Fandango! Arizona

When we went about planning what will literally be “the gala of the century,” our review of history revealed that during Arizona’s territorial days, prior to statehood in 1912, a celebratory ball or major festive occasion was referred to as a “fandango.”

And so, aptly, this night of nights, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, 100 years after the first day of Statehood, in the beautifully modern 46,000 square foot North Ballroom of the Phoenix Convention Center we will present “Fandango! Arizona.”  Fandango 2012 is a Signature Event of the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation, and the occasion when Arizona itself will be the evening’s headliner.

We want to cordially invite you to spend your Valentine’s Day 2012 falling in love with Arizona all over again.  Like the awe of a sunset in our unyielding Southwestern sky, this evening’s stage will be set with a premier performance by the Phoenix Symphony of the Grand Canyon Suite.  A panoramic view of Arizona will be shown on massive screens, and the story of the last 100 Years will be unfurled a quarter century at a time through the melodious narrations of special guest masters of ceremony Harvey Mackay and Rex Allen Jr., among others, in a review spanning from 1912 to 2012. 

Special honors and appearances will include Gov. Janice K. Fandango! Arizona Co-chairs Stevie Eller and Patty SimmonsBrewer, the honorary chair of the Centennial celebration; entrepreneur and philanthropist Karl Eller and many, many more.

And yet, it’s our distinctly Southwestern lifestyle that will be front and center, a story that spotlights 22 tribal nations and 15 counties – each, with of a distinct culture, that altogether comprise our one Arizona.

Yes, Fandango! Arizona will be a historic evening of cocktails, dinner and even shopping through a marvelous silent auction.  The high-powered musical and visual entertainment of the gala evening will deliver most of all that spontaneous, unbridled spirit that has harnessed all of us – truly the Arizona story.  Whether we arrived here by birth, or were drawn by the land’s vast and varied natural beauty, or captivated by the enriching outdoor lifestyle; whether it was the sweet gentleness of the winters, the inglorious-though-reprieve of a summer slowdown or yes, the exhilarating contrast in extremes, or all of the above, this evening is set to be that historic moment to pause and fondly recall the day Arizona took hold of your heart.

This magical evening of revelry will of course honor rich Arizona history, which evolved through a military presence, mining and cattle industries, railroad routes, Native American and Hispanic cultures, all contributing to the pure lure of the West for so many.  It also will be a night to glance to the future, to continue dreaming what’s better and what's suitable to Arizona and its people, with a vibrancy that’s envied across our nation.

You are invited to Fandango! Arizona.  Your contribution and spirited presence will make history, and also will benefit the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation, dedicated to education and commemoration of Arizona’s 100 Years through the production of time-honored Signature Events and Projects that provide the opportunity to learn and observe Arizona’s 100 Years of Statehood.

Tickets are from $250 for individuals and upwards of $50,000 and beyond for corporate sponsors.  For tickets and information, please visit www.AZ100Years.org