🦃 What’s Happening in Mesa This December? 🍂

City of Mesa, Arizona sent this bulletin at 12/04/2025 10:30 AM MST

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Community Engagement Newsletter

DECEMBER 2025

Wishing you Joy & Community This Holiday Season!

As we reflect on 2025, we celebrate a year full of connection, creativity, and community. You volunteered your time, shared your talents, and gave back to the community in countless ways. You participated in our programs and services, creating opportunities to connect with your neighbors and helping strengthen Mesa’s neighborhoods.

Together, we celebrated our community, camaraderie, and traditions—and stayed connected through social media, weekly Nextdoor trivia, and our monthly newsletter.

Thank you for being an essential part of our Mesa community! Here’s to a well-informed, safe, and vibrant 2026! Stay tuned in 2026 with even more ways to connect, celebrate, and grow together.

From the Community Engagement team!

Kick Off the New Year with Purpose—Volunteer for the 2026 MLK Parade!

Start 2026 by giving back! Join us for the Mesa–East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on January 19^th by volunteering. Volunteers are needed to help with parade preparation in the staging area, support along the parade route, or bringing the festival to life.

Your involvement strengthens our community and helps create a celebration we can all be proud of. Sign up today and be part of this inspiring event—we can’t wait to see you there!

Sign Up Today

2026 Hot Topics & Goal Setting: Tech, Trends, and Tomorrow’s HOA/Condo Success - Stay ahead of the curve! This session will spotlight the most pressing trends and opportunities facing HOAs and condos in 2026. From the rise of AI-powered platforms and cybersecurity threats to the impacts of management company mergers, insurance challenges, and the importance of being proactive when collecting delinquent assessments, we’ll dive deep into the issues reshaping today’s communities. You’ll also explore new advances in electronic voting, security cameras, and water conservation, and learn why sustainability measures are more important (and practical) than ever. The session wraps up with the Eisenhower Method to kick-start your board’s productivity for the year ahead. Don’t miss this essential strategy class for a future-ready association! Join us on January 20 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Registration open.

Mastering Meetings: Annual & Board Meeting Excellence for HOAs/Condos - Make every meeting count! This class will provide your board with practical strategies to plan and run successful annual and regular board meetings, no matter the format (virtual, hybrid, or in-person). Learn how to boost participation, ensure legal compliance, streamline agendas, and leverage technology for productive meetings. Plus, discover creative ways to identify (and keep!) volunteers, and foster a spirit of engagement and civility in your community. Whether you’re prepping for annual meeting season or looking to improve your regular meetings, this session will give you the tools to lead with confidence and efficiency. Join us on February 17 from 11:00 a.m. to noon.
Registration open.

Tough Conversations & Turnaround Tactics: Dealing with Difficult People, Dysfunctional Boards, and Recalls - Step up to your toughest board challenges with confidence! This timely session tackles how to handle disruptive personalities—whether it’s a challenging homeowner or a contentious fellow board member. Learn proven approaches for diffusing conflict, handling harassment, and moving forward when your board is stuck or dysfunctional. We’ll also walk through what to do if a recall petition surfaces, including legal steps, communication strategies, and best practices for restoring productive leadership. Whether your association is facing drama or just wants to be prepared, this class delivers practical solutions for building a healthier, more effective board. Join us on March 17 from 11:00 a.m. to noon.
Registration open.

Let Mesa Help You Brighten Your Holidays!

Planning to decorate your yard with holidays lights this season? Check out the city’s Tool Lending Program before you buy expensive ladders, wheelbarrows, or landscaping tools. Borrow what you need to make your yard shine. Save money and spread the holiday cheer without the extra cost.

Learn how to borrow equipment.

Mesa's Giving Tree

This holiday season, you can support neighbors receiving shelter services through the Off the Streets Program. By visiting your local Mesa Public Library you can take a Giving Tree bookmark and commit to donating the gifts listed on the bookmark for those in need.

Popular donation ideas include cozy blankets, journals, headphones, jackets, slippers, kids’ games, and other simple comfort items.

Donation Guidelines:
• Gifts must be new and unwrapped
• No food or beverages
• Drop-off deadline: December 15, 2025
• Donations must be dropped off at the Main Library at 64 E 1st St., or Red Mountain Library at 635 N Power Rd.

Take a bookmark, make a difference, and help brighten someone’s holiday.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade – Vendor Opportunities Available

Join us for the annual Mesa–East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade & Festival, presented in partnership with the Mesa–East Valley MLK Committee, on January 19, 2026! Parade and vendor applications are now open through January 12th! Participating in the parade and festival offers a great opportunity to showcase your community group, church, business, dance troupe, or band!

👉 Click here for more information and registration: https://www.mesaevmlk.org/mlk-day-celebration.html

Merry Main Street

Celebrate the holidays at Merry Main Street, Mesa's spectacular celebration of the season! The FREE festivities begin on Nov. 28 with the lighting of our four-story tree on Main Street and Macdonald, followed by an evening of music, food and fun for everyone. Adding to the joy of Mesa's Merry Main Street is the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink - more than 6,000 square feet of ice open for more than 40 days at the Plaza at Mesa City Center.

New this year is Santa Paws. You can get free photos of your pet with Santa Claus on Sundays from Nov. 30 through Dec. 21. Santa will be asking visitors if they’ve been naughty or nice on Fridays and Saturdays. Merry Main Street will be open through Jan. 10. For more, visit merrymainst.com.

Mesa Night Market

Saturday, December 13th
4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
International Marketplace Plaza (1920 W Broadway Rd)

This night market will showcase local food vendors and a variety of anime/retail vendors at this Asian food festival. This food festival is about highlighting cultural foods and an opportunity for small businesses to show their culture through their food.

Reindeer Roll and Stroll

This all-ages event has become a favorite tradition for many friends and families, and we’d love for you to join in on the fun. Snap breathtaking photos with your friends, family, or even Santa, enjoy a sweet treat (on us while supplies last).

RSVP: 2025 Reindeer Roll and Stroll Tickets, Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

December 6th Call to Artists

Submit your artwork for the Valley Bike Month T-shirt Design Contest!

We are looking for a t-shirt design that references or is inspired by:

The City of Mesa.
The MesaMoves Program and/or our dedication to safety education.
Active transportation choices in Mesa.

Enter today at: https://my.mesaaz.gov/contest

Smart Cycling

Whether you're returning to biking or just getting started, join MesaMoves at this FREE class is designed to help older adults ride with comfort and confidence. You'll learn practical tips for preparing your bike, navigating streets safely, and building skills that support a smooth, enjoyable ride.

Bonus: All participants receive a FREE bicycle safety kit to help you get rolling safely and confidently.

*Recommended for ages 50+

RSVP at: Smart Cycling for Older Adults | Mesa Public Library

Fall into Safety with Natural Gas!

As the days get shorter and the temperatures cool, it’s the perfect time to dive into your favorite fall activities!

But remember, safety comes first when using your gas appliances and equipment!

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Watch for Carbon Monoxide: Install and test CO detectors regularly. Remember, CO is colorless and odorless but can be dangerous.
Mind the Smell of Rotten Eggs: This odor could indicate a gas leak. If detected, leave the area immediately and call 911 and 480-644-4277 to report it.
Outdoor Fun: Check gas connections for your grill and ensure it’s in a well-ventilated area. Never use outdoor gas appliances indoors.
Protect your gas meter from vehicular damage.
Educate the Family: Review natural gas safety together. Create a safety plan.

Holiday Pet Safety

No people food for the fur family! Chocolate can be harmful to pets, and the artificial sweetener called Xylitol, commonly used in sugarless gum and sugar-free baked goods, can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats.

Raw bread dough is also extremely dangerous for your pet. The yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol, resulting in bloated, drunken pets, which can become a life-threatening emergency. If your pet digests any food, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

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