Ak-Chin Indian Community celebrates Masik Tas 2019 with wonderful festivities

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Night photography at the Ak-Chin Indian Community Masik Tas Celebration. FREE Carnival/Fun Zone Entertainment for the whole family at Ak-Chin Circle Field! #MasikTas2016

The Masik Tas or “birthday” celebration commemorates the Ak-Chin Indian Community‘s formal recognition with the U.S. government. Various special events for the community on December 7 and December 13-15 will take place and everyone is welcome!

The Light Parade kicks things off on Saturday, December 7, heading West down Farrell Road, in Maricopa at 7 p.m. Celebrate the start of Masik Tas and get into the holiday spirit too! All decked out in brilliant Christmas lights, parade entries come from local community groups, local businesses, tribal enterprises/departments as well as other tribes around the state.

For the first time, the community is producing a full rodeo which offers thrilling competition December 13-15. The Junior Rodeo starts Friday, December 13, at 8 a.m. for young rodeo contestants up to age 17. Then, on Saturday and Sunday the full rodeo begins. The All-Indian Rodeo events include bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, ladies barrel racing, ladies breakaway roping, and different team roping competitions. A Bull Bash happens on December 13 at 4 p.m., and the Wild Horse Races take off on December 14 and 15 at noon. Don’t miss the thrills of these different competitions.

Another fun family event is the Masik Tas carnival, which happens December 13-15 near the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle. Enjoy rides, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and food vendors. Hours of operation are Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Unlimited ride wristbands are offered for $10 per day (cash only), and children ages three and under ride free.

Along with the carnival, there will be two stages with a variety of entertainment. This includes Vaila or Chicken Scratch Entertainment Friday night on the main stage. On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, cultural dance groups appear on the mini stage. Then on Saturday evening, renowned Latino accordionist Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte and his band perform at 7 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages show are $25 at the door, cash only being sold starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. After his show, fireworks will light up the night sky.

Learn more about the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and have a great time with family and friends at these fun events! Please contact Ak-Chin Indian Community, Community Events team at (520) 568-1045 for more information.

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.