Category Archives: Arts, Culture, Schools & Clubs

Not ready for the summer to end? Don’t worry! The Town of Fountain Hills has you covered! Get ready for the 2^nd Annual Back to School held on August 25^th in Four Peaks Park from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Enjoy an evening of fun with waterslides, inflatable rides, music, and so much more.

Bring your swimsuits, and a friend to cool off from the heat. Enjoy an evening of fun with waterslides, inflatable rides, music, and so much more. Have you ever wanted to dunk your favorite teacher? Here’s your chance to for a little revenge at the Dunk Tank, everyone’s favorite event!

Local Firemen and Sheriff’s officers will be there with activities, including one of the Maricopa Sherriff’s Dept. Canine Officers.  A fire truck will be on hand for families and their children to explore.

Sonoran Lifestyle Real Estate will be on-hand with a special fun Photo Booth, a chance for parents and kids to switch roles in a fun, family setting.

The Back to School Bash is a great opportunity for families and the community to come together for an evening of free family fun to kick off the school year. Last year’s event had over 600 families, and more are be expected this year, a great opportunity to meet the families of your kids’ friends.

Parking will be limited. Park in the Four Peaks north field parking lot. Overflow parking will be available along Del Cambre Avenue.

For more information, call 480-816-5100 or visit online at facebook.com/fountainhillsrecreation.

History Buff? Fascinated with the Wild West? Look no further than Tombstone, Arizona, the gateway to the Wild West. Hop in your car and take a road trip to Tombstone, a three-hour drive from Fountain Hills. Here are the 3 must places to visit in Tombstone, and relive the evolution of the American Cowboy and the gun-slinging wild west:

1. OK-Corral

Relive the gunfights of Wyatt Earp and his band against the McLaurys / Clantons in daily reenactments at the OK-Corral, and in the streets of Tombstone Theater. Stand on the exact spot in which the gunfight began next to life-size figures of the eight gunfighters, and learn the cause behind the 30 second showdown that left three cowboys dead.  The Ok Corral is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission with the live gunfight reenactment is $10, and includes admission to the Ok Corral Historic Complex, the Historama, and free copy of the 1881 reprint of the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper with the original reports of the Gunfight at the O.K Corral.

2. The Bird Cage Theatre

If you are a “cowboy” history buff, this is a must see. It’s all original – curtains, wall paper, and bullet holes! Take an unforgettable self-guided tour through the Bird Cage, and experience the early days of Tombstone. Step back in time, and listen to the barmaid at the front entrance entice you with stories of the Bird Cage.  Stick around for the ghost tour to hear laughter, music, and see spirits of men in cowboy hats as though the parties of the Old West were still raging. The tours run daily 6:15 PM, and they admission is $20.

3. Boothill Graveyard

If you love the mystic of Tombstone, then finish off the experience at Boothill Graveyard on your way out. A must see for history buff who love the era of the Wild West.  Stroll through the cemetery and read the gravestones of those famous names in history. The most unique part of is the marking on the grave sites mention how each person died, or who killed them. These gravestones server as testimony to how violent death could be in the Wild West.  The entrance fee is $3.00 and comes with a self-guiding brochure that is provided for further information on each grave. The place adds to the experience of the town and closure to a reality once lived.

Fountain Hills Theater adaptation of Walt Disney’s beloved film “The Jungle Book Kids” is on tap this June.  Follow the journey of Mowgli, a human boy who bounds through the jungle and learns what it means to be human.  Throughout his incredible journey, Mowgli schooling and triumph is told with the help of enthusiastic and a colorful menagerie of jungle animals. Banished by the fierce tiger Shere Khan, Mowgli and his panther friend Bagheera are on the run into the deepest parts of the jungle.

Performed by an all youth theater, all ages will be entertained by Mowgli, Bagheera and a host of colorful characters like the sinister snake named, Kaa, a herd of elephants, and a giant bear named Baloo.

Follow the journey of Mowgli, a human boy who bounds through the jungle and learns what it means to be human.

The Jungle Book Kids! will run from June 2^nd – 18^th at the Fountain Hills Theater. Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 pm, and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm. For tickets, please call the Box Office at 480-837-9661 x 3 or visit www.fhtaz.org. Ticket prices are for $15 for youth 17 and under and $18 for adults.

Memorial Day is much more than just a three-day weekend.  At its heart, it is a time-honored opportunity to focus and pay tribute to those who served in our American Armed Forces. More than a good excuse for a backyard barbecue, it’s a chance to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for this nation and our freedoms, and the opportunity to say thanks to all those, past and present, who have served.

Memorial Day is a time-honored opportunity to say thanks to all those, past and present, who have served in the Armed Forces.

One of the keystones of Fountain Hills is the Veterans Memorial at Fountain Park, created with the support of local veterans’ organizations.  A beautiful tribute to the individuals as well as the conflicts, the Memorial is the site of several remembrances and celebrations throughout the year.

This Year’s Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will acknowledge and highlight Fountain Hill’s commitment to our Military Veterans.

This year’s Memorial Day Remembrance will be held on Monday, May 29^th, 2017 at 9:00 am. Hosted by the Marine Corps League Detachment #1439, this year’s Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will acknowledge and highlight the town’s commitment and dedication to our military veterans. This year’s speakers will include Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanagh, who officially proclaimed the town of Fountain Hills to be a Purple Heart Town at the Town Council Meeting on April 6^th, and Mike Ferguson, Vietnam veteran, and Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2560. The keynote speaker will be Barbara Hatch, whose organization, Veterans Heritage Project, is dedicated to connecting students with Veterans. Their stories of service to our nation are written, recorded and

The American Flag will presented by the American Legion Post 58 Color Guard.

preserved in the Library of Congress. There is also a special addition to the program in which guests are invited to share their own personal memorials of their fallen loved ones, who through their service, gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Come join the crowd, salute the flag proudly as it is presented by the American Legion Post 58 Color Guard,  and reflect on all the reasons you love this country…all while enjoying the beauty of our community and fountain in the background.

Art is food for the soul. Art stirs emotions and makes you feel alive. With art, we can live vicariously and unleash our creativity unto the world. The Fountain Hills Community Services Department is packing your summer with some of the best creative activities that will release you from your creativity rut:

Beginning Watercolor 

Beginning Watercolor

Students will learn about and engage in this free-flowing, transparent, and water-based medium. Beginning techniques include wet-on-wet, value development, textural applications, and color exploration. Students will begin using black and white values, while continuing toward the full range of color with still life and photographic-reference work. Experienced students are welcome and will concentrate on developing their own “personal series” in watercolors. This class meets each Monday from 6:15 to 8:15 pm at the Fountain Hills Community Center.

Intermediate Watercolor

Students will enjoy being able to expand on their previous knowledge of Watercolor and develop their skills even further. Experienced students are welcome and will concentrate on developing their own personal series in watercolors and other media. This would be a good class for the participant who has taken the begging Watercolor class previously. This class begins on June 6^th, and meets each Tuesday from 6:15 to 8:15 pm at the Fountain Hills Community Center.

Oil Painting

Learn about color mixing, brushes, mediums and how to begin and execute a simple painting. This class will take you step-by-step and you will come away with a true understanding of how to paint with oils. The first class will be about paints, brushes, mediums and supports. A basic drawing class is preferred but no experience is needed and intermediate students are welcome.

This class is all about learning to be expressive and excited about painting! It will be a fun class to learn about the joy of painting and the use of other media. A supply list will be provided upon registration. This class meets every Wednesday beginning June 7^th, and starts at 6:15 to 8:15 pm.

Oil and Acrylics

This class is for students with some experience in painting with acrylics or oil paint. After a brief review of color dynamics and painting techniques, students will each paint separately … each expressing their vision as they see it. Students will use photographs or their own still life setup when they paint. This is not an analytic or academic approach, but is designed to encourage each painter to paint from within and express themselves visually with color, shape and form such as landscapes, floral, portraits,abstracts … in realistic, contemporary, impressionistic techniques are encouraged. Instructor works with everyone as needed.  Oil and Acrylics begins on June 8^th, and runs for six weeks. Classes meet every Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

For more information on each class, please visit the Town of Fountain Hills Community Services website: https://apm.activecommunities.com/