Enjoy a family day at Pioneer Park, where the City of Mesa provides a bevy of free entertainment including laser tag, bounce houses and carnival rides. There will also be live music, food and beverage vendors, displays from the police and fire departments — including a fly-in from the Mesa Air Unit — and a raffle with various restaurant and shopping prizes.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Phoenix Fire Department are already working to get kids ready for summer with reminders about staying safe around water.

Step one of 74 to prepare for the 37th Annual Ahwatukee Easter Parade began the week after Christmas when parade boss Mike Schmitt asked the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee if they wanted once more to sponsor the parade.

Nothing signals warm weather like a carnival. One will be popping up at Freestone Park this weekend and will include rides, games, food trucks and a craft fair. Proceeds benefit Rise Athletics Youth Programs.

A World Champion and International Champion chili cook will be returning to his old stomping grounds in Ahwatukee this weekend as chief judge of the Ninth Annual Chili Cookoff and Carnival.

This time of year, we’ll take nearly any excuse to get out and enjoy the weather. Fortunately, Chandler’s got a good one in its Feb. 23 Classic Car and Hot Rod Show.

Deep-fried gator, barbecued turkey legs, monster baked potatoes, funnel cakes and cotton candy. These are just a sampling of menu items at Piggly’s at the Fair, a new restaurant in Mesa.

Arizona parents may soon no longer have to worry about a child coming home from a carnival with a live goldfish in a bag.

Residents can celebrate Halloween early with activities at Ahwatukee Foothills churches this weekend.

It’s that time of year to get out and enjoy an entire day picking your favorite pumpkin, eating caramel apples, visiting a petting zoo and ending the night with fireworks and a haunted house. Or, to just take stroll through the pumpkin patch to snap a few photos with your family. Either way, the Valley has it all, and this is your one-stop guide for fall festivities in the East Valley.

The fifth annual Tukee Fest Rockin’ in the Park will take over Ahwatukee Park on Saturday with music and games for the whole family.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Deeanna Gordon has been nominated for the award of Phoenix Diocese Council Women – 2012 Woman of the Year. Gordon grew up in Chicago guided by the nuns in the Catholic school she attended. She was married to her husband Mel for over 20 years. Unfortunately, he suffered with Parkinson’s disease and she took care of him until his passing while working as a hairdresser and owner of a beauty salon and spa six days a week. She continues to work in her business.

According to Mark Schnepf, his 300-acre farm will host 10,000 to 15,000 visitors each day of this weekend’s Peach Festival in Queen Creek. It also runs May 19-20.

After 15 years in business, Four Peaks Brewing Company is celebrating with a grand-scale party.

West Valley Symphony supporters and patrons have rallied since January to help the symphony reach the $10,000 Gumina Circle of Generosity challenge grant created by Helene Gumina of Sun City.  

“We are so grateful to Helene for setting up this challenge.

The Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee Easter Parade and Spring Fling Carnival and Craft Fair is Saturday, April 7. We are looking for sponsors, parade entries, vendors and volunteers. Join the fun for this annual community event! For more information, visit www.ahwatukeekiwanis.org or contact Andi Pettijohn at (602) 402-6267 or andi@wttaz.com.

How can you showcase your business in the parade or Spring Fling?