WEEKEND EVENTS FOR FAMILIES: MAY 4-7
Celebrate Free Comic Book Day, Cinco de Mayo and more this weekend.
Star Wars fans know it’s “May the Fourth be With You” day on Thursday. But this weekend also brings Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Free Comic Book Day and First Friday events as we kick off a new month with tons of family fun.
Want even more ideas for your weekend? Explore our full “Family Time!” events calendar.
THURSDAY, May 4
May the Fourth be with you! Joaquin Gutierrez, age 4, of Tolleson spars with Darth Vader at Tempe Center for the Arts. Photo courtesy of Joe Gutierrez.
May the Fourth at OdySea Aquarium (Thur May 4). Expect to see Darth Vader and a host of Star Wars characters at OdySea today. Visitors who dress up will get $3 off admission. See underwater light-saber battles, compete for best costume and more. $34.95; $24.95 ages 3-12; discounts for students and seniors. Through May 7, educators get $10 off admission. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 480-291-8000 or odyseaaquarium.com
Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music (Wed-Thur May 3-4). Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby and their Sesame Street friends come to the rescue and discover instruments they never knew existed. 6:30-8:15pm. $20-$65. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa. 602-379-2800 or mesaartscenter.com
“Dragons Love Tacos” event (Thur May 4). Author Adam Rubin will be visiting the Phoenix Changing Hands as part of a national tour promoting his new book “Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel,” the wild and wacky time-traveling companion to the hilarious “Dragons Love Tacos.”Rubin will read and preside over a taco-making demonstration, complete with snacks from Chipotle. 4:30-6pm. Free. Changing Hands, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-274-0067 or changinghands.com
Teacher Appreciation at Organ Stop Pizza (May 1-5). Take the time to show your appreciation for those who teach our children using #ThankATeacher on social media. From 5-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 1-5, Arizona’s K-12 teachers (with valid i.d.) will be welcomed at Organ Stop Pizza and given a voucher for a free pizza. 1149 E. Southern Ave, Mesa. 480-813-5700 or organstoppizza.com
FRIDAY, May 5
Peter and the Starcatcher (Fri-Sun May 5-14). The story of the boy who would not grow up (Peter Pan) and how he playfully explores the bonds of friendship. The show is fun for all ages. 7pm Fri, 2pm Sat-Sun. $15-$17. Sagebrush Theatre, 7020 E 2nd St, Scottsdale. 480-949-7529 or greasepaint.org
Movies in the Park (May 5-19). Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and watch family-friendly films on the big, outdoor screen at Tumbleweed park. Thematic activities inspired by each Friday movie start early. May 5: “Secret Life of Pets,” May 12: “Moana,” May 19: “Sing.” 6pm (activities), 8pm (movies begin). Free. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E Germann Road, Chandler. 480-782-2735 or chandleraz.gov/cinepark
Target Free First Friday (Fri May 5). The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is open to the public free of charge, thanks to support from Target. 5-9pm. 215 N 7th St, Phoenix. 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Fri-Sat Apr 28-May 6). Four siblings find an enormous wardrobe that leads them to a world of adventure. Call for show times. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind, Phoenix. starlightcommunitytheater.com
SATURDAY, May 6
Join Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Phoenix, Prescott and Sedona this weekend. Photo courtesy of Downtown Phoenix.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta (May 6). Celebrate at this fiesta featuring mariachi musicians, Folklorico dancers and traditional Mexican food. 11am–5pm. Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, 336 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-282-4838 or tlaq.com
Free Comic Book Day (Sat May 6). All ages. Comic book giveaways, activities, comic book artists and writers. Times vary by store. Free. Locations Valleywide, including the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa, which is hosting a “Caped Crusaders and Everyday Heroes” exhibit. freecomicbookday.com
Molly Idle storytime (Sat May 6). Feel free to dress up for this Costume Storytime Party with local Caldecott Honor author-illustrator, Molly Idle (“Flora and the Chicks”) and Ian Falconer’s Olivia character for stories, photos and and a Flora-inspired craft. 10 a.m. Free. Tempe Changing Hands, 6428 S. McClintock Drive. changinghands.com
Getting to the Pointe of Water Safety (Sat May 6). Enjoy the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort’s River Ranch Water Park, play water-safety games, get free water-safety kits, see CPR and rescue demonstrations and more. 9am-noon. A free family event, sponsored by the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona and the Pointe Hilton. 7677 N 16th St, Phoenix. preventdrownings.org.
Turf Paradise Kentucky Derby Party (Sat May 6). All ages. Simulcast races, fashion contest (for kids and adults), live music, kids fun park and more. 7:15am gates open; 3:24pm Kentucky Derby. $5 grandstand admission, ages 16 & under free; free commemorative Derby glasses to first 5,000 paid visitors. Turf Paradise, 1501 W Bell Rd, Phoenix 602-942-1101 or turfparadise.com/kentucky-derby-party
Water Safety Awareness Day (Sat May 6). The City of Chandler is hosting a family-friendly afternoon celebrating the beginning of the summer swimming season. Free public swim, games, water-rescue and CPR demonstrations, and swim testing to help parents determine appropriate swim-class levels. Noon-5pm. Free. Hamilton Aquatic Center, 3838 S Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2630 or chandleraz.gov
World Bazaar & Phoenix Community Market (Sat May 6). This event celebrates the vibrant culture of Phoenix with vendors from around the world providing specialty cuisines, crafts, and entertainment, including a Kids Zone with face-painting and balloon twisting. Local immigrant and refugee-owned businesses will be selling handcrafted jewelry, dresses, scarves, baskets, and artwork. The event is presented by Local First Arizona, Fuerza Local, and the International Rescue Committee in Phoenix. Free. 10am-2pm. Park-and-Ride at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road. rescue.org
Women’s Health & Wellness Expo (Sat May 6). Health screenings and information, physician-led seminars, health and beauty exhibits, infant and child safety resources. 8am-noon. Free. Preregister. Mountain Vista Medical Center, 1301 S Crismon Rd, Mesa. 877-924-WELL (9355) or mvmedicalcenter.com/womens-expo
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
The i.d.e.a. Museum’s “Caped Crusaders & Everyday Heroes” exhibit is on display through May 28. Artist Credit: Greg Gossel, Minneapolis, MN
Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival (Sun May 7). All ages. Keep the Cinco de Mayo celebration going at the one of the largest multicultural festivals in Arizona. This downtown Phoenix street festival is filled with non-stop fun, games, traditional food, drinks and live entertainment. There will be performances by Ballet Folkorico and Lucha Libre and an interactive kid zone. Noon-10 pm. 200 W. Washington St. 602-279-4669 or cincophx.com
Free Sunday at i.d.e.a. Museum(Sun May 7). All ages. This Mesa children’s museum is open to the public free charge, thanks to the Gila River Indian Community. Build a master project, design your dream machine, create pixels and gears or escape into your imagination. Noon-5pm. Free. i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W Pepper Place, Mesa. 480.644.idea or ideamuseum.org
SMoCA Family Mix (Sun May 7). All ages. A fun-filled event that will inspire kids. Demonstrations and makerspace activities provided by the Arizona Science Center’s CREATE space, along with LED wearables, scribblebots, and giant spin art. Noon-3pm. Free. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E 2nd St, Scottsdale. 480-874-4666 or smoca.org
Wonderland: Alice’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventure (Apr 23-May 21). Based on the books “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass,” this is rock ‘n’ roll Alice like you’ve never seen her before. 1pm and 4pm Sat, 1pm Sun. $12-$26. Tempe Center for the Arts Theatre, 700 W Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 480-350-2822 or childsplayaz.org
Planet Shark: Predator or Prey (through May 29). Cutting-edge Sensory4 Technology provides a walk-through, multi-sensory cinematic gallery experience tracing millions of years of evolution and bringing you face-to-face with the great white shark. Exhibit includes shark models cast from real animals, a collection of real shark teeth and jaws and extremely old and rare fossils. 10am-5pm. Exhibit with general admission is $29.95; $22.95 ages 3-17. Sybil B. Harrington Galleries, Arizona Science Center, 600 E Washington St, Phoenix. 602-716-2000 or azscience.org
