February is shaping up to be a fun filled experience exciting all your senses beginning with music at the 36th Annual Ajo Old Time Fiddlers Show from Thursday, January 30 thru Sunday, February 2nd. It is held at the Ajo Community Golf Course.
The Old Time Fiddlers Show & Contest is four days of shows, dances and contests featuring traditional fiddling. There is a $5.00 entry fee for most events. However, there will be a free show at the Ajo Plaza from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, January 31st. Dry RV campsites are available at the Ajo Community Golf Course for $3.00 per night during the show. The restaurant and lounge will be open to contestants and the public. The Ajo Community Golf Course is located at 77 Mead Road, Ajo, AZ east of Highway 85 approximately 6 miles north of Ajo. For more information call 520-387-5011 or email: ajocountryclub@yahoo.com.
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, Jan. 30: 7-11 pm* FIDDLERS Show – $5 Friday, Jan. 31: 2:00-3:00 pm* PLAZA Show – No charge
7:30-11 p.m. * DANCE- Music by Fiddlers – $5* 4:00-6:30 pm FISH FRY Saturday, Feb. 1: 10:30 am.* All Day CONTESTS begin $5 7:30 pm.* DANCE – Music by Fiddlers $5 Sunday, Feb. 2nd: 9:00 am GOSPEL SING ALONG No charge 10:30 am* CONTESTS BEGIN $5 4:00 pm. * Contest Awards Fiddler contestants please check Arizona Old Time Fiddlers Event website http://www.arizonaoldtimefiddlers.org/events.html for more information. *prices, events, and times are subject to change without notice.
Another colorful event to be held Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8th is the Ajo Piecemakers’ 18th Annual Quilt show. This display of the talent of our local quilters is held at the Ajo’s historic Curley School Auditorium, 201 Esperanza, west of the Plaza on the hill. The times will be 9 am – 3 pm each day with admission being $2.
The group typically showcases over 75 traditional, modern and art quilts. Another highlight of the show is the “Bed Turning” presentation. Whether it’s a family heirloom, a quilt found at a flea market, or a favorite quilt, everyone has a story. These stories are told three times each day of the show.
You are also able to buy a ticket for this year’s beautiful “Opportunity” quilt, which depicts our desert home. Tickets will be available at the show for $1 ea or 6/$5. To pre-buy tickets or for more information about the quilt, please contact bigforkconley@yahoo.com. The drawing will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday. You don’t need to be present to win. Proceeds from the ticket sales are given back to the community. Demonstrations of quilting techniques and door prize drawings are held throughout each day. A variety of vendors will be selling crafts and quilting related items. For more information about the show, contact Deb at debcon57@gmail.com.
Other events for Second Saturday of February is our Farmer’s Market and “Art Under the Arches. These will be held on the Plaza sidewalk with various vendors providing produce from their gardens to purchase for your palette to enjoy in many dishes. “Art Under the Arches” will showcase local artists’ work as part of weekend events on Saturday, February 8th.
Artists in Ajo started showing their work for the first time at the Recreation Hall located in the Ajo Plaza in 1987. In the ensuing years artists gathered for meetings and created the name Desert Artists Guild, DAG for short. The members would meet once a month and talk about future events, have lunch, and discuss a local artist’s work. In 2010, the Desert Artists Guild members joined the Ajo Council for the Fine Arts. Through the years we have had many exhibits in various locations. Then in 1996 artists formalized on opening of their studios, calling it Artists Open Studio. This event took place on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving for seventeen years. In 2011, in addition to Open Studio, an Artist Festival was held in the Ajo Plaza. Please join us for this year’s event, “Art Under the Arches”.
Stay tuned for further information about the Vaudeville Show that will take place in February and be sure to put on your calendars the date of Wed. February 19 to see the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. They will be performing at 7 p.m. in the Dicus Auditorium and the theme is “That’s Amore”. Tickets can be purchased for $14 either at the Ajo Copper News office or the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce. Both are located on or near The Plaza.
