Does anyone else feel like arriving at 2023 is a kind of milestone?
Back when the pandemic first hit and events were being cancelled or postponed to as late as Summer ’22, those dates seemed impossibly far away. I couldn’t imagine where we’d be at that time, much less beyond it.
And now, here we are. This year feels like stepping into new ground. Like perhaps we can really get down to the business of creating that “new normal” that everyone’s been talking about. Or recognizing that there really is no “normal.”
So here’s to 2023 and whatever mix of good, bad, and utterly unexpected it may bring! May the year be kind to you. More importantly, may we be kind to each other – and ourselves.
–S
The Happenings List
The Happenings List is my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
Events you can enjoy anywhere are listed after the Arizona category, so if you live outside the state, keep scrolling down. There’s good stuff for you too!
*Goodies: There are little extras and bonus items sprinkled throughout the list and asterisked to make them easier to find.
Fill Me In!
I’m not in charge of any of these events or paid to list them. They’re just things I thought you might be interested in.
That said, I can’t go to every single one and would love to hear about any of these Happenings you’re able to participate in! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
Arizona
(Remember, if you’re not planning to be in Arizona anytime soon, just scroll on down to the Anywhere section!)
• Central Arizona
Arizona MLK Celebration: March + Festival
January 16, 9am / Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to Hance Park, Phoenix / Free.
Why it made the list: It’s a community celebration of Dr. King’s Legacy, organized by the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee, whose events are “designed to encourage all ages, ethnicities, cultures, races and genders to participate and to focus on fulfilling a dream.” The day begins with a commemorative march from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (near Jefferson and 16th Street in Phoenix) and ends with a festival at Margaret T. Hance Park.
- 9am: March from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to Hance Park.
- 10am-4pm: Festival at Hance Park.
Contemporary Dance Festival Preview: Galleries Become Stages
January 25, 7-7:30pm / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / Free.
Why it made the list: Dancing in the museum! Preview performances from the upcoming Breaking Ground 2023 Contemporary Dance Festival will take place in Phoenix Art Museum galleries, providing a sneak peek into the world of contemporary dance.
- The Breaking Ground festival seeks to present a diversity of movement, subject matter, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
- *These preview performances happen during Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday, so you can enter the museum free (or with an optional donation) anytime after 3pm.
Desert Plants + Vistas: Watercolor Course
February 4-25 (Saturdays), 9:30am – 12pm / Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), Superior / Course fee: $169
Why it made the list: A beautiful place to learn watercolor techniques, surrounded by BTA’s fantastic variety of plants! The 4-week class will meet Saturday mornings in February.
- Pack drinking water and art supplies and wear your walking shoes.
- Check out the list of wildlife we spotted during one BTA visit.
- *Jan. 3 + Feb. 7: If you can go during the week, check out BTA’s First Tuesday free admission day! Tickets are limited, so advance registration is highly recommended.
Downtown Glendale Arts + Culture Fest: Local Flavor Before Football
February 4, 11am – 8pm / Murphy Park, Glendale (Phoenix area) / Free.
Why it made the list: Over 100 artists and musicians will come together to create a unique local experience in the heart of the downtown with an artisan market, pop-up performances, and interactive art. Like an antidote, this indie artist and small business focused-festival happens the week before a certain very commercial, overhyped Big Game kicks off in another part of Glendale.
- The festival culminates in a performance art installation from 6-8pm.
- *Local First Arizona is creating a savings passport to help the community stay engaged with local businesses after the event.
The Music of John Williams in Concert: Soundtrack Symphony
February 17-19 / Symphony Hall, Phoenix / Tickets $34-$102 (including fees).
Why it made the list: A retrospective of unparalleled film score composer John Williams. Conducted by Music Director Tito Muñoz, the orchestra will play selections from the music of some of his most beloved movies, including Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Saving Private Ryan.
- Tito Muñoz also conducted the Phoenix Symphony’s concert Star Wars vs Star Trek – The Music of Deep Space we saw a few years ago. At one point, he even traded in his baton for a lightsaber!
• Northern Arizona
Clarkdale Rocks: Gem + Mineral Show
February 24-26 / Clark Memorial Clubhouse Auditorium, Clarkdale (Sedona area) / Free.
Why it made the list: If you don’t get your fill of gems and minerals from Tucson’s big showcases (see below) or if you’d just prefer a smaller show, this sounds like a fun one! Vendors will be selling agates, fossils, beads, crystals, geodes, rock slabs, polished gems and minerals, handcrafted jewelry, carvings and other unique gift items. You can enter daily raffles, see demonstrations on geode-splitting and wire-wrapping, and bring in your mineral specimens to be identified.
- Kids’ Corner with free minerals for children 12 and under.
- The Mingus Gem + Mineral Club holds their Gem and Mineral Show and Sale every February and September.
- Clarkdale is located between Cottonwood and Jerome, about 30 minutes outside Sedona.
- *Interactive map showing trails, bike lanes, public lands, etc. in the Clarkdale-Cottonwood area.
• Southern Arizona
More Than: New Old West Art Exhibition
Now – March 19 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Why it made the list: The western genre tends to narrow its narrative to a few archetypes, overlooking the rest of the people who lived in the Old West and were a part of its history. More Than: Expanding Artist Identities from the American West explores a more inclusive interpretation of the genre, centering works of art created by women, people of color, and persons of intersectional backgrounds. Examples of historic works are creatively paired with contemporary art to make meaningful connections between the past and present. The exhibition includes poetry by former Tucson Poet Laureate TC Tolbert and texts by local community members.
*First Thursdays: 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 two weeks before the event.
- Jan. 5: More Than: + poetry experience
- Feb. 2: Enduring Legacies + panel discussion at 5:30pm
Upcoming talks related to the exhibition:
- Jan. 5, 5:30pm – 7pm: More Than: Words. Immersive poetry experience curated by TC Tolbert, featuring queer, trans, and BIPOC poets. (Part of First Thursday.) / $5
- Jan. 13, 11am – 12:30pm: Curator Spotlight: Art of the American West. Exploration of how TMA is redefining the art of the American West in ways that both celebrate and scrutinize it. / $5
JOY: Rotating Sculpture Collection
now – May / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free.
Why it made the list: We enjoyed visiting the Sculpture Park during its inaugural season! Its current exhibit is all about awakening joy. Since it’s completely outdoors, this would be a really nice time of year to visit.
- 16 large-scale sculptures.
- Mar. 17-19: 2023 Sculpture Festival Show + Sale.
Kurosawa Goes Hollywood: Samurai-Inspired Film Series
January 5 – February 16, 7:30pm / The Loft Cinema, Tucson / $11.50 for 35mm screenings, regular admission ($10.50) for all others.
Why it made the list: I’ve heard that many filmmakers cite Japanese director Akira Kurosawa as a major influence. Thursday nights in January and February, The Loft will alternate screening Kurosawa** films from the 1950s and ’60s with some of the Hollywood movies they inspired.
Yuma Medjool Date Festival: Fruit of the Palm for Foodies
January 7, 10am-9pm / Historic Downtown Main Street, Yuma / Free.
Why it made the list: Dates are delicious, and we’ve enjoyed visiting a couple date farms near Yuma! The festival will include free samples, live music, celebrity chef demonstrations, and community performances. Save the date!
- All ages welcome.
- We took a tour of a date garden and had dinner under the palm trees!
Tucson International Jewish Film Festival: Films on Jewish History + Values
January 12-22 / Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson / Single ticket $12, full festival pass $120
Why it made the list: We want to make it to this festival one of these years! It helps that it’s now available online, as well as in person. The lineup includes full-length films, shorts, and several post-film talks and Q+As.
- ANYWHERE: stream via the Eventive platform from January 12-31.
- *Buy 5, get one free with a Festival 6-Pack. Mix and match 6 in-person or virtual film events for $60.
Tucson Jazz Festival: Hear That Funky Music
January 13-22 / Multiple venues downtown, Tucson / Ticket prices vary by event.
Why it made the list: Top jazz musicians stage a smooth takeover of Downtown Tucson for a week of cool concerts in a wide variety of styles. Even if you’re kind of blue, swing on by! Live music is good for the soul.
A few highlights:
- Jan. 14, 12-5pm: All Star Jazz Jam. Jazz professionals from all over the country will play in different combos to channel the spontaneity that is the essence of jazz. / Hotel Congress Plaza / $39
- Jan. 16, 11am-5:30pm: Downtown Jazz Fiesta. Annual day of free performances, featuring Swedish singer, dancer + multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling. / Hotel Congress Plaza / Free.
- Jan. 19, 7:30pm: Samara Joy in concert / Playground Bar and Lounge / $39
- Jan. 21, 7:30pm: Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour. / Fox Theatre / Tickets $55-96 per person, including fees
- *ANYWHERE: TJF 2023 Spotify playlist.
Sahuarita Art on the Lake Festival: Interactive Art Show
January 14, 10am – 4pm / Sahuarita Lake Park, Sahuarita / Free.
Why it made the list: Celebration of creativity in a city just south of Tucson. Interactive art activities include a community chalk mural competition, performance art, street painting, local artwork for sale, a wine and beer garden, food trucks, and live music.
Lunar New Year Celebration: Chinese Cultural Experience
January 14, 11am – 3pm / Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, Tucson / $5 admission at the door, children 11 and under are free
Why it made the list: As the Lunar / Chinese New Year becomes more widely recognized in North America, why not go to the source and see how people in your town with roots in these traditions mark the occasion? Tucsonans have the opportunity to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit while enjoying Chinese cultural performances. At the celebration, there will also be gifts, food, and drink for sale.
Sonoran Quipu: Immersive Installation of Knotty Art
January 27 – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson, Tucson / Included with admission.
Why it made the list: This will be an exhibition created specifically for the Great Hall of MOCA Tucson, and the shape it takes will depend on contributions from the community! Incorporating locally-found materials, Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña will arrange hundreds of hanging knotted fibers and into what she calls a “poem in space” that will speak to the way we are interconnected with each other and our environment.
In fact, poetry is such a big part of the artist’s work that the exhibition is being presented in partnership with the University of Arizona Poetry Center.
- Jan. 27, 7-9pm: exhibition opening. Poetry reading by the artist, plus music, a food truck, and beer by Barrio Brewing.
- Jan. 28, 12-1:30pm: readings by poets Cecilia Vicuña, Rosa Alcalá, and Daniel Borzutzky, followed by a conversation and the debut of Vicuña’s new publication. Free.
- ANYWHERE: Live stream events in the UA Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series, including this one. After the event, video will be available on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
Goodies:
- *Outside the museum is Mini MOCA, a small artworks exchange in the style of a little free library.
- *Discounts for Downtown Clifton Hotel guests: 2 for 1 admission at MOCA, as well as 10% off any purchase in the MOCA Shop.
Call for contributions: Cecilia Vicuña invites Tucson community members to collect debris from their surroundings for inclusion in Sonoran Quipu!
- Materials should be lightweight and small-scale, such as seed pods, dried plants, twigs, broken jewelry, natural or synthetic fibers, plastics, bits of metal, small pieces of wood, and remnants from things you’ve made.
- Collected items may be dropped off at MOCA during regular hours (Thursdays – Saturdays: 11am-6pm, Sundays: 11am-4pm).
- *Visitors will receive free admission to the museum upon donation.
Savor: Southern Arizona Food + Wine Festival
January 28, 12-3pm / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / General admission tickets $100.
Why it made the list: I love a food festival, and this one focuses on Southern Arizona’s culinary arts with over 50 of the region’s excellent chefs, wineries, breweries, local foods and restaurants! And it’s happening among Tucson’s gorgeous Botanical Gardens!
The Spirit of Haiku: Writing Workshop + Nature Walk
January 29, 1 pm / Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, Tucson / $20 class fee
Why it made the list: Rather than being stuck in a classroom, this workshop includes time to walk through the Gardens after you learn about haiku. Since the iconic Japanese short poem often revolves around seasonal topics and nature, this seems like the perfect place to reflect on what you’ve heard. Finally, the afternoon wraps up with an informal discussion about everyone’s impressions.
- Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director
Paul Amiel. - Space is limited. Purchase your ticket in advance to reserve your spot.
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®: Expo of Things Discovered in Dirt
February 9-12 / Tucson Convention Center, Tucson / Single-day admission $13, children 14 + under are free with a paying adult.
Why it made the list: As I understand it, this is the show that invented the concept of a gem and mineral show. It’s a pretty big deal around here.
- Jan. 28 – Feb. 12: Tucson Gem, Mineral + Fossil Showcase. While the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® is the original event, there are now dozens of smaller shows around town leading up to it! It makes it feel like a whole gem show season.
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros: Tucson Rodeo
February 18-26 / Tucson Rodeo Grounds, Tucson / General admission tickets start at $18
Why it made the list: I really enjoyed digging into the history of Tucson’s Rodeo and think it’s a neat link to the city’s past. The nine-day Fiesta has been elevating real-life ranch skills and cowpoke culture in Tucson since 1925. Its events include bull and bronco riding, barrel racing, roping competitions, junior rodeo events, and a big parade.
- Parking at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds is $9 per vehicle.
- Feb. 23: Rodeo Parade. Grandstand tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Or watch from the curbside for free (no tickets required).
- *Discounted room block for Tucson Rodeo visitors at Desert Diamond Casino + Hotel February 13-28, 2023. Room block rates start at $139 + tax. (Without the discount, rates during the rodeo start at $159-$209, depending on the date.)
- How the Tucson Rodeo, Parade, and Museum got started.
Oro Valley Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series: Concertos at the Catalinas
February 19 – March 12, 4pm / Riverfront Park Outdoor Grass Amphitheater, Oro Valley / Free.
Why it made the list: These are free outdoor concerts that give classically trained musicians a monthly opportunity to perform! Also, I didn’t want to leave out the Tucson area’s north side.
- Concerts are 60-90 minutes in length.
- Food will be available for purchase from food trucks onsite.
- Limited seating is provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.
Yuma Art Symposium: Artist Con
February 23-25 / Yuma Art Center + other venues around Historic Downtown Yuma, Yuma / Standard registration $190, student registration $95.
Why it made the list: During one of our Yuma visits, we were able to chat with one of the symposium’s co-founders and hear all about how it started. In the early days, artists would literally camp out in her backyard! Now it’s a much larger affair, bringing together both veteran and emerging artists from a variety of disciplines to give demonstrations, lectures, and presentations, while enjoying a sense of community. Other activities include an exhibition of artworks by presenters, student show, silent auction, team metalworking competition, pin swap, and closing night dance.
- *Feb. 23: YAS @ Arizona Western College. Four symposium Presenters will give previews of their presentations free to the public.
Anywhere
Virtual Tucson International Jewish Film Festival
January 12-22 / online + Tucson / Single ticket $12, full festival pass $120
Online access to a festival celebrating Jewish history and values. The lineup includes full length films, shorts, and several post-film talks and Q+As. All films will be available to stream January 12-31, so you can watch any time of day – sunrise, sunset, whenever.
UA Poetry Reading + Lecture Series
January 12 – May 13 / online + Tucson / free
Livestream of University of Arizona Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series. It will include readings by nationally-known and Arizona poets, lectures on poetry and literature, interdisciplinary performances, and outreach events. After each event, the video will be available on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service
January 16 / wherever you are / free
You don’t need to sign up to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. Wherever you are, you can set aside time to help improve your community. Pick up trash, plant a garden, help a neighbor, volunteer at or collect needed items for a food bank, refugee organization, or homeless shelter.
Some international organizations looking for volunteers:
- World Central Kitchen
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Rescue Committee
- UN Volunteers (you can filter by onsite or online opportunities)
If you’re in the U.S., you can search MLK Day volunteer opportunities via Americorps.
Goodies
*Goodies to enjoy anywhere:
From Tucson to you…
- Spotify Playlist from Tucson Jazz Festival
- Yume @ Home Virtual Membership: Includes Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson Online garden visits, a member’s newsletter, and exclusive offerings with insight into the arts, customs and traditions of Japan / $35
- Tucson International Jewish Film Festival 6-Pack: Mix and match 6 in-person or virtual film events / $60
For Valentine’s Day…
- I Heart Popcorn recipe (with white chocolate, sprinkles, and conversation hearts) via Gimme Some Oven
- Geometric Heart Gift Wrap printables via Mini Eco
- More Valentine DIY ideas
**K, I don’t make films, but if I did, they’d have a samurai.
