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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
One by one the baskets of dates are transfered to trays and driven to the packinghouse.
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
One by one the baskets of dates are transfered to trays and driven to the packinghouse.
6 of 12
Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
Medjool Harvest
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
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Photos Courtesy Tourism Arizona
By Ann Walker
Though August may be the dog days of summer elsewhere, Canadians know what awaits with the turn of the calendar: Winter is coming.
That makes this the perfect time to plan ahead for a getaway – and there are plenty of reasons to arrive early this year in Yuma, Arizona, the world’s sunniest city.
Desert dwellers and savvy snowbirds know October is a great time to soak up Yuma’s sunshine ahead of the crowds, with warm days (average high 32C) and cool nights (average low 15C). Devote fresh fall mornings to golf, hiking or biking and savor our beautiful sunsets through long, lazy evenings … and if it gets a bit warm midday, it’s a good excuse for a siesta!
A refreshing autumn addition to Yuma’s calendar this year is the first Rio de Cerveza Brew Fest, set for October 19 at Desert Sun Stadium. Featuring craft brewers from throughout the region, this adults-only event will offer the opportunity to sample the best of the brewmasters’ art on the verdant grounds of the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex, former spring-training home of the San Diego Padres. Admission includes two dozen tasting tickets and lots of entertainment, plus food vendors will be on hand. VIP and designated driver tickets will also be available. More information, call Yuma Visitors Bureau, 800-293-0071 or 928-783-0071, www.visityuma.com.
Next, Harley owners from across Arizona will rev it up and flock to Yuma Oct. 24-26 for a statewide H.O.G. (Harley Owners Groups) Rally. This family-oriented event includes motorcycle shows, demos and games at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, plus Yuma Visitors Bureau will welcome rally participants and others to an outdoor concert featuring Phoenix-based country rockers Mogollon Oct. 26 at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. For more info on the H.O.G. event, visit www.azstatehogrally.com, or call Rally Coordinator Reynold Jerome at (928) 580-9541. For info on the concert, call YVB at 800-293-0071 or 928-783-0071, www.visityuma.com.
The good times and great music keep on rollin’ with a “Prison Blues & BBQ” 3:10 To Yuma fundraiser Nov. 2 at the infamous Yuma Territorial Prison. When this notorious Old West lockup – now a museum and park – was faced with closure in 2010, the citizens of Yuma rallied to “save the prison,” kicking off this annual tradition. Besides great music and food, this event includes an auction of exclusive “only in Yuma” items like the chance to have dinner in the cellblock! Tickets go on sale Sept. 3, for more info, call Cathy Douglas at 928-373-5198.
Then make a date to celebrate the “fruit of kings” at the Yuma Medjool Date Festival Nov. 16 in Yuma’s Historic Downtown. Though you might not think of the Old West as a place to find a traditional treat of the Middle East, the Yuma area is one of the world’s largest producers of these premium gourmet dates. Discover why even Saudi Arabia imports Medjools from our corner of Arizona and learn more about this “super food” -- naturally fat free, high in fiber, potassium and anti-oxidants, and low on the glycemic index. It’s a full day of activities, demos, recipe contests, and more. For more info, call Perlita Wicks at 928-373-5028, or go to www.yumamedjooldatefestival.com.
Colorful hot-air balloons will fill the clear desert skies at the 23rd Annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival Nov. 22-24. The festival attracts some of the most colorful and unique balloons from around the region, with mass morning ascensions and a colorful nighttime “glow” where tethered balloons fire their burners and illuminate like giant light bulbs. For more info, call the Caballeros de Yuma at 928-343-1715 or visit www.caballeros.org
Fun events like these are just part of what make Yuma a snowbird favorite – along with more than 23,000 RV camping spots in organized parks and hundreds more in dry-camping venues on public lands. Surrounded by wide-open desert vistas, rugged mountains and three national wildlife refuges, Yuma also offers great boating and fishing on the Colorado River. Add rich heritage, delicious border cuisine, 16 golf courses and one of the most innovative agritourism programs in the nation, and you’ve got the recipe for Arizona’s most affordable and authentic destination.
So what are you waiting for? Avoid the crowds and plan your early arrival now! Winter is coming … but our sunshine is certified by Guinness World Records!