Testing the waters - RV-Dreams Community Forum

pheasantplucker · RV-Dreams Family Member

Testing the waters

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have fun, don't over plan things, just relax and things will go exactly like they are supposed to, one of our other members who knows a lot about the Art Show circuit will probably chime in.....

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fountain Hills (The Great Fair) has free onsite parking for artists. This past fall show wasn't very good for most of the artists, we're going to try it one more time this spring and if it's not any better sales it will be an easy one to take off the list. A FANTASTIC regiongal park close to Fountain Hills is McDowell Regional Park. We've discovered the Maricopa county parks are very pleasant to stay at if you can get by with just W/E hookups.

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't have a schedule and stick to it.

CCC

pheasantplucker · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good advice Charles, I hope I can remember it.
We will be boondocking in Wickenburg and staying at Usary mountain park for a couple of nights before going to Fountain Hills for the show. I know Fountain Hills has been going down hill for years, (pardon the pun) I hope to just pay for the trip between the two shows and have a chance to thaw out and be able to better plan for next winter.
Thanks for your replies!

dianneandsteve · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with NWescapee about McDowell Mountain Regional Park...20 minutes north of Fountain Hills. We have stayed there a couple of times and it's our favourite.

If you're okay with dry camping we have stayed at Constellation Park across from the rodeo grounds in Wickenburg for $5.00 per night. Water is available at the rodeo grounds.

The Wickenburg Community Centre has a sani dump for $10.00 and RV sites. I don't recall how much per night or if they have any services. These sites are in their rear parking area and are close together. For private campgrounds check out rvparkreviews.

Safe travels!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

McDowell and Usery are both Maricopa county parks, both with wonderful, spacious sites. Our evaluation of the 2 - McDowell is quieter, more out of the way. Usery was more convenient when we needed to grocery shop, do laundry, etc. Usery has a gun range nearby which could get pretty noisy.
We like them both and will probably stay at both of them again.

One other thing we learned, fuel up before going to Fountain Hills, Diesel was much cheaper in Mesa and other Phoenix suburbs, everything in FH seemed to be a little more expensive, groceries, fuel, etc.

pheasantplucker · RV-Dreams Family Member

At Wickenburg we will be dry camping at the ballpark parking lot, its set aside for the artists for the duration of the show, at least I have applied for a space there.
Thanks for the heads up on Fountain Hills prices Ruth, I seem to recall that there's a Basha's near the show. we will stock up before going there.
I hope to get in and get a parking space on wednesday, seems to be lots of room there.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

No issues with RV parking space at the FH show, they have plenty of parking, we didn't arrive until Thursday afternoon and had no issue finding a reasonable place. Have you received your notification of acceptance yet? Supposed to be mailed on the 16th, just picked our mail that was forwarded on the 23rd and nothing from the show yet. Had the same problem last fall, just trying to determine if we'll receive a mail shipment one more time before the booth fees are due. Hate these art shows that still use "snail mail", so much easier to deal with the Zapp shows or other electronic means.