Veterans Day events in the Phoenix area

Following is a list of Vetrans celebrations in Phoenix and surrounding area today and rest of the week courtesy of AZCentral.com:

Nov. 11

Veterans Day Gourd Dance and Community Potluck: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Honor those who have served our country with a community potluck and gourd dancing. Gourd dance is a type of Native American celebration dance believed to have originated with the Kiowa tribe. Bring your favorite dish to share. Gourd dancing begins at 11:30 a.m. No registration required. Free. Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0901. www.pueblogrande.com.

Veterans Day at Arizona Museum for Youth: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Make patriotic-inspired artwork in honor of Veterans Day. Activities are inspired by the museum's exhibition "NASA I Art: 50 Years of Exploration." Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson, Mesa. 480-644-2468. Fee for veterans, members and those younger than 1. www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com.

Veterans Day in Avondale: 10 a.m. Avondale honors veterans with a fly-over from Luke Air Force base, special guest presentations and a re-enlisting ceremony for three service men and women at Luke. Avondale Civic Center, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. Free. 623-333-1000. www.ci.avondale.az.us.

Mesa Veterans Day Parade: 11 a.m. Watch the parade of marching bands, military vehicles, floats and veteran groups strut down the streets of downtown Mesa, beginning at Center Street and First Ave. Free. 58 W. Main St. 480-890-2613. mesaveterans.org.

Veterans Day: 3-5 p.m. Honor and celebrate American veterans at this memorial ceremony, which includes guest speakers, dignitaries and live performances. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. 480-312-2312. www.therailroadpark.com.

Veteran in a New Field: Winslow Homer and the Civil War: 3 p.m. Before modern media, visual artists were called upon to illustrate patriotism and portray the cost of freedom. In honor of Veterans Day, Sarah Moore, associate professor of art history at the University of Arizona, discusses how Winslow Homer's images of battle and soldier life made those mindful of the cost of freedom the during Civil War. Free. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. 602-257-1222. www.phxart.org.

Free Meal for Veterans and Military: 5:30-9 p.m. Veterans and members of the U.S. military are offered a complimentary meal when they present their military ID or proof of former service. Create a three-course meal from any items on Sassi's menu. Menu prices vary. Sassi, 10455 E. Pinnacle Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. 480-502-9095. www.sassi.biz.

www.famousdaves.com.

Free Meal for Veterans: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Veterans get a free entree when they present military ID, dog tags, a picture or memorabilia indicating their service. Entree choices include St. Louis-style ribs, Texas beef brisket, country-roasted chicken and Georgia chopped pork. Free meal for veterans with ID. Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que.

- 3250 W. Frye Road, Chandler. 480-782-1212.

- 16148 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. 623-979-3706.

- 2206 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert. 480-722-2781.

- 1011 N. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-615-1444. famousdavesbbq.com.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System's Annual Veterans Day Parade: 11 a.m. This year's theme is "Defending Freedom, Protecting Dreams" and features 100 entries, including several large helium balloons shaped like a bald eagle and Uncle Sam. This year's celebrity grand marshal is Tristan Topps, Ms. United States 2010. The parade begins at the hospital grounds and ends at North Phoenix Baptist Church. See website for parade route. Free. Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, 650 E. Indian School Road. 602-277-5551. www.phoenix.va.gov/news/parade.asp.

Veterans Day Service: 10 a.m. Honor America's military men and women at this annual service. The program includes an inspirational message, music and military honors. It concludes with a release of white doves. Refreshments follow. Free. Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 400 S. Power Road, Mesa. 480-830-4422. www.mariposagardens.com.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Honors Camp Patriot: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa donates $1 for every spa treatment, round of golf and dining experience that occurs at the resort on Veterans Day to Camp Patriot, a non-profit organization for disabled U.S. military veterans. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. 480-293-5000. www.jwdesertridgeresort.com.

Blood Drive: 1-6 p.m. Red Cross is on-site for this drive honoring veterans. To schedule an appointment, phone or go online and enter the sponsor code: dignity. Free. Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 400 S. Power Road, Mesa. 480-830-4422. www.redcrossblood.org.

Vets Wash Free: Veterans and active military personnel get a free car wash. Donations are collected to benefit Operation Homefront of Arizona, an organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors, and the Pat Tillman Foundation, an organization that invests in veterans and their families through education, community and advocacy. Free car wash. Cobblestone Auto Spa, 3739 E. Bell Road, Phoenix. www.operationhomefront.net. www.pattillmanfoundation.org.

Second Annual Pancake Breakfast: 5 a.m.-noon. Surprise firefighter charities and Long Realty host the pancake breakfast for Veterans Day. They serve pancakes, eggs and bacon. Donations accepted. For details, e-mail dmhackett@msn.com. Fire Station 306, 16645 W. Clearview Blvd., Surprise. www.surpriseaz.gov.

Veterans Day Celebration: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event features food, activities for kids and entertainment. Free. Tolleson Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson. 623-936-2705. tollesonaz.org.

Veterans Day Parade: 10:30 a.m. A parade begins at the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse and proceeds along Clubhouse Drive, ending at the Armed Forces Plaza near Eagles Nest Clubhouse. Featured are veterans from each branch of the service, marching bands from Agua Fria and Desert Edge high schools, American Legion Post 61 Golden Legionnaires Honor/Color Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 91, the Classic Car Club and Motorcycle Chapter 11 Club. A ceremony at 11 a.m. includes posting of the colors, a gun salute and ringing of the memorial bell. Refreshments are available for purchase at Tuscany Falls and Eagles Nest clubhouses. Bring lawn chairs and flags to wave. Free. PebbleCreek Eagle's Nest Country Club, 3651 N. Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear. 623-935-6750. www.goodyearaz.gov.

Nov. 12

Veterans Day Picnic: Noon The New Jersey State Club invites the public to a Veterans Day Picnic in the park. Lunch offerings are pulled pork or chicken sandwiches, barbecue beans, potato salad and cookies. Drinks not provided. A representative is on hand from Freedom Foundation, an organization dedicated to building communities by supporting other non-profit organizations, schools, local government and youth. Registration required by Nov. 5. Make checks payable to the New Jersey State Club and send to C. Tonkin, 20459 N. Madera Way, Surprise, AZ 85374. Beardsley Recreation Center, 12755 N. 128th Ave., Sun City West. 623-544-6525. www.rcscw.com/beardsley.html.

Nov. 13

Veterans Day 5K: 6 a.m. This Veterans Day race welcomes all ages and fitness levels to spend the morning out getting fresh air and exercise. Enter the competitive 5K race or the 1.25-mile non-competitive family and friends walk. All participants receive T-shirts, and the top three winners in each age division are recognized. Registration is required and is available on the website. $15-$25. Rio Vista Community Park and Recreation Center, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria. 623-773-7137. www.wingfootfinish.com/peoriaveteransdayrun.

A Gathering of Legends-Veterans Day Open House: 10 a.m. The third annual event honors aviators who participated in U.S. military conflicts during the past 69 years. Visitors are invited to meet and speak with aviators, including fighter-pilot aces, bomber and cargo crewmen, Tuskegee Airmen and Women's Airforce Service Pilots. Fly-overs of vintage military aircraft occur throughout the day. Opening ceremony is 11 a.m. $10, $9 for seniors, $3 for ages 5-12, free for veterans and age 4 and younger. Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa. 480-924-1940. www.arizonawingcaf.com.

Dinner With Legends: 5 p.m. Celebrate and honor Arizona's veterans with Barrett Tillman, noted aviation author and commentator of the History Channel's "Dogfight" series. No-host cocktails are served at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the museum. $35, $25 for Commemorative Air Force members. Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa. 480-924-1940. www.azcaf.org.

Veterans Day in Peoria: The family fun starts with a 5K run and a family fitness walk, followed by a free pancake breakfast with the mayor. During breakfast, a recognition presentation is held. Other activities include a flag ceremony and demonstrations by the Civil War Veterans are also invited to interview for the Veterans History Project, which honors American war veterans by preserving their stories of service to the country in the Library of Congress. Registration for the 5K race is at 6 a.m.; race begins at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is scheduled for 8 a.m. Free. Rio Vista Recreation Center, Rio Vista Community Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria. 623-773-8600. www.peoriaaz.gov.

Veterans Day Weekend Traditional Pow-Wow: Noon-10 p.m. Native drummers and dancers perform on Fletcher Library lawn for the campus' annual Veterans Day weekend traditional pow-wow. In addition to dance and drum performances, there are Native arts and crafts and food booths. Grand entries are at 1 and 7 p.m. Free. ASU West, 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. 602-543-5500. www.west.asu.edu.

Nov. 14

Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial: 10:30 a.m. The Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing is conducting a memorial for 23 British cadets who died during World War II while training at No. 4 British Flying Training School, now Falcon Field, in Mesa. Among those attending are representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Air Force, the Daughters of the British Empire, the New Caledonian Pipe Band and dignitaries from both the British government and the city of Mesa. This memorial service has been conducted for more than 30 years. Free. Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St., Mesa. 480-644-2335. www.azcaf.org.