The city of Maricopa is bringing the annual Copa Cultural Night Market back for its fourth year in a wild way.
Event planners at Copper Sky Recreational Complex yesterday were setting up the stage, blowing up inflatable animals and spray-painting flowers onto the grass, spelling out "Copa Cultural."
Today, they finished setting up the event's newest attraction, the Copa Zoo, which features exotic animals like a camel named Dusty, a zebra, miniature donkeys, reptiles and birds.
"Animals have shaped cultures and traditions around the world," said Nick Brooks, the city's Event Sponsorship Coordinator, "It's a foundation of most cultures, so being able to bring that there is the goal."
The addition of animals fulfills the city's goal of adding something new to each of its events, said city spokesperson Quinn Konold. For example, last Fourth of July saw the first live rock band. During Merry Copa, it was a drone show.
Joining the Copa Zoo are an art zone, game area with bubbles for kids and beer garden for the adults. Twelve food trucks and dozens of vendors will sell their wares.
Main performances are Chilean folklore by Phoenix-based Chilenos sin Fronteras, African diaspora with Tucson-based King-Doumbya Drumming and Dance, Aztec dances with Coatlicue Danza Mexica from Phoenix, Polynesian fire performances with Hana Entertainment in Mesa and Indigenous hoop dancer ShanDien Sonwai LaRance from Flagstaff. Local groups will also perform their own demonstrations.
Copper Sky amenities like the dog park, pickleball courts and skate park will remain open, but anyone who wishes to use them either needs to walk or pay to park.
Complimentary shuttles will bus attendees from Maricopa Elementary School, Maricopa Wells Middle School and Maricopa High School, while an ADA-accessible shuttle will run from City Hall.