March ushers in what is arguably the best time of year in the Valley. Here are some upcoming events in the Scottsdale area that take advantage of that perfect getting-out-of-the-house weather. 

March 1-3: Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival

About 150 juried artists will display their work during this annual festival. Check out more than 5,000 original pieces in a wide variety of mediums. Jeweler Harold Lujan is a featured artist.

You also can sample wine, microbrews and rum. When you get hungry, head to a food truck and enjoy a meal or snack while watching live performances.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Sunday, March 1-3. 101 Easy St., Carefree. $3, $10 for wine-tasting ticket with souvenir glass. thunderbirdartists.com.

3/7-10: Parada del Sol Rodeo

Rodeo fans of all ages will be sure to enjoy the heart-stopping action at this popular annual event. Come see a variety of competitions at the PRCA Sanctioned Rodeo, including bareback bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping and steer wrestling.

Details: Thursday-Sunday, March 7-10. Check website for daily schedule of events. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. $10-$45. paradadelsol.net.

3/8-10: Scottsdale Arts Festival

The festival features a wide variety of artists who work in all types of mediums. A jury of local arts professionals selects which artists will exhibit their work and will award prizes in a number of categories. Come check out paintings, glass, ceramics, photography, textiles, and more.

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, March 8-9. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, March 10. Scottsdale Civic Center Park, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. $12 for a one-day pass, $20 for a two-day pass, $6 for students under 18 with a valid student ID, free for ages 12 and younger. scottsdaleartsfestival.org.

3/8-10: Fountain Hills Fine Art & Wine Affaire

More than 125 acclaimed artists from around the country and the world will be part of this juried festival. Browse through a selection of unique artworks while sipping wine and/or microbrews. The event will include live entertainment, sweet and savory foods, and the works of featured artist, Fountain Hills resident Deborah Liszt.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, March 8-10. Avenue of the Fountains, between La Montana and Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills. $3, $10 for wine-tasting tickets with a souvenir glass. thunderbirdartists.com.

3/9: Plein Air Painting Festival

Up to 20 artists will produce original works of art in five hours surrounded by the open air of Desert Ridge Marketplace. Even if guests aren’t professional painters, there’s something for everyone. Attendees can vote for their favorites, and there will be free group painting classes.

Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 480-513-7586, shopdesertridge.com. 

3/21-24: International Sportsmen’s Expo and Arizona Boat Show

Whether you are a boater, RV enthusiast, off-roader, angler or hunter, or perhaps a combination of all of these things, the 19th annual International Sportsmen’s Expo hopes to spark your spirit of adventure through exhibits like an outdoor product showcase, a Kawasaki off-roading test track, a 200,000-square-foot RV Pavilion, marine dealers, and the popular Dock Dog contest.

Details: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday-Saturday. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, March 21-24. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. Admission $12; $6 for Good Sam members with an ID; and free for active military (with a military ID), as well as for children under 15. Parking is an additional $5 a car.

3/22: Lisa See

The best-selling author explores her Chinese-American roots in novels such as “Shanghai Girls,” “Peony in Love” and “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.” She will be in town to sign her latest, “The Island of Sea Women,” about a guild of women divers in South Korea fighting to maintain their independence and way of life through generations.

Details: 7 p.m., March 22. The Poisoned Pen, 4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale. $27 for signed copy. 480-947-2974, poisonedpen.com.

3/22: Four Peaks Burger Battle

You’ll need to put on your eating pants before heading to the Four Peaks Burger Battle. The 21-and-over event include unlimited samples of burger, fries, and milkshakes as restaurants — including ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Handlebar Diner and Aioli Burgers — duke it out for the title of Best Burger.

You’ll need something wash it all down; look for Four Peaks’ brew and other libations. In addition to food and drink, the battle offers live music and lawn games. All attendees get to vote to crown one winner of a People’s Choice award. 

Details: 7-9:30 p.m., Friday, March 22. Scottsdale Waterfront at Southbridge, 7135 E. Camelback Road. $65. ScottsdaleFest.org/BurgerBattle.

3/23: Hohokam Ruins, Spur Cross

This moderate, 2.5-mile hike will introduce you to the rich archaeological history of the area. See evidence of prehistoric Hohokam dwellings and learn about their culture.

Bring plenty of water but not your dog. No reservations are required. Meet at the main trail head area where restrooms and picnic tables are located.

Details: 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 23. Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, 44000 N. Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek. Vehicle entry fee is $7. 602-506-2930, www.maricopacountyparks.net/events/.

3/23: Vicki Lawrence

Mama’s back in town: Vicki Lawrence shot to TV stardom in the ‘60s as a mop-headed ingenue on “The Carol Burnett Show” and scored a No. 1 pop hit in 1973 with “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” But she truly earned pop-culture icon status with her most enduring character, sharp-tongued Southerner Thelma “Mama” Harper.

Her “two-woman show” will include a segment from Lawrence herself before she gets into character as the acerbic “Mama’s Family” matriarch.

Details: 8 p.m., Saturday, March 23. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. $42-$69. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.

Through 3/24: Arizona Fine Art Expo

Meet artists in their studios and watch them create fine works of art in person. The event features 124 art studios set up within a 44,000-square-foot tent; you can admire and purchase pieces including paintings, graphite and pencil drawings, glass, ceramics, photography, and jewelry.

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11-Sunday, March 24. 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Season pass $10, $8 for seniors and military, free for age 11 and younger. arizonafineartexpo.com.

3/27: Yoga + Beer at Desert Ridge Marketplace

There’s no reason to namastay at the bar when you can get the best of both worlds at Yoga + Beer. The popular series returns to Desert Ridge Marketplace with events through March, April, and May.

At the free event on Wednesday, March 27, yogis will go through an hourlong class with Ilana Mountjoy, an instructor from Mountainside Fitness, while incorporating an ice-cold beer into their utkatasana and downward dogs. 

Details: 6:30-7:30 p.m.  Barnes & Noble Courtyard at Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. Free. shopdesertridge.com/event/yoga.

 

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