The seasons are shifting.
Like desert creatures, Arizonans start to be more active in mornings and evenings to avoid the heat this time of year. There will be moonlight hikes, nighttime ballet performances, and stargazing parties at the Grand Canyon – all of which you can read about below.
Happenings in cooler climates tend to embrace the summer days. You can enjoy the outdoors at Canadian campground concerts, a solstice parade in Seattle, or Summerfest in Evergreen, Colorado. Or perhaps you’d prefer to party in a Paris fire station or see a play inside a San Francisco bathroom.
Also on our list are a couple of Southern Hemisphere spots, where it’s the winter solstice that’s approaching. You can still see traditions like the Māori New Year (Matariki) in New Zealand and Incan harvest ceremonies (Inti Raymi) in Peru performed.
Read on, because there are truly beautiful things going on all over the world!
+Arizona
Now – June 2 (Tuesdays through Saturdays), 8pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
World premiere ballet by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen, performed to Beethoven’s Third Symphony with a desert garden backdrop.
Museum Day in the Garden
Entertainment at Reid Park
Gene C. Reid Park and Reid Park Zoo, Tucson
Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Spring Music Under the Stars series concerts are Sundays through June 10 at DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. Please bring folding chairs or a blanket.
Summer Safari Friday Nights at Reid Park Zoo are Fridays through August 3. They include live music, wildlife activities and encounters, and theme nights. Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids
Highlights:
- June 3, 7pm: Tribute to Leonard Bernstein with special guest Sophia Righter (Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Music Under the Stars series).
- June 8, 6pm: Go Blue – World Ocean’s Day Celebration at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Learn about the importance of water conservation. Entertainment: Shrimp Chaperone. Rubio’s food available for purchase. Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids
- June 10, 7pm: 1812 Overture (Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Music Under the Stars series).
- June 16, 6:30pm: Brew at the Zoo 2018 at Reid Park Zoo. Sample craft brews in your own eco-friendly cup, try glass painting, play games, hear live music. Pub food available for purchase. Funds raised will support the Zoo Project Fund. Ages 21+. Tickets $45 advance / $55 at the door / $20 designated drivers.
- July 6th, 6pm: Explore Your Wild Side at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Watch zoo animals play including goats, owl, snake, bearded dragon, giraffe, rhino, otter, tortoise, ferret. Entertainment: The Just Intervals Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids
- August 3, 6pm: Care and Training at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Learn how the zoo cares for its animals. Entertainment: Michael P. & the Gully Washers
May 29, 6:15pm + June 27, 6:30pm
Red Rock State Park, Sedona
2-mile interpretive hike led by a naturalist. Watch the sunset from an overlook and hike back by moonlight. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with water and a flashlight. $5 fee + park admission ($7/adult). Reserve your spot at least one day in advance by calling Red Rock State Park at (928) 282-6907.
October 2017 Photo: Sedona
Jun 1, 4:30-7pm
Craft Nights (10832 N. 32nd St.), Phoenix
String art make-and-take benefiting the Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank. Templates and materials provided. All ages. Fee: 5 non-perishable food items for donation or $25.
Jun 9, 1:30pm
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, Phoenix
Make a wooden bow tie by choosing a type of wood, using a bandsaw or scroll saw to cut out your design, adding strips of inlay, sanding and finishing your piece, and attaching an elastic band. No experience required. Free.
Jun 9-16, 8pm
South Rim: Grand Canyon Visitor Center
North Rim: Grand Canyon Lodge
Nightly astronomy programs, slide shows, constellation tours, and telescope viewing. Free.
Payson Pie and Strawberry Llamas
Jun 16, 9am-5pm + Jun 17, 9am-4pm
Pine-Strawberry Community Center and Ramada, Pine
Summer festival with flats of strawberries and strawberry treats available for purchase, as well as arts, crafts, and food vendors.
Aug 4-5
Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Artist demonstrations, traditional and contemporary art and food vendors, musical performances, and hoop and social dances. Weekend Pass (last year): $18 adult
+California
Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.
- Now – Jun 24: Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press.
- July 8 – Sep 16: The World of Frida weaves juried and invitational shows that reference the artist with a national, traveling photography exhibit titled Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray.
- Jun 16, Jul 21, Aug 18 at 11am: Public Art Walking Tour. One-hour docent-led walking tour of Walnut Creek’s downtown public art collection. $5 fee includes Bedford Gallery admission.
May 30 – Jul 15 (open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am – 4pm)
Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery, Watsonville
Group exhibition in honor of Watsonville’s 150th birthday. Members of Pajaro Valley Arts use a variety of media to explore ways the Santa Cruz County community nourishes them (bodies, souls, imaginations, arts). Free.
Jun 1-24
Balboa Theater, San Diego
30th anniversary of a festival with a mission to enrich the lives of music lovers by connecting them to Mozart and the Masters, to world-class musicians and music-making, and to each other.
Jun 1 – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville
Annual Pajaro Valley Arts sculpture exhibition of over 80 works in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens. Free.
- Picnicking allowed.
- June 14, 5-7pm: Opening reception.
Jun 16, 1-4pm
Gaslamp Square, San Diego
Self-guided culinary tour showcasing dining options available in Gaslamp Quarter. Tastings from 24 restaurants and beers from the Karl Strauss brewery. Tickets $35 (advance) / $45 (day of)
San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, San Francisco
Interactive presentations and workshops with a community speaker or small project monthly on the third Wednesday (January to October) at noon. Tickets $10
- Jun 20: Stephanie Vinces presents on Kinetic embroidery, which combines laser cutting, wire work, needlework, textiles, mosaic, and sculpture.
- Jul 18: Sarah Pedlow of ThreadWritten presents embroidered textiles from her artist’s residencies in Hungary, Romania, Holland, and Ukraine.
- Aug 15: Molly McClaughlin presents Crazy Quilt construction and embellishment.
- Sep 18: Carol Ziogas presents on the origins and future of Japanese Sashiko. 19th + 20th century pieces will be on display.
July 6-24
Secret locations throughout the Bay Area
Interactive one-woman show staged in bathrooms in homes around the world. Siobhan O’Laughlin uses the ritual of bathing to tell her story of a bike accident, a broken arm, and borrowed bathtubs.
+Colorado
June 2, 1pm
Ridgway Community Center, Ridgway
Amateur sculptors sculpt three to five pounds of clay into a complete work in just two hours. A panel of professional artists determines the winners and award cash prizes. Adult registration: advance $35 / drop-in $30. Youth registration: advance $15 / drop-in $20.
6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US
July 5, 12, 19, 26
Hartwell Park, Ridgway
Thursday night concert series with dancing and mountain views. Free. All ages.
- Children’s activities area.
- You can bring chairs, blankets, and a picnic – but no outside alcohol.
- Food and beverages (including local beer) will be available for purchase. Beer sales benefit a local not-for-profit.
Enjoy anywhere: Stream concert series live at kvnf.org or tune in to KVNF Community Radio (90.9, 89.1 FM).
July 21, 10am-6pm + July 22, 10am-5pm
Buchanan Park athletic fields, Evergreen
Festival of art, crafts, music, and beer. Over 120 artists and craftspeople with work for sale in ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood. Admission $5 for adults / free for children.
- Proceeds benefit Center for the Arts Evergreen.
- July 21, 11am-5pm: Palette of Brews. Beer tasting event of Colorado microbrews. Includes unlimited tastes. Ages 21+. Tickets $25 + festival admission. Beer, wine, and margaritas will also be available for purchase.
+Georgia
Museum of Fashion + Film (Savannah College of Art and Design), Atlanta
Exhibitions are included with admission ($10 adults/free for kids under 14).
+Indiana
June 2, 12-6pm
Military Park, Indianapolis
Samples available of over 200 wines from Indiana wineries, food and wine sessions with chefs and winemakers, live music, food and artisan vendors. Ages 21+. Tickets $30 advance / $40 at the gate / $10 designated driver
+Massachusetts
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions
- Now – Sep 3. Mark Rothko: Reflection: Exhibition of 11 Rothko pieces on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. that show the continuity of the artist’s work within western artistic tradition.
- Now – Jun 3. Black and White Japanese Modern Art: Display of a newly acquired, large-scale calligraphy by Inoue Yūichi, along with a selection of other monochrome avant-garde works from postwar Japan.
Exploring Salem: Day One
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
- Free Ferry Days: Aug 10, Oct 7. (2-for-1 passes are also available for library cardholders at participating Boston-area libraries.)
- Rock the Fort at Georges Island: Jul 1 – Sep 3, 1-3pm on Saturdays. Free concerts featuring a variety of music.
- Jazz on Spectacle Island: Jul 3 – Sep 4, 1-4pm on Sundays. Free outdoor jazz concert series.
- Kayaking on Spectacle Island: Jul 6 – Sep 7 on Mondays. Ranger-led kayak tours for those who want to try sea kayaking. Hour-long trial also includes park history and information. Ages 12+. Free.
+Michigan
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)
Detroit
- Now – Sep 30: “Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume.” Exhibition focusing on the creative process behind the costume design for the first seven films of the Star Wars saga. Includes more than 60 original costumes, as well as a multimedia tour that draws connections between the films’ costumes and works of art in the DIA’s collection. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Tickets $19 adults / $7 youth + museum admission. Free museum admission + $14 exhibition tickets for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
- Aug 25 – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.
Hollywood Costume: The art of film costuming
+New Mexico
June 9-16
Albuquerque
Visiting artists, performances, and daily workshops for all experience levels. All Access Workshop Package (unlimited workshops) $1,050
Silver City
July 16-21
Hands-on pottery and sculpting workshops, exhibitions, tours, lectures, market, and youth activities. Lectures $10, workshops $30-300
- Entrepreneurship for Creatives series $225
- July 21, 11am: Entrepreneurship for Young Artists $30
- July 21: Juried Market
+New York
Now – Aug 5
The Jewish Museum, New York
Exhibition of cross-disciplinary work (painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, installation, furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, and wallpaper) from an artist with cross-cultural perspective.
- Thursdays 5-8pm are Pay-What-You-Wish admission. Saturdays are free (but audio guides, shop, and children’s exhibition are not available).
- July 15, 1pm: Pattern Power in Floor 4 Studio. Adult Studio Workshop taught by contemporary artist Timothy Hull. Create your own unique patterns and learn block printing techniques to apply them to fabric. All materials included. Fee: $80
- July 21, 5:30pm: Exhibition tour in ASL. Pre-tour reception meets at Russ & Daughters. Advance registration required. Free.
+Virginia
Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, Mount Vernon
June 15, 7pm
Dinner featuring products cultivated and produced on George Washington’s estate. $99/guest or $178/couple.
+Washington
June 1, 6:30pm
Robot vs Sloth, Pike Place Market, Seattle
Learn (or refresh your memory) how to cross stitch with Lauren Rudeck (La Ru) and an adorable robot! Tickets: $35, plus ticket fees.
- Includes La Ru Robot Cross Stitch Kit (fabric, hoop, needle, thread, and robot pattern), personalized instructions from Lauren Rudeck, snacks and beverages.
- 20% discount on any Robot vs Sloth purchases made during class.
- A percentage of each ticket sale goes to a bunny rescue.
Fremont public art
June 16-17
Seattle
Neighborhood street festival to celebrate the beginning of summer. The weekend features the 30th Fremont Solstice Parade, art car show, live music, impromptu street performances, and 300+ artists, craft vendors, and food booths. Free.
Saturday, June 16:
- Craft Market 10am – 8pm
- Corona Light Main Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 8pm
- Casa Noble Center Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 8pm
- Solstice Parade 1pm
Sunday, June 17:
- Craft Market 11am – 6pm
- Corona Light Main Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 5:30pm
- Casa Noble Center Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 5:30pm
- Dog Parade 2:30pm (Participant registration at the COLA tent on 34th Avenue, 11am-1:30pm. $20 registration fee benefits Citizens for Off Leash Areas.)
+Washington D.C.
Now – Jul 8
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Best known as a painter whose work explores themes such as movement and migration, artist Hung Liu also creates pieces using an array of printing and collage techniques. She describes printmaking as “poetry,” layering images with highly textured surfaces and screens of drip marks. Museum admission $10.
Make a Plan to See Smithsonian Museums in D.C.
Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery
Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.
INTERNATIONAL
+Canada
Family-friendly arts and music by Yukon Women in Music members in campgrounds. Free.
On an Uphill Track: Funiculars
June 21 – Jul 3
Federal Building Plaza (Capital Plaza on the Alberta Legislature Grounds), Edmonton
Festival of visual art, design, and entertainment with tours, receptions, demonstrations, and interactive experiences. Free.
- 50 exhibits at 30 different venues.
- The Works Street Stage: Daily live performances 12-9:30pm.
Jun 30 – Jul 8, 11am-5pm daily
Whitefish Falls Community Center, Whitefish Falls, Ontario
Juried show and sale with work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, and sculpture by local and international artists. Free admission.
+France
Jul 13-14, 9pm to 4am
Paris
Bastille Day parties hosted at a dozen fire stations throughout Paris as fundraisers.
+Germany
June 30, 11am
Volta Press, Berlin
Learn several classic binding techniques, including stab stitch/block binding, saddle stitch, and coptic binding. Then create three of your own handmade blank books. All materials are included. Fee 161 €
+Italy
Now – July 1
Palazzo del Governatore, Parma
Photos, installations, and paintings offering a poetic look at the topic of sustainability. Curated by Didi Bozzini, the exhibition is designed to take visitors through a cathartic journey starting from the creation of plants on the Third Day of Genesis and continuing through destruction, overcoming, nihilism, and a return to nature.
Getting a Taxi in Rome
Jun 7 – Sep 2
Isola Tiberina, Rome
Film and cultural festival with art, music, and food on an island in the Tiber River.
Winter Celebrations of Light
+New Zealand
30 June – 22 July
Auckland
Celebration of the Māori New Year with events regionwide, including ceremonial chanting (karakia) at dawn, traditional dance performances and singing, kite-flying, and street food.
+Peru
Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)
Jun 24, 9am
Sacsayhuaman, Cusco
Incan winter solstice and harvest ceremony followed by music and the dance of the four sides of the Tawantinsuyo (nations). Tickets $59-259.
Steamrolled Art
+UK
Elephant and Castle studio, London
- June 3, 10am. Etching one-day workshop. £85 fee
- July 1, 10am. Cyanotype one-day workshop. £85 fee
- July 14 + 15, 10am. Collagraph one-day or weekend workshop. £85/160 fee
This is my handpicked list of events that sound interesting to me. However, I can’t go to all of them. If you’re able to make it to any, let me know how it goes!
Also, if you notice any information that’s incorrect, let me know that too. I do try to get it right, but it’s possible there are errors or changes.
Photo of Siobhan O’Laughlin via Broken Bone Bathtub.
Massachusetts photo via Boston Harbor Islands.
Michigan photo via DIA. Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace. © & ™ 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
Washington photo via LaRu.
Canada photo (Pine Lake Campground in the Yukon) by Peter Waterman. CCL.
Germany photo via Volta Press.
