The fun isn’t over in Quartzsite. Most of the snowbirds don’t leave until March so there is still plenty to do in and around Quartzsite. I have noticed that the geocache “The Dump” is still being found multiple times a day so somebody there is out and about!

This weekend (which has already started actually) we have racing going on up in Parker, AZ. It looks like they will have excellent sunny weather in the low 80s for it so it’s a great time to go enjoy some excellent drivers, thrills, and spills. While you’re at it, get that grocery shopping done nearby at Safeway or Wal-Mart. Back in Quartzsite, the Senior Center is hosting the Quartzsite Quilt Show. There will be lots of talent on display there too. If you are more of a festival person, how about a beautiful drive up to Lake Havasu City for the Havasu Winterfest. There is sure to be something there that interests you. Maybe you would like to take your RV with you for a couple days for a change of scenery. There are some scenic campgrounds around the lake and boondocking is available right outside town.

Best in the Desert Racing – Parker 425
Feb 5th – Feb 7th, 2015 Bluewater Casino, Parker, AZ

Quartzsite Quilt Show
Feb 6th – 7th, 2015 Senior Center

Annual Havasu Winterfest
Feb 7th – 8th, 2015 McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ

Just because the RV show is over, it doesn’t mean the fun in Quartzsite ends. Remember, this is a winter snowbird community so there are still plenty of events and lots more fun to be had. This week we have a spaghetti dinner put on by the Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Take your sweetie to dinner and nudge her over a meatball. Maybe you will get lucky at the end of a spaghetti noodle. Tyson Wells will be hosting an Arts & Crafts Fair this week into February so your wallet isn’t safe yet. Who doesn’t like crafts?

Spaghetti Dinner
Jan 28th, 2015 Queen Of Peace Catholic Church

Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair
Jan 30th – Feb 8th, 2015

It was a great RV show this year with very good attendance. While there were several empty vendor spaces both inside and outside the Big Tent, the crowds still came and were perhaps larger than last year. Even lots of doggies attended and could be seen being pushed around in carriages or pulled in wagons. The desert is well-covered with RVs including many rentals from Cruise America. I wonder if the low prices on gas made a difference… While there were plenty of solar and LED vendors along with the many miscellaneous RV parts and general store type vendors, there were some new product vendors too. A new kind of chip bag clip was available in several booths as well as silicone pot or bowl covers. Many workamper employers were there so if workamping is in your future, you should consider coming to the RV show next year in Quartzsite. Progressive had an excellent booth outside where you could win several prizes and get your picture taken with Flo. They had a spinning prize wheel and fun golf game. They were also giving out very nice thermos’ in leather covers if you signed up at a website.

The food was quite good. If you knew where to look at Panorama and Rice Ranch, $1 hamburgers and tacos were available after 3 pm. The BBQ smelled wonderful. Ice cream was the most popular as always.  Over at the Main Event you could get delicious tri-tip sandwiches, my family’s favorite.

The RV show parking in the wash just past the Big Tent was a little worse this year I hear. The sand grabbed onto several cars and kept tow truck operators happy. An RV got stuck too. I have been watching a geocache very cleverly hidden at the wash parking lot and see it is very popular. It is getting found numerous times a day by my fellow geocachers. If any of you are Munzee people, there are lots of Munzees in Quartzsite now and the Big Tent area is a virtual Munzee.

Rice Ranch didn’t have much there but a visit to Gambler’s RV Supply at Rice Ranch is always necessary and one of the best LED vendors had his booth there again. The junk guy was there as usual and had lots of great stuff to buy including several gas motor bicycles. Another vendor there was selling lots of regular bicycles. The Too Crazy Ladies booth moved over there to the corner of 95 and Kuehn this year.

Tyson Wells was pretty full with vendors and customers. Many of the food vendors there ran out of food too soon due to the high attendance.  Their most popular product may have been the tissue hot air balloons. They were about 3 feet tall and powered by a waxy cardboard engine you light to heat the air inside and make them rise. Every night the sky was filled with them until the vendors ran out of those. They fly very high until the engine runs out then they fall to earth somewhere. I hope they are biodegradable.

The Main Event is nothing like it was in previous years but does still have several of the usual vendors. It didn’t take long for shoppers to look around there this year but the tri-tip sandwiches definitely attracted a lot of hungry people. It also attracted a car with antlers. LOL

My family was there along with some friends. They go every year, a tradition started by my parents. Here’s some family fun you missed.

As the sun sets on the Big Tent for 2015, we say aloha to Quartzsite and y’all come back now, y’hear.

Here comes the QIA Pow Wow on Wednesday where you will find gems, minerals, and jewelry for sale and possibly quilt displays. Also on Wednesday is the Stuffed Camel Swap Meet at Stuffed Camel RV Park . This upcoming weekend Lake Havasu City will be hosting Little Delbert Days and an excellent pro rodeo you don’t want to miss. There will be gold panning, king of the hill, roping arena, back hoe challenge, bounce houses, ole fishing hole, cow jousting, shooting gallery, cup cake walk, peddle tractor races and much more.

Annual QIA Pow Wow
Jan 21st – Jan 25th, 2015

Stuffed Camel Swap Meet
Jan 21st – Jan 25th, 2015 Stuffed Camel RV Park

Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Assn. & Little Delbert Days
Jan 24th – 25th, 2015 Lake Havasu City Rodeo Grounds, AZ

It’s time! The Sports, Vacation, and RV show open in the Big Tent! Yay! Whether you are looking for generic items like cookware, items to upgrade your RV, new RV insurance, new places to visit, phone upgrades, big boys toys, camping memberships, workamping positions, generators, tires, or whatever it will all be there. Be sure to get some of that wonderful ice cream they serve outside the tent every year and perhaps some BBQ. Get out there and shop till you drop then get back up again because there is much more going on this weekend at the same time.

Meanwhile, if you like good down home bluegrass music, head on over to Blythe, CA to the annual Bluegrass Music Festival. The music which is performed on several stages is awesome!

Up in Lake Havasu City they will have the annual hot air Balloon Festival and Fair going on. If you want some truly exciting and colorful photos or are looking for a ride in a balloon, that is the place to be this weekend. They fly low over the London Bridge for great pics and the fair and food are pretty darn good too. The many booths will have plenty more gadgets and what not that will tempt your wallet. Be sure to get some peanuts there.

Saturday evening, Ron Opal Erickson will be performing at the Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church. There will be a revival starting there on Sunday.

The Quartzfest Amateur Radio Operators Gathering will be starting on Sunday as well.

Whoo! I’m worn out just writing about all that. Remember to pace yourselves. The Big Tent will be open till the 25th so you have plenty of time to go and don’t have to go on opening day. If you are driving over to it, keep in mind the parking by the tent fills up early and then they start routing everyone to the sandy wash past it where many vehicles get stuck. Do NOT stop! Keep moving until you find a spot and look for the harder ground to park on. You can also go park over on the northwest side of Tyson wells and walk over to be on the safe side. Please don’t block entrances to the outside swap meet aisles. Police will ticket and tow if you do.

Blythe Annual Bluegrass Music Festival
Jan 16th – 18th, 2015 Colorado River Fairgrounds, Blythe, CA

Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
Jan 16th – Jan 25th, 2015

Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair
Jan 16th – 18th, 2015 1040 McCulloch Blvd. North Lake Havasu City, AZ

BIG TENT….SPORTS, VACATION & R.V. SHOW
Jan 17th – Jan 25th, 2015  1/2 mile south of I-10 on Hwy. 95

Ron Opal Erickson Concert
Jan 17th, 2015 Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church

Revival
Jan 18th – Jan 23rd, 2015 Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church

Quartzfest Amateur Radio Operators Gathering
Jan 18th – Jan 24th, 2015

There will be mobility scooters available at the RV show to rent. They can be found at booths 527-529.  For pricing or to reserve a scooter, call 888-343-9191 to talk to the folks at Mobility Scooters Plus.

January is here and Quartzsite activities have switched into high gear as everyone awaits the arrival of the Big Tent and The Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. You can start planning your attack on the Big Tent now without waiting. You can see the current list of vendors and booths at QuartzsiteRVShow.com. They also provide info on becoming a vendor next year if that interests you.

It’s that time again for the Hi Jolly Daze Parade to celebrate the opening of the winter season in Quartzsite. This year’s theme is “Veterans Rock!” so come out and show your support. The parade is usually followed by activities at the park and music. What a great excuse to party on, dudes! If you are into racing, we have some motorsports for you up in Parker this weekend. Zoooooom! The senior center is having an art show. On Saturday, The New Christie Minstrels will be performing at the QIA again this year. It is an excellent show you don’t want to miss. I’m thinking lunch or dinner out with a show. How about you?

THR Motorsports – Parker 250
Jan 9th – Jan 10th, 2015 Bluewater Casino, Parker, AZ

Quartzsite Art Guild Art Show
Jan 9th – 10th, 2015 Senior Center

Hi Jolly Daze Parade
Jan 10th, 2015

New Christie Minstrels
Jan 10th, 2015 (two shows 2pm & 7pm) QIA Building

Happy New Year! With temps tonight in the 20s, it is hard to believe we all go to Quartzsite for the warmth as well as the shows. I hear there is snow in Lake Havasu City just 70 miles north and in Valley Verde. LOL. Bundle up. It will get better as temps rise over the next few days and more shows get you walking more.

This weekend will be a busy one. Drop on over to the Oasis book store for their Author’s Fair and to get a gander at the owner who normally walks around nearly nude. I doubt The Naked Guy, Paul, will be nude right now though with temps so low. Even nudists have their limits! After that, you have the Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry Show, Prospector’s Panorama Show, and Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show to go to. That will get the blood flowing! Even if you aren’t in the market to buy a rock, there is always so much more on sale at these shows and, of course, there is always good food and company to be had.

Readers’ Oasis Book Store Author’s Fair
Jan & Feb, 2015

Annual International Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry Show
Jan 1st, 2014 – Feb 28th, 2015 DESERT GARDENS  I-10 (Exit 17), then east on Frontage Road

Prospector’s Panorama Show
Jan 2nd – Jan 14th, 2015  35 W. Kuehn St.

Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
Jan 2nd – Jan 11th, 2015