FEBRUARY 202 6   chronicling the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean as he seeks redemption while being pursued by Inspector Javert. Set against the backdrop of post-revolutionary France, the story explores themes of love, sacrifice and justice. Tickets are $20. veritasprep.greatheartsamerica.org  Arizona Indian Festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Held in conjunction with the Parada del Sol the Arizona Indian Festival will showcase American Indian tribes from all around the state. Guests can check out Indian “villages,” arts and crafts, traditiona dancing and singing, cooking demos travel and tourism vendors and a variety of traditional cuisine. This event is free. arizonaindiantourism.org  African Children’s Choir 6:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3641 N. 56th St., Phoenix. The African Children’s Choir, comprised of children ages 8-11, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a heartwarming performance of popular children’s tunes traditional spiritual songs and vibran African cultural pieces. This concert is free, but donations are welcome. africanchildrenschoir.com   Savor the Symphony 11 a.m. at Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St., Phoenix. This luncheon offers guests a behind-the-scenes look at Phoenix Symphony’s rehearsal for Simply the Best The Music of Tina Turner, followed by a curated luncheon. Guests will also mee guest artist Tamika Lawrence, Phoenix Pops conductor Stuart Chafetz and the musicians of Phoenix Symphony. Tickets are $500 per person. phoenixsymphony.org   Melrose Vintage Market 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Roosevelt Community Church, 924 N. 1st St., Phoenix. This monthly pop-up market is family-friendly with over 45 vendors selling their wares Attendees will find vintage furniture decor, clothing, knick-knacks, handmade jewelry, and arts and crafts. There will be activities for kids and food trucks available This event is free. melrosevintagemarket.com Family Valentine’s Festival 10 a.m. at Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 E. Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale. The fifth annual Family Fun Valentine’s Festiva kicks off with DJ FLO playing music on center stage while kids participate in   Parada del Sol and Trail’s End Festival 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Parade starts at Drinkwater Blvd. through downtown Scottsdale. Celebrate Arizona’s “Most Western Town” with the 71st annual Parada and Trail’s End Festival. Over 30,000 spectators will watch a parade of 150 entries, including bands, floats, horses and more, and then head to the festival for live entertainment, music, activities, food trucks, games, and dancing. Attendance is free. scottsdaleparade.com Touch a Truck 1-6 p.m. at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. Get ready to get up close and personal with over 50 vehicles at the annual Touch a Truck event. There will be fire trucks, police vehicles, helicopters, race cars and military autos for attendees to explore, plus food vendors and interactive games. Proceeds go to Camp Patrick for kids with Spina Bifida. Tickets are $5 per person. camppatrick.com Les Miserables 7 p.m. at Veritas Prep, 3102 N. 56th St., Phoenix. The fine arts students of Veritas Prep present “Les Miserables,” a musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel Mark your calendars for Arcadia News’ Monthly Meet Up , where you can get a first look of the February edition with the people behind your neighborhood newspaper – and grab a cup of coffee on us. We’ll be at Black Cat Coffeehouse (4730 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix) on Friday, January 31 from 8-10 a.m. Hope to see you there! For more: email editor@arcadianews.com The Arcadia Camelback Mountain Neighborhood Association will hold its annual Neighborhood Meeting on Saturday, February 22, at 8:30 a.m. in the choir room at Prince of Peace (3641 N. 56th St., Phoenix). Connect with neighbors and get the latest updates on key issues impacting Arcadia and the surrounding areas. Coffee and pastries will be served. acmna.org Arcadian Sarah Pyper is hosting free Family Yoga and Soundbath in the Park events. All ages are welcome to move, breathe and rest together. Each class will learn breathing techniques, talk about feelings and finish up with an affirmation circle and a craft. Upcoming dates are February 22, March 15 and April 19 at 10 a.m. in Kachina Park (4304 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix). Bring your own mat, towel or blanket. Donations benefit Lost Our Home Pet Rescue. The ninth annual Arcadia Cares: Food for Kidz Packathon is back and scheduled for February 28 from 4-6:45 p.m. and March 1 from 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (3641 N. 56th St., Phoenix). The community is welcome to volunteer in shifts to help pack meals for underprivileged families. Sign-up is live. popphoenix.org The 2025 New Horizons High School Student Art Exhibition , held annually at the Shemer Art Center (5005 E. Camelback Road) since 1987, is on display until February 13 and features approximately 89 works of art created by students from over 45 high schools across the Valley. Stop by, check out the pieces and show some love to our local artists. shemerartcenter.org Miriam Hahn of YouCare-SelfCare will host a series in February centered on health and wellness. Interested parties can attend classes focused on cancer-fighting and anti-aging superfoods and “the whole life detox.” Each in-person class is two hours and will include recipes and cooking demos. The series will also be offered on March 4, 12 and 20 at 1 p.m. Registration is $125 per person. youcare-selfcare.com Junior Achievement of Arizona is accepting nominations for its 18 Under 18 Award until February 14 at midnight. JA is looking for those who are active in the community, innovative, and demonstrate leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Nominees must be under 18 by July 1, 2024, and attend school in Arizona. Winners will be announced in April. 18under18.org A Taste of Melanin was launched in 2024 by Michael Jackson, president of The Zay Project and founder of Mya Kai Creative Agency. The event series takes place throughout February and immerses attendees in the world of black culture through experiences, interactive exhibits, live performances and educational workshops. Events include a silent disco, movie night, karaoke, lectures, workshops and more. The full schedule is available online. atasteofmelanin.org Throughout February, Peter Piper Pizza is donating $1 of every heart-shaped pizza sold to the Phoenix Children’s Hope Fund for the hospital’s areas of need: pioneering research, state-of-the-art technology, recruitment of leading physicians and the implementation of programs designed to create a more comfortable hospital environment. phoenixchildrensfoundation.org    Saturday February 22, 2025 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Photo caption: “Black cat coffee, black cat tea, hot or cold for me, me, me” by Jules Gissler 5005 E Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 602.262.4727 | shemerartcenter.org

FEBRUARY 2025   themed crafts, coloring contests, bounce houses, slides, face painting and more. This event is free, but if you register and bring your ticket to the festival, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for various prize packs. azboardwalk.com  Paint Night 7 p.m. at Alter Ego, 108 E. University Dr., Tempe. Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Alter Ego is hosting a “Paint Your Partner” experience where guests are guided step-by-step to create a one-of-a-kind portrait of each other – no art skills required, just make sure you bring a sense of humor and room for snacks and drinks. Tickets are $39 per person. alteregotempe.com Le Cabaret de Marionettes 8 p.m. at the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix. Celebrate the art of puppetry with performances by some of the most talented artists in the field, including Madame C, Troubador Cafe, and Rasputin’s Marionettes. Guests will experience puppetry, sideshows, live music, and “other local curiosities.” This show is 18+ and tickets are $30 for general admission. azpuppets.org   Drive the Dream Gala 5:30-11 p.m. at The Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Road. Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to at-risk children’s needs, is hosting its 21st annual Drive the Dream fundraising gala. This year’s theme is “Hope,” and guests will be treated to cocktails, dancing, dinner and entertainment from emcee Leticia Frye, Nate Nathan and the MacDaddy-O’s and headliner John Rich, former member of Lonestar and co-founder of Big & Rich. Ticket prices vary. childhelp.org Shop with Heart Market 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Shops at Town & Country, 2021 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. Featuring over 100 local makers, this vendor market might have the perfect Valentine’s gift for your loved one. Shop handmade jewelry, art, apparel, accessories, health and beauty products and homemade sweets and treats. This event is free. localtradeaz.com Love Blooms Merchantile Market 10 a.m. at Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. More shopping? Yes, please! The Love Blooms Market boasts 50+ vendors, hands-on make and take experiences, beer and cocktail tents, live music, food booths, and activities for the kids. This event is free. merchantilemarket.com    Frida 1 p.m. at Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St., Phoenix. Ballet Arizona presents the U.S. premiere of Frida – a retelling of Frida Kahlo’s life story. The world of this celebrated Mexican painter comes to life through Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s choreography. Audiences will see Kahlo’s motifs, paintings, and dreams reimagined through dance and woven within her story. Tickets start at $35. balletaz.org Winemaker Talks 10:30 a.m. at LDV Winery, 7134 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale. This event is an opportunity to expand your knowledge of vino. Winemaker Curt Dunham will be on-site discussing “Library Wines” and how the older vintages in LDV’s collection are aging. There will be sips and snacks included in the $20 registration. ldvwinery.com    Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Public Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. This month’s Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable will host historian and author Dr. Alex Rossino, who will lecture on the loss of Special Orders 190 and 191, the identity of the Confederate messenger that lost the orders and the location where they were found. Doors open at 5 p.m. for meeting the speaker, book sale, and viewing Civil War videos. This event is free. scottsdalecwrt.org Parada del Sol and Trail’s End Festival in Scottsdale. Love Blooms Merchantile Market in Scottsdale. tinoferrulli@gmail.com 4725 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Tino Ferrulli A NEW YEAR. A NEW ERA. ENTER ELECTRIFIED ELEGANCE. 2025 GLE 450E Celebrate the New Year by experiencing the innovation and performance of Mercedes- Benz like never before. Now introducing Plug-In Hybrid technology in your favorite GLC, GLE, and S-Class models. Featuring turbo for added boost, electric range for daily trips, and regenerative braking – take every mile further. Available now for purchase or lease. Stop by or call Team Tino today to schedule your test drive! Power. Efficiency. Luxury. It all starts here.