Annual Festivals

In Casa Grande and the surrounding area, there is no shortage of festivals, music and special events in the winter and spring months.

CASA GRANDE STREET FAIR

A two-day celebration in historic downtown, Casa Grande Main Street’s Street Fair is generally held in the middle of January. The event is free to attend and features continuous entertainment, a beer garden, food courts and more than 200 arts and crafts vendors and exhibitors as well as a car and motorcycle show. It’s a fundraiser for the Casa Grande Main Street program.

AGRI-COUNTRY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Music fans and performers from across the country travel to the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center every January for two days of toe-tapping bluegrass performances held on two outdoor and one indoor stage. Besides music from top bluegrass bands, the event includes a classic car show, vendors, crafts, model trains, antique tractors, a quilt show and other activities.

GOLD CANYON ARTS FESTIVAL

The Gold Canyon Arts Festival is a free event sponsored by the Gold Canyon Arts Council at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon. Held in January, it generally features a juried art show with the work of nearly 90 artists in a wide variety of genres and styles from throughout the state as well as entertainment and a food court with a variety of food and beverages.

ARIZONA CLASSIC JACKPOT & FARM SHOW

Livestock animals are shown and judged every February during the Arizona Classic Jackpot & Farm Show. The event is the largest livestock show in Arizona. It’s held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center.

WUERTZ FARM’S ANNUAL GOURD FESTIVAL

The annual Wuertz Farm Gourd Festival, featuring the “Running of the Gourds,” is held each February at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center. The festival brings together gourd artists, vendors and fans and includes a competitive event for gourd artists. Attendees will fi nd gourd displays, live music, a farmers market, games and more.

TOWN OF FLORENCE HISTORIC HOME TOUR

Usually planned in February, the historic home tour is a chance to explore one of Arizona’s oldest towns and highlights the history and architecture of Florence, dating back to territorial days.

CASA GRANDE COWBOY DAYS & O’ODHAM TASH

Casa Grande’s annual two-week celebration of the Western lifestyle is usually held in February and includes two weeks of various rodeos and roping events, a parade, music, chuckwagons, a pony express event and other activities. Most events are at Ed Hooper Rodeo Park, 2525 N. Pinal Ave., but the parade is held on Florence Boulevard. Visit casagrandecowboydays.com for information.

CACTUS FLY-IN

The Cactus Fly-in is sponsored by the Arizona Antique Airplanes Association. This event is one of the earliest fl y-ins of the year. The desert lets them get an early start, even though it’s still winter. This fl y-in usually takes place in early March.

ARIZONA CITY DAZE

Arizona City’s annual community celebration takes place every year on the cross streets of Sunland Gin Road and Alsdorf Road. The event attracts more than 3,000 attendees each year and includes live performances throughout the day, a kids’ zone, more than 100 vendors and a parade.

CASA GRANDE ART ASSOCIATION ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

For those who ever wanted to peek inside the studio of a working artist, the tour, held every spring, is the chance to do so. The tour features self-guided visits to various art studios in which several artists of various genres will be working. More information and a map will be available online prior to the next event: www. casagrandeartassociation.org.

FINE ART EXPLOSION

The annual Fine Art Explosion, a juried art show, is every March in Peart Park. The two-day outdoor event attracts dozens of artists and vendors from Casa Grande and the surrounding area as well as from across the state and region. Visitors to the event may look at and purchase fi ne art pieces from dozens of artists.

PINAL COUNTY FAIR

Held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center at Eleven Mile Corner, the Pinal County Fair is held every year in midMarch. The fi ve-day event highlights livestock animals, entertainment, rides, food and other events. For more information, visit www.pinalfairgrounds.com.

LOST DUTCHMAN DAYS

The three-day Lost Dutchman Days is held in February in downtown Apache Junction. The event features a parade, arts and crafts fair, mustang adoptions, entertainment, a rodeo and other activities.

COPA SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL

Talented fi lmmakers and screenwriters from around the world and across the country submit their best works for the Copa Shorts Film Festival, held every February in Maricopa. During a two-day event, attendees may watch each of the top-rated submitted fi lms.

ARIZONA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL AND ARTISAN MARKETPLACE

Featuring jousting, live entertainment, carnival rides, games, food and and an artisan marketplace, the Arizona Renaissance Festival is held each year in Gold Canyon. The festival runs for nine weeks and is a tribute to a storybook version of the 16th century.

COUNTRY THUNDER

Generally held in April in Florence, Country Thunder attracts music fans from across the country who enjoy three days of music on several diff erent outdoor stages. The event generally features well-known and much-loved country music entertainers.