Express rides into town from Holbrook, Ariz. with two dozen riders delivering 20,000 first-class letters by horseback. The events continue with the world’s longest horse-drawn parade on Feb. 21, 2009, followed by the infamous Trails End Celebration in downtown Scottsdale. Other events include dances, live country Western music, children’s activities and more. For more information, visit www.paradadelsol.org.

Visit 100 artists’ studios all in one day in the big white tents at Celebration of Fine Art Jan. 16-March 29, 2009. Visitors can have an up-close-and-personal experience with the artists as they work in the full spectrum of art media including oil, watercolor, pastels, sculpture and assemblages to glass, ceramics, stone, furniture, jewelry and more. Enjoy a wide range of works from realistic and impressionistic to western and contemporary from well-known and emerging artists. For more information, visit www.celebrateart.com.

Valentine’s Day in Scottsdale

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:50:15 +0000

Scottsdale is a great place for a Valentine’s Day romantic getaway. In addition to the great resorts, the weekend is packed with great events for you and your loved one to create a truly memorable trip. Here are just a few:

Cavalia
Opening February 14th under the big white tents on the corner of Scottsdale Road and the 101 Loop, Cavalia is an homage to the poinant history and facinating bond between human and horse.

Celebration of Fine Arts
Opening Monday the 16th, The Celebration of Fine Art is a fusion of the best of art galleries, art studios and art shows. A juried, invitational show, it features 100 of the finest artists from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom who work in an intimate studio setting, showing and selling their art to visiting art lovers.

Scottsdale Native Trails
On January 15, 2009, Native Trails presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, will debut its seventh season of free noontime festivals dedicated to exploring the rich and varied cultures of Native America. Located at the outdoor amphitheater at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, just north of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, the festival features Native American music, dance, art and traditional foods.

5th Avenue Fine Art & Wine Festival
This popular event returns to the Fifth Avenue area for three days of music, wine and more than 60 artists, who will be displaying a wide assortment of original paintings, photography, glassworks and unique crafts.

Arabian Horse Show
Since 1955, the annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. It has grown from 50 horses to more than 2,000 horses, bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world competing for a chance to win.

2009 NBA All-Star Game
See all the exciting action of NBA All-Star weekend including the Rookie Challenge, Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players and NBA legends, Skills Challenge, a contest of top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, lay-ups and agility drills, and the Three-Point Shootout, where six of the best long-range shooters compete against each other and the clock in a test of accuracy. Of course no All-Star game would be complete without the Slam Dunk Contest, which will showcase some of the NBA’s best athletes as they take to the air mystifying fans with their gravity-defying creativity.