EXPERIENCE ARIZONA

Festivals, powwows and get-togethers / by CARRIE M. MINER

PORTRAITS OF SOUTHWEST FACES AND PLACES . . . IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS!

Join the Friends of Arizona Highways February 7-11 and work with two professional Arizona Highways photographers in one workshop as you live at an authentic 1927 adobe ranch secluded in the foothills just outside Tucson.

Experienced Arizona Highways photographer Jeff Kida will teach the use of early morning light at graceful Mission San Xavier del Bac and of artificial lighting with working cowboys as models at the ranch's old library, barn and tack rooms.

Go south of the border with talented photojournalist J. Peter Mortimer to a small Mexican town and learn to use natural light to capture the character of the local inhabitants.

For more information about this or other exciting photo workshops, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways at (602) 712-2004, toll-free at (888) 790-7042 or visit their Web site at www.friendsofazhighways.com.

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

March 10-16 Death Valley with David Muench April 12-19 Sea of Cortez-Whales and Desert Wildlife with Richard Maack

May 22-26 Havasupai Canyon with Kerrick James

June 5-14 Rafting the Scenic Colorado with Jeff Kida

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

January 11; Mesa Names like Game Boy and PlayStationquickly recognized by today's youth-may leave older generations bemused by modern technology's success over old-fashioned children's toys.

Mosey down memory lane with Fun and Games of Long Ago at the Sirrine House Museum. This multigenerational event, for ages 5 and up, teaches traditional games such as hoop races, marbles, horseshoes, tops, and string and button games. Children can try their hand at constructing button yo-yos, pinwheels and a thaumatrope (a visual card trick that merges two images into one). Information: (480) 644-2760.

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT

January 18; Glendale In 1783, a Frenchman took the world's first manned balloon flight. Two years later, two pilots made history by crossing the English Channel in a hot air balloon. Since then, balloons have been used for military expeditions, sporting events, unique travel and atmospheric studies.

See them up close at the 8th Annual Glendale Glitter and Glow as more than 30 tethered hot air balloons make a colorful light show in historic downtown. Holiday lights, an electric-light float display, fireworks and a fire circus also illuminate the night. Also browse Glendale's antique shops and entertain the family with live music, street performers, children's activities and horse-drawn carriage rides. Information: (623) 930-2299.

OWN A PIECE OF THE WEST

January 18-19; Mesa The Western, a uniquely American genre in books and film, romanticizes frontier life from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Although movie Westerns gained popularity in the 1930s, 1952 marked when predictable elements of the Western gave way to intense plot and complex character development in the movie High Noon.

Collectors and fans of this genre will delight in the 13th Annual High Noon's Wild West Antique Show and Auction held at Centennial Hall. Last year's prized auction item, Roy Rogers' sterling silver, gold and ruby-studded McCabe saddle, sold for a record $660,000. This year's auction lineup tantalizes bidders with antiques, fine art, textiles, Indian beadwork, leatherwork, saddles, Hollywood Western film memorabilia, historic photos, and saloon and gambling mementos. Information: (480) 733-0909.

PLANTS FROM 'DOWN UNDER'

January 25; Superior Australia, the world's smallest continent, boasts an amazing diversity of plants. More than 22,000 plant species thrive there. A collection of more than 450 of these species grows in the Australian Forest at the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum (also a state park).

Take a guided tour of the forest at the 7th Annual Australia Day and learn about the outback with storyteller Paul Taylor. In addition to the festival's stories, poems and folklore from "Down Under," a workshop teaches music lovers to make and play a didgeridoo, an ancient Aboriginal instrument. Information: (520) 689-2811; http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu. Workshop preregistration: (520) 689-5248.

Other Events

Hi Jolly Daze Kick-off Parade; January 11; Quartzsite; (928) 927-5600. Fiddler's contest, barbecue and gemstone scoop.

Gila County Gem and Mineral Show; January 17-19; Globe-Miami; (928) 473-3775. Precious and semiprecious gems, minerals, jewelry and demonstrations.

Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival; January 17-19; Carefree; (480) 837-5637. Arts, crafts and food.

Wings Over Willcox Sandhill Crane Celebration; January 17-19; Willcox; (800) 200-2272. Guided nature and history tours, seminars and field trips.

Sierra Stampede; January 18-19; Sierra Vista; (520) 378-3200. All-women's professional rodeo.

Arizona Sun Country Circuit Quarter Horse Show; January 24-February 1; Scottsdale; (623) 869-8037. Quarter horse competitions and educational clinics.

Note: Dates and activities could change. Before planning to attend events, phone for fees and to confirm days and times.