07 Apr 2023
Havasu Top Chef Competition, Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show, Desert Storm,
Monster Truck Insanity Tour and Super Cat Fest West
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Arizona – Spring is the perfect season to plan an escape to scenic Lake Havasu City. Colorful wildflowers in this vibrant Colorado River city and along Lake Havasu's sunny shores are blooming. The average temperature in April for a typical day ranges from a high of 86 degrees F. to a low of 55 degrees F., according to weather statistics from Wanderlog.com.
Great weather combined with one of the busiest event schedules of the year – over 45 events in April alone – offers visitors a Southwestern destination perfect for a quick weekend getaway or weeklong escape from the cold (we're looking at you, Lake Tahoe).
News and Notes From Lake Havasu City
- Refuge Golf and Country Club Changes Name – The golf club formerly known as the Refuge Golf and Country Club is now the Iron Wolf Golf and Country Club at the Refuge. Its 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course offers unmatched views of Lake Havasu. Although Iron Wolf has reopened as a private club, the public can still join as a member for a day and play the new course. The official grand opening of the Front 9 will be on April 9, 2023.
Iron Wolf also hosts special events, parties, weddings and receptions. Visitors can enjoy two restaurant experiences: Reflections for fine dining and Bogeys & Stogies for casual lunches and dinners. Oasis Spa at Iron Wolf Golf and Country Club is owned and operated by Kathleen May, a licensed esthetician with extensive experience and knowledge of corrective skincare and holistic modalities.
Golf and wedding reservations are now being taken. For wedding information: https://www.golakehavasu.com/lake-weddings. Ready to tee up? View: https://www.golakehavasu.com/golf
- Welcome to Home2 Suites by Hilton – The newest hotel to open in Lake Havasu City is Home2 Suites, just over a mile to the London Bridge and within a 5-minute walk of Lake Havasu and the Aquatic Center. It's across a parking lot from Rotary Community Park and half a mile to Body Beach. Guests can enjoy recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and an indoor fitness center. Guestrooms feature minibars (stocked with some free items) and smart televisions. Reservations are being accepted for April 26, 2023, and beyond.
Home2Suites, one of the fastest-growing brands in Hilton's history, is a mid-tier, all-suite, extended-stay hotel concept designed to offer stylish accommodations with flexible guest room configurations and inspired amenities for cost-conscious guests and their pets.
For more information about lodging in Lake Havasu City, view: https://www.golakehavasu.com/hotels-motels-suites
- Awesome Arizona – Roger Naylor, nicknamed the “Dean of Arizona Travel Writers,” has amassed 200 interesting facts and commentary about his beloved state in a new book titled Awesome Arizona - 200 Amazing Facts about the Grand Canyon State (University of New Mexico Press (2023). Win bar bets, Naylor says, by guessing which Arizona city holds the title of the most lighthouses of any town in the country. The answer, of course, is Lake Havasu City, with 28 replica lighthouses ringing the lake.
“They're scaled-down versions of famous lighthouses up and down the east and west coast,” said Naylor. “But they're fully functional navigational aids along the shore and around on the islands of Lake Havasu,” he said during a Feb. 20 interview on Arizona PBS.
The Go Lake Havasu Visitor Center next to the London Bridge has a map to identify them all. Learn more: https://www.golakehavasu.com/lighthouses
Upcoming Events in April 2023
- Havasu Top Chef 2023, April 6, 2023, SARA Park Rodeo Grounds – Watch as eight local renowned restaurant chefs compete in quick-fire challenges with mystery ingredients to become Lake Havasu City's next “Havasu Top Chef.” The panel of judges will include Eliza Gavin of Bravo TV's Top Chef; Jon Palsson, executive chef at Town and Country Resort in San Diego; and Gabe Gardner, chef and director of food programs at Local First Arizona.
One ticket lets guests enjoy music, a photo booth, appetizers, beer, wine and cash bars, and a silent auction – bid on a NASCAR Experience, a Grand Canyon adventure for four, go sailing, visit the vineyards in San Diego and enjoy other dream experiences (Must be age 21 or over). The non-profit Lake Havasu Hospitality Association hosts the annual event. Proceeds help support the local hospitality community and scholarships for Arizona State University, Mohave Community College and Western Arizona Vocational Education (WAVE). Tickets: $50 p.p. More details here: https://www.golakehavasu.com/havasu-top-chef-wine-tasting-event_april_2023/04-06-23
- 32nd Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show, April 14-16, 2023, Lake Havasu State Park Windsor 4 – It's the big one. The Lake Havasu Boat Show is among the largest outdoor boat shows in the Southwest, attracting over 150 exhibitors, more than $50 million in boats and 65-plus brands of new and used boats.
Brands on display include Advantage, Avalon, Barleta, Barron, Bayliner, Bennington, Berkshire, Boston Whaler, Caliber 1, Centurion, Cobalt, Cobra, Conquest, Crest, DCB, Domn8er, Eliminator, G-3, Hallett, Heyday, Howard, JC Pontoon, Kawasaki, Larson, Lund, Magic, Malibu, Manitou, Mercury Racing, Mastercraft, Moomba, Nautique, Nordic, Playcraft, Premier, Regal, Scarab, Sea Doo, Sea Ray, Shockwave, South Bay, Starcraft, Sun Catcher, Sun Chaser, Tige, Trifecta, and Yamaha.
Marine vendors will showcase fishing boats, pontoons, family runabouts, wakeboard/ski boats, personal watercraft, jet boats and the hottest high-performance sport boats. The show will also include marine accessories and all the bells and whistles the boating industry offers.
Lake Havasu Cornhole Championships are April 15; Tyler Halsey
(Country Boy Like Me) performs Friday and Saturday afternoon. Admission to the show is $10.
Learn more: https://www.golakehavasu.com/lake_havasu_boat_show_April_2023/04-14-23
- Desert Storm, April 20-22, 2023 – Plan now to get yourself a vroom with a view so you don't miss any Desert Storm action this year. Desert Storm, the largest performance boating event in the Western U.S., is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023. This popular event is one of Lake Havasu City's biggest, filling the local hospitality industry with boating enthusiasts nationwide.
The schedule includes the Desert Storm Street Party on April 20 in Downtown Havasu (Main Street) – a multi-million dollar presentation of extraordinary super-charged racing vessels from the world's top custom boat-builders.
The Desert Storm Parade of Power is on April 21 in Bridgewater Channel at London Bridge – a world-class collection of the most prestigious performance boats nationwide. High-performance boats will parade from Thompson Bay and through the Bridgewater Channel. The boats will then depart on a Poker Run, making various stops along the river and lake. The best views will be along London Bridge Beach and the Bridgewater Channel.
Then on April 22, enjoy the Desert Storm Shootout at Site Six Fishing Pier.
Drivers run a course starting near the Site Six Launch Ramp and head south. The best viewing for the Shootout will be on the surrounding bluffs at the end of the Island District, next to Site Six. For more information, see the April calendar at www.golakehavasu.com.
- Monster Truck Insanity Tour, April 28-29, 2023, Havasu 95 Speedway at SARA Park – Monster trucks compete in tailgate dragging; Insanity Style Skills Shootout; heads-up Battle Bracket racing; and wild high flying, car crushing, mud flinging freestyle. Watch for appearances by the best trucks in the U.S., including the creatively named Devastator, Rat Attack, The Boss, Big Mama, and Wheels of Freedom. Monster Truck rides, Tough Truck and UTV races, and the Jet Truck Meltdown round out the fun and competition. (https://www.golakehavasu.com/monster_truck_insanity_tour_2023_April/04-28-23) • Super Cat Fest West, April 26-30, 2023, Havasu Riviera Marina – One of the newest events to come to the brand new Havasu Riviera Marina features the largest collection of the biggest, fastest and most exotic pleasure boats in the world, as well as a few race boats with V-drives. As one of the largest charitable boating events in the country, Super Cat Fest West is expected to raise over $100,000 for local Lake Havasu City charities.
Enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, beer gardens, hot rods, motorcycles, live bands and more – all free to spectators. The fun starts April 26 with a kick-off street show and vendor village at the Havasu Riviera Marina; the next day offers fun runs with dock parties at the Marina.
Amenities at Havasu Riviera Marina include a six-lane boat ramp, a large marina with an assortment of slip sizes, a marina store, a fuel dock and day-use beach areas. Plans include a restaurant, bar and dry boat storage facility with concierge services. (https://www.golakehavasu.com/Super_Cat_Fest_West_2023/04-27-23)
For a complete list of scheduled events in Lake Havasu City, view the special events calendar at https://www.golakehavasu.com/events. Event dates, times and/or details are subject to change. Contact event organizers to verify the information.
View the current temperature on the Lake Havasu Live Weather Webcam:
https://www.golakehavasu.com/lake-havasu-weather-webcam
Take a virtual tour, including 360-degree views of the London Bridge and English Village: https://www.londonbridgetour.com
About Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu City is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Havasu on the Colorado River border of California and Arizona. The city was established in 1963 by Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. as a self-sufficient, planned community. Lake Havasu City is located on what is known as "Arizona's West Coast." Driving time is three hours west of Phoenix, 2-1/2 hours south of Las Vegas and four to five east of the Los Angeles region. As part of the northern and western limits of the Sonoran Desert, Lake Havasu City and the surrounding area feature outstanding biodiversity.
The area attracts 835,000 visitors annually with its historic London Bridge, pristine lake, friendly community, abundant sunshine and annual events, ideal weather and wide range of restaurants and lodging. More than 400 miles of stunning coastline offer exceptional watersports, including fishing, skiing, kayaking and house boating. Visitors can also explore the lake from the beautiful beaches, campsites and hiking trails.
Rated one of the top 100 best bass fishing lakes in America, Lake Havasu is ideal for catching large and small-mouth bass and striper fishing. The region is also host to extensive off-road trails and undeveloped stretches of river.
For more information: GoLakeHavasu.com
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Media contacts:
Jason Castellucci, Go Lake Havasu
928 453 3444 x 133
jason@golakehavasu.com
Jeff Blumenfeld, Blumenfeld and Assoc. PR
203 326 1200, jeff@blumenfeldpr.com
