Our list of July events may be even more important as so many options in the cooler areas of Arizona are restricted due to the wildfires that are raging across our fair state.
The Japanese Friendship Gardens is hosting the Tanabata or Star Festival, which has been celebrated for hundreds of years in Japan, usually on 7/7, the one day a year that the two lovers in the famous Tanabata myth can cross the Milky Way to meet. The Japanese Friendship Garden will be celebrating their beautiful story and the culture surrounding this tale with you during Tanabata Week from 7/5 to 7/10. Experience the songs, crafts and stories each day through a film created in the Garden all leading up to the 9th and 10th, when we invite guests who come to the Garden to write their wish on tanzaku paper and tie it to our bamboo Tanabata tree. Kids will also have the option to make a traditional origami paper decoration while supplies last! Free.
Daddy Long Legs, all month, at the Phoenix Theatre is a heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty young woman and her mysterious benefactor, this award-winning off-Broadway hit musical offers gorgeous, soaring melodies. It follows Jerusha Abbott, who has grown up in an orphanage but is sent to college by a mysterious benefactor so she may learn to be a writer. The benefactor requires just one thing – that she write to him monthly, even though he will not respond. Her letters to him paint a moving portrait of the development of her mind and spirit, and she emerges as a fiercely independent, intelligent woman, who is destined to find love where she least expects it. Hormel Theatre. $64 – $94.
The Arizona Science Center hosts #GIRLSINSTEM – Camp Innovation, starting July 12th. Each 5-day camp session introduces kids to STEM and builds skills for youth through high-energy challenges, building, and design opportunities, and concept exploration. Join for a camp where science, design, social media and engineering collide! During this 10-day session, connect with other like-minded leaders that share your passion and love for science. From a behind-the-scenes peek of various STEM careers to learning about science, technology, engineering, math, and art through making. $500.
The Duce is hosting weekly swing dance nights, every Wednesday. Don’t know how to swing dance? Neither do I and I’ve been procrastinating about getting out there to learn. I think it might be time to do it! It will be some hot swing dancing on hot summer nights. Can I just wear shorts, or do I have to wear a full zoot suit? Join the early free lesson and learn some moves to dance the night away. $10. Learn more on The Duce website.
While we are talking about The Duce, I noticed that they host a weekly Rock N’ Roll Burlesque night. I’ve not been to this show, but it is really hard to find burlesque shows that deliver everything they could -comedy, tricks and, er, scandal. 😊 I’ll be checking this out with friends soon.
The new outdoor Film Bar at the Pemberton is hosting What’s Good? with Anwar Newton and Randy Heflin Jr. I’ve met Anwar. He’s funny. Gotta say. This is a monthly comedy show hosted by two dudes that people willingly keep giving microphones to, featuring local and touring comedians telling jokes under the stars at Pemberton PHX! $16.
