Happy Birthday, Arizona: 5 Ways to Celebrate Our State

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February 14th isn’t just Valentine’s Day. It’s also the day that Arizona, in 1912, became the last of the contiguous states to achieve statehood. Whether you’re looking for ways to bring our state’s rich history to life for your children or you’re a history-buff yourself, here are some great ways to celebrate our state during February.

Celebrate our state1. Hashknife Pony Express

No matter the weather, the Hashknife Pony Express rides on to their final destination in Scottsdale. For over half a century, these incredibly riders travel 200 miles through the mountains, from Winslow to Scottsdale, picking up mail and celebrating our State along the way. You can track their schedule and find them along their route, or wait and wave during Parada del Sol in Scottsdale.

2. Parada del Sol Parade

Growing up in the Midwest, it seemed like every holiday had a parade. Since moving to Arizona almost a decade ago, I’ve come to treasure parades, as they’re few and far between. One of our favorite family traditions is putting on our boots and heading downtown to enjoy the Parada del Sol Parade. From babies to grandparents, there’s no better way to celebrate our State than by enjoying this captivating parade that showcases our State’s beautiful history.

3. Trail’s End Festival

The Trail’s End Festival is a great way to end a fun morning at the parade. From vendors and live music to games and pony rides, this city block party has something for everyone.

4. Arizona Indian Festival

Did you know Arizona is made up of 22 tribes? If you’re looking for a place to celebrate culture, traditions, crafts, and food, look no farther than the Arizona Indian Festival. The festival also has Native American artisans who are happy to share the processes of jewelry making, rug weaving, and pottery creation. 

5. Celebrate Our State with a Shopping Spree

If you’re looking for a gift for someone or you want to expand your child’s knowledge of Arizona and our beautiful desert landscape, you can find a few of our favorite things in the All About Arizona Shopping Guide.

Whether your baby was born in this beautiful state or you just moved here and are looking for a way to explain the wild and potentially dangerous creatures to your kids, books can be a great tool for starting the conversation. One of our favorite family books is In the Canyon, a book that captures the magic of a child’s first visit to the Grand Canyon. Our daughter loves the map on the inside cover and traces the routes we’ve explored.

If you’re looking for a hostess gift, this It’s Five O’Guac Somewhere serving dish is the perfect mix of funny, cute, and practical. Whether you need a hostess gift or a splurge for yourself, this aloe ring holder is adorable. Looking to spice things up in the kitchen? Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook has excellent reviews, with some claiming it to be the best cookbook EVER!

Whether you’re a shopper or a reader or an event-go’er, or some combination of the three, take some time this month to explore a side of Arizona you haven’t already experienced. There’s truly no place on earth as diverse, in landscape and people, as this magnificent state!

Note: Once you click on a Shopping Guide link, it opens to a page with a few of our favorite products, recommended by our writers and readers! When you click the images on the Guides they’ll redirect you to Amazon using an affiliate link. If you make a purchase after clicking our link, it doesn’t charge you any extra money, but it does send a little commission to Scottsdale Moms as a thank you for referring traffic. This helps us bring you more great content for FREE!

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