Things To Do in Mesa, Arizona for September 19th - 25th

This week we have lots of exciting things to tell you about.  You know it is getting closer to fall when our events guide gets bigger each week.

- This week is Restaurant Week, running now through the 25th.  YUM!  This is a great opportunity to try a new fancy restaurant in Arizona without the usual large price-tag.  Participating restaurants offer a 3 course meal for $20, $30 or $40 a person.  I must say, it has been a few years since I have been able to participate in restaurant week, but when we did, we loved it.  (My husband has turned me into a foodie.)

- Saturday, September 24th is Museum Day.  Smithsonian Magazine sponsors one day each year to encourage museums to open their doors for free.  This year, you must go to their website here to print off a free ticket for you and your guest.   Check out participating museums, including the Arizona Museum of Natural History and the Arizona Youth Museum in downtown Mesa.

- Ballet Under the Stars, September 22nd - 25th.  This is a wonderful opportunity to see the ballet in a more casual and FREE setting.  Each evening at 7:00 PM Ballet Arizona performs at a different park around the valley.  The closest performance to us is either the Tempe location on Friday night or the Fountain Hills location on Sunday.  I took my girls last year and had an enjoyable evening watching the ballet while eating our picnic dinner.

- September 24th is National Public Lands Day and Worldwide Day of Play.  Not to be left out of this FREE weekend, National Parks will be open fee-free.  What a great weekend to check out Montezuma Castle or Sunset Crater or even the Grand Canyon.  Personally, I think it would be great to head up north, meandering my way to Flagstaff and check out all the National Parks and sites close to there.  I haven't been to Wupatki National Monument in many years.  Go here for more information and other National Parks to visit.  

- Friday, September 23rd:  Westwood High School's 50th Anniversary Celebration.   We have been talking about this for awhile now.  Marily and I felt it was important to work on this community project and are working on 2 floats for the parade on Friday at 4:00 PM!  We have gotten different e-mails asking about parades in Mesa.  So, even if you weren't part of Westwood, come out and enjoy a fun parade with actual floats.  That doesn't happen much in Mesa.  After the parade stick around for a carnival at Westwood put on by Student Council.  Fun for everyone.  We will be posting more on this later as we feel that taking pride in our community schools and our community in general has a direct correlation to the economy, level of achievement at our schools, safety, and so much more.  Do you agree?