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Get Festive with these Gilbert Holiday Happenings

‘Tis the season for holiday events and happenings to get you into the spirit here in the town of Gilbert! As the next two months are packed full of friends, family, food and twinkling lights, there is plenty to do and usually not enough time to do it all. Plus, it can be hard to narrow down what you want to do when you finally have a moment to spare! To make it easy for you, we’ve found some of the best Gilbert holiday festivities that you won’t want to miss this season. Las Noches De Las Luminarias at the Botanical Gardens Just in time for the holidays, the Desert Botanical Garden comes to life with Las Noches De Luminarias . Twinkling lights line the sidewalks along with 8,000 luminaria bags flickering throughout the garden. Take a romantic evening stroll through the gardens as the warm lights from the lantern-like luminaria bags add a colorful ambiance throughout the trails. Since the holidays are all about cherishing time with the ones we love, The garden offers a way to honor those who are not here to celebrate with us with tribute luminaria bags, personalized with your very own message and placed in front of the Historic Webster Auditorium. Holiday magic at it's finest. Then, top off the evening with a dinner date at Gertude’s restaurant or the Patio Cafe. Photo Credit: @dbgphx Glow Wild: Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo Experience the wonder and beauty of the Phoenix Zoo as it illuminates with millions of holiday lights, and for the first year ever, glowing lanterns! With dazzling 3D and 2D displays of the Zoo animals, a visit from Santa, live entertainment and holiday-themed decorations, Glow Wild: Zoo lights is a truly captivating experience. Not only will you have the chance to see breathtaking holiday light displays, but Santa’s reindeer will be there as well! Say hello and grab a photo with Rudolph, walk throughout the park, sip hot cocoa and take a stroll in a wild winter wonderland this holiday season. Chandler Center for the Arts: The Spirit of Christmas For the 32nd year, the Tempe Dance Academy will spread holiday cheer to audiences at the Chandler Center for the Arts with their annual holiday “Spirit of Christmas” performance. Over 100 talented singers and dancers take the main stage for the yearly event, with some talent as young as three years old! This beautiful collaboration highlights global holiday traditions, spanning all corners of the world for a unique celebration of culture and art. Plus, the contagious energy flowing through the cast members is sure to carry with you long after you leave the performance, giving you that extra pep in your step and appreciation for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! Between holiday shopping, baking and everything else that the season brings, it can be hard to set time aside for a night out on the town. Embrace all that the holiday’s in Gilbert has to offer and be sure to check out these festive events before it's too late! While you’re there, share your experiences with us on Facebook and Instagram , and keep following the blog here to stay in the loop of other upcoming community events.

Namaste Near Home: Hottest Gilbert Yoga Spots

Don't feel like bending over backward to find yoga studios in the East Valley? Same, but someone has to do it, so we did. Lucky for you, we feel like sharing. Check out our list of the best spots in Gilbert for Bikram yoga, hot yoga, and aerial yoga. We've also thrown in a studio that offers cycling classes in case you want to mix up your (soon-to-be) routine. Motto Yoga | 7529 S Power Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Motto Yoga is a regular and hot yoga haven with a variety of classes. Choose from options like Journey: 60, Flow Down, Patience: Yin Trigger, and Yoga Sculpt. Regardless of what class you choose, an expert instructor leads yogis through breathing exercises and positions. Some courses help develop muscular strength, while other yoga classes are place a greater emphasis on breathing and patience. When it comes to pricing, Motto Yoga is $18 for a single class. They also offer a few different monthly options: a 5 class-per-month package for $76, an 8 class-per-month package for $106, and an unlimited yoga class-per-month package for $126 (We think it's worth the extra 20 bucks just in case you decide to go more than 8 times). Newbies can also take advantage of a 2 weeks of unlimited yoga for $39 promo deal! Yoga Deva | 2928 Spectrum Way, Gilbert AZ 85295 Photo Credit: Bill Timmerman (@blankstudio) This East Valley spot is a serene place to practice yoga. Their studio is a well-lit futuristic environment in which yoga teachers guide yogis through a variety of body and breathing exercises. Yoga Deva offers a host of yoga classes including an all-level Deva class, chair yoga, Deva Yin, Yoga Nidra, among others. Unlike many other yoga studios in the area, this spot does not offer Bikram yoga or hot yoga. FLO Yoga & Cycle | 71 E Frye Rd, Chandler, AZ 85225 This yoga studio has hot yoga classes, cycling classes, and fusion classes that blend the two! Try a heart-pumping indoor cycling class in the morning and cool down with a relaxing Yin class in the afternoon taught by expert yoga teachers. Their fusion classes focus on strength and flexibility and are suitable for all levels. They also offer meal prep services, monthly memberships, and 2 weeks of unlimited classes for new students! Honorable Mentions: Living Stone Yoga - Yoga Wall/SUP yoga Yoga Pulse Studio - Aerial yoga Bikram Yoga East Valley - Bikram yoga Now get out there and make your schedule flexible enough to fit in a class at one of these Gilbert yoga studios!

Top Family-Friendly Parks in Gilbert

Lucky for you, the town of Gilbert has tons of awesome parks just minutes away. Check out our breakdown of the best parks surrounding the Gilbert community. Gilbert Regional Park | 3005 E Queen Creek Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85298 Located at Queen Creek and Higley Roads, this is one of the newest parks in Gilbert Arizona and is currently still in development. That said, phase 1 of the regional park has been completed and features a number of awesome amenities including walking trails, picnic tables, a 17-foot tall tiered playground called The Mountain, a community center, parking spaces, and much more to come! There's also a 4,000 sq. ft. splash pad called The Falls, with 57 interactive water features for some water park fun. The Creek, located between The Mountain and The Falls is a toddler playground designed for small children to enjoy! Freestone Park | 1045 E Juniper Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85234 Freestone Park is an excellent spot for families and their furry friends. This park is packed with amenities, ensuring you'll never run out of outdoor activities to explore. Check out their skate park or one of their numerous sports fields intended for softball, volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Pack a picnic and head over to the shaded picnic tables with BBQ grills. For more park information, check out their website ! Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch | 2757 E Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234 Riparian Preserve is a 110-acre wetland and wildlife sanctuary with many recreational features including hiking and walking trails, an urban fishing lake, overnight campsites, an observatory, and an ethnobotanical garden! Adults and children alike can enjoy this topographically diverse Gilbert park. The grounds are also considered an expansive dog park by pooches and other four-legged friends. Check out the Doggie Do's & Don'ts for the park. Honorable Mentions Veterans Oasis Park McQueen Park Crossroads Park Get your kids off their phones and take them outd oors to one of these stellar Gilbert parks!

What’s Brewing in Gilbert: A Guide to the Best Coffee in Gilbert, AZ

Morning pep, life juice, energy bean water, liquid confidence, whatever you call it, your morning cup of coffee can make or break your day. When you think of Gilbert Arizona, coffee might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but Gilbert is filled with tons of hidden coffee gems! Whether you're searching for fair trade coffee beans or a velvety hot chocolate, these local coffee spots are brewing up magic in the Sonoran Desert. Bergies Coffee Roast House | 309 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234 Started and run by the Bergeson family for over a decade, Bergies Coffee is a local Gilbert staple. Bergies is not just a coffee shop but also a small-batch coffee roasters, with delicious coffee, indoor seating, and a spacious outdoor garden patio. This roastery and cafe is a pet-friendly, highly 'grammable setting. If it's a nice sunny day (quite common in Gilbert), we recommend grabbing a cold brew and taking advantage of their adorable outdoor seating area. Also make sure to stop by for one of their awesome live-music events ! Grindtime Coffee | 1430 W Warner Rd #148, Gilbert, AZ 85233 Initially born an East Valley food truck, GrindTime Coffee has transformed from a mobile coffee company into a brick-and-mortar coffee favorite. If you're craving coffee this is one of the top cafés in Gilbert for a latte, cappuccino, or nitro cold brew. Apart from great bags of coffee beans, GrindTime also sells wonderful soy candles and coffee merchandise. Coffee Rush | 53 N Val Vista Dr, Gilbert, AZ 85234 Coffee Rush is a popular coffee house for coffee, tea, and everything in between! With three locations in Chandler and Gilbert, they're accessible all over the East Valley. The folks at Coffee Rush take pride in their ingredients, press coffee, and extravagant coffee beverages. Some standouts include a whopping 32-oz "Black & White Mocha Frost" and their house special "Deadly Soda." They also offer a free 20-oz drink with any purchase of a 1lb bag of whole or ground coffee beans. Check out their full menu here ! Get up, get out, and start your day at one of these awesome coffee spots in Gilbert!

A Guide to Gilbert | Acero Cooley Station

If you’re reading this, maybe you’re new to Gilbert, so are we! Living up to its motto of “Clean, Safe, Vibrant,” it’s hard not to feel welcome in this thriving Sonoran cultural hub. We at Acero Cooley Station are excited to join and immerse ourselves in this dynamic, growing community. We want to present this blog as a helpful resource accessible to residents, visitors, and anyone interested in learning more about all that Gilbert, AZ has to offer! Moving forward, we’ll touch on some popular Gilbert hotspots, favorite locales, hidden gems, and seasonal events. Welcome to part one of our neighborhood guides to discover Gilbert! Dining Acero Cooley Station is centrally located near some of the best restaurants in Gilbert, and many of them, so you’ll never run out of fantastic places to dine. Enjoy a burger at Zinburger Gilbert , Burgerfi , or Arizona Wilderness Brewing . Bask in the sticky sweetness of great BBQ at Arizona BBQ Company , Joe’s Real BBQ , or Waldo’s BBQ . And, try some tasty tacos at Cantina Laredo , Backyard Taco Gilbert , or Joyride Taco House . For dessert, grab a scoop at Udder Delights or a sweet treat at The Great Gadsby Bakery ! Shopping Gilbert is a shopping oasis in the Sonoran desert. Head to SanTan Village for outdoor shopping at popular stores like Apple , Banana Republic , Best Buy , Lululemon , and many others. When it comes to food, Gilbert has grocery stores galore! We’re less than a 5-minute drive to Walmart Supercenter , The Farm Store , Natural Grocers , Sprouts Farmers Market , WinCo Foods , and many more. Pet-Friendly Here at IDM, we recognize that pets are family members, and who doesn’t love sharing meals and other fun experiences with family? Luckily, we’re a pet-friendly community in a pet-loving town. There are plenty of places nearby that happily welcome our furry friends. Joe’s Farm Grill is an excellent farm restaurant with ample space for you and your four-legged friends to enjoy. Snooze an AM Eatery is another great option if you want to bring your pup to brunch! We’re also located minutes away from PetSmart for all your pet food and supply needs, as well as Puppies ‘N Love . Plenty of awesome dog parks are also close by. We love Cosmo Dog Park and Discovery Park . Healthy Living It’s easy to stay healthy and thrive at Acero Cooley Station. Our state-of-the-art fitness center with a shaded, outdoor workout area is the perfect place to get your sweat on and is only steps from your front door. If you’re looking for a fitness class, try out high-intensity interval training at Orangetheory Fitness , conquer your fitness goals at Knockout Fitness , or enjoy a luxury spa, group classes, and aerobic exercises at LifeTime Fitness , nearby! Get out there, explore, and get to know Gilbert, Arizona’s wonderful community and landscape. Be sure to share any of your favorite Gilbert destinations with us on Facebook , and continue to follow our blog for more Gilbert recommendations!

Second Hand & First-Rate: Best Thrift Stores in Gilbert

While Gilbert is a vibrant shopping hub for new clothing, it's also a subtle Sonoran oasis for second-hand and vintage clothing. Check out our list of Gilbert's best thrift shops! Deseret Industries | 1695 East Williams Field Rd, Gilbert AZ 85295 Deseret Industries is a non-profit chain of thrift shops with locations nationwide. Like most of their stores, the Gilbert location has a donation center as well as a retail store. Discover a host of second-hand goods including clothes, household items, furniture, toys, games, books and more. Deseret also stocks "new value" products like bath towels, sheets, blankets, socks, underwear, and more at affordable, low prices. When you shop at Deseret Industries, you're directly supporting their job training and placement program as well as many of the other community-oriented projects their businesses fund. Find treasure while helping others at this special thrift shop. White Dove Thrift Shoppes | 1255 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa AZ 85202 Named after Hospice of the Valley's dove logo, this Arizona-based thrift retailer has been recognized by Phoenix New Times as one of the best thrift shops in town! Many of the items you'll find at White Dove are donated by members of families the organization has served. There are plenty of hidden treasures to be found at impressively low prices. Also, keep an eye out for Dove Discount Days! Every Monday, Seniors 55 and older get 25% off their entire purchase, and on Saturdays there's a student and military discount of 25% off all purchases as well! White Dove also often has Manager's Specials including heavily discounted prices on furniture, household items, and seasonal goods! Goodwill of Central Arizona | Multiple Locations, 5263 S Power Rd, Mesa AZ 85212 Goodwill might be the most ubiquitous name in thrifting, and there's no shortage of them in Gilbert. There are over 10 Goodwill of Central Arizona locations within a 12-mile radius surrounding Acero Cooley Station! The closest one (5 minutes away) is located at Power and Ray Road, and has a vast assortment of clothing, household goods, appliances, books, and more. Goodwill has 50% off specials involving color-coded tags that alternate on a daily basis. Like other non-profit thrift organizations, Goodwill Industries provides job training, placement, education, and many other services to their employees and their surrounding communities. Hop from Goodwill to Goodwill or focus your energy on one location! Regardless, you'll be sure to find something special! Savers Thrift | Multiple Locations, 2110 S Power Rd, Mesa AZ 85209 Unlike many of the other larger, multiple-location thrift shops listed here, Savers Thrift is a for-profit thrift retail store who practice a Rethink Reuse business model to address the issues and environmental impacts of textile waste. Sustainable fashion is accessible and affordable at this eco-minded chain of thrift stores. Discover vintage pieces, brand and designer labeled apparel, as well as rare and unique home goods! Check out Savers' handy thrift tips for more help finding hidden treasures! Get out there and discover gently-used gems, and remember to think second-hand first when shopping in Gilbert Arizona!