5 JULY 2026 By Mark Hays More than 70 young athletes from Arcadia High School’s feeders and surrounding communities took part in an annual Mini Football Camp before the end of the school year, learning football fundamentals from Titans players and coaches. The two-day gathering welcomed fifth- through eighth- grade students from Veritas Prep, Ingleside Middle School, and a few from the Madison School District. Arcadia football mom Coley Arnold explained that the camp was created as a way for the board and coaches to give back to the community. Participants learned football skills, rotated through drills, and had opportunities to scrimmage. Current high school players took the lead in running the camp and mentoring younger athletes. “It’s really great to see their leadership, as well as how they mentor the younger kids,” Arnold said. For sixth-grader Dominick Smith, the camp was both fun and educational. “I learned a lot,” he said. “My favorite was the 7 on 7; I like the drills. I feel like it made me a better player.” Bodie Curtis said one highlight was being coached by familiar faces. “I really liked that my brother Beck’s friends were the coaches and they knew me,” Curtis said. “I had fun playing with my school friends and doing drills.” Arnold said the camp is about more than football instruction. “The biggest goal for us and for the camp is just to show kids what’s possible if they stay committed to football, no matter where they end up,” Arnold said. She also praised Arcadia’s players for their patience and willingness to help younger participants learn new skills. “The encouragement from the high schoolers was so apparent, and all the younger athletes felt like it was a safe space to learn and grow!” Arnold said. The camp’s strong showing last year helped boost attendance, Arnold noted, and the event has established itself a long-standing tradition in youth football. “I think the success from last year played a role in the interest of kids; however, our numbers have been consistent, and we have been giving back like this for years now,” Arnold said. “It is a staple and an event that the younger generations look forward to.” AHS hosts annual football mini camp Participants worked through football drills with AHS players during the two-day camp. PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLEY ARNOLD

JULY 2026 6   Grand Fourth of July 5 p.m. at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale. This celebration will feature a BBQ buffet at Mesa Centrale, family- friendly activities, poolside programming, and a DJ at the adults-only pool. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 9 p.m., creating the perfect finale to a memorable summer holiday. Tickets are $65. hyattexperiences.com  The Duke: Still in the Saddle Film Series 2 p.m. at Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way. Step into the golden age of Western cinema with The Duke: Still in the Saddle Film Series. These events celebrate the legacy of John Wayne and his impact on the Western genre. Today’s film is Rio Lobo , which follows Cord McNally as he tracks down the traitors responsible for stealing gold that his troops were protecting. There will be a post-screening discussion. Tickets are $10. westernspirit.org   Music Bingo 6 p.m. at Pinnacle Brewing Co., 15111 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Think you know music? Challenge yourself across categories ranging from classic 80s and 90s hits to rock, pop, and country favorites. Teams vote on each round’s category, ensuring every game reflects the crowd’s musical preferences. Gather your friends, grab a cold brew, and discover if you truly know your music. Participation is free. pinnaclebrewing.com   Winter in July 7-11 a.m. at the Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. The temperature outside may be in the 100s, but at the Phoenix Zoo, it’s cooling down. Participants can enjoy winter in July with more than 50 tons of snow, a snow slide, live music and crafts. They can also watch Chutti the greater one-horned rhino have a shower! Tickets are $25. phoenixzoo.org Letterpress Workshop 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Hazel & Violet, 1301 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix. Curious about letterpress printing? Hazel & Violet can help. Guests will learn the basics of letterpress with wood and metal settings to print their very own poster, card or coasters. All materials are provided. Registration starts at $70 per person. hazelandviolet.com   Paint and Sip 6 p.m. at Greenwood Brewing, 922 N. 5th St., Phoenix. Join Andrea M. Art and the team at Greenwood Brewing for an evening of paint and sip. Attendees will be guided by a professional artist in creating a masterpiece while enjoying tunes, craft beer and good vibes. Materials are included. Prices vary. Secure your spot by calling the brewery. greenwoodbrews.com Rapunzel 10 a.m. at the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix. We all know one version of Rapunzel or another – a fairy-tale heroine famous for her incredibly long, magical hair. Now, you can see the GAPT’s version, portrayed from an antique trunk! Will Rapunzel escape the tower and the evil forces that keep her there? Head to the theater to find out. Tickets are $10 for kids and $16 for adults. azpuppets.org   Red White & Choo Choo McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. The Train Park will host its fourth annual Red White & Choo Choo event with live music from Groove Machine, lawn games, activities for kids, face painting, train rides, food trucks and fireworks. Tickets are $15 for everyone 3 and up. therailroadpark.com   Scottsdale 4th of July 5-9 p.m. at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. Get ready to be red, white and cool at WestWorld’s 13th annual Fourth of July celebration. Guests will find a rodeo, mutton busting, dancing, circus performances, a slider eating contest, a water balloon championship, walking history tours, musical chairs, photo booths, a backyard BBQ and the annual Parade of Heroes. Tickets start at $25. scottsdale4th.com Fabulous Phoenix 4th 6 p.m. at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its annual fireworks show – one of the largest in the southwest! Admission is free, while food and drink are available for purchase. There will be inflatables for kids, a car show, entertainment, an ice cream eating contest, yard games and a Veterans area. phoenix.gov Arcadia’s annual Fourth of July Parade is happening on Friday, July 4 starting at 3861 N. Jokake Dr. Families can decorate their bikes, strollers, golf carts, scooters – if it’s got wheels, it can join in! There will be water, coffee and snacks available, and the Phoenix Fire Department will be there. Parade begins at 8 a.m., so get here early to find a good spot! Contact Emily Whitwell at eawhitwell@gmail.com for more. Drivers traveling through Arcadia Osborn will soon see the speed limit on Osborn Road reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph, but neighborhood leaders are urging the city to ensure the change is clearly communicated and enforced. The Arcadia Osborn Neighborhood Association has requested additional signage and coordination with Phoenix police, citing aggressive driving issues that followed a similar speed reduction on 40th Street. arcadiaosbornphx.com A campaign launched in June aims to raise $30,000 to help bring Her Court , Old Town Scottsdale’s first dedicated women’s sports bar, to life. Founded by AZ natives Kristen and Anthony Carli, the concept will feature women’s sports on every screen, a bar, event space and more. The pair hopes to create a permanent home for women’s sports fans ahead of its planned 2027 opening. kickstarter.com/projects/carli/ her-court-womens-sports-bar Early childhood and elementary educators are invited to attend Educator Day & Resource Expo at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix on July 1 (215 N. 7th St., Phoenix). Educators receive free admission for themselves and one guest with school ID. The Resource Expo features organizations sharing educational products and services from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. childrensmuseumofphoenix.org The North Valley Symphony Orchestra will host its annual Summer Strings Camp July 7-11, at Shiloh Community Church. Open to violin, viola, cello and bass students, the camp offers ensemble rehearsals, games and musical instruction led by youth directors and orchestra musicians. Camp runs Tuesday through Friday, with a student performance for family and friends on Saturday. Registration is open now; tuition starts at $200. northvalleysymphony.org WDS Integrated Design Build celebrated the grand opening of MEND Wellness at 36 th St. and Indian School Road (next to Trevor’s). The new business brings medical, wellness and holistic practitioners together under one roof, offering services ranging from concierge medicine and hormone health to yoga, acupuncture and massage therapy, all designed to support long-term, whole-person well-being. mendwellnesscollective.com Southwest Human Development is asking volunteers to support its school supplies initiative in two ways. You can host a school supply drive through July 10, collecting new backpacks, crayons, notebooks, folders, pencils, and more, with donations dropped off at 2850 N. 24th Street in Phoenix, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can join the virtual backpack drive by making financial contribution to help students start school prepared. swhd.org St. Vincent de Paul’s 100 Days of Summer campaign continues through Labor Day. The organization is asking for donations of canned proteins, peanut butter, dried pasta, canned fruits and vegetables and more to help fill the pantry. Folks can drop off donations at SVdP’s main campus: 2120 S. 3rd Dr., Phoenix, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. 100days.stvincentdepaul.net Local First Arizona’s Independents Week returns through July 7, encouraging Arizonans to support the independent businesses that help drive the state’s economy and shape our identity. The campaign highlights certified businesses across a wide range of industries; all featured in Local First Arizona’s free online directory. localfirstaz.com/directory