RAK magazine December 2017

HOLIDAY FUN raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

FOSTER TEENS WORK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE COPING WITH CANCER AT CHRISTMAS Vittoria and Giovanni Valentini (10) of Phoenix at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

More than 100 family events: Lights, performances, ice rinks, snow play and Santa sightings

December 2017

CONTENTS

31 FEATURES 14

Arizona’s Children: Teens in foster care making the world a better place

Writer Sheri Smith’s final in a six-part series about foster care in Arizona, where more than 16,000 kids remain in state care. Here, she shares stories of teens in foster care who plan to make a difference.

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Coping with cancer at Christmas

Willow Watson shares her cancer journey.

Plus, ways to support a teen with cancer.

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Homemade holiday gifts infused with heart

Easy culinary treats kids can help make for family, friends and teachers.

DEPARTMENTS 4

dialogue

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Holiday memories

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azgrown

• Families Giving Back: Helping homeless families at UMOM New Day Centers • Holiday Gift Guide • 12 books for Christmas • History can be hip. Tips for seeing “Hamilton” as a family • The Santa Question: An age-old parenting dilemma

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family time!

• Top December events • Around Arizona • Holiday performances • Holiday events • Onstage

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

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about the cover location

December 2017 | Vol 28 | No 9 Publisher Karen Davis Barr Editor Kara G. Morrison Calendar Editor Liz Petroff Copy Editor Debra Citron Staff Writers Margaret Beardsley, Dani Horn Contributors Rachel Brockway, Debra Citron, Karen Fernau, Rudri Bhatt Patel, Sheri Smith, Lynn Trimble Art Director Michèlle-Renée Adams Photographer Rick D’Elia Operations Manager Tina Gerami-Bynum Sales & Marketing Manager Brandy Collet Sales Representatives Shannon Cornall, Kate Greene

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R aising A rizona K ids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copy­right © 2017 by R aising A rizona K ids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $20 for one year or $35 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy.

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HOLIDAYS AT THE FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS SHOOTING THE DECEMBER cover of R aising A rizona K ids at this AAA Five Diamond resort put us in the holiday spirit.

Every November and December, this holiday hub for visiting and Valley families transforms into a winter wonderland. Nightly activities for the eighth annual Christmas at the Princess include a skating rink, train rides, 4.5 million holiday lights and light shows, character visits, S’mores Land family campfires, a Christmas carousel, ice slide and Ferris wheel, plus an onsite Build-A-Bear Workshop and Santa’s Secret Headquarters. Our cover models, 10-year-old Phoenix twins Vittoria and Giovanni Valentini, helped bring to life the resort’s holiday magic. Above, the Valentinis and Brooklyn Grace Smart, 4, of Scottsdale, ate Christmas cookies and read holiday bedtime stories in a newly renovated Fairmont Gold room. They also helped decorate a holiday tree with custom 2017 “Christmas at the Princess” ornaments Graham the S’more, Shivers the Yeti, Peppermint Penguin and Selfie Elfie, which are available in the gift shop. And they hugged a larger-than-life Shivers, one of the resort’s many characters who makes nightly appearances in the Enchanted Plaza.

PHOTOS BY RICK D’ELIA

raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

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dialogue

Terri Nacke of Phoenix with her daughter Cassi Harris and grandson Jordan Harris, 9 months.

HOLIDAY MEMORIES

Kara G. Morrison, Editor kara@RAKmagazine.com

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THE REAL MAGIC of the holiday season is that it’s (hopefully) an escape from the weightier themes of 2017 — hurricanes, Las Vegas, a general unraveling of civility. We’re a little kinder to one another around the holidays. We can reflect on what we love most, what we cherish, how we’re grateful, that we’re all human.

Our December issue isn’t without weighty stories, but they end with hope. For her final installment in a six-part series about Arizona’s foster care crisis, writer Sheri Smith shares an inspiring story of teens in foster care who are determined to make a difference.

Margaret Beardsley interviewed teen cancer survivor Willow Watson, who feels gratitude and joy at Christmas. Watson and her friends at Cancer Support Community Arizona explain how we can help teenagers who are going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Rachel Brockway of Families Giving Back shares ways to give struggling families at UMOM New Day Centers a merrier Christmas.

Back to holiday togetherness, writer Karen Fernau

DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

shares some easy think-out-of-the-box culinary treats kids and parents or grandparents can make together this month as gifts. Debra Citron shares gift-worthy kids books.

December is always jam-packed with festive events.

Calendar Editor Liz Petroff compiled a fantastic number of ways to make holiday family memories — from attending annual favorite performances like “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol” together to playing in snow at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix’s “Snow Much Fun Day” or taking in the many magical light displays around the Valley.

These days will goes by in a flash with holiday parties, shopping, decorating and being in the holiday spirit. At times, it will be hard to remember to breathe and enjoy the moment. We hope these pages help. Take time to put on a pair of ice skates, explore Santa’s workshop, get dressed up for a holiday performance or just share a cup of cocoa with your kids. Slow down and create some sweet holiday memories, before we dive into another busy year.

THERE IS POWER IN EVERY G.I.R.L.

Picture this: a safe, no-limits place where she can try new things, take on challenges, build community, and inspire others! That’s Girl Scouts. A place where “Can I?” quickly turns into “I will!” Where your G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ can transform her ideas into action, turn her questions into adventure, and grow her confidence through practice.

RICK D’ELIA

Unleash it at girlscoutsaz.org/join | (602) 452-7102

raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

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az grown community As part of her bat mitzvah project, Sarah collected and donated snack items to UMOM’s Read to Me program.

Families Giving Back works with Valley nonprofits to create in-person volunteer events and at-home projects for families with kids of all ages and with busy schedules. Here’s an easy project for kids and parents to do together.

SNACK BAGS FOR TEENS FACEBOOK.COM/UMOMNEWDAYCENTERS

— an at-home volunteering project

Helping homeless families at

UMOM NEW DAY CENTERS SINCE OPENING its doors in 1964, UMOM New Day Centers has been dedicated to helping homeless families in Phoenix. This year, UMOM acquired Tumbleweed, a nonprofit that aided homeless youth, and the organization continues to work to prevent and end homelessness with innovative strategies and housing solutions.

“Our ultimate goal is to be a leader in ending homelessness,” says Melissa Steimer, chief development officer at UMOM. “Every week, nearly 50 families slip into homelessness in Maricopa County alone. In order to help solve this issue, we believe the best way is by giving a hand up, and not a hand out.”

Every night, UMOM provides safe shelter and supportive services to 145 homeless families and offers more than 300 units of affordable housing across the Valley. Its programs and services are designed to help families and individuals meet basic needs and work toward the ultimate goal of acquiring permanent and affordable housing.

Families at UMOM can gain marketable

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

skills while receiving medical care, child care and educational opportunities to rebuild and move forward with their lives. In addition to the family homeless shelters and permanent housing program, UMOM also offers programs for veterans and assistance for victims of domestic violence.

The organization provides shelter for single women, youth and families, and a child development center for ages 5 and younger, and partners with Phoenix Children’s Hospital to provide healthcare for their residents under age 26.

UMOM New Day Centers are currently looking for volunteers (ages 8 and older) to help with the Read to Me program — a weekly literacy program for UMOM children ages 4 and up — and volunteers to organize donation drives and assemble snack bags for teens in UMOM’s after-school program. Donating time and resources can help break the cycle of homelessness in Maricopa County and beyond.

“The most common misconception about the homeless stems from a lack of

• You’ll need plain lunch bags, decorating supplies (markers, stickers, crayons and blank cards), pens/pencils, granola bars (without nuts), snack-sized bags of crackers or pretzels and bottled water.

• Decorate the bags and put the following in each: a granola bar, crackers or pretzels, pencils or pens and a handwritten inspirational note.

• Drop off the bags at UMOM, 3333 E. Van Buren, Phoenix. Questions?

Contact Fara Walling: 602-2966886 or fwalling@ umom.org.

Visit familiesgivingback.org to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

understanding that every person, family and situation is unique,” said Steimer. “There are a number of reasons that can keep someone from getting back up on their feet, and we’re here to help with that process. Not only do volunteers make all the difference, they are also presented with the opportunity to learn more about homelessness. Many of our volunteers are surprised that they can actually relate to the families at UMOM, [even though] they aren’t the person on the street with a cardboard sign.”

Rachel Brockway is a Families Giving Back board member and the mother of a 10-year-old son, Aiden.

gifts az grown

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

By Kara G. Morrison

SMARTGURLZ. Finally, here’s a STEM toy created for girls. It may look like a doll on a Segway, but it’s really a cool coding robotic toy. To help her own daughter take an active interest in STEM education, Sharmi Albrechtsen created this self-balancing coding robot and doll characters. The SugarCoded app for smartphones and tablets breaks down coding into simple assignments, and each doll has its own back story, personality, and interest in technology to mechanics. You can find it locally at Kidstop in Scottsdale for $79. kidstoptoys.com

THE GIFT OF COLLEGE. Let’s face it. The projected cost of college in the next decade is crazy. Here’s an alternative option to the latest toy: an early start on paying for college. A life-changing gift is contributing to your child or grandchild’s 529 plan — a tax-advantaged investment plan that lets family members save for qualifying college expenses. Money earned from a 529 plan can be used for books, supplies, and tuition and fees for an accredited college, university, or vocational school. Because getting a card that says “I’ve contributed to your 529 plan” may not be the most festive thing under the tree, Arizona’s College Savings Program through The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (az529.com) gives these tips for making a donation to a 529 plan a fun holiday gift: Wrap it up with a book or costume: Give an astronaut suit, a chef’s hat or another fun career dress-up costume with a note championing that can be whatever they wish and explaining you’ve contributed to their college fund to help make that happen. Or, find a fun book about a future career with a bookmark noting your 529 contribution. Give a smaller gift. Take half of what you would have spent on a larger gift and contribute that amount their 529, while using the other half to buy a less expensive gift. Take a field trip. Explore a museum or plan an activity that helps them better understand a future career, then head to the bank and deposit funds into their 529 account. Visit az529.com for more tips.

GROOVEBOOK. I used to spend hours making annotated holiday photo books of my daughter’s early years. Now, it’s all I can do to text photos to family members. Enter Groovebook. Co-founder Julie Whiteman lost thousands of family photos from her phone, so she and her husband came up with an easier way to print and preserve precious memories. Groovebook was introduced on Shark Tank and is now owned by Shutterfly. This is a great gift for busy moms everywhere, or use it yourself to create lightning-fast flip photo books you can “gift” to everyone on your list this holiday season! The easy app lets you create up to 100-page photo books monthly for $3 per month. An annual gift subscription is $35.88. groovebook.com

“LETTERS TO MY DAUGHTER” OR “LETTERS TO MY SON” by Lea Redmond (Chronicle Books/ $14.95). The tagline is “Write now. Read later. Treasure forever,” and there’s a book for everyone, including “Letters to my Mom” or Dad, friend or future self. For the nostalgic, these books are perfect. They offer easy intros into writing short, handwritten notes to your child, from “The best adventure we’d had together was …” to “I love being your parent because …”. Write on the tear-out page, seal and date it, and stash it for important birthdays or milestones. Find it at any local bookstore or changinghands.com

SMART GURLZ WORLD

This month goes by in a blink. Need some easy ideas for holiday gifts? Here’s a quick roundup of memorable gifts, toys and gadgets for all ages.

raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

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az grown books

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

12 BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS

By Debra Citron

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON is a time of wonder; 12 days of togetherness, sharing and caring. Those experiences — wonder, togetherness, sharing, caring — are gifts of the reading experience, as well.

That’s why reading and Christmas go together like elves and Santa, whether you choose traditional holiday favorites or outstanding new titles that reflect the joys of family, friendship and growing up.

Christmas comes only once a year, but good books — full of eye music, heart art and mind magic — can celebrate the gifts of Christmas throughout the year. Here are a dozen favorite gifts, for toddlers to tweens.

BOARD BOOKS

MIDDLE-GRADE NOVELS

“Flora and the Ostrich: An Opposites Book by Molly Idle.” Lovely little Flora, our parasol-toting heroine, definitely has a thing for birds. In her latest outing, she encounters and cautiously befriends an ostrich who enjoys playing hard-to-get. Plenty of lift-theflap opportunities for little hands. Adorable and evocative. Pair this with its charming companion, “Flora and the Chicks: A Counting Book by Molly Idle.” Talk about counting your chickens!

“The Apprentice Witch,” by James Nicol.

Arianwyn flunks out of witches training and is sent off in disgrace to the backwater village of Lull. But Lull is not dull, and Arianwyn has powers she has never dreamed of.

Growing up and into your own skin is tough even for magical girls.

“Goodnight, Manger,” by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Jane Chapman. An appropriately Middle-Eastern Mary and Joseph try desperately to establish a bedtime ritual for Baby Jesus in the manger. They are repeatedly thwarted by all manner of visitors from kings to sheep, shepherds, Seraphim and stablemates. A fresh, sweet Nativity story in verse. Another excellent choice is “Goodnight, Ark,” by the same team.

A scary storm has the Ark’s critters snuggling up to Noah to get some sleep. Clever and fun.

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

“The Girl Who Drank the Moon,” by Kelly Barnhill. The 2017 Newbery Medal winner is a lovely, complex fairy tale about the evil that lurks in plain sight. Citizens of the isolated Protectorate are terrified. A witch in the woods will destroy them if she is not appeased with an annual offering — a baby.

But Xan, actually a good witch, rescues the infants and finds them homes in the Outside world. When one baby, Luna, is accidentally fed magic-infused moonlight, Xan knows she must raise Luna herself. As Luna grows, so does her magic — and the dark forces that gather around the forest.

“The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and their Holy Dog,”

by Adam Gidwitz, illuminated by Hatem Aly. This is an amazing book. In 1242, an unnamed narrator gathers with others at a country inn in France to relate the ongoing story of William, Jacob and Jeanne, and her greyhound, Gwenforte; all equally blessed and outcast, who are on the run from King and Church. Their plight and their flight weave a rip-roaring, Chaucerian adventure packed with mayhem, murder and miracles. A hilarious, provocative tale about ignorance and intolerance. A 2017 Newbery Honor Book.

“The Stars Beneath Our Feet,” by David Barclay Moore. I’m predicting this will be a 2018 award winner. I guarantee that it will be an eyeopener for many kids (and their parents). Twelve-year-old Lolly lives in the projects in Harlem. He’s hurting from the loss of his big brother to gang violence and from assaults by other bangers trying to recruit him. His mother’s girlfriend, trying to keep his spirits up, brings him two gigantic garbage bags full of discarded, unmatched Legos, and his life becomes a project of constant building up and tearing down, without an instruction sheet. A gritty, but ultimately inspiring story about how we become the choices we make.

PICTURE BOOKS “Egg,” by Kevin Henkes. Four eggs. Three hatch and wait and wait and wait for number four. When it finally cracks open, the three have to figure out how to deal with what pops out. Simple pictures and soft pastels color this tale of friendship.

“Santa Rex,” by Molly Idle. The (great!) big guy is back, with a bunch of his prehistoric friends in tow, to help Cordelia and her little brother celebrate Christmas. Idle’s deadpan prim-and-proper commentary is a perfect foil for the visual hilarity.

“They All Saw A Cat,” by Brendan Wenzel. An ordinary cat wends its way through the world, creating many fascinating reactions, from fear to fantasy, based on the different ways other creatures see it. A wonderful exploration of perception. A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book.

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“The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse,” by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. When a mouse gets swallowed by a hungry wolf, he’s amazed to find a) he’s not dead, and b) a clever duck has set up the ultimate in safe mobile homes inside. They all join forces to protect their sweet ride when a hunter threatens.

Debra Citron of Phoenix is a writer and lifelong supporter of children’s literature and literacy.

Just great iNfOrmatiON tO help yOu raise (aNd eNJOy!) yOur family

raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

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az grown theater

HISTORY

CAN BE HIP

TIPS FOR SEEING THE MUSICAL “HAMILTON” AS A FAMILY

By Lynn Trimble “Hamilton” (Jan. 30-Feb. 25) at ASU Gammage.

I SAW “HAMILTON” on Broadway with my daughter Lizabeth last summer. She’s a young adult living in New York City now, a choice inspired in part by growing up in the Valley surrounded by musical theater.

The musical was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who grew up listening to his parents’ Broadway cast albums. (Miranda also co-wrote Disney’s “Moana” soundtrack and is starring with Emily Blunt in “Mary Poppins Returns” next year.) His father was also in the audience that night.

Miranda wrote the musical after reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, who emigrated from the British West Indies to the colonies as a teen. Considered one of America’s Founding Fathers, Hamilton became the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury.

Hamilton has become the hottest ticket on Broadway; it earned the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 11 Tony Awards, including best musical. And now it’s coming to Tempe, for a Jan. 30-Feb. 25 run at ASU Gammage.

Season ticket holders got the first chance to buy tickets, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see the musical with your family.

“We’re currently planning to have some single tickets on sale in December,” says Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, executive

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

director for ASU Gammage. She’s not sure how many will be available, but at least there is a glimmer of hope.

And there’s at least one thing you can count on: If you don’t try to get tickets, you won’t see the show. So, first and foremost, be diligent.

Lizabeth and I landed tickets to “Hamilton” for one simple reason: We were paying attention.

We signed up for updates about the show and followed the musical on social media. We knew when tickets were going on sale, and we didn’t waste a second buying them.

Phoenix-area “Hamilton” hopefuls should be signing up to follow ASU Gammage on social media and subscribe to its weekly email newsletter, “ASU Gammage Insider.” That way you’ll know if there’s a ticket lottery or other opportunity to snag seats.

If you’re lucky enough to land tickets, spend some time exploring Hamilton’s life and times before you go. It helps to know your American history; the musical’s characters include George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Basically, “Hamilton” is a rare opportunity to show your kids that history can be hip.

If they’re too little to sit still for a few hours, don’t bring them along. But the musical is perfectly fine for most school-age kids, assuming you can live with a few choice words and some

adult situations. (Read more about those in a content guide on the ASU Gammage website.)

Of course, the musical isn’t a strict historical account of Revolutionary War times. Instead, Hamilton is a reimagining, accomplished mainly by casting people of color, which brings the America of then into the America of now.

Wonder as a family why Miranda made that choice, and what you think it accomplishes.

But don’t stop there, because Hamilton is also a great jumping off point for conversations about women’s role in American history. We’re all familiar with the term “founding fathers,” but women helped to build the nation, too.

Challenge your kids to learn more about the roles women and people of color have played throughout American history, or talk about the ways the immigrant experience has changed through the years. The musical “Hamilton” is perfect for jump-starting conversations about the history we’re all making together now.

Lynn Trimble of Scottsdale is an arts writer and mother of three grown children whose work has appeared in R aising A rizona K ids and Phoenix New Times.

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az grown parenting

THE SANTA QUESTION:

ISTOCK

Thoughts on an age-old holiday parenting dilemma

By Rudri Bhatt Patel WE WERE DRIVING home from school one day when my daughter asked the Santa Question. I tried to dodge.

“How was school, honey? What fun things did you learn?”

My weak attempt at distraction didn’t work.

“I think you and Dad are Santa,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” I tried.

“Who do you think brings all the presents under the Christmas tree?”

Seconds later she moved on, but the discussion stayed with me. Should I have told her the truth? What if she found out at school, or a friend let it slip? Would she ever trust me again?

I did what any parent in this situation would do. I Googled. Viewpoints varied. Some parents want the wonder continue as long as it can. Others advocate for truth. Most kids will get curious by age 9, says Monisha Vasa, a California psychiatrist.

“The most important thing is to tune into your child — his or her age, temperament, and developmental level,” says Vasa. “Listen closely to their questions as the best gauge of their readiness to have the conversation.”

I also asked three local moms how they tackled this age-old dilemma.

Kristen Blanford, a Scottsdale mom of three, advocates for honesty if asked directly.

“All of my kids were different,” she says.

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

“My oldest asked me when he was 7, and we had decided we were not going lie to our kids if they asked, so I answered honestly.”

Blanford recommends asking, “Well, what do you think?” to start a dialogue and to guide kids through the process of learning this new information.

“Most kids figure it out by 12 so,” she adds.

“Let them enjoy the wonder until then.”

Jennifer Clark, a Scottsdale mother of five, said she “never confirmed that there wasn’t a Santa.” Her philosophy was: If you don’t believe, you don’t receive!

“There is so little innocence left in life, and this is a magical and innocent holiday with roots founded in the birth of an infant and more than just material pursuits,” Clark says, adding her husband, Randy, and their older kids “made an effort to preserve the magic in Christmas for the younger ones through the years.”

Clark says she continued to put out a plate of cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer — plus Baileys Irish Cream for her and her husband. “We drank the Baileys in our closet, surrounded by bits of ribbon and balled-up pieces of unused wrapping paper, ate the cookies and carrots [and] liberally scattered the crumbs on our coffee table, just like Santa would.”

To this day, 29 years after the birth of

their first child, she checks her kids’ bedrooms to make sure they are sleeping before putting gifts under the tree.

Kerry D’Ortenzio, a Phoenix mom of four, and her husband, Mario, decided they didn’t want to spoil the fun. They let their children believe as long as they could.

They did impose one rule. If any of the children asked about it, “We wouldn’t lie.”

However, she always responded by first asking, “What do you think?” in an effort to let them come to their own conclusions and perhaps believe a little longer.

“There isn’t a time when they necessarily need to know,” D’Ortenzio says. “Let them enjoy the mystery and wonder as long as they possibly can.”

As with most parenting decisions, I learned that families have to do what works for them.

Though I’m still not certain where I land, I want my daughter to have a sense of wonder and believe that a certain degree of magic exists in the world. Call me old-fashioned, but believing in Santa is a place of hope.

Rudri Bhatt Patel of Phoenix is a writer, editor, former attorney and the mother of Nandini (11).

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ARIZONA’S CHILDREN

TEENS IN FOSTER CARE: MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

By Sheri Smith | Photos by Kameron G. Striplin

Young women currently in the Scott Foundation’s 2017 raisingarizonakids Young DECEMBER Adult Masterclass program. .com

14

AUTUMN IS 17 YEARS OLD and a junior in high school. While other kids her age are struggling to figure out what they want from life, she has a clear vision for her future: “I’m going to help people.”

The wish to help others is not what you expect to hear from a teenage girl who has been in the foster care system since she was 3 years old, bounced around to different states and is now living in an Arizona group home.

You think to yourself: People should be helping her.

But Autumn says helping others has always been her goal.

“When I was really little, I wanted to be a princess. I’m not going to lie,” she says, laughing in that sweet, spirited way only a teenage girl can.

Then she turns more serious.

“When I turned 10, I knew I wanted to go to college and be a psychologist. I know what pain feels like, and I don’t want anyone else to experience that. I’m committed to making a difference in the world that I’m in.”

I think back to a piece of paper I’ve kept in a folder marked “Foster Care Research.”

It’s a quote I jotted down at the beginning of my year-long journey of learning and writing about foster care and adoption for R aising A rizona K ids.

I kept the note because delving into a topic as bleak as abused and neglected children meant I needed something hopeful to see me through.

The note reads: “Neglected children who are offered consistent love and attention tend to turn into remarkable human beings with unusual compassion for others, inner strength, empathy and resilience.”

I’m not exactly sure where I even came across those words. I think it was written on a sign somewhere at one of the many facilities I visited while reporting this series. But when I met Autumn and her friends, I suddenly realized just how true that sentiment — hand-scrawled on the back of a notecard — could be.

To sugarcoat what teens in foster care go through would be an injustice to their life stories.

By the time foster children reach their teenage years, they may have been removed, returned and removed again from their families. They have often lost touch with siblings and other relatives. They have usually suffered abuse — emotional, physical or sexual.

At the very least, they have been deprived of security, both financially and emotionally, and they have often felt neglected and rejected by the world.

As bad as that seems, it gets worse. That’s because, even though everything that has happened to them took place through no fault of their own, they are often made to feel stigmatized by their situation, like they are flawed or have done something wrong.

Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth. These kids have done nothing wrong.

They have not failed; the world has failed them. Yet kids like Autumn want to make that world a better place.

A FOUNDATION OF HOPE Colleen Walski of Cave Creek started the Scott Foundation in 2007 after her only child, 27-year-old Scott Sean Walski, was killed in a senseless act of violence.

She says the plans for the foundation began on the day of his funeral with donations that had been made in Scott’s honor. She felt a calling to do something truly great with the money. “I knew it would be about children,” she said.

The first year after her son’s death, Walski was searching for

direction. She started volunteering at an elementary school “partly so people would just leave me alone,” she says.

Walski felt she needed to get away from the “noise” of well-meaning outsiders offering her advice on how to cope with her situation. She knew she had to get the answers from within.

While volunteering at the school, she realized there were kids who were as emotionally raw as she was.

“One little boy was the sole survivor when his family had been murdered. He was expected to be in his chair and take his test, just like everyone else,” Walski says.

It made her question our priorities as a society.

She wanted to help kids heal. She decided the best way to do that was to employ the tactics that had worked for her: selfless service and looking within.

Over the past 10 years, the Scott Foundation has impacted the lives of more than 4,950 youth and has redirected nearly $600,000 in donations back to the community. But the project Walski is most proud of is her recent endeavor to help foster teens “awaken the superhero inside.”

The foundation’s featured program is called the Young Adult Masterclass and is currently training 15 students to become future leaders who will make positive changes in the world.

The ultimate goal of the four-year program is to get the kids out of “the system.” Some time between 18 and 21 years of age, foster children “age out.”

Aging out often means being turned out on the street with nothing but garbage bags full of belongings and the clothes on their backs.

The statistics that result from this should come as no surprise: “1 in 5 will be homeless within a year, 1 in 4 will be incarcerated in two years, 71 percent of the females will be pregnant before age 21 and 50 percent will be unemployed by age 24,” according to numbers cited in a 2015 Cronkite News study.

Walski says her program provides an “opportunity to get away from that. We want these kids to be employed — not even at regular jobs, but to become our future leaders.”

The first step to accomplishing this, as Walski has learned, is looking within.

PROTECTING YOUR SOUL BIRD When talking to the kids from the Scott Foundation, you hear phrases like “protecting your soul bird.”

Sixteen-year-old Morrena has a very interesting response when answering the question: “What is your soul bird?”

“It’s the peace inside of us,” she says. “It’s learning to listen to your heart.”

Morrena is a delightful girl. First of all, she is very funny. She cracks jokes and laughs easily, but immediately hides her face in a selfconscious, “Did I just say that?” kind of way.

Morrena tells me about the workshop all Scott Foundation Masterclass members must attend when first joining the program.

They stay at the Sedona Mago Retreat, a healing center based out of Korea that only kids from the Scott Foundation program can enter.

The focus is heart-based learning.

In the peaceful, red-rock setting, these kids are taught how to go within to find the answers to the questions of their lives.

It is also the place they bond with one another.

After returning from the workshops in Sedona, the kids begin their work, and that starts with a question: “If you had unlimited money and resources, how would you make the world a better place?”

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When you ask these kids a question like that, they have answers.

While many kids their age — who have not experienced the same level of challenges in their lives — might stammer for a response, these kids know.

The goal of the Scott Foundation is to help give these kids tools, so they can learn how to turn their vision into reality.

Vision Keepers is the term they use for the foundation’s board members — local business people who work with the kids to help them create business plans and figure out the steps necessary in reaching their goals. Tim Harris of Surprise is the executive director of business development at Scott Foundation and serves as a liaison between the foundation and local businesses.

So far, he says, they have partnered with some prestigious companies, such as Huntington University, Phoenix International Raceway, Al Magg Marketing Group and Microsoft. Harris emphasizes “selfless service” as the component that is probably the most crucial aspect to the Young Adult Masterclass.

He explains that the kids suddenly have a voice. “They feel part of something much bigger than themselves. Turning a negative to a positive, they use their trauma to help change the world.”

“I didn’t think I had a future,” says Rosa, a 16-year-old beauty with dark eyes blinking out at me from behind rimmed glasses. “What if I didn’t live that long? I didn’t have much motivation. Scott Foundation helped me.”

Rosa says she has also seen big differences in her brother, who also attends the program. “My brother was never an open person,” she says.

“He always kept to himself. He wouldn’t talk.”

All the kids laugh when she describes her brother in this way as it is so different from the funny, outgoing boy they have come to know.

Walski reminds the kids that although they keep saying the Scott Foundation saved them, in reality, they found the answers from within.

They saved themselves.

SOMETHING TO GIVE It’s easy to look at the foster care system and see an endless pit of sadness.

There are certainly tragic stories. Most are never told. They’re the faceless victims of crimes and abuse that go unnoticed.

Kids are vulnerable, and without the proper supports, there’s not much hope.

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Teens in the Scott Foundation’s Young Adult Masterclass share messages of hope in care packages for the homeless or those in need.

The bright side is these same kids, with the proper assistance, have a lot to offer. They can transform their lives and help others along the way.

As I’ve followed this story from the beginning of 2017, I have heard stories that break your heart. I have also seen heroes, superheroes even — though only occasionally have they worn capes.

In almost every instance, the people who are helping the most are the people who have known the most sorrow and tragedy in their own lives.

The families who foster and adopt were often once foster kids themselves. The people helping the homeless know about life on the streets.

For that reason alone, it’s worth seriously considering helping these kids, either through organizations like the Scott Foundation or through other programs.

There are so many ways to help, such as mentoring, fostering, volunteering and donating. The alternative, the future these children would face without support, is unacceptable.

With more than 16,000 Arizona children in out-of home care, it’s going to take every one of us pitching in and doing our part to make a difference.

But as these children can attest, when you commit yourself to “selfless service,” the life you end up saving may be your own.

Freelance writer Sheri Smith, of Scottsdale, is the mother of Aidan (17) and Sarah (14). This story is the sixth and final installment in a year-long series about Arizona’s foster children. All of the prior stories are archived at raisingarizonakids.com.

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Coping with cancer at

Christmas Where teens with cancer and their families can find support — and how the rest of us can help

By Margaret Beardsley Photos courtesy of the Watson family

W

illow Watson was diagnosed with a rare cancer when she was just 14. One of her fondest Christmas memories was coming home from the hospital to find her house decorated inside and out for the holidays.

“My mom and I love Christmas, we love decorating, we love all of that,” says Willow, now 18, who adds that Christmas is more important to her than ever. “I’m just glad I’ll be here for another Christmas.”

Willow is striking, with short, whiteblonde hair framing her pixie-like face. She has a quick smile that lights up her eyes. Her voice is soft and sweet as she talks about the journey that brought her to the Cancer Support Community Arizona in downtown Phoenix (formerly known as The Wellness Community Arizona). She wants to encourage teens who have friends with cancer not to forget them.

When she was in eighth grade, Willow was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma.

That’s a rare cancer that ballooned up her left cheek like a grapefruit. At first, she didn’t understand what was happening.

“I thought that it was going to be a breeze, and I was going to go to the summer camp I always go to,” she recalls. “It wasn’t until halfway through treatment I was like, ‘Oh my God I’m dying. I have cancer.’”

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She’s two years cancer free. But what happened to her at a very vulnerable time in any teen’s life was rough.

Carrie Cantrell, associate director of programming for the youth, teen and family population at CSCAZ, says a cancer diagnosis is especially difficult for teens who are navigating friendships and just learning how to gain independence.

“A teenager’s brain is thinking about prom, next Tuesday’s math test or what their friends will think about their hair loss,” Cantrell says.

It can also be devastating when friends — uncertain how to help — avoid a teen with cancer. The weeks and months Willow spent in the hospital were lonely. She says friends didn’t visit, didn’t call and seemed to have abandoned her.

Willow’s mother, Alyssa, says it was painful to see. “I tried to coax some of her friends [to visit], but I think at that age kids don’t know how to deal with it. Which is why awareness is so important.”

While Willow’s type of cancer is rare, it is unfortunately not rare to be a teen with cancer.

One in every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20, according to the American Cancer Society.

The feeling of being alone isn’t unusual among teens who battle cancer, says Debbie

DiCarlo, CEO of CSCAZ, which has expanded its programs to address much-needed teen services.

“There were a lot of services provided to younger children with cancer, but as the children aged out of the children’s programs and got into the teenage years, there was not nearly as much offered to them. Or not offered in a setting that made them feel comfortable,” DiCarlo says.

Located in a charming two-story historic home, CSCAZ is now a gathering spot for teens. Prom Night for teens with cancer was held here, with its wrap-around porch, wood floors and cozy feel.

“It was beautiful. It was magical!” DiCarlo remembers.

In addition, teens who have cancer — and teens whose family members are dealing with cancer — can participate in cooking classes, arts and crafts and even game nights, so young people can get together and have fun experiences. CSCAZ also helps teens build skills and find resources to apply to colleges.

And of course, there are all the cancer-support classes, including educational and emotionalsupport groups.

“There are so many things that they have done that have just changed my life,” Willow explains. “I mean, the support that they give you! … They gave me so much hope, and they

VANESSA SILER

Below: Willow when she was first diagnosed and during treatment. Right: Willow Watson with her siblings, Lily and Tristan.

Supporting a teen with cancer

gave me friends — most of the friends that I have now, I made here. There are so many events here that would take our minds off what was going on in our lives, and it’s just amazing.

It’s good to be around teenagers going through the same thing.”

For young people who have friends dealing with cancer, Willow says, “It would be really helpful if they would just visit and try to understand. I would love it if my friends had visited me and asked me about my cancer. I would have told them all about it.”

This month, CSCAZ will host a Deck-TheHalls party for teens. Food, fun and games will be the order of the day. Willow says she’s looking forward to sharing the magic with her friends and family.

“Christmas means a lot more to me now than it did before cancer, because I have another year to spend with my family to have the memories and be here,” she says.

Margaret Beardsley of Phoenix is a staff writer and former television news executive producer. She is the mother of two adult children.

When a teen experiences a cancer diagnosis, it’s difficult for the entire family, says Carrie Cantrell at Cancer Support Community Arizona.

“Is it normal for your teen to express anger? Who wouldn’t be angry at a cancer diagnosis?” Cantrell explains. “They are experiencing a number of changes — their body is changing (and not in the normal teenager way), they are unable to attend school regularly because of appointments and/or hospital stays, and whether they say it or not, their friends may not be supportive either.”

Cantrell shares these tips for parents, siblings and friends of teens with cancer.

Tips for parents:

Involve teens in their own care. Help educate them on procedures and encourage them to ask questions at appointments. This also helps prepare them for adulthood.

Remain supportive. Discuss any emotions that your child is (or siblings are) feeling, and seek help if needed from a counselor, social worker, or doctor — especially if moods are unusual for two weeks or more.

Let them process their emotions. Parents want to know what their teen is thinking, but that is difficult if they are not the type to share or communicate their emotions. If their behavior has changed, seek help.

Communicate as a family, and keep everyone in the loop. For siblings, be honest about the situation, but at an age-appropriate level.

Tips for friends:

Don’t avoid a friend with cancer. Cancer is not contagious. Teens with cancer have weakened immune systems and might feel tired or sick, but they have good days, too! They might wear a face mask or wash their hands more often to avoid germs.

Visit. Invite them to do things that you two enjoyed doing before cancer. Someone with cancer just wants to feel normal again. Your friend may no longer be able to play basketball, but there are lots of other activities you can do together.

Listen. It’s OK if you don’t know what to say. It’s also important to talk about topics outside of cancer. Reach out to a teacher, school counselor or trusted adult if you feel overwhelmed.

TO LEARN MORE: Cancer Support Community Arizona programs are free. Donations are accepted and appreciated. 602-712-1006 or cscaz.org

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HOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFTS INFUSED WITH HEART Recruit your kids to help make easy, elegant culinary treats for family, friends and teachers

By Karen Fernau | Photos by Rick D’Elia THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFTS come from your kitchen. So says Terri Nacke, owner of Terre Botanicals, a Phoenix company that makes botanically infused sugars, salts and edible essential oils.

“Homemade goods say love, a gift from my heart to yours,” Nacke insists. “They are both practical and personal.”

In Nacke’s family, gifts from the kitchen also come wrapped in tradition. She spent holidays cooking and baking with her late mother and grandmother. Today, she does the same with daughter, Cassi Harris, and her 11-month old grandson, Jordan.

Harris is her mother’s daughter. She considers homemade better than anything she could buy at the mall or online. Both also consider making gifts from scratch a welcome antidote to standing in long lines at crowded stores.

“Being in the kitchen with family connects generations and makes for better memories than rushing around shopping,” said Harris, an assistant manager at BMO Harris Bank in Phoenix.

This year, the mother-daughter team is making three different culinary gifts to give to family and friends and as hostess gifts. All three avoid the holiday pitfall of over-the-top sweetness.

“They are simple indulgences — gifts that combine the wonderful flavors of the season and Arizona,” said Nacke, a leader for nearly 25 years in the local foods movement.

Their first is Russian tea cookies, a family recipe that Nacke adapted to be gluten free for Cassi, whose celiac disease prohibits her from eating flour.

For the second gift, they brew a natural syrup made with cardamominfused sugar. Cardamom is an aromatic spice with a citrusy finish.

They pour the syrup into gift bottles, dressed up with a holiday ribbon and a card suggesting uses — such as adding to coffee, sparkling water, Prosecco, hot chocolate, whiskey or even mascarpone cheese.

Nacke suggests using the syrup similarly to sugar, sparingly or just enough to add its signature flavor.

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Terri Nacke of Phoenix with her daughter Cassi Harris and grandson Jordan Harris, 9 months.

Finally, they man the stovetop for their third gift — orange curd. A centuries-old English treat, the curd made from Arizona-grown oranges can be used to top toast, fill pies or simply be eaten by the decadent spoonful.

Nacke recommends setting aside a few hours to make the gifts. First, shop for the ingredients, always opting for the best and freshest. Gather family or friends and divide the work according to age and skill.

“You are never too young to be in the kitchen. Jordan might not remember this year, but he will someday. And, this year, we will,” she said.

“Christmas for us is really about the time spent in the kitchen together.”

Details: Find Terre Botanicals infused edibles at Old Town Farmers Market in Scottsdale and online terrebotanicals.com.

Karen Fernau is a longtime journalist and former food writer at The Arizona Republic.

INFUSED SUGARS

RECIPES FROM TERRI NACKE OF TERRE BOTANICALS

Gifts of infused sugars are both simple and impressive.

And they come packed with the flavors and smells of the holidays, from cinnamon and citrus to rosemary.

The sweet and savory sugars can be used in holiday baking or as sweet rims on cocktail glasses. Or simply sprinkle on fruit or sugar cookies.

Spices and herbs lose flavor over time, so make sure to use the freshest possible. After mixing, spread sugar mixes on a baking sheet and allow to air dry for at least eight hours. Pack in airtight containers and give, give, give. The following are a few of Nacke’s holiday favorites. Her formulas are extremely forgiving, so add more or less to taste, to ¼ cup sugar: • Cinnamon: ½-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • Chili sugar: ½ teaspoon dried chili powder or ground dried chili • Citrus sugar: grated zest of ¼ orange, lime or lemon grated directly over the sugar • Clove: ¼ teaspoon ground clove • Ginger: 1-2 teaspoons ground ginger • Nutmeg: 2-4 teaspoons grated or ground nutmeg • Star anise: ½ teaspoon ground star anise

VALLEY OF THE SUN ORANGE CURD

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES • 1 cup butter (preferably from grass-fed cows) • ½ cup organic powdered sugar, plus more for rolling • 2¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour or gluten-free flour

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla • ¾ cup finely chopped toasted pecans • ¼ heaping teaspoon Piment d’Ville Botanically Infused Salt (red salt infused with chile)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla. Slowly stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together. Shape dough into one-inch balls. Place about one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until dough is set, but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool slightly on wire rack.

Next, place powdered sugar in a large, flat-bottomed bowl. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar. Cool on a brown grocery bag. Roll in powdered sugar a second time. Makes about 48 cookies.

CARDAMOM SYRUP First, make cardamom sugar: Mix crushed cardamom seed or ground cardamom (¼-2 teaspoons, to taste) with 2/3 cup organic cane sugar. Place on a baking sheet and allow to dry at least eight hours, or overnight.

To make the syrup, bring 2/3 cup water to gentle boil.

Add 2/3 cup cardamom sugar and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Allow to cool completely before pouring into a bottle. Store in refrigerator. Makes one gift bottle of syrup.

• Zest of one large orange • 1 cup organic cane sugar • ¾ cup fresh squeezed orange juice • 9 egg yolks • 12 tablespoons pasture-raised butter, sliced into tablespoon pieces In a medium stainless-steel saucepan, add orange zest and sugar. Use fingers to rub the zest into the sugar to tint the sugar and release the essential oil.

Add orange juice and eggs. Place saucepan on turn stovetop burner to medium heat, stirring well with a wooden spoon.

Work the sides and bottom of the pan until the curd mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the wooden spoon, five to seven minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and add the butter, one piece at a time. Stir with a wooden spoon until the consistency is smooth. Pour into sterilized glass jars, placing lids to prevent skin from forming.

Refrigerate until firm and chill in the refrigerator for up to one week. Makes about two large, or four small canning jars.

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family time!

TOP DECEMBER EVENTS

By Liz Petroff

Hot cocoa with marshmallows, holiday light displays and the spirit of giving. Some of our favorite family memories are made in December. With the gentle balance of continuing traditions and creating new ones, this list of holiday happenings will fill your days with joy and warm up your winter nights. Happy Holidays!

Find more extensive day-by-day event listings at raisingarizonakids.com/calendar

NOV. 17-DEC. 28 The North Pole Experience. Take the Candy Cane/ Snowball Express to Santa’s 400-year-old workshop, where you can assist the elves in toy making, tour the factory, get bakery treats and take photos with Santa. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. $39-$55; packages available for meals and hotel stay.

The Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. 888679-7268 or northpoleexperience.com

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NOV. 22- DEC. 31 Christmas at the Princess. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a glistening winter wonderland with a four-story musical tree, ice skating, Lagoon Lights, Princess Express Trains and Santa’s Secret Headquarters. Princesses Angelica and Noel, a huggable yeti named Shivers, squishable Graham (a walking s’more) and Peppermint Penguin and Selfie Elfie host a Christmas character farewell at 9 p.m. nightly in the Enchanted Plaza. For the public, self-parking is $55 including six attraction wristbands.

Walk-up wristbands are $20 per person to ride the Princess Express Trains, Polar Glide slide, Frosty’s Ferris Wheel and the Christmas Carousel. Skating is $25, prices vary for photos with Santa and a new Build-A-Bear pop-up shop. 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale. 480-585-4848 or scottsdaleprincess.com

NOV. 24-DEC. 24

DEC. 2

Winter Wonderfest AZ. Visit Santa, and make toys, ornaments and stockings in Santa’s workshop.

Walk through a life-size gingerbread house. Get your photo taken with the Ice Queen in her ice castle. Play in the snow, roast marshmallows, fly down a 300-foot zip line, ride a ferris wheel, and race through an obstacle course and inflatable attractions. Parents can shop more than 50 holiday vendors at Front Porch Pickins Vintage and Handmade market. Plus holiday music and local performances. 2-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. $20. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler. winterwonderfestaz.com

APS Electric Light Parade. For more than three decades, the APS Electric Light Parade has been bringing Phoenix families, neighborhoods and businesses together. This year’s theme is “Winter Nights, Dazzling Lights.” 7 p.m. Free.

Starts at Central and Montebello avenues, heads east on Camelback Road and ends at Seventh Street and Indian School Road. Float viewing and judging is 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. phoenix.gov

DEC. 1 Peoria’s Old Town Holiday Festival. Peoria has hosted this holiday event for more than three decades. Families can enjoy live entertainment, a visit from Santa and 20 tons of snow. 5-10 p.m. Free admission and parking. Johnny E. Osuna Memorial Park, 10510 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. azstreetmarket.com

DEC. 1-3

SOUTHWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

SHAMROCK FARMS

Joy to the Herd at Shamrock Farms.

The dairy farm transforms its Welcome Barn area into a winter wonderland from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farm tour, face painting and Santa on Friday. All that plus real snow play and holiday crafts Saturday-Sunday.

Reservations and prepayment required: $12-$15; free for ages 2 and younger.

40034 W. Clayton Road, Stanfield. 602477-2462 or shamrockfarms.net

DEC. 1-23 VALLEY YOUTH THEATER

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS

Tempe Festival of the Arts. This ranks among the top art festivals in the nation.

Shop more than 300 artists along Mill Avenue and surrounding streets. Free.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Mill Avenue between Third Street and University Drive, Tempe. tempefestivalofthearts.com

A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail. Travel to the snow-covered Hundred Acre Wood for Valley Youth Theatre’s 22nd annual holiday musical. A.A. Milne’s beloved characters, Pooh, Piglet, Kanga and Baby Roo and Owl, organize a search party to help Eeyore find his lost tail. $20. Valley Youth Theatre, 525 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-253-8188 or vyt.com

Festival of Tales. Southwest Human Development and Paradise Valley Community College host this literacy event filled with books and cultural activities for children and families. Kids and parents can enjoy storytelling, arts and crafts, games, face painting, live music, food trucks and free books. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. festivaloftales.com

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TOP DECEMBER EVENTS continued DEC. 9

Chanukah Carnival. Join Congregation Beth Israel for its annual celebration of the Jewish Festival of Lights. This all-ages event is open to the public. Enjoy carnival rides and games along with traditional Hanukkah treats. Latkes, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), pizza, cotton candy and popcorn will be prepared kosher and available for purchase.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. $25. Congregation Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. 480-951-3398 or cbiaz.org

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade. The lake lights up at the Valley’s most unique holiday event featuring 50 festively lighted boats of all sizes. 6th Street Market vendors will also fill up Tempe Beach Park with hundreds of hand-crafted items for sale. Be sure to stick around for the firework finale. Free. 4 p.m. Tempe Town Lake. downtowntempe.com

FACEBOOK.COM/PCHIGNITEHOPE

DEC. 3

i.d.e.a. Museum Free Sunday. Spend a free day at the the i.d.e.a.

Museum, where kids can play and explore mind and body wellness at “The Art of Healthy Living” exhibit. Noon to 5 p.m. Free. 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. 480-644-2468 or ideamuseum.org

FACEBOOK.COM/PEPPAPIGLIVEUK

Ignite Hope for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. There’s not a dry eye after this evening event that includes a 1.1-mile walk from North High School to Phoenix Children’s, led by the Phoenix Fire Department. Walkers are greeted by holiday carolers and hospital patients waiving candles from their windows. It concludes with a lighting of the PCH Christmas tree. Registration at 3 p.m.; walk begins at 5:30 p.m. $40; $10 ages 4-12. Walkers get battery operated candles and an Ignite Hope Shirt. North High School, 1101 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. phoenixchildrensfoundation.org

DEC. 6 Peppa Pig’s Surprise! Peppa Pig, George and all their friends are in town for an all-singing, all-dancing adventure. This theatrical production features songs, games and a stage full of surprises. 6 p.m. $15-$90. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington, Phoenix. peppapigliveus.com

Phoenix Festival of the Arts. Live entertainment, more than 100 artists and vendors, food trucks, children’s play area, flash performances and more. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. Free. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. 602-254-3100 or phoenixfestivalofthearts.org

DEC. 8-24 The Nutcracker. Ballet Arizona presents this holiday classic with live music by the Phoenix Symphony. Watch Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical Christmas adventure with toys, mischievous mice and waltzing flowers. Showtimes vary. $25-$164. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-381-0184 or balletaz.org

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JESSICA SAVIDGE

DEC. 8-10

DEC. 16-17 Holidays at MIM. Celebrate the holiday season with musical performances and holiday-themed activities. Families can also find holiday gems throughout the museum, including a special menu at the Cafe Allegro, gifts for purchase in the Museum Store, face painting and much more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturday and Sunday, Dec 16-17. Free with paid admission. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000 or mim.org Winter Wonderland Express. Ride the Holiday Train to a snow-filled play area with sled rides.

Families can enjoy Christmas decorations, take pictures in human-sized snow globes and visit with Santa. 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16-17. Admission is always free; single ride tickets begin at $1.25. Enchanted Island Amusement Park, 1202 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix. 602254-1200 or enchantedisland.com

DEC. 17

JEWEL CLARK

Santa Hustle. Hundreds of Santas hit the streets of Glendale for the city’s Santa Hustle 5K and half marathon, benefiting Glendale Fire Charities. Enjoy holiday music, candy canes and cookies and a festive after party. The Santa Hustle swag bag includes Santa hat, Santa beard, Santa shirt, finisher medal and candy-cane socks! 8 a.m. $5-$60. santahustle.com

DEC. 26-30

PHOENIX ZOO

Holidays at the Heard. Embrace what makes the Southwest a unique winter wonderland this holiday season with local musicians, indigenous dance performances, art demonstrations and art activities. 9:30 a.m to 5 pm. $18; $7.50 for ages 6-17; free for ages 5 and younger. Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8840 or heard.org

DEC. 31 Noon Year’s Eve. Ring in the new year with a roar at the Phoenix Zoo’s dinosaurthemed New Year’s Eve party for families. Play in 30 tons of snow and enjoy a Jurassic bounce house, snowball targets, countdown to a noon ball drop with a cider or juice toast, plus live music, dancing, games and dino activities. $12.95-$28.95. 9 a.m. to noon. Phoenix Zoo, 455 Galvin Parkway. 602-914-4333 or phoenixzoo.org Calendar Editor Liz Petroff of Phoenix is the mother of Jack (9) and Lucy (7). Send event info to liz@RAKmagazine.com.

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family time! around arizona

Frontier Christmas (Sat Dec. 2) in Prescott.

FLAGSTAFF Vora Financial Holiday Lights Parade (Dec. 9). Dozens of floats and marching bands light up the night in the heart of historic downtown Flagstaff. 6-8 p.m.

Free. Parade starts at Beaver Street and Elm Avenue. 928-774-4505 or flagstaffchamber.com Holiday Riordan Mansion Tours (Nov. 24-Jan. 2). For the holidays, the mansion is decorated in turn-of-the-century style with wreaths, garlands, greenery and a towering fir tree trimmed with old-fashioned ornaments. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Tuesday-Wednesday. $10; $5 for ages 7-13; free for ages 6 and younger. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, 409 W. Riordan Road, Flagstaff.

928-779-4395 or azstateparks.com The North Pole Experience (Nov. 17-Dec. 28). Take the Candy Cane/ Snowball Express to Santa’s 400-yearold workshop, where you can assist the elves in toy making, tour the factory, get bakery treats and take photos with Santa. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. $39-$55; packages available for meals and hotel stay. The Little America Hotel, 2515 E.

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Butler Ave., Flagstaff. 888-679-7268 or northpoleexperience.com

PRESCOTT Christmas Parade and Courthouse Lighting (Dec. 2). Celebrate the season with a festive parade around downtown, then the plaza will come to life in lights. 1 p.m. parade; 6 p.m. lighting. Free. Courthouse Plaza, 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott. 800-2667534 or visit-prescott.com Frontier Christmas (Dec. 2). Enjoy fresh-baked cookies and hot cider while admiring handmade decorations and historical re-enactments of holiday celebrations from Arizona’s Territorial Days. 6-8 p.m. $5; free for ages 17 and younger. Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., Prescott. 928-445-3122 or sharlot.org Wildlights and Animal Sights (Nov. 24-Dec. 30). Holiday decorations, music, and light displays fill the park for the holiday season. 6-9 p.m. $6; $4 members. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, 1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott. 928-778-4242 or heritageparkzoo.org

DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

SEDONA Festival of Lights (Dec. 9). Join the lighting of 6,000 luminarias in the courtyards and walkways of Tlaquepaque — a tradition that began 45 years ago.

Includes a full lineup of entertainers and Santa appearances. 3-8 p.m. Free.

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, 336 SR 179, Sedona. 928-282-4838 or tlaq.com Tree Lighting & Santa Visit (Dec. 1). Enjoy local carolers, youth music groups and refreshments. 5-8 p.m.

Free. Canyon Breeze Plaza, 300 State Route 89A, Sedona. 928-204-2390 or sedonamainstreet.com

TOMBSTONE Christmas Light Parade (Dec. 9). With the sound of caroling in the streets, the historic courthouse lights up and floats pass by. 6-8 p.m. Free. Allen Street in downtown Tombstone. 520-457-9317 or tombstonechamber.com

TUCSON Downtown Parade of Lights and Festival (Dec. 16). Enjoy downtown Tucson’s holiday parade, treelighting ceremony, floats, music, live

entertainment and Santa. 4-9 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. parade. Free. Armory Park, 220 S. Fifth Ave., Tucson. 520-547-3338 or downtowntucson.org Luminaria Nights (Dec. 1-10). Stroll garden paths lighted with more than 2,000 luminarias, plus holiday music, food and tasty treats. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $13; $7.50 ages 4-17; free for ages 3 and younger. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 520-326-9686 or tucsonbotanical.org Winterhaven Festival of Lights (Dec. 9-26). Lights, festive decorations, music, hay wagon and trolley rides. 6-10 p.m. Free with canned food donation.

Winterhaven neighborhood, Tucson. 520586-0220 or winterhavenfestival.org

WILLIAMS The Polar Express (Nov. 10-Jan. 6).

Magical train ride based on the Chris Van Allsburg classic. 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. train departures; 3:30 p.m. on select dates. $31-$53; packages available for meals and hotel stay. Grand Canyon Railway, 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams.

800-222-6966. thetrain.com

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raisingarizonakids.com DECEMBER 2017

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“The Nutcracker” (Nov. 24-Dec. 3 and Dec. 8-17) at Chandler Center for the Arts and Mesa Arts Center.

DANCE The Nutcracker (Nov. 24-Dec. 3 and Dec. 8-17). Ballet Etudes performs its 31st annual production at two Valley venues. Tchaikovsky’s original score comes to life in this ballet classic of a young girl’s dream journey through a magical land. Weekend performances Nov. 24-Dec. 3 at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. $25-$29.

480-782-2680 or chandlercenter.org.

Weekend performances Dec. 8-17 at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 7 $28$32; $6 for ages 2 and younger. 480644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com Snow Queen (Dec. 2-17). Center Dance Ensemble performs Frances Smith Cohen’s adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story that also inspired the Disney film “Frozen.” 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday. $14-$28. Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-254-7399 or herbergertheater.org The Nutcracker (Dec. 8-24). Ballet Arizona performs Ib Andersen’s choreography for the classic tale of a

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Nutcracker doll that comes to life during a young girl’s dream, accompanied by the Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall. $25-$164. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-381-0184 or balletaz.org Spirit of Christmas (Dec. 9-17). The Christian Dance Company brings joy to the holidays with this energetic variety show featuring dancing, singing, a horse and carriage and hoop dancers.

2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $27-$30. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. 480-782-2680 or chandlercener.org Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker (Dec. 14). Whimsical and imaginative storytelling blends with Russian classical dance to make a unique performance. 7 p.m. Ticket prices vary.

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. livenation.com

MUSIC Holiday Pops (Dec. 1-3). The Phoenix Symphony performs seasonal favorites for a concert that includes an audience sing-along led by the Phoenix Symphony

DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

Chorus. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. $69-$115.

Phoenix Symphony Hall, 225 E. Adams.

602-495-1999 or phoenixsymphony.org A Christmas Carol Fantasy (Dec. 3).

The Arizona Winds Premier Concert Band performs its annual Christmas concert.

Listen and sing along to holiday favorites, including a suite from “Polar Express.”

2:30 p.m. Free. Midwestern University, Ocotillo Hall, 19555 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. 623-572-3298 or azwinds.com Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 3).

Hallmark Channel presents “TransSiberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” featuring classical-rock favorites and pyrotechnics. 3:30 and 8 p.m. $37-$73. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. livenation.com Annual Christmas Pudding Show (Dec. 9). Alice Cooper takes the stage for one of the city’s signature holiday events. Cooper, Slash and Rob Halford, along with Edgar Winter, Filter and Nita Strauss perform comedy and music benefitting the Solid Rock Foundation. 7 p.m. $120-$225; VIP

tickets $750. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. alicecoopersolidrock.com Phoenix Boys Choir (Dec. 14). Choral performance featuring holiday songs and carols from around the world. 7:30 p.m. $28.50-$33.50. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix.

480-478-6000 or mim.org A Merry-Achi Christmas (Dec. 16). Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández performs a holiday-themed mariachi concert. 8 p.m. $29-$59.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. 480-499-8587 or scottsdaleperformingarts.org Tidings of Comfort & Joy: A ProMusica Arizona Christmas (Dec. 16-17).

ProMusica Arizona performs Christmas favorites and modern masterpieces. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. $20; free for ages 15 and younger with paid adult.

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 39808 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem (Saturday) and American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City (Sunday). 623326-5172 or pmaz.org

FACEBOOK.COM/BALLETETUDESA

family time! holiday performances

Father Christmas and The Snow Queen (Dec. 1-17). Interactive holiday show in the style of a British comedic fairy tale. 7 p.m.

Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $15-$25.

Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, Scottsdale. 602-7650120 or thestudiophx.org “A Cirque Nutcracker with Troupe Vertigo” (Dec. 22-23) at Mesa Arts Center.

A Cirque Nutcracker with Troupe Vertigo (Dec. 22-23). The Phoenix Symphony performs Tchaikovsky’s classic Nutcracker score as aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, strongmen and others perform on and above the stage.

7:30 p.m. Friday-Thursday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $32-$117.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

PUPPETS The Night Before Christmas (Dec. 6-24). A joyful celebration of Christmas with stories, music and an amazing array of puppets. Recommended for ages 3-12. 10 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $10; $7 for ages 12 and younger. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix.

602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org

THEATER It’s a Wonderful Life (Nov. 16-Dec. 30). Guardian angels descend on Christmas Eve to save a man from despair. $25. Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, 8670 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 103, Scottsdale. 480-314-0841 or donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (Nov. 30-Dec. 10). East Valley Children’s Theatre performs a classic story about the lives of a little girl and a newspaper editor, and how they intersect during tough times in New York City in 1897. $11-$15. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

A Christmas Carol (Nov. 30-Dec. 23). Renowned Charles Dickens tale about a man whose perspective changes after visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. $20-$24. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. 480-497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com A Christmas Carol: The Musical (Nov. 30-Dec. 24). Based on the Charles Dickens classic, this version offers original melodies and all the holiday magic. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $23-$30 Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. 480837-9661 or fhtaz.org A Christmas Carol with Katie McFadzen (Dec. 1-22). Childsplay presents a one-woman show, based on a Katie McFadzen and Matthew Wiener adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. $12-$30. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. 480350-2822 or childsplayaz.org A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail (Dec. 1-23). This holiday show is a 22-year tradition for Valley Youth Theatre. Christopher Robin and his woodland animal friends help Eeyore look for his lost tail as they celebrate Christmas together. Valley Youth Theatre, 525 N. First St., Phoenix. $22.

602-253-8188 or vyt.com Black Nativity (Dec. 1-10). Black Theatre Troupe performs Langston Hughes’ retelling of the classic

Elf the Musical, Jr. (Dec. 7-10). Based on the beloved film, this comedy follows Buddy the Elf on his adventure to find his true self. Showtimes vary. $14-$19.

Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42323 N. Vision Way, Anthem. 623-336-6001 or musicaltheatreofanthem.org

Inspecting Carol (Dec. 1-23). Musical comedy that imagines a community theater losing its Tiny Tim just as the National Foundation for the Arts decides to inspect its performance. Fountain Hills Theater. $18-$25 Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. 480-837-9661 or fhtaz.org Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Dec. 1-17). Comedy based on the classic Junie B. Jones books. The first-grader plans to teach her nemesis a lesson, but the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interferes. 7 p.m. FridaySaturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $15-$18.

Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N Saguaro Blvd. 480-837-9661 or fhtaz.org The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Dec. 1-17). Musical comedy about chaos that ensues when organizers of a church musical are faced with casting a young troublemaker. 7 p.m. FridaySaturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $13. Spotlight Youth Theatre, 10620 N. 43rd Ave., Glendale. 602-843-8318 or spotlightyouththeatre.org Annual Christmas Pageant (Dec. 3).

Xavier College Preparatory presents the traditional story of the birth of Christ through music and dance. 2 p.m. Free.

Xavier College Preparatory Virginia G. Piper Performing Arts Center, 4710 N. Fifth St., Phoenix. 602-277-3772 or xcp.org A Christmas Story The Musical (Dec. 7-23). Based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. 7p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $15. Actors Youth Theatre, 861 N. Higley Road, Gilbert.

480-907-7050 or actorsyouththeatre.org

“Elf the Musical, Jr.” (Dec. 7-10) at Musical Theatre of Anthem.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Dec. 8-28). Concerned about materialism during the Christmas season, Charlie Brown works to restore the true holiday spirit. $17-$20. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria.

623-776-8400 or azbroadway.org A Christmas Carol (Dec. 8-24). Theater Works performs the classic Charles Dickens tale about the importance of family, generosity and helping others. $14-$36. Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 10580 N. 83rd Drive.

623-815-7930 or theaterworks.org Elf the Musical, Jr. (Dec. 8-17).

Buddy the Elf journeys to New York City, where he helps his family remember the true meaning of Christmas. $17. Sagebrush Theatre, 7020 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480949-7529 or greasepaint.org A Christmas Carol (Dec. 9-28).

Arizona Broadway Theatre brings Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley and Bob Cratchit to the Herberger Theater Center. $18.50$53.50. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe, Phoenix. 602-252-8497 or herbergertheater.org

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FACEBOOK.COM/MUSICAL-THEATRE-OF-ANTHEM

TROUPE VERTIGO

Christmas story with music, song and dance. $38. Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-258-8129 or blacktheatretroupe.org

family time! holiday events SNOW DAYS Carefree Snow Village (Dec. 8-10).

The town of Carefree transforms into a winter wonderland this time of year, and its snow village ($5 admission) features a 35-foot high Alpine slide. On various dates this month, Carefree offers free photos with Santa, a holiday market and live entertainment, plus fireworks and a parade on Saturday, Dec. 9. 100 Easy St. 480-4882051 or carefreechristmasfestival.com Joy to the Herd at Shamrock Farms (Dec. 1-3). The dairy farm transforms its Welcome Barn area into a winter wonderland from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farm tour, face painting and Santa on Friday. All that plus real snow play and holiday crafts Saturday-Sunday.

Reservations and prepayment required: $12-$15; free for ages 2 and younger. 40034 W. Clayton Road, Stanfield. 602-477-2462 or shamrockfarms.net Nightly Snowfall at Desert Ridge Marketplace (Nov. 21-Dec. 31). Who says it doesn’t snow in Arizona? Watch as

the fountain and fireplace become a living snow globe nightly at this outdoor Phoenix shopping center. 7 and 8 p.m. Free. Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix. shopdesertridge.com/holiday Nightly Snowfall at Tempe Marketplace (Nov. 22-Dec. 31). See nightly snowfall during the holiday season at this outdoor Tempe mall. 7 and 8 p.m. (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). Free.

Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway. tempemarketplace.com/holiday Rawhide Snowy Christmas (Nov. 23-Dec. 23). The Christmas tree will light up, Santa will appear and snow will fall at this Western theme park west of Chandler. 5-10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Free. Rawhide, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Gila River Reservation. 480-502-5600 or rawhide.com Snow Much Fun Day (Dec. 9). Visit the Children’s Museum of Phoenix an

Nightly Snowfall at Tempe Marketplace (Nov. 22-Dec. 31) at Tempe Marketplace.

hour early to meet Santa, take pictures and enjoy a yummy breakfast with the big guy. Then, enjoy 40 tons of snow and activites until the snow melts.

Breakfast is from 8-10 a.m. Snow play begins at 9 am. $39 ($24 members).

215 N Seventh St. 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org Snow Week (Dec. 26-Jan. 1). The Arizona Science Center covers the grassy hill near its entrance with 60 tons of real snow.

Enjoy snow play, snow-related science demonstrations and kid-friendly activities

at Heritage and Science Park. Admission is $18; $13 for ages 3-17. Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix.

602-716-2000 or azscience.org Winter Wonderland Express (Dec. 16-17). Ride the Holiday Train to a snowfilled play area with sleds. Enjoy Christmas decorations, take pictures in oversized snow globes, visit Santa Claus and get free hot cocoa. 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Single ride tickets $1.25. Enchanted Island Amusement Park, 1202 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix. 602254-1200 or enchantedisland.com

SANTA APPEARANCES Avondale Winterfest (Dec. 2). Avondale’s signature holiday event returns with crafts, vendors, rides, snow, food trucks, community entertainment and a visit from Santa. 5-8 p.m. avondaleaz.gov Free Santa Photos at Metrocenter Mall (Nov. 24-Dec. 23). Professional photos with Santa are free when shoppers spend $10 at Metrocenter stores (excludes department stores and Walmart). Noon to 8 p.m. (noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24). Metrocenter Mall, 9617 N. Metro Parkway W., Phoenix. 602262-7442 or metrocentermall.com Free Santa Photos at Phoenix Premium Outlets (Dec. 2-24). Santa Claus is coming to Phoenix Premium Outlets for a free photo experience. 12-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Pets can pose, too, 4-5 p.m. Sundays. Willow Court, 4976 Premium Outlet Way, Chandler. premiumoutlets.com/outlet/phoenix Santa on Promenade Way (Nov. 24 and Dec. 2). Children can take photos

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DECEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

with Santa and get a free 4x6 print.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Donations of hygiene items, canned goods and baby items will be collected for the Harvest Compassion Center. The Promenade, 16427 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. promenadescottsdale.com Santa Saturdays (Nov. 26-Dec. 23).

Every Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, get a free photo with Santa, plus gifts and craft kits for the kids. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Elevate Coffee Co., across from Harkins Theatres at the Shops at Norterra, northeast corner of Happy Valley Road and the I-17 in north Phoenix. 623-582-9599 or norterrashopping.com The Shops at Gainey Village Christmas Event (Dec. 2). Enjoy holiday music by Disneyland’s Good Time Carolers, pictures with Santa, horse and carriage rides, a trackless train for children, face painters, balloon artists and more, plus hot chocolate and baked goods from Coffee Bean. 1-4

p.m. Free. 8777-8989 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. theshopsgaineyvillage.com Breakfast with Santa (Dec. 23). A whimsical pajama party breakfast with Santa and his Fairmont mascot friends.

Enjoy reindeer games, photos with Santa and a special daytime skating session.

Call for reservations. $75, $50 for ages 3-12. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive. 480-585-4848 or scottsdaleprincess.com Santa’s Secret Headquarters (Nov. 22-Dec. 24). Spend time with Santa at his headquarters.

The young and young-at-heart can have their photo taken with Santa and help map out his flight plans. Children with all spectrums of special needs are invited to a photo session supportive of their sensory, physical and developmental needs at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 and Dec. 23. Appointments recommended.

Photos start at $35. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive. 480-5854848 or scottsdaleprincess.com

CitySkate Ice Rink (Nov. 24-Jan. 7). All ages. Frozen rink, holiday lights, music and hot chocolate for sale. Hours vary. $15 includes skates, $30 express pass online. CityScape Phoenix, between First Avenue and First Street and Washington and Jefferson streets. 602-772-3900 or cityskatephx.com Desert Ice Skating Rink (Nov. 22- Dec. 31). The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a glistening winter wonderland with a 6,000 square foot ice rink. For the public, selfparking is $55 and skating is $25 ($20 if you bring your own skates). 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale. 480-5854848 or scottsdaleprincess.com Holiday Skating at Tempe Marketplace (Nov. 24-26). Ages 5 and older can lace up skates for free

holiday skating near Dave & Busters.

Skates provided. Bring socks. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free. Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. tempemarketplace.com/holiday Merry Main Street Winter Wonderland Ice Rink (Nov. 24-Jan. 5). Outdoor ice skating at City Plaza is $10, including skates and an hour of skate time. 5-10 p.m. weekdays, noon to 10 p.m. weekends; closed Christmas. 20 E. Main St., Mesa.

480-644-6500 or merrymainst.com Skate Westgate (Nov. 22-Jan. 7). Westgate Entertainment District offers outdoor ice skating on real ice. All skill levels welcome. Hours vary. $11-$15. 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. 623-385-7502 or westgateaz.com

MISCELLANEOUS 12Ks of Christmas (Dec. 9). This family friendly festival celebrates health, fitness and the joy of Christmas.

The event includes a 12K run, 6K run/ walk and a 1.2K Santa “Sled Run,” Santa’s Village and a Christmas Bazaar.

8 a.m. to noon. Entry fees vary. Free admission to Santa’s Village and the Christmas Bazaar. Freestone District Park, 1045 E. Juniper Road, Gilbert.

480-609-3978 or 12krun.com Fishmas! (Dec. 1-24). Sea Life Arizona transforms into a water wonderland for the holiday season.

Watch Scuba Santa during his underwater dives, holiday crafts and more. 10am-7pm. Included with admission: $18 adults, $13 ages 3-12; discount if purchased online. Sea Life Arizona, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle Suite 145, Tempe. 480-478-7600 or visitsealife.com/arizona Gingerbread Workshop (Nov. 25).

Decorate your very own gingerbread house. Gingerbread, candy buffet and hot cocoa provided. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $35 ($30 for members) per group of four. Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh

St., Phoenix. 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org Holiday Bricktacular (Dec. 1-24).

Celebrate the holidays with special Lego activities. Help deck out Santa’s sleigh at the Build and Test station, or take a part in the special holiday builds in the creative workshop. All the extra holiday cheer is included with admission. Legoland Discovery Center, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe. 877-526-3960 or legolanddiscoverycenter.com/arizona Storytime at Desert Ridge Marketplace (Dec. 6-20). Bring the kids to a holiday classic storytime with Mrs. Claus. 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Free. Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. shopdesertridge.com/holiday Winter Wonderland (Dec. 2-29).

Living angel statues, holiday decorations and seasonal music. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $19.95, $12.95 ages 3-11, free for ages 2 and younger.

Butterfly Wonderland, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 480-800-3000 or butterflywonderland.com

PHOENIX ZOO

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Zoo Lights (Nov. 22-Jan. 14) at the Phoenix Zoo.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS Christmas in Color (Nov. 24-Dec. 31).

This new drive-through lights display is fully animated and synchronized to upbeat holiday music. More than 1.5 million LED lights will transform areas around the Goodyear Ballpark. $25-$30 per vehicle. 5:30-10 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 5:30-11 p.m. FridaySunday. 1933 S. Ballpark Way. 623-882-3120 or goodyearbp.com and christmasincolor.net Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade (Dec. 9). The lake lights up at the Valley’s most unique holiday event featuring 50 festively lighted boats of all sizes. 6th Street Market vendors will fill up Tempe Beach Park with hand-crafted items for sale. Be sure to stick around for the firework finale. Free. 4 p.m.

Tempe Town Lake. downtowntempe.com Glendale Glitters Spectacular (Nov. 24-Jan. 6). This holiday light display boasts more than 1.5 million lights throughout 16 blocks of historic downtown Glendale. Families can enjoy holiday entertainment, food, crafts, and horse-drawn carriage rides. 5-11 p.m. nightly. Free. Murphy Park, 58th and Glendale avenues. 623-930-2299 or glendaleaz.com Holiday Lights (Dec. 1-Jan. 7). Ride the train through holiday lights and displays and visit with Santa in a train car. 6:30-9 p.m. nightly (except Dec. 4, 24-25 and 31). $5 train and $2 carousel rides; free for ages 2 and younger with paying adult. Opening night festivities on Friday, Dec. 1, include live music, a tree-lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale.

480-312-2312 or therailroadpark.com Holiday Nights in Lights (Dec. 8-22).

Ride a train through a festive holiday lighted path, take pictures with Santa, enjoy entertainment by local bands, choirs and dance teams. Sweet treats available for purchase. $1 train rides support United

Goodyear Firefighter Charities, which is accepting donations of new and unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, books and games.

6-8 p.m. Fridays. The Wigwam Front Lawn, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. 623935-3811 or wigwamarizona.com Las Noches de las Luminarias (Nov. 24-Dec. 3). The Desert Botanical Garden comes to life with more than 8,000 luminarias, thousands of twinkling lights and the sights and sounds of local entertainment ensembles. 5:30-9:30 p.m. select nights Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 8-30. (Members-only days Dec. 1-3.) $30 adults, $12.50 ages 3-12, free for ages 3 and younger. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-481-8188 or dgb.org Lights of the World (Nov. 16-Jan. 2). This international festival combines the Chinese tradition of lantern festivals with modern technology and lights. It features different cultures and civilizations around the globe plus more than 30 carnival rides and games, a daily performance showcasing acrobatics, 3D light experience and more. $15-$18. Arizona State Fairgrounds,1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. lightsoftheworldus.com Mesa Temple Garden Lights (through Dec 31). Hundreds of thousands of lights, nativity scene, live entertainment, visitors center. 5-10 p.m. Free. Mesa Arizona Temple and Visitors Center, 525 E. Main St. 480-964-7164 or mesachristmaslights.com ZooLights (Nov. 22-Jan. 14). Millions of lights shine throughout the Phoenix Zoo, along with a three-story holiday tree, carousel and camel rides, lakeside musicin-motion shows, nightly snowfall and of course, photos with Santa. 5:30-10:30 p.m. (snowfall at 7 p.m.) nightly. $10.95-$19.95.

Phoenix Zoo, 455 Galvin Parkway. 602-9144333 or phoenixzoo.org

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“Cinderella” (Dec. 19-24) at ASU Gammage.

Newsies (Nov. 15-Dec. 31). Extra! Extra!

Disney’s musical offers show-stopping choreography and high-energy songs.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Sunday. $35-$85. Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. 602-254-2151 or phoenixtheatre.com Peter Pan (Nov. 17- Dec. 23). Follow Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick on a magical journey across the stars.

7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. $15. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road.

480-483-1664 or desertstages.org The Little Red Hen (Nov. 22-Dec. 3).

Will the Little Red Hen get the help she needs to get wheat made into bread? This sing-along offers a valuable message about helping each other. 10 a.m.

Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. SaturdaySunday. $10; $7 for ages 12 and younger.

Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org

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The Bodyguard (Nov. 28-Dec. 3).

Based on the hit film, this musical tells the story of a former Secret Service agent hired to protect a superstar. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $20-$125. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave, Tempe. 480-965-3434 or asugammage.com Experience Scandinavia (Dec 2-3).

Travel to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark through vibrant music and dance performances, and participate in instrument-making crafts and dance workshops. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix.

480-478-6000 or mim.org Cinderella (Dec. 19-24). Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical delights with its contemporary take on the classic tale.

Showtimes vary. $20-$125. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe.

480-965-3434 or asugammage.com Zoppe - An Italian Family Circus (Dec. 27-Jan. 7). Old-World Italian traditional circus performs in one ring, featuring acrobats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowns and audience participation. Call for times. $15-$40. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. 480-782-2680 or chandlercenter.org

CAROL ROSEGG

PLAY & LEARN

In the best hands, Ava can handle whatever comes her way.

Seven-year-old Ava has struggled with her health since before she was even born.

She first presented symptoms of a kidney condition. That led to concerns about her gastro-intestinal tract. Complaints of headaches and back pain sent her to a neurologist, neurosurgeon, and rheumatoid arthritis specialist, all within Phoenix Children’s Care Network.

Her health issues are ongoing, but with access to over 75 areas of expertise under one roof, and more than 1,000 providers through the largest pediatric, clinically integrated organization in Arizona, Ava and her parents feel confident she’s getting the most comprehensive care.

Arizona’s best pediatric care, from routine to rare.

PhoenixChildrens.org