This Sunday is National Grandparent’s Day. It was first proclaimed in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter, to be celebrated the first Sunday after Labor day every year. It was created to help grandchildren tap into the wisdom and heritage that their grandparents could provide. Now, my children were very lucky to have a paternal grandfather, Melvin Blomquist, who did exhaustive genealogical work while he was still alive, and printed books about their heritage dating back centuries. On my side, my mother died long before the children were born and my father passed when Mylan was 5 years old and Solvay was 3 months old. My children have one living grandparent, Margit Blomquist, who will be celebrating her 89th birthday next week. She is an amazing woman who still plants and tends to a garden every spring, volunteers for her church, knits blankets and makes quilts for her great-grand babies and is still sharp-witted when it comes to political discussions. Although she lives far away, and we don’t get to see her often enough, I am honored to have her as my children’s grandmother.
Here are some events to share with your grandparents on their special day:
Grandparent’s Day Breakfast With the Snakes (Sat Sept 11). Enjoy a light breakfast and learn about (and get to touch) snakes. 8:30-9:30am or 10-11am. $19 ($14 Chandler residents). Preregister. EEC at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler. 480-782-2890 or chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis.
Grandparent’s Day: Jump to Japan (Sat Sept 11). Demonstrations of traditional Japanese art forms, art-making activities and a Japanese tea ceremony. Noon-3pm. Included with admission: $6.50 ages 1 & up. Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N Robson St, Mesa. 480-644-2467 or arizonamuseumforyouth.com.
Celebrate Grandparent’s Day (Sun Sept 12). Grandparents and grandchildren can play indoors on inflatables and giant climbing play structures. 9am-6pm. $9/child, grandparents free. The Play Factory, 4180 S Arizona Ave #3, Chandler (480-883-1502) and 21001 N Tatum Blvd (480-538-7529). playfactoryparty.com.
Grandparent’s Day (Sun Sept 12). Treat your grandparents to this museum and archaeological site. 8am-2pm. $7 adults, $4 students/seniors, $3 ages 6-12, under 5 free; grandparents 1/2 price. Deer Valley Rock Art Center, 3711 W Deer Valley Rd. 623-582-8007 or dvrac.asu.edu.
Grandparents’ Story Time Celebration (Sat Sept 11). All grandparents and their grandchildren. Stories, arts & crafts and prizes. 1-2pm. Free. Reservations required. Tikes and Tales, 4853 E Greenway Rd, Scottsdale. 602-788-2565 or tikesandtales.com.
Happy Grandparent’s Day (Sun Sept 12). All ages. Grandparents accompanied by their young grandchild(ren) get in free. 9am-4pm. $9, under 1 free. Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N 7th St. 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.
Grandparent’s Day (Sun Sept 12) Share this magical journey with your favorite grandparents. Train departs at 1pm. $49.95-$79.95 adults, $34.95 ages 2-12, ages 2 & under free (when riding on an adult’s lap). Verde Canyon Railroad, 300 N Broadway, Clarkdale. 800-320-0718 or verdecanyonrr.com.
