The Happenings List
The Happenings List is my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
- *Goodies: There are bonus items, freebies, and discounts sprinkled throughout the list and asterisked to make them easier to find.
- Events you can enjoy anywhere: Happenings and Goodies you can participate in without having to physically be in Arizona are marked as “ANYWHERE” and all listed in the last section.
- Tell me about it! I can’t make it to as many Happenings as I’d like, so I’d love to hear about any you go to! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
• Central Arizona
Masterworks by Nicolai Medvedev: Gem Art
now – June 2023 / Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Scottsdale / Included with admission.
Collection of boxes covered in elaborate patterns made of gem materials. This complex form of lapidary art is known as “gem intarsia.” Artist Nicolai Medvedev uses deep green malachite and dark blue azurite from Bisbee, turquoise from Globe, as well as other minerals sourced worldwide.
- *ANYWHERE: See the West from Home! Listen, read, or watch videos about subjects featured in the museum.
The Metro Phoenix Saguaro Census 2023: Counting Cactus
May 1 – May 31 / throughout Metro Phoenix / Free.
Project for Valley residents to document saguaros you see. Each observation can include photos, a location, and notes about the general health of the saguaro and can be recorded using iNaturalist, a free smartphone app and website.
- This is a project lead by the Desert Botanical Garden.
- Data will help to learn about the biology and distribution of saguaros, as well as to understand how extreme urban heat and drought affects them.
Nepali New Year: Party Like It’s 2079!
May 6, 3pm – 7pm / Chandler Community Center, Chandler / Registration fees: adults $30, kids (age 4-9) $15, ages 3 and under are free
Welcome in the year 2080 B.S. (according to the traditional Nepali lunar calendar) with the Nepalis and Friends Association! The celebration will include dinner, performances of Nepali songs, and a cultural fashion show.
The Nepali New Year festival is just one of the events the Nepalis and Friends Association (NAFA) organizes in Arizona and celebrates with the Nepalese community and American friends. The non-profit organization promotes Nepali culture and strives to educate the next generation on their heritage.
- 3-5pm: registration and dinner
- 5-7pm: performances
- Pre-registration is required.
Try Taiko Classes: Intro to Japanese Drums
May 6, June 3, July 8, 4-5:30pm / Fushicho Daiko Dojo, Phoenix / $20
Single-class sessions on Taiko, Japanese ensemble drumming, so you can try it out before deciding whether to commit to ongoing classes. Learn the background and significance of Taiko and learn your first song! Try Taiko classes for adults are on Saturday evenings at the beginning of each month. Classes for kids happen less frequently, so watch the registration page.
- Secure facemasks required inside the dojo.
- *On Phoenix First Fridays, the dojo is open to visitors and you can watch classes practice taiko (free).
Valley of the Sun Juneteenth Celebration: Black History is Happening Every Day
June 17, 5pm – 10pm / Eastlake Park, Phoenix / Free.
Black history and culture appreciation event with musical and arts performers, community groups and schools, free health screenings, educational workshops, a youth essay contest, childrenʼs activities, arts and crafts, vendors, games, and soul food.
- Reserve a free ticket.
- Vendor and sponsor application deadline June 8.
- H/T Valley of the Sun Juneteenth Celebration on Facebook.
Summer Solstice Celebration: Library Light Show
June 21, 11am-1pm / Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix / Free.
Event centered around the once-a-year moment when sunlight lines up perfectly to illuminate the tops of columns across the library’s Great Reading Room, designed by architect Will Bruder. It only happens at solar noon on the summer solstice!
- Music begins at 11:30am
- Solstice presentation at 12pm
• Northern Arizona
¡Qué Hermoso!: Latinx Life in Art
May 3 – May 26 / Sedona Arts Center (SAC), Sedona / Free.
Exhibition featuring painting, drawing, mixed-media, photography, and art installation that celebrates Latino/a cultural identity, histories, traditions, and contemporary social justice issues. Diverse Arizona artists – both established and emerging – have created imaginative works to spark conversation, cultural connections, and community.
- May 3, 4pm: Celebrate Sedona! Bi-monthly celebration of the community’s music, food, drink, and artistry. This special edition of the event will take place in the upper parking lot of Sedona Arts Center. There will be music by Guitarras Latinas, a ceramics sale and demos by SAC, plus additional local art and eats.
- *ANYWHERE: Sedona Arts Center virtual exhibition of work by featured artists and gallery tour.
2023 Lavender Bloom + Wine Festival: A Feast for the Nose
June 15 – July 22 (Thursdays through Saturdays) / Red Rock Ranch and Farms, Concho / Free.
Six-week festival of lavender grown in the mountains of northeastern Arizona. See the fields in bloom, learn about growing and cooking with lavender, visit the lavender shop to purchase lavender plants and gift items, or cut your own lavender bouquet (clippers provided).
- Red Rock Ranch’s wine tasting room will be open during the festival for tastings, as well as for purchasing wine and cheese plates.
- Pets are not allowed at the farm during the festival.
- Post-festival hours: Starting July 29, the Wine Tasting Room and Shop will be open Saturdays 1-6pm.
Pride in the Pines: LGBTQ2S Festival + Parade
June 17, 11am – 9pm / Thorpe Park ball fields, Flagstaff / Day-of tickets: ages 11+: $25, free for children 10 and under.
Flagstaff’s family-friendly Pride Festival works to support cultural diversity and human rights by fighting discrimination of any kind. It has been held annually for the past 26 years at the Thorpe Park ball fields. This year, however, will be the 1st Annual Flagstaff Pride Parade! Also on the agenda: vendors and exhibitors, food, a beer garden, and entertainment, including music, performers, a dance tent, and drag shows.
- Parade entry applications are open through June 1.
- Tickets include admission to the festival grounds and a wrist-band for re-entry.
- *Save $5 by purchasing tickets in advance (instead of at the door).
- *Mention Flagstaff Pride for special rates/discounts offered at Sponsor Hotels.
- H/T Flagstaff Pride
Heritage Festival: Multi-Tribal Artists’ Market
June 24-25 / Museum of Northern Arizona (outside), Flagstaff / Admission: adults $20, youth (ages 10-17) $10, free for children 9 and under
Showcase for the diverse Indigenous cultures of the Colorado Plateau region, which include the Acoma, Apache, Diné (Navajo), Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Pai, Ute, Yavapai, and Zuni. The expanded 2023 market and mainstage will be located on the forested grounds outside of the museum, so there will be plenty of space and fresh air.
- Entertainment: traditional dances, music, talks by cultural experts.
- Purchases at the festival benefit the artists, who are all enrolled members of recognized Indian tribes.
- *Get full weekend access to the festival for only $5 more than a single-day ticket!
• Southern Arizona
Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre
now – May 20 / University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Thirty-seven years after being stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Willem de Kooning’s painting, Woman-Ochre, has returned to the UAMA galleries! This exhibition features the work and its unusual history, including the extensive restoration it underwent after being recovered.
- After the Restored exhibition ends, the Woman-Ochre painting itself will remain on display at UAMA – returning to museum’s second floor.
- ANYWHERE: The Thief Collector documentary looks at Woman-Ochre’s theft and the secret lives of the crime’s main suspects. You can pre-order the Blu Ray/DVD via Amazon now. Starting in May, it will be screening in select North American theaters and available on Amazon Prime in the UK.
JOY: Rotating Sculpture Collection
now – May 27 / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free.
16 large-scale sculptures all about awakening joy!
Haiku Hike: Poetry in Planters
Now – June 1 / Downtown Tucson, Tucson / Free.
Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on signs in planters along Congress Street and Stone Avenue. The 20 poems are winners of an annual literary competition, submitted by the public and chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert. This year’s theme is “Planting Seeds.”
Tucson Botanical Gardens Art Exhibits: Flower Power on Display
Now – June / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / Included with admission.
Cultivating Colors by Colored Pencil Society of America, Phoenix
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- Now – June 4
- Exhibit featuring the amazing plant life of Arizona through the colored pencil medium.
- The Phoenix Chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) is a part of a national nonprofit organization. Members of the Society exhibit their work throughout the country and conduct workshops and lectures.
Flower Mounds by Lex Gjurasic.
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- Now – June 11
- Exhibition of cohesive, vibrant artwork by Lex Gjurasic.
- Her work aesthetically alludes to the folkloric floral motifs of her Slavic heritage and expresses her exuberance for life.
Sonoran Quipu: Immersive Installation of Knotty Art
Now – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Incorporating locally-found materials, Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña arranged hundreds of hanging knotted fibers and into what she calls a “poem in space,” which speaks to the way we are interconnected with each other and our environment.
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.
Arizona Biennial 2023: Arizona Artist Showcase
Now – September 17 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission.
Every-other-year exhibition of innovative and diverse new works by Arizona artists. It provides an opportunity for emerging artists to exhibit their art in a museum setting and to introduce it to the public. A different juror from outside the state is selected to curate each Arizona Biennial, reviewing the works of hundreds of artists to create a cohesive exhibition that becomes an overview of artistic creativity in Arizona.
- This year’s juror, Taína Caragol, is the Curator of painting, sculpture, and Latinx art and history at the National Portrait Gallery, who led the portrait commission of former President Obama by Kehinde Wiley.
- *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.
Pueblos del Maíz: Corn Heritage
May 4-7 / Downtown Tucson
Part of a month-long cross-border culinary celebration of maíz (corn), co-hosted with 4 other UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy: Puebla, Mexico; Mérida, Mexico; and San Antonio, Texas.
- *ANYWHERE: BorderLore monthly online journal special Pueblos del Maíz edition.
- *Receive a 20% discount at Lodging Partner Hotels during Pueblos del Maíz.
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Event highlights for Pueblos de Maíz Tucson:
May 4, 5pm: Opening Celebration of Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling / Tucson Museum of Art / Free.
- Artist talk with Justin Favela, who will offer insights into his creative practice and his relationships with the Popol Vuh creation story and the series of images it inspired artist Carlos Mérida to make.
- Family Fiesta: A public celebration and performance work featuring the artist’s family’s traditions, live music, and art-making activities!
- *First Thursday: This takes place on the first Thursday of May, when Tucson Museum of Art offers extended hours (5-8pm) and pay-what-you-wish admission. Reserve your free ticket online.
May 4, 7pm: Noche de Maíz Dinner / The Carriage House / $200 (+$25 fee) / 21+
- 6 paired courses + hors d’oeuvres to highlight the wide range of uses for maíz.
- Tucson Chefs Janos Wilder and Gary Hickey will welcome three visiting chefs from the UNESCO Pueblos del Maíz co-host cities, and each chef will prepare a corn-focused course.
May 5, 6:30pm: Maíz Showcase / Tucson Museum of Art / $75
- A bocadito dinner experience that includes TEN small plates, ONE Pueblos del Maíz signature beer by Borderlands Brewery, and some special surprises!
- Featuring a group of Tucson’s finest chefs, restaurateurs, and food artisans.
May 6, 3pm: Maíz Fiesta / Kennedy Park / Free.
- Live music from Los Apson, Gertie + TO Boyz, Los Hermanos Cuatro, + Las Trillizas y Dulce, DJ Gary Chavez + MC Raul Aguirre.
- Chef demonstrations.
- Art installations by Galeria Mitotera.
- Family-friendly activities hosted by Pima Public Library and Pima Reach.
Borderlands Nursery Spring Plant Sale: Sow Local
May 6, 8am – 3pm / Borderlands Nursery + Seed, Patagonia / Free.
Shop native plants and seeds with music and retail booths from local farmers and artisans, including artist/designer Jenna Tomasello, and Shooting Star Pottery.
Latino Pride Festival Tucson: ¡Qué gay!
May 6, 12pm / Armory Park, Tucson / $15 general admission
Festival promoting liberty, equality, and justice for the Latino LGBTQ community! The event will include national and local performing artists, mariachis, baile folklorico, vendor booths, and food trucks.
- Mobile tickets available on Eventbrite.
- Presented by Latino Pride Alliance (LPA). which addresses issues faced by the Latina/o lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, such as family acceptance, homophobia, xenophobia, family separation, and homelessness.
Nature Photography in the Gardens: Capturing Cacti
May 10, 10:30am / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / $75
Class about getting outside and taking pictures! Includes targeted instruction on basic composition, nature and landscape photography, close up / macro photography, and the use of props.
- Taught and guided by William Walther and Peggy Steffens.
- Bring a camera or smart phone that you know how to operate.
- Arrive 10 minutes early, and meet in the Education Building Classroom.
- Register soon: class limited to 12 students.
Observatory Public Viewing Times: See Stars
Patterson Observatory, Sierra Vista / Free.
The Patterson Observatory has a 20” aperture telescope, capable of observing objects one million times fainter than the human eye can detect! Huachuca Astronomy Club (HAC) volunteers operate the observatory, located on University of Arizona Sierra Vista Campus.
- Events are weather dependent and will be canceled in case of inclement weather. If the sky is even partly cloudy, visitors should check the recording at (520) 626-6649 for a cancellation notice.
- No public viewing events are scheduled during the monsoon months of July and August.
- ANYWHERE: Virtual tour of the Patterson Observatory.
Free Observation Times:
May 13 + June 10, 9-11am: Solar Saturdays. Every second Saturday of the month (weather permitting), HAC Members will show you sunspots, solar prominences and other solar features through safe solar telescopes.
May 25 + June 22, 7:30pm: Public Viewing Nights. Monthly (Sept. – June) on the Thursday nearest the first quarter moon.
- View the night skies! HAC volunteers will be on site to answer questions and share images of stars, planets, and nebulas.
- Observing starts half an hour after sunset.
- Family-friendly event.
- Space is limited, so (free) registration is required. You must present your emailed receipt for entrance.
Music Under the Stars: Orchestra Outdoors
May 14, 21, 28 at 7pm / DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Reid Park, Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Tucson Pops Orchestra’s May outdoor concert series, includes these themes…
- May 14: Mother’s Day
- May 21: Nothing But Love
- May 28: Memorial Day
Tips for all DeMeester performances:
- Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
- Parking tends to fill up at Reid Park. Plan to arrive early or use alternate transportation. (#17 bus line’s Country Club/Eastland stop is near the stage.)
Mariachi Festival and Wine Tasting: Violins + Vino
May 20, 9am – 7pm / Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia / Park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle (up to 4 adults). Kids 13 and under are free.
A day of international mariachi dancing and bands with local wineries, food vendors, and activities for kids.
- Food + Beverage: Roasted corn, fry bread, Mexican fruit cups, tacos, smoked BBQ, kettle corn, snow cones, local wine.
- Entertainment: Five bands and two dance performances.
Summer Night Market: Shopping after Sundown
May 26 + June 30, 6- 10pm / Mercado San Agustin Annex, Tucson / Free.
Over 60 local vendors, plus music, food trucks, and extended hours for MSA Annex shops the last Friday evening of the month, May through September.
Tucson Juneteenth: Freedom Festival
June 10 – June 17 / multiple venues, Tucson
A week of celebrating the moment when the US “finally and truly became the land of the free.” Festivities include a kick-off concert, jubilee, legacy night, and festival.
- June 10, 8pm:Evelyn “Champagne” King concert at the Dunbar Pavilion. / Tickets $48 + fees. Proceeds will assist Tucson Juneteenth and Community partners.
- June 11, 1pm:Tucson Juneteenth Gospel Jubilee and Luncheon at Pima College West. Annual community event, featuring the first-ever Tucson Juneteenth Mass Choir, a collective of Pima County musicians and singers bringing together praise and celebration, including performances from Ada Austin, and Nancy Jones. / Lunch: 1- 2:30pm, Concert: 3-6pm / Free (donations accepted)
- June 15, 4pm: Legacy Night at The Loft Cinema. A night of learning history with Tucson trailblazers. Details TBA.
- June 17, 1-9 pm:Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom at the Kino Sports Park Field. The event will feature live entertainment, vendors, educational and job booths, a car show, food trucks, and a kid zone with free toys.
• Anywhere
LGBTQ Virtual Film Discussions
May 18 + June 15, 12pm – 1pm / Free.
Online discussion series about watching films, sharing stories, and having an honest conversation about the tough issues faced by the LGBTQ community. Registration required. Participants will receive an email with instructions on how to join the WebEx meeting.
Upcoming monthly film selections (all will be available through the library’s Kanopy collection)…
- May 18: Expanding Gender: Youth Out Front. Three short documentaries explore the varied identities of trans and gender expansive youth and young adults.
- June 15: Sordid Lives. Cult classic comedy about a gay actor returning home to his small town for his grandmother’s funeral. As generations of his dysfunctional family come together, the truth of their “sordid lives” is revealed.
Heat Proof Your Desert Garden: Plant Survival Seminar
May 26, 10am / $30
Learn strategies to help your garden become more resilient to hot temperatures, including heat-proof plants and ways to minimize the effects of the long desert summers within the garden itself.
- Taught by Noelle Johnson (a.k.a. AZ Plant Lady).
- Online class participants will receive a Zoom link for the live class two hours before the class begins.
- All online classes are recorded and participants receive a video replay that is available for two weeks after the date of the class.
- *Native Seeds SEARCH recipes featuring southwestern crops + curated list of warm season seed varieties you can order via their online store.
Anywhere Goodies
Extras you can enjoy anywhere there’s internet!
Virtually Visit:
- Experience Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West from home! Listen, read, or watch videos about subjects featured in the museum.
- Sedona Arts Center virtual exhibition of work by featured artists and gallery tour.
- Virtual tour of the Patterson Observatory.
Watch + Read:
- BorderLore monthly online journal special Pueblos del Maíz edition
- Arizona Commission on the Arts virtual mini lessons.
- The documentary The Thief Collector looks at the theft of the Woman-Ochre painting and the secret lives of the crime’s main suspects. Starting in May, it will be available on Amazon Prime in the UK. North American streaming release details are TBD. However, you can pre-order the Blu-ray/DVD now.
