Celebrate Japanese art, culture and tradition at the two-day Matsuri Festival at Heritage and Science Park in Phoenix. Exhibits, Japanese food, bonsai displays and live entertainment hallmark this annual event.

Looking for a weekend getaway but don’t want to go far? Head to Wickenburg and take part in the annual cowboy celebration commemorating the city’s mining and ranching heritage.

Celebrate your Italian heritage or the one you wish you had Jan. 25-27 at the 8th annual Italian American Festival at Kokopelli Winery and Bistro in Chandler.

Naming herself after the provincial flower of Alberta, Canada, Loca Rosa is a performer with international flair.

Let your light shine.

If what you know of United States history came out of school textbooks, prepare to be enthralled by our shared past as never before.

Mega-Giganti-Normous: Dinosaurs invade the Arizona Science Center at this new exhibit showcasing some of the earth’s biggest animals, including the largest meat-eating dinosaur, a long-necked herbavore, and a unicorn-spiked duckbill dinosaur from China. Parking in the Monroe Street garage will be restricted on Oct. 7 due to a festival in Heritage Square.

Mariachi Pajarillo, Mariachi Flores Mexicanas, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli, Ballet Folklorico Esperanza and Tradiciones Dance Co. perform at Chandler Center for the Arts in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Whether you want to explore a classy art festival or cheer at the ostrich, or even Chihuahua races, the East Valley has it! Let’s take advantage of our Arizona paradise and dance outdoors to live music, indulge during a cook-off, put on our boots for the rodeo and Old West Days, or run foot races.

Nearly 15 years ago, audiences were enchanted by a young Leonardo DiCaprio who swept Kate Winslet off her feet – escorting her below decks for a rowdy Irish party in a little film called “Titanic”. Bagpipes a-pipin’ and bodhrán a-drummin’, a relatively unknown Celtic group at the time called Gaelic Storm supplied the foot-stomping melodies for the now classic scene, which soon catapulted them into the world-music stratosphere.

The Valley must hold some kind of record for how many people vacate the city over Labor Day weekend. It has to, because with temperatures still bordering on insufferable, having three days to escape the heat sounds like a great idea. Consult our roundup of events across Arizona if you’re itching to hightail it to cooler climes for a day or the weekend. Just be sure to call ahead to check for any last-minute changes.

The Valley must hold some kind of record for how many people vacate the city over Labor Day weekend. It has to, because with temperatures still bordering on insufferable, having three days to escape the heat sounds like a great idea. Consult our roundup of events across Arizona if you’re itching to hightail it to cooler climes for a day or the weekend. Just be sure to call ahead to check for any last-minute changes.

Chandler is inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to support the special events and community festivals that they host in the city. The city will award funds to events that enhance the community through cultural and educational enrichment, diversity and heritage, community pride and economic vitality. Chandler’s City Council has approved $30,000 a year to these special events since 2002.

EAST LONDON – Echoes of traditional Mexican folk music filled the air of Island Gardens Park here Saturday when the performers from Tucson’s Ballet Folklorico La Paloma and Viva Arizona dance groups took the stage at the park’s American Dance Festival.

Gear up in your red, white and blue for these East Valley events to celebrate another year of independence.

As Memorial Day is celebrated this weekend, it will hold different meanings for families across the nation and in the Grand Canyon State.

When the Chandler Ostrich Festival first began 24 years ago, its founders didn’t just look to their fair-feathered friends for inspiration.

It’s as close as you can get to Hawaii without a six- or seven-hour plane ride.

Sharpen those hula dancing skills, grab the sunblock and grass skirts, and come out to Tempe Beach Park on March 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Arizona Aloha Festival. Admission is free.

Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki visits the two-day Arizona Matsuri. This kaleidoscopic event spotlights Japanese culture, crafts, children’s activities, bonsai displays, traditional Japanese food and entertainment.