Stagecoach Days will be Oct. 10-25 in a celebration of Maricopa and its heritage.
This year’s events include the new Pecan Pride Celebration, Maricopa Shutter Shots and the third annual Mud Run. It all coincides with Maricopa High School’s Paint the Town Red event culminating in the Homecoming festivities and the school’s 60th anniversary.
Stagecoach Days has transformed over the years into a series of smaller community events.
٠ Kicking things off is the Copa History Hunt on Oct. 10-15. Created by city council members Peg Chapados and Henry Wade in partnership with the Maricopa Historical Society, Maricopa Fire Department Citizens Emergency Response Team and Maricopa Youth Council, it is a photo scavenger hunt for all ages.
Scoring is based on capturing in a digital photo the correct place or thing derived from riddles and clues. Register in person Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Large Group Ramada at Copper Sky Regional Park. Find Copa History Hunt on Facebook for rules and details.
٠ Another new event is a Pecan Pride Celebration. To honor Maricopa’s agricultural heritage, the city has recruited local eateries to serve up a special pecan-enhanced dish just for the two-week occasion.
Eleven establishments are participating: 347 Grill at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, Arroyo Grill at Ak-Chin Southern Dune, Bead & Berry Coffeehouse, Brooklyn Boys, Copa Craze, Helen’s Kitchen, Honeycutt Coffee, Penasco’s Mexican Restaurant, Plaza Bonita, Silver Spurs Grill at the Duke and Sunrise Café.
٠ The Shutter Shots Photo Contest runs for 24 hours on Oct. 15, the anniversary of Maricopa’s incorporation. Everyone is invited to photograph everything Maricopa – people, places and things. Entry is free. There are eight categories, and the grand prize is $100.
Winners will be unveiled for a showcase at the Maricopa Public Library, Oct. 22-29. Winning images will also be submitted to the Arizona Office of Tourism.
٠ Friends of the Maricopa Public Library host their annual book sale Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Santa Rosa Elementary School. The sale includes all genres of fiction and nonfiction books along with audio and visual selections.
٠ Also Oct. 17 is “End the Violence; Stop the Silence” Awareness Walk to combat domestic violence. It is organized by Against Abuse, the Pinal County Domestic Violence Coalition and others from 9 to 11 a.m. at Copper Sky on the Great Lawn.
٠ Homecoming Week has loads of events. It starts Oct. 19 with a Powder Puff football game at 6 p.m. at Ram Stadium. RamFest is Oct. 21 at Copper Sky and includes an alumni football game and bonfire from 5 to 9 p.m. The Staff v. Student Mud Run is Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m.
The Homecoming game is Oct. 23 against Vista Grande. The party starts at 6 p.m., and the game kicks off at 7 p.m.
٠ The third annual Mud Run is Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants will run, walk and crawl through two miles of mud and obstacles at Copper Sky Regional Park.
