Awesome event! We…read morereally enjoyed this event, even though it was absolutely freezing. It's a bit of a drive if you live in the Gilbert area, but it's a wonderful exhibit for families, friends, and even date nights if you're into lights and scenic walks. Just be sure to wear very warm clothing and comfortable shoes because once you start walking... there's no turning back and it takes a good 1.5hrs to get through it all. lol. For me, after about 15min I was ready to go but not to discredit the event. I didn't come in warm and comfortable clothing, having arriving right after work and at the last minute deciding to go. Parking is $15, and the crew was very friendly. Kim, one of the parking attendants, was especially amazing--she deserves a raise and should definitely return next year. The ticket booth attendant with blue hair was also super polite and kind. I especially want to highlight the entry staff--Sharon, Maribel, and Andrew. They were a total hoot and truly made the entry experience fun. I even spent time chatting with them and learned a lot about what goes into this fantastic setup. I was also able to bless a family with tickets (don't worry about how ). Be a blessing to others this season Overall, this was a great way to get exercise while enjoying the view.

My 9 year old and I were all smiles the whole walk through. Between the bright dazzling lights,…read moreintricate designs, and interactive fixtures we were completely enthralled by it all. It's divided into four areas: bugs, holidays, ra8nforest, and prehistoric. Everything moves and each interactive piece had us laughing. We went through in under 90 minutes as we were a bit rushed to get somewhere after, but could have spent much longer. The installation runs until January 4th. Pro tips: arrive just before opening for closer parking. Use restrooms at the entrance (port-a-potties) as the next ones are halfway through (not port-a-potty). Parking is an additional $15, but pay for parking online ahead of time to save a few bucks. Allow for longer and take your time to enjoy every interaction and photo op.

We enjoyed this. We thought it would be a maze but instead it was a scary walk through a…read morecornfield. Definitely had some jump scares and good set up of the different areas. Didn't care for other patrons bunching up next to us - don't know why people want to do a haunted attraction, rush through, and cramp other groups....but that is not the fault of the attraction. We will probably go again next year. The family corn maze was also pretty fun to do at night.

This was the worst haunted attraction I have ever visited. It is a complete waste of time and…read moremoney. Just a long walk through the corn with like 5 scare actors that literally did nothing and a couple animatronics that didn't trigger until after we were well past them. The only person that seemed to be interested in participating was the clown with the chainsaw that was chasing people as they exited. Otherwise, this attraction is just plain lame. So disappointed!

Loved that music was current and pop slight mix of classic. Lights were amazing. Worth the…read moremoney!!! Best family experience of the holiday without breaking the bank and small time commitment. Make it longer! Slower car pace please.

Took our 94 year old friend who is home bound and was just overwhelmed with the experience of World…read moreof Illumination. She loved the drive and the music was fun. The staff was great and the pace was perfect. We hope that the theme will be switched with the other location next year so that we will want to go again next year.

Me and my friend checked this out on Saturday. This is the 20th anniversary of this event. This…read moreyear it ran from March 18-21, 2010. Appareently the location changes from year to year also. This year it was at Westworld in Scottsdale. Part of the event is outdoors and part of it is indoors, which made for a nice afternoon. The men, women, and children who dress the part in old western wear makes this event really worth going to! They offer a best costume in various areas such as lawman, cowboy, cowgirl, salon woman, society man/woman, etc. It is really a delight to see. There are booths that cater to collectors of old and modern western wear, antique guns, skins and various collectibles. The Chuck Wagon Cook-off goes over well and some of that food is lip smacking good if you can get it, it goes fast! There are several food vendors in a separate area that cook all day so there is always something available to chow down on, so fear not. The event really does a good job of providing family entertainment for a whole family young and old. There are western writers tables with authors there to talk to and sign books for adults and children titles, There are other western theme film/tv celebrities also scheduled and music entertainment at the indoor section. The shopping is great from home decor, jewelry, clothing, artwork, log home & ranch property sales. Don't miss the gunfight (outdoors), the horse events, the mountain men & cowboy poetry, the buffalo soldiers table and tepee displays that you can walk into or even buy! We stayed 5 hours maybe longer and I was never bored or looked at the time. The crowd was a good size for the location and it never felt to crowded. Seeing the gunfight was not so easy unless you're up front, but they do multiple shows a day so you can plan your time to get up close for one of the shows if you desire. General Admission Tickets were $14 or $13 w/ a dollar off coupon (availablen on fliers or on-line) for adult entry, Less money for seniors and kids. There was history to be learned and a huge amount of topics to interest you. Oh and they had train rides and a kiddie play area to burn off pent up energy of the littler ones. We had a great time! My only complaint was that the website gives you no idea of the times or days certain celebrities appear beforehand and also that they charge you for the program of events and after you arrive within the gates. So some stuff you may want to see you have no idea what days or times to attend in advance. But for the money it was far better than a movie.

3.20.26 - Was excited for this event! Purchased the early bird tickets for $13 each so that wasn't…read morebad at all. I attended this event last year and the lines weren't too bad that time. Place seemed brighter and livelier last year. It was also a bit more busy too. This year, it was pretty empty. Lines were short though so that was a good thing. It was hot out on this particular weekend. Wish they would plan these outdoor events during the cooler months. I just had to come back again for a few specific items. Unfortunately, the oysters from Nola Oysteria were a bit overcooked and dry this year. Chili wontons from Zindrew were also better last time. They were also hot (spicy) last time. This time, it was just mild (1 friend can't handle hot). I ended up buying a jar of Zindrew's hot chili oil to take home. Sooo good! Pho soup dumplings were delicious!! I wanted 2 more trays of it! My friend liked the bone marrow. They liked the katsu chicken sando too. My lychee tea was refreshing. My friend got a giant mango drink in the animal jugs but it came with little to no ice!! Was not worth $25 for it. My only regret was not purchasing any dessert to eat or take home this time.

So this past Sunday was the Thriftapalooza…read more.. This is a must try attraction for the ones that didn't make it this year, but a must for next year. Easy parking. Easy entrance. Friendly customer service from all the workers..but most importantly. It was a fun function. Walking down and looking at all the booths and bringing me back to when I was kid. The things I'd collect and wear. This was an awesome event. Glad I was able to take part in it. Thank you Thriftapalooza! And thank you AE & State Fair for a great event...until again yelpers...

Overall this was a reasonably priced family friendly Festival that benefited St. Mary's Food Bank…read more They had some gun twirling, lassoing performers, Trick horses, Indian Dancers, There was story telling and a few celebrates such as Dan Haggerty (he was Grizzly Adams) The other actors I never herd of but Kevin Sorbo (Hercules or Captain Hunt) was suppose to be there but I didn't catch him there Sunday so I was slightly disappointed because I wanted to see him. The festival was set up like a MINI Renaissance Fair. Some vender's and Fair kind of foods like turkey legs, hot dogs, some BBQ shaved iced and Ice cream. I tried the Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream from Karen's Creamery and didn't like it but her chocolate flavor taste natural. The pie eating contest was mildly entertaining and the habenero was a little more interesting. I think the pie contest winner won some free sodas but the habenero winner won $50.00. I noticed the pie eating contestants took home their eaten pies. I thought water should have been sold in more places and they didn't provide enough seating area as I wasn't able to get a seat to any show I saw so I wasn't able to get good photos because I'm short and had to stand behind seated people. The ground is very uneven and might give some people trouble but I noticed some handicapped people doing OK. A mildly entertaining day out! This Festival ran Three Days Friday - Sunday.

First time attending this wonderful festival! There was food, live music, dancing and a lot of…read moretables set up selling beautiful embroidered coasters, clothing, bags and much more. The festival was lively and everyone in attendance were in good spirits. Had a chance to speak the the festival volunteers and they were all lovely and informative. Also, be prepared to sing, "Boldog születésnapot" (Happy Birthday). The band/DJ would serenade guests celebrating their bday. Fun times!

wow, Wow, WOW! I attended the 2022 Arizona Cocktail Weekend events at the Walter Where?House and…read moreThe Croft Downtown. I had heard that Arizona Cocktail Weekend was a can't miss event but I was unprepared for how awesome this edition was! This year was the event's 10tth anniversary which undoubtedly added some great energy. The word that comes to mind is "generous." Every bar or spirit vendor that participated genuinely wanted to be part of this event, impart some education, and create a memorable experience. Over the two days, I met so many great and talented folks, not to mention sampling some unforgettable cocktails! There is also a ton of free swag given away. Arizona Cocktail Weekend is also a great spotlight on the revitalization efforts of downtown Phoenix. Downtown is gaining an increasingly vibrant food and beverage scene that puts Phoenix on par with other major metropolitan areas. It's my understanding that the owner of Bitter & Twisted and Little Rituals is one of the architects of this flawlessly executed event. While I knew I would get to try some great drinks from Phoenix-area bars and restaurants, I was stunned to find bars from around the country and the WORLD. Yup, bartenders from London, the Netherlands, and other far-flung hotspots traveled down for the event, not to mention closer locales such as Denver and San Franciso. It was such a great opportunity to taste the world at home. The Espresso Martini from Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur was especially delicious! The frozen Irish coffee from Homeboy bar in London was also refreshing. I promise that the cocktails weren't all coffee-related! The vibe at both events was great and the support staff like security were easygoing. Maybe the only crossed wire was that you needed to present your vaccine card. I did have a photo of mine but it took a little while to find. Another opportunity area would be to partner with some rideshare companies or even create a hotel staycation package. Given that this event is only a decade old, the sky is the limit on how this festival will transform. The other attendees were focused on the fun and nothing got too out of hand. For the large-scale events, there was not much food available so I would recommend grabbing dinner before you go. An entrance ticket is going to include at least ten small (but potent!) drinks and you will want something on your tummy. Pro tip: every year the schedule of events goes live on their website and you can buy early bird tickets several weeks in advance. Even at full-price, these events are worth it, but always great when you can lock them in at a discount.