☀️ Holiday heat wave 🥵

Holiday events are starting to wind down, but there are still some opportunities to get out and have some fun this week.

The forecast calls for continued warm weather, maybe we’ll have a new record high on Christmas day!! (78* is the record, it may just happen 😲). I know we live here because of the fare weather, but c’mon, I need a little bit of winter with the holidays!!

In this week’s Scoop:

• Luminary kits are available in Sun City West 🎄

• Popular butcher has closed temporarily 🥩

• And so much more!

COMMUNITY NEWS

~ Last chance to get pictures with Santa, as well as a pancake breakfast plus arts & crafts. Friday, December 19th at Rio Vista Recreation Center in Peoria. (link)

Bring the little ones to the Rio Vista Recreation Center for pancakes, arts and crafts, and pictures with Santa! This event is free with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Please bring your own camera to take a picture with Santa. This event is geared toward families with children 6 and younger.

~ Al's Meat Market and Italian Deli, located at 107th Ave & Union Hills has temporarily closed after its owner was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. (link)

~ Continuing to support the Sun City West Lions Luminaria Program can bring holiday joy into your life. Luminarias are a sign of welcome and a symbol of our community spirit on Christmas Eve. Perhaps, you would also like to consider surprising your neighbor with a kit for their sidewalk or driveway!

Beginning Nov. 24, luminary kits will be available ‘inside’ Bob’s Variety for $12 per kit and $10 a kit for orders over 20. Kits can be pre-ordered for in person pick up at the stand in front of Bob’s Variety from Dec. 20 through 24 by calling 607-754-5952. (link)

~ The Sun City HOA is hosting their 2nd Annual Sun City Christmas Lights Contest. Registration for the contest ended on December 4th, but the lights will be on for everyone to enjoy beginning December 12th. Learn more about the contest and see all of the rules at the SCHOA website. (link)

ARIZONA TRIVIA

Last week’s trivia question was ‘What is the name of the highest mountain peak that towers above the White Mountains, at an elevation of 11,409 feet?’

The correct answer was: Mount Baldy

Mount Baldy, located in Arizona’s White Mountains, is one of the highest peaks in the state, rising to about 11,400 feet. Known to the White Mountain Apache Tribe as Dził Nchaa Siʼan, the mountain sits within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and is considered sacred. With alpine meadows, dense spruce-fir forests, and summer temperatures far cooler than the desert below, Mount Baldy offers a rare high-elevation landscape in Arizona—though access is regulated and permits are required.

EVENTS

This Week

The holidays are in full swing, and that means a full line up of fun & exciting holiday themed events are happening all across the Valley.

This link is a curated list of local & valleywide events you may be interested in this holiday season.

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre is back! Join them for a showing of A CHRISTMAS STORY on Tuesday, December 16th at 6pm. (link)

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES’. Showtimes are Wednesday 12/17 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 12/20 at 2pm & 7pm at the Mountain View Center

[Sun City] Big Zephyr Music Presents, Ho-Ho The Christmas Show in Sun City, on Wednesday, December 17th at 6pm at the Sundial Recreation Center Auditorium.

[Sun City West] Desert Brass presents Brass Noel: A Seasonal Concert recently featured in the internationally acclaimed documentary, "A Jewel in the Desert," the Desert Brass Band is performing their seasonal concert, "Brass Noel," on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. inside of Stardust Theatre. Tickets are $15 per person and available online at suncitywest.com/tickets.

Weekly Events 

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Friday Farmers Market is BACK!!! The market is every Friday from 10am-2pm at the Lord of Life Lutherans Church. (link)

[Sun City] The Sun City Farmers Market is back at the Bell Center, on 99th Ave just south of Bell Road. The market will be held every Thursday from 9am-1pm. (link)

[Sun City] Desert Glow Farmers Markets is hosting their market, from 8am-12pm on Thursdays, at Desert Episcopal Church. (link & map)

[Surprise] Surprise Farmer’s Market, every Sunday from 3-7pm. A weekly market featuring fresh local ingredients, homemade goods, and artisanal crafts from nearby farms and ranches. (link & map)

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Desert Garden Club hosts weekly PLANT SALES from 9:00am to noon each Thursday, except for Christmas. Club members will be on hand during sales to answer questions and offer gardening advice. Visitors are encouraged to tour the adjacent botanical garden during their visit to the greenhouse. The plant sales are open to the public and payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Supporting Education and the Community.

Have an event you want listed here? Please reach out!

CLUBS

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Thank you for reading, have a great week!