Join a joyful interactive sing-along for all ages that’ll make your heart sing and your spirits soar! We're bringing all your favorite carols to life with a mini band and your voices to create an unforgettable experience!
The traditional “public school” concept is in a dire state in America. A declining child population, declining proficiency test score, inflammatory political agendas, expanding costs, and high teacher turnover are just a few of the challenges faced by traditional school districts across the country. Regrettably, Arizona is near the bottom in most measures. We will examine the breadth of these challenges and explore an array of options and alternatives necessary to save America’s education systems.
In four (4) classes, Sandi Carll from our Signature Program Desert Foothills Theater will host an engaging and lively improv class. Participants will actively participate in fun and easy improv games designed to improve cognitive ability, foster brain health, and broaden creative expression.
The practice of medicine has been around for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that the world began to fully understand how diseases and infections originated and could be controlled. In 1950 global life expectancy was 46 years, today it is over 73 years. In the U.S. it has gone from 69 to nearly 80 years. We will explore the evolution of medicine and take a close look at the structure and function of the medical industry today and the future effects of such influences as artificial intelligence.
Are you looking to brush up on some management concepts and leadership skills? Are you new to the area and interested in a unique opportunity to learn more about how our local and regional entities work and meet key leaders in the Desert Foothills region? The application deadline is January 26 2026 for the next Academy starting in March 2026. To learn more, please join us for a free open house/mixer to talk with our Desert Foothills Leadership Academy alumni and see if the 2026 Academy is a good fit for you.
Phoenix Art Museum's Master Docent Alice Bazlen will connect you with artist Eric Fischl, and with each other, through Eric's narrative paintings that explore universal themes including memories of growing up, family relationships, anxieties about the future, and social taboos.
You are invited to an exclusive opportunity to preview and purchase hundreds of handmade Navajo rugs and jewelry before they go on sale to the public.
Our fourth annual Navajo Rug & Jewelry Show is truly a memorable cultural awareness event that we're privileged to experience in our area. Shop for one-of-a-kind handmade Navajo rugs, jewelry, and crafts — and experience Native music, weaving demonstrations & stories, and cultural teachings. 100% of all proceeds directly support the Navajo Elders and help reduce the extreme poverty and hardship they face on the Navajo Reservation.
This 2-day marketplace-style event will feature over 300 unique new and gently used specialty purses for sale, raffle baskets, and a purse drive to benefit Purse-Impressions. There is no entry fee to the event, however patrons are encouraged to bring a donation of purses, jewelry, or hygiene products.
Join us as PBS "History Detectives" host Dr. Eduardo Pagan investigates the mystery behind an unusual Navajo rug. The story takes us to meet a Navajo medicine man and a traditional Navajo weaver in Crownpoint, New Mexico — a place long considered the center of Navajo weaving. Did the weaver violate a taboo to create the rug? A textile historian helps us uncover who may have been behind this controversial design.
We begin this four-part series with the early English colonies that dominated the Atlantic coast of North America, north of Florida. While they comprised a very small portion of the British gross domestic product, for a century and a half they thrived financially. But while the Americans that lead the Colonies considered themselves loyal British subjects, they liked the freedom and independence colonial separation accorded. The French and Indian War changes everything.
Join us for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at leadership and resilience from Dr. Connie Mariano, Former White House Physician to the President. Dr. Mariano will share her journey from an immigrant military childhood to serving as physician to three U.S. Presidents. Hear White House stories and her practical prescriptions for breaking barriers and achieving success.
Join us for an afternoon of friends, fashion and fun! Hosted by Soroptimists of Happy Valley and The Holland Center.
The second of this four-part series will review the short timeframe between the French and Indian War and the Declaration of Independence. A series of British authoritarian proclamations negate the freedoms enjoyed by the colonies. Loyal British subjects in America begin to believe they are not viewed by Parliament as full citizens of Great Britain and examine applicable options that include separation from the rule of King George III.
What better way to celebrate our supporters by hosting a FUNdraising party with a purpose? This is our biggest – and only – fundraising event of 2026 with all proceeds benefiting our arts & education programming. You will be transported to the heart of Churchill Downs with creative decor, red roses, a themed photo booth, mint juleps, and an abundant buffet. Watch the race on the big screen and be in on the action when you pick the winner. Have a little extra fun and dress in traditional Kentucky Derby attire, with a chance to win a prize for best hat and best dressed couple!
Get to know the desert plants used for health and well-being in this exciting hands-on field experience. Learn to identify, prepare and understand medicinal properties of our desert plants. Spend four (4) hours with the Desert Awareness Committee collecting, creating an herb collection journal, using a plant press, preparing herbs properly, and making tinctures and ointments.
Your brain and heart are deeply connected, and the earliest signs of risk often appear years before symptoms begin. Thanks to very recent medical breakthroughs, new non-invasive screenings can now detect early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular conditions with greater accuracy than ever before. As part of our Cognitive Health Series, Dr. Brian Browne is offering these cutting-edge screenings at no cost, right here at The Holland Center, giving you the opportunity to take a proactive step toward protecting your long-term health.
A free happy hour and orientation for new residents of the Desert Foothills area—Rio Verde, Desert Mountain, North Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, and far North Phoenix. Meet neighbors, learn about the community, and start building connections in a relaxed, welcoming setting with drinks and appetizers served.
The third segment of this four-part series will examine the American Revolution. Following a series of disputes with British authority and the implementation of restrictions that negated the colonist's personal freedoms, and the right to self-government, the American colonists revolted. We will examine the boldness of the Declaration of Independence and the challenging times of the American Revolution.
We wrap up the series by stepping into the messy, fascinating aftermath of the Revolution. Winning independence was one thing — figuring out how to govern 13 separate republics was another. With the Articles of Confederation falling apart, America faced a new challenge: creating a unified nation. This session explores how the struggle led to the U.S. Constitution and the foundation of the country we celebrate today.
American history is filled with surprising coincidences—moments that feel too remarkable to be random. Some people even say there are no true coincidences, only events we don’t yet fully understand. Join Jim Sherbert as he shares some fascinating and unexpected connections in our nation’s past. These unusual historical “coincidences” are sure to spark curiosity, conversation, and maybe even a few raised eyebrows.
Come enjoy this high-energy, family-friendly musical filled with laughter, friendship and wild adventure! Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe as they escape the Central Park Zoo and journey to Madagascar, where they encounter lively lemurs, unexpected challenges and discover the true meaning of friendship and teamwork.
Imagine Dancing with the Stars with an Arizona twist! Watch local and Arizona TV personalities compete on the dance floor for community bragging rights—all for a great cause. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and live music by the Whiskey Lizard Band at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. Proceeds support arts, education, wellness, and community programs through four local nonprofit partners including The Holland Center. Tickets: Purchase at community-fest.org/event/dancing-with-the-desert-stars
This free event connects seniors and their loved ones with trusted local partners offering resources for aging with confidence. Explore support for staying active, fraud prevention, independent living, in-home care, financial planning, caregiver support, health services, and more. Come gather practical information, ask questions, and meet friendly people ready to help.
Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, this acclaimed musical follows sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March as they navigate love, loss, ambition, and growing up during the Civil War. Jo transforms her family’s experiences into the stories she longs to publish. With a powerful score, Little Women brings laughter, heartache, hope, and personal discovery to the stage.
Meet award-winning local authors, talk all things books, and purchase signed copies of your favorites while supporting local writers and our community. Reading is fun—and even better when you meet the people behind the stories! This free community event is open to all.
As the future of the Colorado River hangs in the balance, learn how history, policy, drought, and changing conditions are shaping Arizona’s water supply. Explore the agreement governing Colorado River allocations, why reservoirs are critically low, and how evolving water management decisions could affect communities, economies, and the future of Arizona.
Celebrate the Cave Creek and Carefree community while supporting local nonprofits at this lively evening of food, music, games, raffles, and community spirit. Enjoy Harold’s famous BBQ, connect with organizations making a difference, and meet friends and neighbors. Every ticket helps support local nonprofits, including The Holland Center’s arts and education programming.
Come to our haunted desert for the 7th Annual Prickly Pear Festival! This free, family-friendly event features prickly pear treats and products, demonstrations of juicing, jojoba oil pressing and mesquite flour preparation, plus face painting, caricatures, a haunted-desert photo opportunity, and an interactive storytelling performance. Come in costume and kick off Halloween with fun, food, and desert-inspired festivities for all ages!
As the future of the Colorado River hangs in the balance, Arizona faces critical questions about water supply and sustainability. Learn how history, policy, and changing conditions are shaping the future of one of the Southwest's most pressing concerns: water.
34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
(480) 488-1090
info@hollandcenter.org
© Copyright 2026 | The Holland Center | Website maintained by Tech 4 Life