HEADLINE NEWS
Most city offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, for Thanksgiving. Trash/recycling will not be collected Thursday, Nov. 24. Collection occurs one day later than usual through Saturday. Libraries and pools are closed both days, as well.
Scottsdale Trolley will not operate on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24; service will resume on Friday, Nov. 25. Visit the Valley Metro website for information on its holiday schedules.
Monthlong holiday celebration Scottsdazzle kicks off Nov. 26, with the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Sing Along at the Scottsdale Waterfront. This is just one of 45 events planned this year. Ten new events are in the lineup, including Holiday Hooves & Howls, the Dazzling Magic Shows, Candle Making classes, Jingle Barre at the Bridge and the Sugar Plum Tea Party. Get all the dazzling details.
Scottsdazzle highlights:
- Sing-Along & Tree Lighting Ceremony–This signature seasonal celebration serves as the kickoff to more than a month of festivities. Enjoy holiday décor, and sing along to classic Christmas tunes led by MusicaNova Orchestra and local celebrities. The night culminates with the lighting of the 40-foot Scottsdazzle tree. 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, Scottsdale Waterfront’s Soleri Bridge.
- Small Business Saturday, Saturday, Nov. 26 – Shop small, shop Scottsdale! Old Town is home to a vibrant small business community with dozens of locally owned and operated boutiques, galleries and retailers. If you’d rather sip and savor than shop, our many restaurants are ready to welcome you with the finest in local fare. With specials and sales for Scottsdazzle patrons, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list, all while supporting your local economy! See all the deals and specials being offered by our local restaurants and shops.
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Meet Santa at the Market - Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market continues with a festive twist and a special holiday guest! Santa will be joining the wide array of farmers and vendors to make for a special Saturday morning. Children can sit with Santa and get a printed photo to cherish for years. The market takes place 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; photos with Santa will be available 9 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, through Dec. 17.
Reinvesting in Our Scottsdale: City Council initiates Old Town recycling and alley refresh program. The goal is to increase recycling in Old Town and reduce alley clutter. As the city begins the pilot program, we’re asking Old Town businesses and property owners to complete a questionnaire that will help us determine interest in a permanent business recycling program, identify what roadblocks currently exist to recycling and factors that would make this program successful. Visit the project webpage.
Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host. Here’s what’s coming up:
Attend a public meeting to learn about two new city projects: a fire station and well site. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at the TPC Clubhouse Thunderbird Room, 17020 N. Hayden Road.
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Scottsdale voters approved Fire Station 612 in the 2019 bond election. The 12,000-square-foot fire station will be constructed at the northeast corner of Hayden Road and Mayo Boulevard. Construction is expected to begin late 2023 and take approximately a year to complete. The station will help improve response times in the area.
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Scottsdale Water will construct a new aquifer storage and recovery well next to the fire station, maximizing the city’s commitment to renewable surface water supplies. The city is building a 24-foot sound wall around the construction zone to minimize noise and light pollution. Well drilling begins in December, with phase I lasting about four months. Phase II will start up to a year later with the building of a well structure, wall and landscaping.
Get your caboose to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s Holiday Lights Nov. 25-Dec. 30. Hop on board the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and experience a winter wonderland of holiday lights and displays. Visit and take a photo with Santa various times and days. The Holiday Lights experience on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad is $15; children two and younger ride free with a paying adult. The ticket fee reserves a 90-minute block from 6–7:30 p.m. or 8–9:30 p.m. and includes unlimited train and carousel rides. Find details.
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy offers November programs:
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The Full Story of the Pueblo Grande – 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, Virtual: This presentation will combine a brief history of the archaeology of Pueblo Grande, its role in the surrounding archaeology, and its value as a resource for preservation archaeology.
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Preserve Origins Educational Walk – noon Sunday, Nov. 27, Fraesfield Trailhead: A Scottsdale preserve pioneer will walk and talk about the history of this Preserve.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West offers these fall programs:
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Gallery Walk: Scott Baxter – 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1: Well-regarded for his “100 Years 100 Ranchers,” a ten-year official Legacy Project for the Arizona Centennial, Baxter will lead a gallery walk of Edward S. Curtis in his Light and Legacy exhibit.
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Art of the American West – Dr. Betsy Fahlman – 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8: This ASU School of Art professor will present her research for the 2022 exhibition, “Landscapes of Extraction: The Art of Mining in the American West.”
Scottsdale Center for the Arts presents “BODYTRAFFIC,” a unique dance company displaying a mixed repertoire of creative expression. The dance company was founded 15 years ago and was selected by the Obama Administration to be a part of DanceMotionUSA, which strives to engage international audiences through captivating performances. Members of the company served as cultural ambassadors in Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Algeria and Indonesia. The event will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the center. Learn more and buy tickets.
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Scottsdale ArtWalk: Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month.
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Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market: The market features more than 100 local growers and specialty food producers. It runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through June at 3806 N. Brown Ave.
Scottsdale Fire Department kicks off annual toy drive. Donate unwrapped toys and gift cards at the Scottsdale Fire Department headquarters or any fire station through Tuesday, Dec. 21. Donations are distributed to partner organizations who serve families in need. Donors are asked to consider buying gifts for children 7-18 years old, as this age group is more challenging to buy for than younger ones. Thanks to you, approximately 15,000 toys are collected through the toy drive, serving more than 1,000 families annually. Get gift ideas (pdf).
Expand your horizons with Scottsdale Parks and Recreation classes. Registration for Scottsdale Parks and Recreation winter programs begins at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, for Scottsdale residents, and 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, for nonresidents. Winter programs take place during January, February and March. These include swim lessons, water exercise classes, youth activities, adult programs and more! Browse all offerings online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “recreation classes.” You can register via the city's Activenet page.
Watch the latest Fast Five. Scottsdale hosted its annual Veterans Day commemoration at the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park and is flying banners in Old Town honoring local veterans throughout this month. And get in the holiday spirit with a magical train ride and the return of Scottsdazzle – the city’s festive month-long celebration. These are just a few things you need to know about. Watch now.
