The Happenings List
These are my handpicked upcoming events for art, culture, food, and nature lovers with *Goodies starred throughout the List! I’ve also included some Etsy affiliate links, so you can support local makers and this site at the same time!
• Anywhere •
Smithsonian Online Lectures and Workshops: Learn to Make Your Mark
The Smithsonian Institution offers a ton of courses inspired by its research, collections, and exhibitions, both in-person and via Zoom!
- 9/16 + 10/21, 6:45pm ET: Feasting with Royalty: Food historian Francine Segan talks about the distinctive foods on the tables of Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, and Caesar. $30/class. *Recipes you can make on your own are included with each class!
- *Find free online course options at SmithsonianX.
Relaxing Origami with Yuki
September 17 + October 15 online
Virtual classes on origami as a mindful, stress-relieving practice. Origami instructor Yuki Martin will give step-by-step instructions on how to fold practical, aesthetically pleasing origami using paper you have on hand – like printer paper and sticky notes.
- 7pm
- The link to join the event will be emailed to registrants.
- No prior folding experience is necessary.
[event cancelled] Movement and Myth: Bahia and the Black Atlantic—A Conversation with Inaicyra Falcão and Arlete Soares
September 18 on Zoom
Conversation about Afro-Brazilian arts, culture, and intellectual discourse in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, which is home to the largest number of people of African descent outside of the African continent! The two panelists will be lyric singer and choreographer, Inaicyra Falcão, and Arlete Soares, editor, photographer, and founder of the first publishing house in Brazil dedicated to Black arts and culture. It will be moderated by MoMA’s Curator of Photography, Oluremi C. Onabanjo.
4:30pm EDTThe session will be in Portuguese with simultaneous English translation.Registration or RSVP required.
Ballet Arizona Book Club
October 16, January 15, April 9 online
Discussions on works about ballet (2 books and 1 documentary), lead by Ballet Arizona’s Community Engagement Director, Claire Schmaltz. Connect with fellow appreciators of the art form of dance!
- Hybrid experience: Participate either in person in Phoenix or virtually via Team Meeting (pre-registration is required for access).
- Selections may not be suitable for children under 18.
Book club schedule:
- 10/16/24: Bravura!: Lucia Chase and the American Ballet Theatre
- 1/15/25: Bolshoi Confidential: Secrets of the Russian Ballet from the Rule of the Tsars to Today
- 4/9/25: Ballet 422 (Documentary)
• Central Arizona •
Art + Sole: Works on Canvas
now — January 5 in Phoenix
Over a dozen Native artists painted, beaded, and styled shoes that will be on display alongside work in their usual medium(s). The exhibition highlights the artists’ innovation, creativity, and ability to translate their visual language across different forms without being limited to one specific medium or style.
- Heard Museum
- *Free regular admission with Culture Pass. (Ticketed and special events are not eligible for Culture Pass.)
Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s–1980s
now — September 15 in Phoenix
Exhibition of experimental art made by almost 100 artists from six Central-Eastern European nations from 1960-1980.
- Phoenix Art Museum in Steele Gallery
- Exhibit is included with paid museum admission. During free admission times, a special exhibition ticket ($10) is required.
- *PhxArt AfterHours: Sep. 6, 5-9pm. Free admission, extended hours, live music, art-making workshops, and specialty food and drink.
Object of the Month: September
September 5 – 26 in Phoenix
30-minute, interactive gallery talks that focus on a single work of art, as well as its history, meaning, and relationship to other works in the collection. September’s object is Number 411, a new site-specific work by abstract sculptor Leonardo Drew.
- Sept. 5, 7, 19, 26 at 11:30am at Phoenix Art Museum
- Included with admission.
- Reserve your spot at the Visitor Services desk.
- *Arizona libraries offer Culture Passes for free admission to Phoenix Art Museum.
“Drew’s works explore the tension between order and chaos, prompting audiences to reflect on the nature and meaning of life.”
–Phoenix Art Museum
Muddy Terrains: Mariana Ramos Ortiz + Estephania González
September 7 — January 12 in Tempe
Diverse collection of newly created works from artists Mariana Ramos Ortiz of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Phoenix, Arizona-based Estephania González. It explores the interconnected themes of environmentalism, self-determination, and impermanence in the Southwest and the Caribbean Archipelago.
- ASU Art Museum
- Free
Ballet Under the Stars 2024
September 19 – 28 around Phoenix
Ballet on an outdoor stage with lighting and costumes! These performances kick off Ballet Arizona’s 2024-25 season. Dancers perform excerpts from both contemporary and classical ballets, so you get a preview of what’s ahead.
- 7pm start time for all performances (dates and locations below)
- Tip: Arrive early to save your spot and watch the dancers warm-up against the backdrop of an Arizona sunset!
- Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
- All ages.
- *Ballet Arizona drop-in classes (age 14+) are $18 each or $150 for 10 classes!
Dates + locations for Ballet Under the Stars:
- 9/19: Fountain Park, Fountain Hills
- 9/20: Chandler Park, Chandler
- 9/21: Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear
- 9/26: Centennial Plaza Park, Peoria
- 9/27: Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park, Glendale
- 9/28: Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
Meryl McMaster: Bloodline
October 4 — TBA in Phoenix
48 large-scale photographic works by Canadian artist Meryl McMaster, who explores her mixed Plains Cree/Siksika, Dutch, and British ancestry. The photographs evoke themes of memory, containment, erasure, and self-determination.
- Heard Museum
- The exhibition also includes two new video-based works titled Niwaniskân isi Kiya | I Awake to You (2023) and Nipēhtēnān Kiteh | We Can Hear Your Heartbeat (2023).
- *Save 10% when you buy your tickets online in advance!
Hop Around the Valley / Greater Phoenix Shop Hop
October 6 – 14 in Phoenix
Valley-wide celebration of local quilt shops with demonstrations, giveaways, and activities. Purchasing a Passport to the Shop Hop allows you to join in the extra festivities and be entered for prize drawings. If you “hop” to all 9 participating shops, you’re eligible for even bigger prizes!
- Purchase a Passport for $10/person at any of the participating shops.
- *Each location will have something for you!
- On Etsy: Modern Quilting AZ
- Our past Shop Hopping adventure
Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024: Generations in Motion
October 14 in Phoenix
Celebration showcasing sports and movement the Indigenous way! The day will be filled with entertainment, learning, and activities led by respected community figures within a vibrant and inclusive environment.
- 10am-4pm at Heard Museum in the Steele Auditorium, Libby Amphitheater, Monte Vista, and Children’s Courtyard.
- Entertainment: Interactive demos, clinics, and activities that emphasize movement and play.
- All ages
“Whether you’re a young adult, a family, or simply someone who loves to stay active, come and experience the joy of movement while honoring Indigenous peoples.”
–Heard Museum
Ballet Arizona Book Club
October 16, January 15, April 9 in Phoenix + online
Discussions on works about ballet (2 books and 1 documentary), lead by Ballet Arizona’s Community Engagement Director, Claire Schmaltz. Connect with fellow appreciators of the art form of dance!
- Reading list selections may not be suitable for children under 18.
- ANYWHERE: If you can’t be there in person, you can join in virtually!
- Free shipping when you order books for pickup at either Changing Hands bookstore location.
- *Happy Hour at First Draft Book Bar (inside Changing Hands Phoenix) is Monday through Friday, 3-6pm. I’d recommend timing your book pickup accordingly!
Book club schedule:
- 10/16/24: Bravura!: Lucia Chase and the American Ballet Theatre
- 1/15/25: Bolshoi Confidential: Secrets of the Russian Ballet from the Rule of the Tsars to Today
- 4/9/25: Ballet 422 (Documentary)
Día de los Muertos
October 19 – 20 in Mesa
Celebration of Latin American art and culture related to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. The annual free event features live entertainment, food trucks and booths, artist demonstrations, a community altar, and a marketplace of arts and crafts, jewelry, and furniture created by Latinx artists and/or relevant to Día de los Muertos.
- 10am-5pm at Mesa Arts Center
- On Etsy: Día de los Muertos decor and craft supplies (DIY Día de los Muertos inspiration)
- *ANYWHERE: Virtual festival videos of musical performances and craft demonstrations.
Phoenix Pride Festival
October 19 – 20
Weekend of camaraderie celebrating Phoenix’s diverse LGBTQ+ and allied communities. The festival will also raise funds for Phoenix Pride Community Programs.
- Steele Indian School Park
- 1-day general admission: $34 (includes fees)
- Entertainment: over 150 entertainment performances on 7 stages. Arts Expo, Dance Pavilion, and Fiesta Caliente Latin Stage produced by Club Papi.
- Food + beverage: variety of food vendors
- Vendors: shopping opportunities and community resources
- Most of the festival’s events are all ages.
- No pets.
Arizona Jazz Fest
October 25 – 27 in Glendale
Three-day music festival on Phoenix’s west side with national acts that will include Erykah Badu, Fantasia, The Isley Brothers, and Tony Toni Tone (featuring Dwayne Wiggins).
- West Valley Event Complex (Just west of the Cardinals/State Farm Stadium)
- Single day tickets start at $110, depending on seat location. (Same for kids’ tickets – no discount.)
Vitamin String Quartet: You Need to Calm Down
November 14 in Mesa
Performance of the Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ), who create beautiful classical covers of pop music. VSQ is currently touring with fresh arrangements of music from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, Bridgerton, The Weeknd, and Daft Punk.
- 7pm at Mesa Arts Center
- $52 per ticket (includes fees)
- Full tour schedule (including Tucson 11/13).
• Northern Arizona •
Ales with the Arb
now — October 16 in Flagstaff
Science pub fundraiser for the Arboretum at Flagstaff, where you can enjoy a pint, hear about the latest research in the biological sciences, and support the Arboretum at the same time!
- at Dark Sky Brewing Co. Beer Garden
- Monthly on the third Wednesday from 6pm – 8pm.
- A give-what-you-can fundraiser! (free entry)
- 21+
- H/T Flagstaff365.com
The Grand Canyon Dragon Map
now — January 19, 2025 in Flagstaff
Exhibition centered around an iconic map of the Grand Canyon and the geology it depicts. Now the most famous map of the Canyon, it was first published by the Museum of Northern Arizona in 1976.
- Museum of Northern Arizona
- Included with admission.
- *Arizona libraries offer Culture Passes for free admission to the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Music on the Square
now — September 29 in Flagstaff
Free concerts from local bands in Heritage Square throughout the summer! Follow Downtown Flagstaff on Instagram and Facebook for details and updates.
- Heritage Square
- Thursday Sunset Series 5-7pm: Jazz, blues, rock and funk.
- Movies on the Square Pre-Show: Saturdays 4-6pm before Movies on the Square.
- Sundays at lunchtime: 12-2pm
Lavender Day: A Mini-Festival + Dinner in the Lavender Field
September 14 in Pine
Immersive art and culinary experience set in the fields of family-owned Pine Creek Lavender Farm. Tour the historic farm, watch live demos, try lavender-infused cocktails, and pick up a custom tote from There Space. At sunset, everyone will sit at a long table in the field for a chef-prepared, four-course dinner featuring lavender dishes and thoughtfully paired beverages.
- 5pm-9pm at Pine Creek Lavender Farm
- $245/person, plus tax
- 21+
- *Goodies: Take home a custom screen printed lavender day bag, a bottle of Cutino Verde hot sauce, and lavender bath bombs.
Ales on Rails
September 17 — October 31 in Clarkdale
Arizona craft beer tastings at the depot, followed by a train ride to celebrate the fall weather!
- Verde Canyon Railroad
- $155/person
- H/T Local First Arizona
- 21+
Prescott Indian Art Market
September 21 – 22 in Prescott
Juried Native American fine arts market with over 80 top artists showing oil paintings, beadwork, pottery, and weavings. In addition, it will feature Indigenous art, music, performances, and demonstrations.
- Sharlot Hall Museum
- Free entry
Fool Me Twice!
October 5 in Sedona
One-man show by poet / playwright / actor / historical researcher Mike Peach, who blends original cowboy poetry, tall tales, and tongue-in-cheek historical humor. Peach’s program is inspired by his explorations of Sedona, Verde Valley, and Arizona history.
- 1:30pm at Sedona Heritage Museum
- $12/ticket at the door (separate from museum admission). Free for children under 12.
- He will be doing another performance on 12/7.
- All ages.
• Southern Arizona •
Tohono O’odham Himdag in Brush and Lens: Paintings of Michael Chiago + Photography of Bernard Siquieros
now — October 31 in Dragoon
The word himdag refers to the Tohono O’odham way of life. It’s what painter Michael Chiago celebrates in the thousands of original art works he’s created over a career spanning decades. And what photographer Bernard Siquieros has captured both in moments of everyday life and in moments of celebration.
- Amerind Museum and Art Gallery
- *Save $4 when you buy Dual Passes to the Museum + Texas Canyon Nature Preserve Trails: Adults $20
“In brush and lens, these two men chronicle the great strength of the Tohono O’odham community, honoring their rich heritage and working together for brighter tomorrows.”
–Amerind Museum
Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling
now – September 22 in Tucson
Exhibition that looks at the traditions of Maya storytelling and image-making from ancient times up to the present. As a starting point, it uses the Mayan creation story, Popol Vuh, and a series of images by Guatemalan modern artist Carlos Mérida, which were inspired by it.
- Tucson Museum of Art
- Included with admission.
- *First Thursday. On the first Thursday of the month, TMA offers extended hours (5-8pm), pay-what-you-wish admission, art and gallery activities, entertainment, and a cash bar. Reserve your free ticket online.
- *Second SundAZe. Focused on intergenerational learning, the Second Sunday of the month features activities and art-making for kids, as well as docent talks, free performances, and pay-what-you-wish admission.
Rematriation: Running On Turtle Island
September 5 in Tucson
Special International Day of Indigenous Women event. Screening of two short documentary films, Run To Be Visible and Elite Heart: Callie Vinson, plus performances by Danza Mexica Mexicayotl and the Hiapsi Vaisai Singers.
- 6pm at The Loft Cinema
- *The Rising Hearts organization will be giving away shoes, while supplies last.
Sonoran Restaurant Week
September 6 – 15 in Tucson
10 days when many Southern Arizona restaurants offer special prix fixe menus discounted by 25%! The purpose is to support local restaurants by encouraging diners to try restaurants they haven’t been to, as well as revisiting old favorites.
Rockin’ the Arts at Chiricahua
September 13 – 15 in Willcox
Bring your supplies and draw or paint the amazing Chiricahua landscape! Open to anyone that’s willing to practice Leave No Trace principles and take care not to damage anything in the park while creating their art.
- 8:30am-4:30pm at Chiricahua National Monument
- No pre-registration necessary, just check in at the visitor center when you arrive.
- Chiricahua National Monument now has no entry fee!
- H/T @chiricahuanps
Makers Market @The Tuxon (MM@T)
September 21 in Tucson
Over 40 makers selling their own creations at an outdoor market in the Tuxon hotel’s dedicated event space. Shoppers can enjoy food and drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic) from the hotel’s pool bar, while listening to live music or a DJ.
- 5pm-10pm at The Tuxon
- Free entry
Tucson Pride Festival + Parade
September 27 – 28 in Tucson
The volunteer-lead signature events of Tucson’s first and longest established LGBTQ organization, the nonprofit Tucson Pride.
- 9/27: Tucson Pride Parade in Armory Park with food trucks, vendors, and live performances for all ages, as well as Tucson Pride’s Food Truck Challenge!
- 9/28: Festival at DeMeester Performance Center in Reid Park with a variety of performances, retail and food vendors, beer garden, community resources, kids activity area, and game area for ages 12+.
- Festival is family friendly until 6pm. After sunset, entertainment may be less appropriate for young audiences.
Mercado District Summer Night Market
September 27 in Tucson
Local artisan vendors, plus music, food vendors, and extended hours for MSA Annex shops. This is the final night market of the season!
- 6pm – 10pm at MSA Annex
- Free entry
Vegan Night Market
September 28 in Tucson
The largest food festival in Tucson! It brings together Tucson’s vegan and vegan-curious community to celebrate delicious, sustainable, and cruelty-free food.
- 6pm-10pm at Rillito Park Farmers Market Food Pavilion (1st Ave. and River Rd.)
- Pet friendly and family friendly (21+ in bar area)
- Entertainment: music by DJ Han Cholo and Gorville Wreck
- Food + beverage: Vegan food and cocktails
- Vendors: vintage clothes, tattoos by Sita Rama, permanent jewelry by A Forever Vibe
Tucson Meet Yourself
October 4 – 6 in Tucson
Annual three-day celebration of the folk arts of the diverse communities of the Sonoran region. It features hundreds of artisans, home cooks, dancers, musicians and special exhibits!
- Jácome Plaza
- Food + beverage vendor list.
- All ages
Exhibit Opening: Rarámuri Rancheria
October 5 in Tucson
Opening of a new exhibit at Mission Garden that centers around structure called a rancheria, which was built by the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) people of northern Mexico (and other Indigenous people throughout the region) around the 1900s. Mission Garden’s rancheria will house displays of Rarámuri artifacts and will also have a coop for the Garden’s heritage breed chickens. At the exhibit opening, there will be short remarks, followed by activities for all ages to explore the history, ecology, and agriculture represented in this exhibit.
- 9am-11:30am at Mission Garden, Tucson
- All ages
Buena Vista Social Orchestra (BVSO) Concert
October 6, 7pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / $41-75 per person (includes ticketing fee)
An ensemble of both new and original Buena Vista Social Club members perform both hits and deep cuts from the iconic band.
- Full tour schedule. (Tucson is BVSO’s only Arizona stop this tour.)
- Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall album + other vintage vinyl
Patagonia Fall Festival
October 12 – 13 in Patagonia
Festival showcasing the Patagonia community’s talent in a park nestled in the mountains of Southeast Arizona.
- Patagonia Town Park
- Free entry.
- All ages
- Entertainment: Live music from Jam Pak Blues ‘N Grass (Youth Blues and Bluegrass), Zach Farley + Friends (World and Folk), Old Arizona Brass Band (Frontier Military Brass), and more. Also an Alpaca Viewing Area with Double G Alpacas and free kids’ arts experiences, crafts, and youth music acts.
- Food + beverage: Patagonia Fire Department Cookout, Boriken Puerto Rican Cuisine, Colonel Mustard’s, Gus’s Gyros, Hungary Express (funnel cakes), Kettlelicious (kettle corn), Koolsips, I+C Kitchen, Sparky’s Cantina.
- Vendors: art market and non-profit exhibitors
Preview some of the festival artists on Etsy…
Loft Film Fest
October 16 – 24 in Tucson
Film festival dedicated to showcasing the best of independent, foreign, and classic cinema and celebrating the artists – both established and emerging directors, writers, producers and actors – who make movies happen!
- The Loft Cinema
- The Loft Film Fest has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals In The World!
Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival: Fall for Arizona Wines!
October 19 – 20 in Willcox
17 wineries from the Willcox Wine Country region will participate in this fall’s festival!
- 11am-5pm at Railroad Park (157 N. Railroad Avenue)
- $45 (Saturday) or $40 (Sunday) ticket at the door includes 10 wine tastings + a commemorative glass
- *Save $10 by buying your ticket in advance!
- Entertainment: live music, wine talks and tastings
- Food + beverage: food trucks, beer garden, and local wines
- Vendors: local artists and craft vendors
Oro Valley Fall Foodie + Art Festival
October 26 – 27 in Oro Valley
Two-day outdoor event that showcases some of the Southwest’s finest artisans in media that includes fashion, home goods, painting, metalwork, and woodworking.
- Oro Valley Marketplace
- Entertainment: live art demonstrations and strolling musicians
- Autumn-themed activities: costume contests, trick-or-treating, family photo opportunities with a 20-foot pumpkin centerpiece, and pumpkin painting and other fall-centric crafts for kids
- Food + beverage: up to 20 food vendors and a beer garden with local brews
- Vendors: up to 125 talented artists, offering a diverse array of handcrafted goods
- All ages
All Souls Procession Weekend
November 1 – 3 in Tucson
A uniquely Tucson celebration, which draws on the many cultural traditions of the community, to honor the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. The focal point of the event is a two-mile long procession on blocked-off streets in west Tucson, where all are invited to walk and remember. It ends on the Mercado District Festival Grounds, where there will be performances, art installations, and food vendors. The culmination is the ceremonial burning of collected remembrances in a large metal urn.
- Mercado District
- 11/3: Annual All Souls Procession. Assembling on Grande Avenue at 4pm, departing at 6pm.
- All ages
“It [All Souls Procession] is a labor of love built on the backs of artists, creatives and people of all kinds… without financial motivation or corporate sponsorship. The All Souls Procession is pure, public ceremony for everyone.”
–Many Mouths One Stomach, the non-profit that organizes the Procession
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