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Electric Light Parade returns to Uptown Phoenix for 24th straight year
[Source: City of Phoenix Press Release]
Dozens of entries with hundreds of thousands of lights will brighten the streets of central Phoenix Dec. 4 when the Fiesta of Light Electric Light Parade returns for the 24th straight year. Entries for the 2010 parade will be interpreting the theme “Through the Eyes of a Child.” The parade gets under way at 7 p.m. on Central Avenue at Montebello (just south of Bethany Home Road). The parade then heads south on Central to Camelback, where it will turn east to 7th Street, where it will turn south and end at Indian School Road.
Parade lovers also can come out to view the official parade judging from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 the main staging area at North Phoenix Baptist Church. During judging, all motorized entries are lit up for official review. Students from Arizona State University will be on hand with kids’ activities. Kids also can get a visit with Santa. Visitors to the judging can enter the staging area at the church at the parking lot entrance on Montebello Road just east of Central Avenue.
Visitors to the 2010 parade are again encouraged to bring one canned food item along. APS volunteers will be collecting canned goods along the parade route just prior to the event’s start for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Visitors also can leave their canned food donation in collection boxes on the parade route, one at Central Avenue and Camelback and the other at 7th
Phoenix on a budget: New rail line, hikes, golf
People wait in line for a table at Matt's Big Breakfast (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
[Source: Terry Tang, Associated Press, reprinted in the San Jose Mercury News] — In Phoenix, there’s nothing a trip to the golf course can’t fix. It’s a warm winter escape for those who can afford a second home, and it basks in the spa-facial glow of being a place where people will pay a lot for five-star fun. But for those with shallow pockets, the Valley of the Sun has budget-friendly options mixing an urban identity with access to nature. It’s not every big city where you can scale a mountain, sample authentic Mexican food, and take in a free art show — all in one day. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
APS Electric Light Parade returns to uptown Phoenix, Dec. 6
[Source: City of Phoenix] — The APS Electric Light Parade returns to the streets of uptown Phoenix for its 22nd straight year. The 2008 parade, themed “Preserving a Family Holiday Tradition,” kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 on Central Avenue just south of Bethany Home Rd. Comprehensive parade information is available online in the APS Electric Light Parade link here. General information is available by phone at 602-534-FEST.
This annual spectacle has attracted up to 200,000 spectators to the parade route. All entries in the parade –- even individuals in performance groups who walk the route –- are decorated in holiday lights. In years past, some entries have sported more than 50,000 lights. In addition to the floats, performance groups and bands also will take part. From just south of Bethany Home Road, the parade proceeds south on Central Avenue to Camelback Road, then heads east to 7th Street where it turns south to the end point north of Indian School Road.
Below are some tips for those planning on attending the parade:
- The parade is a rain or shine event. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and dress accordingly.
- Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
- Coolers are permitted, though alcohol and glass containers are not allowed.
- Viewing spots along the parade route are first-come-first-served. Spectators often start arriving three hours before parade time to reserve spots.
- Parking is on street and also is on a first-come-first-served basis. Private lots near the parade area often offer parking for a fee.
