Be sure to add this event to your list of amazing things to do in Surprise! Check out Bases and Brews Fest, March 24-26. This family-friendly festival is at Mark Coronado Park next to Surprise Stadium, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., and will be featuring national and local award-winning entertainment, thrilling performers, exhilarating midway rides and games, classic festival food and interactive activities for all ages.
Saturday, March 25: Andy Grammer co-headlining with Chris Lane
Sunday, March 26: WALK THE MOON with special guest lovelytheband
Bases and Brews Music Fest hours are as follows:
Friday, March 24: 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Saturday, March 25: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday, March 26: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
For more information on ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities and the festival schedule, please visit BasesandBrewsFest.com.
Library card design contest
With the launch of a new Surprise Public Library System, Surprise is asking residents of all ages to help design the new library cards! Submit a design in one of three age categories: Youth (10 and under), Teen (11-17) and Adult (18 and over). One winner will be chosen from each category.
Beginning, July 1, library patrons will be able to choose from one of the winning card designs, or a standard logo card, for use at the three City of Surprise libraries – Asante, Hollyhock and Northwest/Surprise Regional. Download the design template and submission form at surpriseaz.gov/library and then submit your card design in one of the following ways:
In person: Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., Surprise, AZ 85374; Attention: Kelsey Lamphier
By email: library@surpriseaz.gov (If selected, winner will be asked to provide original artwork.)
For questions about the library card design contest, please email library@surpriseaz.gov or call 623.222.2900
State of the City
I’d like to invite you to attend the 2023 State of the City event, including a video presentation sharing the story of Surprise. From the chapters already written to the ones yet to be penned, this plot is worth turning the page for! Stay afterwards for a celebration that includes a showcase of the City’s programs and services, including police and fire vehicle displays!
We will also have entertainment from some of our Dysart Unified Schools and City-run specialty classes, as well as complimentary refreshments.
Here are the event details:
Thursday, March 30
Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz. Parking Map
6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. State of the City Video Premiere, Council Chambers*
6:30 - 8 p.m. City Showcase, City Hall First Floor & Outside Courtyard
Are you looking to discover new places to dine in Surprise? In a community growing as quickly as ours, there are frequent updates to the ever-expanding list of restaurants in the community, so we’ve compiled a list to help you spot your new favorite joint! Check out the latest list here.
Surprise Stadium special events & promos
Resident Appreciation Days courtesy of Fat Cats: now through March 11
College Days – college student discount during Spring Break! March 5 - 19
Pup Nights at Surprise Stadium: March 8 & 23 Purchase here
Sunday Funday Family Four Pack for $44 (Every Sunday)
Kids Run the Bases presented by Uptown Alley (Every Sunday)
Military & First Responder Appreciation Days (Every Sunday)
For Spring Training tickets and more information on the events listed above, head to SurpriseStadium.com
Tax assistance
Tax season is right around the corner, and the City of Surprise Human Service and Community Vitality Department, in partnership with A New Leaf, offers free tax preparation services to individuals and families with qualifying incomes.
Tax preparation assistance is available now through April 18 at the Surprise Resource Center and at Riverboat Bingo until April 12. See the press release for more information.
It's budget building season!
The City of Surprise FY2024 budget building process has begun. The Recommended Budget is scheduled for release in April, followed by Council and public review that will result in the adoption of a balanced FY2024 budget in June. All meetings are carried live on Surprise TV for cable customers and streamed online at surpriseaz.gov/surpriseTV. Additionally, each of the staff budget presentations will be linked at surpriseaz.gov/budget the day following the talks. Learn more here.
Redistricting 2023
It's time to update the City Council district boundaries in Surprise, and we're asking for resident participation in the process! Redistricting is an effort to ensure all voices are represented equally and fairly by creating districts with nearly the same number of people in them. You can give input on where the boundary lines for our six City Council districts should be through online tools or at one of our public meetings. Get the details here.
Poetry, art and more!
Are you ready to discover arts and culture events in Surprise? From theater performances, gallery tours, poetry readings and more, make sure to mark your calendar to attend!
March Events
March 9 • 10 - 11 a.m.
Public Art Tour of City Hall
March 16 • Noon
Lunchtime Theater – West Valley Symphony Jam Session | Arts HQ, $15
April Events
April 6 • 12 - 1 p.m.
Lunchtime Theater – Salty Dawgs Calypso and Folk Music
April 11 • 11 - 12 p.m.
AZ Speaks - “Growing in the Desert: The History & Culture of the Tohono O’odham”
April 15 • 11 - 3 p.m.
Public Art Bus Tour to "Cowgirl Up!" exhibit
April 21 • 6 - 8 p.m.
Poetry Slam at WHAM
All dates and times are subject to change. All events are free unless otherwise stated. To register for Public Art Tours and AZ Speaks presented by Arizona Humanities, head to surpriseaz.gov/artssignup. For Lunchtime Theater, contact Arts HQ at 623.584.2626 or visit westvalleyarts.org/theater. To learn more about Poetry Slam, contact WHAM at 623.584.8311 or visit wham-art.org/poetry. Want to see what else is on the 2022-2023 arts & culture calendar? All events are listed online at surpriseaz.gov/arts.
District 4 Community Meeting
Join me for my next monthly Community Meeting on Wednesday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Surprise Senior Center, located at 15832 N. Hollyhock St. Check the City website at surpriseaz.gov for updated information on my community meeting schedule. Call or email me in the meantime with any questions or concerns you may have.
In an effort to better understand and address the needs of our rapidly growing community, staff will debut the first in a recurring series of conversations, or “Staff Chats” during this Community Meeting. These conversations are an opportunity for staff to field questions from residents and to hear, research and follow-up on any concerns residents may have in their neighborhoods. This is also an opportunity for staff to educate residents on new City programs, resources and provide points of contact within the City. We hope to see you there!
City Council Meetings
The next regularly scheduled City Council Meetings are on March 7 and 21 at 6 p.m. in the City of Surprise Council Chambers. City Council meetings are open to in-person attendance or you may tune in at surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page facebook.com/cityofsurprise or on Cox channel 11 to watch the meeting live.
