Kid Stuff at Maricopa County Fair: The fair continues through Sunday, May 5, and includes daily fun like midway rides and games, livestock and agriculture competitions and exhibitions, farm tours featuring a "maternity ward" of animal newborns, and vegetable-bowling and pickle-eating contests. For general information, see Pic Hits or call 252-0717.
tweedle tea
Mad Hatter's Tea Party: The fifth annual afternoon of fun, scheduled for 1 to 5 Sunday, May 5, at Biltmore Fashion Park, 24th Street and Camelback, includes music, games, crafts and appearances by characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Tickets are $15, $10 for kids; all proceeds benefit Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, Inc. For reservations and details, call 274-3430.
for pet's sake
Arizona Humane Society Adopt-a-Thon: In honor of national Be Kind to Animals Week, the society's shelter at 9226 North 13th Avenue will remain open for 36 hours straight, from 8 a.m. Saturday, May 4, to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 5, with the goal of placing as many animals in good homes as possible. A pet fair is also scheduled. For details call 997-7585.
Fun Fur All: Arizona Veterinary Medical Association kicks off the local celebration of National Pet Week festivities with this event, scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 5, at Kiwanis Park, Mill Avenue and All-America Way in Tempe. Highlights include a pet walk/jog, the Mutt Olympics, and exhibits and demonstrations about pet obedience, CPR and dental issues. Call 242-7936.
bells and whizzes
Wild West Pinball Fest: Pinball wizards of all ages are invited to flip those flippers to their hearts' content from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and the same hours Sunday, May 5, at this annual event, which features unlimited play on about 150 machines for a single fee of $7 per day. The scene is the Safari Resort, 4611 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. A raffle is planned, with all proceeds benefiting Valley Big Brothers & Big Sisters. For details call 998-1202 or 561-2414.
at the concert
International Youth Festival of Song: Aztec Elementary Mariachi Ensemble, Desert Mountain Brass, Coronado High School Fiddlers, Hopi/Tavan Elementary Combined Choir, Mountainside Middle School Jazz Band, and Phoenix Boys Training Choir perform at this "celebration of cultural diversity." Also scheduled: Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, and New School of the Arts Flamenco Dance Troupe. Showtime is 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, in the auditorium at Desert Mountain High School, 12575 East Via Linda in Scottsdale. Tickets are $5, $3 for children ages 5 to 12, free for younger kids. For details call 242-6555 or 840-0872.
among the animals
"H2O! Respect for Water": Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, in Papago Park, hosts the latest installment in its educational festival "The Celebration of the Natural World," which continues through September. "Respect" features activities centering on that cool, clear stuff that's such a precious commodity here in the desert; it continues through Friday, May 31. Participation is free with regular admission: $7, $6 for seniors, $3.50 for kids ages 4 to 12, free for younger children and members. For details call 273-1341 or 273-7771.
good sports
Pat Murphy's Baseball Sessions: The head coach of the Arizona State University baseball squad hosts pitching and hitting clinics for kids ages 7 to 12 at Packard Stadium, First Street and Rural in Tempe. The latest round starts on Saturday, May 4, and continues each Saturday in May. For details call 965-6085.
on the stage
Cinderella: The young dancers of Ballet Youth Ensemble present their version of the fairy tale at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Brimhall Junior High School, 4949 East Southern in Mesa. Tickets are $6, $5 for seniors and students, $4 for children ages 4 to 12, free for those younger. For reservations and details, call 641-1585.
Goodbye Marianne: Irene Kirstein Watts wrote this play, recommended for kids age 10 and over, about a Jewish girl in 1938 Nazi Germany whose parents send her to Canada for her safety. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3; 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Mesa Youtheatre, located at Mesa Arts Center, 155 North Center. More shows are scheduled Thursday, May 9, through Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $7, $5 for those age 18 and under. For reservations and details, call 644-2560.
Great Arizona Puppet Theater: This week's performances of The Eagle Brothers, based on a Hopi legend, are at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, May 3; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5; and 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the theatre, 3302 North Seventh Street. The production continues through Sunday, May 12. Admission is $4. For details call 277-1275.
Pippi Longstocking: Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre presents the story about the young adventuress with the big heart and the wild hair. This week's performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3; 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Stagebrush Theatre, 7020 East Second Street in Scottsdale. The production continues through Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $5. For reservations and details, call 990-7646.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Desert Stages, Inc., presents its version of the fairy tale. This week's shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3; 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the theatre, 8473 East McDonald in Scottsdale. The production continues through Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $6 in advance, $9 at the door. For details call 483-1664.
Tall Tales Roundup: Phoenix Theatre's Cookie Company continues its season with Alan J. Prewitt's Arizona-specific story about cowpokes trying to top one another around the campfire. Final performances are on Saturday, May 4; and Sunday, May 5, at Playhouse on the Park at Dial Corporate Center, Central and Palm Lane. Saturday's show is performed in Spanish; Sunday's is interpreted in American Sign Language. Tickets are $6. For times and details, call 254-2151.
at the museum
Arizona Museum for Youth: The "Woodwork" exhibition, featuring pieces by Virginia Dotson, Paula Cooperrider, David V. Draper, Rebecca Davis and Roger Asay, Todd Hoyer, Mark S. Weiss and Lynne Oulman, continues through Friday, May 24. Call for details about related workshops. The museum is located at 35 North Robson in Mesa. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $2, free for kids under 2. For more information, call 644-2467.
Arizona Science Center: The "Computer Works" exhibit explores the elements required to run a computer and how they relate to one another; it continues indefinitely. The facility is located at 147 East Adams. Various events and workshops are scheduled; unless noted, participation is free with regular admission: $4.50, $3.50 for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors, free for those age 3 and younger. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For details call 256-9518 or 258-7250.
Mesa Southwest Museum: Models, fossils and skeleton fragments are displayed in the permanent exhibit "Dinosaurs of the Southwest." The center is located at 53 North Macdonald. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5, free for kids age 2 and under. For details call 644-2230.
