9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18
Don a mask and celebrate a purple, green and gold Cajun day at the Mardi Gras Magic event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, with Salt River Tubing.
The good times will be rocking as flamboyantly costumed river employees toss free Mardi Gras beads while line dancers wow the crowds. The “Parade of Floats” (buses) provide a spicy shuttle to the Salt River. Limited edition Mardi Gras Magic T-shirts and free tubing passes will be awarded for Best Tuber Costumes.
The cost of tube rental is $15 per person or tube, which includes inner-tube rental and shuttle bus service.
The Mardi Gras Magic event, co-sponsored by Tonto National Forest, Riviera Broadcasting Group and Salt River Tubing, is aligned with the USDA Forest Service’s “More Kids in the Woods” commitment in meeting the challenge of reduced youth involvement in outdoor activities.
Salt River Tubing is located in beautiful Tonto National Forest, northeast Mesa, just seven minutes from the Loop 202 on North Power Road.
“Our company’s costumethemed events (Rocking’ Rodeo, Halloween and Mardi Gras) offer unique adventures for teens exploring the great outdoors,” said Henri Breault, president/CEO of Salt River Tubing.
“Present-day teens are the future parents of our nation and the ‘More Kids in the Woods’ Forest Service national program was expressly designed to encourage efforts to get kids and teens outdoors.
If teens today are introduced to memorable opportunities in the great outdoors on public lands, the likelihood that they will bring their own children ‘into the woods’ is increased greatly. Our teens need a hook to encourage them to get outdoors in the summer. They occupy their time primarily by watching television, social networking online and checking out the latest movies at the theaters. The costume-themed events are attended by thousands each year in anticipation of enjoying a memorable tubing adventure on the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest.”
For more information about Salt River Tubing and the Mardi Gras Magic on Salt River event, please visit the website at www.saltrivertubing.com or call (480) 984-3305.
Daily operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Children must be at least 8 years or older and 4 feet tall for tube rental and shuttle bus service. Glass containers are prohibited by law in the Lower Salt River Recreational Area and will be confiscated. Life vests should be worn by children, nonswimmers and inexperienced swimmers. Ice chests and coolers will be inspected for glass containers before boarding shuttle buses.

