Patrick Duffy

City of Surprise

Fall is a great time of year! The summer heat finally gives way to milder temperatures, making it ideal for getting outside. Whether it’s hiking in the nearby mountains or enjoying local parks, there’s no shortage of adventure. The City hosts various events, including Fiesta Grande and G.A.I.N. Night, where families can come together for fun activities and great food. It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with neighbors and enjoy all that Surprise has to offer this October!

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Arizona League of Cities Annual Conference

At the end of August, I attended the annual Arizona League of Cities Conference, where Vice Mayor Haney and I had the opportunity to connect with our Youth Council during the one-day youth program. During this program, sessions addressed youth leadership and how to become active and engaged members of the community. After viewing the incredible display our Youth Council created showcasing our city, we had lunch and got to learn more about the members.

Shadow Ridge Field Dedication

Councilmember Judd and I were excited to join DUSD Superintendent John Croteau and staff to celebrate the new football field at Shadow Ridge High School at the dedication ceremony on September 6. The ceremony took place immediately prior to the first home game. The new field and track look amazing. Thank you to DUSD for inviting us!

Board and Commission Members Sworn In

Congratulations to all the new Board and Commission members sworn in at the City Council Meeting on September 17! These included positions on our Personnel Appeals Board, Arts & Cultural Advisory Commission, Library Advisory Commission and Audit Committee. Thank you to all the wonderful residents for volunteering their time in our city! Learn more about our Boards and Commissions at surpriseaz.gov/Boards.

CURRENT EVENTS

City Council Meetings

The next City Council Meeting is on October 15 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11.

Community Meeting

My next community meeting will be on Saturday, October 5, at 9 a.m. at Total Wine & More, 13440 N. Prasada Pkwy. See you there!

Surprise Fiesta Grande

Join us this Saturday, October 5, from 5 - 9 p.m. for Surprise Fiesta Grande at Mark Coronado Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave. This all-ages event celebrates the vibrant culture and traditions that have shaped our city with an evening of live music, food, entertainment and more! Families will experience authentic Mexican food, mariachi music, folklórico dancing, a car show, Lucha Libre wrestling, a petting zoo and pony rides, inflatables and other great attractions! For more details, check out surpriseaz.gov/FiestaGrande. 

Sunday in the Park

Get ready to enjoy cooler weather and outdoor fun as the City of Surprise brings back its Sunday in the Park events this fall!

The first event will be held on Sunday, October 13, featuring live music from N-the-Mix with Steven Powell, a variety of food trucks, a shopping market, an assortment of beers and wines, and family friendly activities for all ages. Admission is free; food and drinks will be available for purchase. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and don’t forget all dogs must be leashed!

Join us again on Sunday, November 10, with live music by Yachtzilla.

Both Sunday in the Park events will take place at Mark Coronado Park (15850 N. Bullard Ave.) from 3 - 7 p.m.

To see the list of upcoming events, visit surpriseaz.gov/SpecialEvents.

G.A.I.N. Night

Surprise Police and Fire-Medical departments bring together family fun, community outreach and safety education all into one great event called G.A.I.N (Getting Arizonans Involved in Neighborhoods) Night.

Come out to meet the first responders in your area, create community connections and gather information from a wide variety of safety providers. Kids of all ages will enjoy the chance to get an up-close look at police cars, fire trucks, specialty emergency vehicles and equipment. Safety organizations will also be out with displays offering tips on how to keep you and your family safe. Admission is free; food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Join the G.A.I.N. Night fun this year!
Saturday, October 26
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Mark Coronado Park
15960 N. Bullard Ave.

As part of our community outreach efforts, the Salvation Army will be at G.A.I.N. Night, accepting non-perishable food donations for the upcoming holidays. Your donation will impact those in need and enter you into a raffle for great prizes!

Surprise Celebrates Five Years of Being a Dementia Friendly City

On October 22, the City of Surprise will mark our fifth year of proudly being a member of the Dementia-Friendly America network of communities! As part of the celebration, our community is encouraged to attend a free in-person Dementia Friends Information Session in partnership with Dementia Friends Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute.

There are three one-hour sessions to choose from, including one for Spanish speakers. Each session provides attendees with the opportunity to learn more about dementia—what it is, what it’s like to live with it, the most common types and tips for communicating with people with dementia.

Dementia Friends Information Sessions:

October 4
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. (for Spanish speakers)
11 a.m. - noon
Surprise Regional Library Program Room, 16089 N. Bullard Ave.

October 28 
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Registration is limited to the first 50 participants. Reasonable accommodations will be available upon request. To register, please email Trisha.Weston@surpiseaz.gov. Learn more about Surprise being a Dementia-Friendly community and our Memory Café offerings at surpriseaz.gov/DementiaFriendly.

Pickleball Tournament

A major USA Pickleball Association tournament will be coming to Surprise this month.

Monster Smash, a sanctioned double-elimination pickleball tournament, will feature competition in men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles and senior mixed doubles from October 25 - 28 at the Surprise Community Park pickleball courts located at 14534 W. Tierra Buena Ln.

Visit pickleballbrackets.com for more information, including start times and playing brackets.

The public is welcome to attend this free event. Please note, open pickleball court availability will not be available throughout the tournament.

For additional information, please visit exploresurprise.com or contact the Sports & Tourism department at 623.222.2222.

Arts & Culture Events

The City has many ways you can enjoy the arts and culture scene in our community. From theater performances, gallery tours and more, there is something for you to explore!

Lunchtime Theater | Isreal Solomon Duo
October 10 • Noon - 1 p.m.

Outdoor Art Sketching Tour
October 16 • 10 a.m. - noon

AZ Speaks | Take a Hike! Explore, Enhance, and Experience Your Understanding of Arizona
October 23 • 11 a.m. - noon

Registration required for events listed above. Find details and sign-up information at surpriseaz.gov/ArtEvents.

SAVE THE DATE

SciTech Festival

The City of Surprise celebrates science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) efforts in the community with our annual SciTech Festival on Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mark Coronado Park parking lot, 15960 N. Bullard Ave.

This free, fun-filled and educational event celebrates STEAM in a fun and interactive environment. Technology and our daily interactions with it continue to grow exponentially. This SciTech Festival aims to inspire our future and current and workforce to seek careers in STEAM fields and showcase the local businesses and organizations already making great strides in these fields.

Spring Training

Major League Baseball, along with the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, have released the 2025 Cactus League Spring Training schedule. Opening Day is Friday, February 21, with the Royals hosting the Rangers at Surprise Stadium, which recently ranked second in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards for “Best Spring Training Facility.”

2025 Spring Training ticket packages, including season tickets, mini-plans and group tickets will go on sale starting Tuesday, October 29, at 10 a.m. (AZ time). Individual game tickets for Spring Training at Surprise Stadium will go on sale online at SurpriseStadium.com on November 12, at 10 a.m. Information regarding game times and promotional events will be announced later. To be alerted to the most up-to-date ticket information – please go to ticket information form and visit SurpriseStadium.com. 

Also save the date for the 2025 Out of the Park Music Fest on March 22, after the Royals and Rangers game!

NEWS & UPDATES

Veterans Day Parade

Be part of the annual City of Surprise Veterans Day Parade! The Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting parade entry applications from clubs, organizations, groups and residents who want to show their patriotic spirit and honor those who have bravely served our country. 

The parade will be held Monday, November 11, beginning at 10 a.m., and will run along Bullard Avenue between Paradise and Tierra Buena lanes. For more information, head to surpriseaz.gov/VeteransDay.  

To register, head to surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click on ‘Special Events.’ Entry applications are due by Friday, November 1. There is no fee to participate.

For more information, please contact 623.222.2258 or caseyworthy@surpriseaz.gov.

Household Hazardous Waste

Surprise has rolled out a new Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program. Instead of offering collection events three times a year, the pilot program allows residents to schedule collections monthly. The pilot program runs through November 2024.

For details, visit surpriseaz.gov/HHW.

To schedule a collection, residents can use the My Surprise app or call customer service at 623.222.1920. All scheduling is based on availability and is first come, first served.