Maricopa this week

If it looks like snow and feels like snow, it must be snow. Maricopans will get to experience 30 plus tons of it when the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department hosts the city’s first Holidays of the World event at Pacana Park on Saturday.

Enjoy the lights and decorations at the residences entered in the Holiday Homes on Parade competition. Now through Friday, Dec. 14, Maricopa residents can drive around using a map provided by the city. Ten judges will vote on the entries, and residents are encouraged to either vote in person at City Hall for Residents’ Choice or email the contestant number to [email protected].

Saturday, Dec. 1:

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their grand entrance at Desert Cedars subdivision on Cypress Lane at 6 p.m. From SR 347 south of the tracks, take a left on Bowlin, another left on Brittlebush and left again on Cypress to the house on the left with all the lights. The jolly couple will be appearing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 – 9 p.m. through Dec. 23. Residents are asked to drop off an unwrapped toy or food item for the less fortunate in Maricopa.

Monday, Dec. 3:

The Maricopa Wells Middle School choir presents a holiday concert at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

High school girls’ soccer plays away today at 6 p.m. in a match with Antelope.

The Rams’ varsity boys’ basketball team takes the home court at 7 p.m. against South Ridge.

Girls’ basketball will be on the road to play Valley Christian; junior varsity starts at 6 p.m. with the varsity game at 7:30 p.m.

The City of Maricopa is hosting a public forum for input regarding the Safe Routes to School grant. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Maricopa Wells Middle School. For more information, call Paul Jepson at (520) 568-9098.

Tuesday, Dec. 4:

Everyone is welcome to stop by the Maricopa Community Library on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:30 a.m. to have a cup of coffee, a glass of lemonade and maybe a cookie or two, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Their cookbook, “Home Cookin’ from Maricopa, Arizona” ($10) and Patricia Brock’s “Reflections of a Desert Town” ($25) are both available for purchase.

Pinal County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Snider will hold his monthly office hours in Maricopa today from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Supervisor Snider will be at the interim City Hall located at 45145 W. Madison Avenue.

New Life Pregnancy Center offers free parenting classes on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., during their regular weekly office hours. To schedule an appointment, call (520) 568-0612. Lessons cover prenatal care through the teen years.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 19235 W. Gunsmoke Road every Tuesday from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Maricopa City Council will hold a work session at 6 p.m. with the regular session scheduled at 7 p.m. at the Global Water facility.

Maricopa Unified School District will hold another round of the Elementary Academic Bowl at 3:30 p.m. Competition locations will be Maricopa and Pima Butte Elementary Schools.

Wednesday, Dec.5:

The wrestling Rams will be in Safford for a 3 p.m. match.

Thursday, Dec.6:

Girls’ basketball will be away in games with Scottsdale Christian today. Junior varsity takes the court at 4:30 p.m. and varsity at 6:30 p.m.

The boys’ soccer team will meet River Valley at home at 6 p.m.

Maricopa High’s girls’ soccer team goes against Fountain Hills in a 6 p.m. match.

Networking Maricopa’s Thursday group meets at the offices of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. Networking Maricopa is a group of Chamber member men and women committed to support each other through lead sharing and cross promotion. Each group is limited to one company from each profession to avoid cross competition. More groups will be forming soon. For more information contact Nicole Hendricks at (480) 232-0480.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the First Baptist Church of Maricopa, just south of the tracks on John Wayne Parkway, from 7 – 8 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7:

Legacy Traditional School on Porter Rd. is hosting a Winter Wonderland event from 5:30-7 p.m. Cookie decorating, ornament making, photos with Santa, hot chocolate, popcorn, hot dogs, glow necklaces and bracelets are all available for a nominal fee. The public is invited.

Maricopa High wrestlers will compete today and Saturday in a meet at Peoria with times to be announced.

Saturday, Dec.8:

Holidays of the World, featuring snow, singing, dancing and family fun, will be held at Pacana Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

Rams’ girls’ basketball plays Precision at 2:30 p.m. away.

The boys’ basketball team is also away at Precision. The junior varsity plays at 1 p.m., and the varsity takes the court at 4 p.m.

For a list of upcoming events, or to list an event of your own, visit the events calendar.