Five Free Things To Do In and Around Phoenix - July 2009

This week I was able to find a few free activities that are indoors, in anticipation of a hot and muggy week! You can hone your skills with duct tape, have fun at an art museum, reminisce about a famous cowboy, have your kid sing his or her heart out, and go back in time to when we had more hair on our bodies.

What: Duct Tape Bash
When: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Civic Center Knowasis, Scottsdale
Creative fun making belts, wallets, and more out of duct tape. Teens. Supplies provided. Registration recommended, call 480-312-READ.

What: Free Family Fun Day
When: Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe
Hands-on art-making projects, Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, Sid the Science Kid and more. Donations of cans or dry, packaged food and bottled water will be accepted to benefit United Food Bank.

What: John Wayne: American Icon
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from from 11 a.m. to noon
Where: Avondale Communiy Center, 1007 S. 3rd Street
John H. Ziegler, a writer who specializes in the history of the American West, formerly a college philosophy and film teacher, shares the story of John Wayne as American Icon. In this presentation, Dr. Ziegler discusses both biographical details of Wayne's life, as well as his film achievements. Ziegler includes outtakes from Wayne's films to demonstrate his personified individual liberty. This program is presented in honor of National American Cowboy Day.

What: Phoenix Children’s Chorus Auditions
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 beginning at 6 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus will be holding auditions in July for boys and girls, in grades two through 12, for the 2009-2010 Season. No prior choral training is required – applicants need only possess a clear, pleasant singing voice and the desire to learn. There is no fee to audition. The choir has more than 200 children in two training choirs and two touring choirs. The Phoenix Children’s Chorus is a program of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department designed to give young people a comprehensive choral music education with performance opportunities in a positive learning environment. This award-winning chorus has performed throughout Europe and Russian and has taken top honors at the World Choral Olympics. The touring choirs will be traveling to China for a three-city tour in June 2010. More information and audition scheduling is available online on the Arts, Culture and History link on the Parks and Recreation Department Web site or by calling 602-534-3788.

What: Evolution Of Humans: Old Debates, Recent Discoveries, And New Ideas
When: Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m.
Where: Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave, Glendale
After 150 years of investigation, we have a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the human lineage. Join Dr. Mark Coleman, Ph.D. of Midwestern University, to learn more about longstanding controversies that remain and new discoveries that have raised a host of new questions. For more information, call 623-930-3868.

This is by no means everything! Some of the larger annual festivals and events are also free. You'll find those listed in the monthly calendar. If you've arrived at this page and find that the event dates are past, check my recent blog entries for more Free Things -- I write about free things to do in Greater Phoenix several times per month!