“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.”

Or so the saying goes. But if March begins with snow in the desert… then what?!

We did indeed get snow here  in Tucson late Wednesday night. Also on Valentine’s Day. It’s a strange start to the spring season!

There wasn’t enough snow to cancel any events, of course, and it turned warm and sunny a day later. So the spring calendar continues to be full throughout the state!

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: Some of the Happenings and Goodies you can participate in from anywhere are listed throughout this List. There will be more in our upcoming newsletter, so make sure you’re subscribed!
• Disclosure: I’m not paid to list any of these events. If there is an artist with an Etsy page, I’ll link to it and, as an Etsy affiliate, I may earn commission when someone makes a purchase after following one of my links.
• 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

The Grand Canyon State Group Exhibit: the Canyon According to Artists

now – April 2 / Bob’s Spot Gallery at Herberger Theater, Phoenix / Free.

Group exhibit featuring artists’ interpretation – realistic, impressionistic, or abstract – of the Grand Canyon.

• Exhibit open Monday through Friday, 12:00-4:30pm and during theater performances.
• Enter through the box office.
• *Happy Hour specials at Carcara lounge + bar (across the street at Sheraton Downtown Phoenix): $4 draft beers + $6 house wines Tuesday through Saturday, from 3-6pm. Their bar snacks menu looks pretty good too!

The Melrose Street Fair: 7th Ave. Takeover

March 4, 11am-5pm / Melrose District, Phoenix / Free.

20th annual neighborhood street fair along 7th Avenue from Indian School to Camelback Road.

• Vendors: over 200 local and independent artisans
• Food + beverage: food trucks, farmers market, and craft beer garden
• Entertainment: live music, kids’ activities, and Chester’s Classic Car Show (antique and vintage cars, trucks and hot-rods)
• H/T Good Food Finder

Mask Alive Festival: Multicultural Masked Performances

March 5 / Pioneer Park, Mesa / Free.

Festival focused on live performances of dance and music that celebrates the global artistic tradition of storytelling through masks.

• Vendors: local artists selling their work
• Food + beverage: food trucks and treats like paletas, conchas, and aguas frescas
• Entertainment: Desert Sounds Mariachi, World Martial Arts Academy Lion Dance Team, Step Junk Funk / Desert Dance Theater, Tatiana Crespo + Chispas, Astarte Egyptian Belly Dancing, Enparoxismo Music, Primavera Ballet Folklórico, Japanese Taiko Drummers, Parade of Puppets, plus free kids’ craft activities
• *Mask coloring sheets and templates
• See also: Dia de los Muertos in Mesa

IMPRINT Festival: West Side Storytelling

March 11, 11am – 5pm / Civic Center Plaza, Surprise

Celebration of the richness and beauty of the diverse cultures existing in and around the West Valley. The one-day event features music, live demonstrations, storytelling, visual arts, and an outdoor market. It will take place next to the new Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in the City of Surprise’s Civic Center Plaza.

• Vendors: only Arizona artisans selling their own work
• Food + beverage: local food trucks Puerto Rican Pete’s, Carnivore Creations, and Frios Gourmet Pops
• Entertainment: live performances by Teri Tobin + Friends, Aaron White + Anthony Wakeman, Ballet Folklorico de Santa Maria, Pretty Precise Step Team, Mariachi Pasion, Chi’Chino Spirit O’Odham Dance Group
• H/T Phoenix Urban Guide

Ceili Dancing: Learn Irish Dance

March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) + April 21 / Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, Phoenix / Ages 13+: $8, 6-12: $5, children 5 and under are free

Monthly Irish social dance, known as ceili. No prior experience is necessary. This is a family-oriented activity with a focus on fun! You can attend an Orientation/Beginners session, and then the instructors will call the dances as you dance.

• Ceilis are the third Friday of each month in the Great Hall of the Irish Culture Center.
• Orientation at 6:45pm. Ceili begins at 7:30pm.
• Entertainment: live music
• Food + beverage: cash bar

Book of Kells related Goodies:

• *The Book of Kells exhibit. The McClelland Library is home to one of the rare full-color facsimiles of the Book of Kells created in order to increase education and access to the historic work. See it anytime the McClelland Library is open. Free.
• *ANYWHERE: Trinity College Dublin has a free digital exhibit on the Book of Kells.
• *The Secret of Kells, a delightful animated film that weaves a story from the mythology of the Book’s creation is available on Kanopy.

Quilt Arizona! 2023: Quilt Show

March 23 – March 25 / Mesa Convention Center, Building B + C, Mesa / $5-10 entry fee

Arizona Quilters Guild (ACQ) annual quilt show with many types of quilts on display, including pieced, applique, hand quilted, kit, art, pictorial, and modern. The 2023 theme is “Canyon of Colors.” It features lectures for quilters and about 35 craft-related vendors.

• Free parking.
• *Membership Special: Sign up at the Quilt Show as a new AQG Member ($30) and receive 3 months free membership, then pay Member Admission Rates to enter the show.
• See also: The Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

Admission details –

• Mar. 23 (open 5-8pm): $5
• Mar. 24 (9am-5pm) or Mar. 25 (9am-4pm): $10 for Full Day Pass / $5 for AQC Members
• Mar. 24 or Mar. 25 after 1pm: $5
• Children under 12 are free.

• Northern Arizona

Sedona Arts Center’s Juried Members’ Show: Art at the Red Rocks

March 6 – March 31 / Sedona Arts Center State Route 89A + Art Barn Road, Sedona / Free.

The largest and longest-running group exhibition of visual art in Uptown Sedona with painting, mixed media, photography, metal, wood, jewelry, and fiber art!

• H/T Visit Sedona

Victory in Times of Struggle: Hopeful Classical Concert

April 14, 7:30pm / Ardrey Memorial Auditorium, Flagstaff / Regular tickets $46-76 + fees

Haydn and Beethoven: Victory in Times of Struggle is a joint performance by NAU’s Shrine of the Ages Choir and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. They will play Franz Joseph Haydn’s hopeful Missa in Angustiis (Mass in Troubled Times) and Beethoven’s Eroica symphony, which is described as “a twisting journey of tension, beauty and uncertainty that arrives at one of the great victorious resolutions in the classical repertoire.”

Why it made the list: We could use some victorious sounds in these troubled times!

• 6:30pm: Pre-concert conversation
• *ANYWHERE: NAU online art galleries of student and faculty work.

Verde Valley BioBlitz: Riparian Roll Call

April 22 – May 7 / Verde Valley Watershed / Free.

Community science effort to document native and invasive species in the sensitive Verde River habitat systems. To participate, use the iNaturalist app to take photos of plants, animals, birds, and insects along the Verde River, Oak Creek, or West Clear Creek.

• Submitting observations through iNaturalist helps to gather important species data from the area.
• If you post photos throughout the event, use hashtag #PurdyVerde and tag @friendsoftheverderiver.

Verde Valley Birding + Nature Festival: Birders Flock Together

April 27 – April 30 / Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood / $35 registration fee

Annual celebration of nature that brings together experienced and amateur birders to enjoy workshops, expert-lead field trips, and inclusive events in the beautiful Verde Valley.

• The 2023 Festival Theme is “Riverside Residents,” and its featured bird is the Vermilion Flycatcher.
• *ANYWHERE: Collaborative online gallery: living gallery of photos, videos, written musings, and other original creations.
• *Apr. 29: Free Family Day in Dead Horse Ranch State Park, between the lagoons. A day of family-friendly activities and exhibits, presented alongside the Verde Valley Community BioBlitz.
• *ANYWHERE: Free animal coloring pages.

• 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.
• *Mar. 2: 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.

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

Sonoran Quipu: Immersive Installation of Knotty Art

Now – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson, 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.

Why it made the list: This is an exhibition created specifically for the Great Hall of MOCA Tucson, shaped by contributions from the community!

• ANYWHERE: Live stream events in the UA Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series or find them afterwards 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.

Tucson Festival of Books: A Reading Revelry

March 4-5 / University of Arizona, Tucson / Free.

Community-wide celebration of literature and literacy, featuring author talks and panels, poetry readings, workshops for writers, and Science City.

• Vendors/exhibitors: authors, museums, independent booksellers, local media outlets, non-profit organizations, publishers, educational institutions, and other literature-related products and services
• Food + beverage: food court with over a dozen local restaurants and food trucks represented
• Parking: Free parking TFOB weekend in U of A’s Park Avenue Garage, Highland Garage, and several surface lots. $5 parking in the Cherry Avenue, 6th Street, Tyndall, Stadium and Main Gate Garages.
• Transit: Sun Link street car 2nd St/Highland Ave stop.

Entertainment…

• For kids: storybook character parade, book nook activity tent, the Bumble Bee singers (Tucson Girls Chorus Kindergarteners and First Graders), Pawdemonium interactive children’s theater, magic show
• For teens: young author + young artist competition, author interviews by teens, YA workshops
• For all ages: accordion duet, Ballet Folklorico (Mexican folkdance), Literary Circus (The Circus Academy of Tucson’s show inspired by literary works throughout the ages), local musicians, Lion Dance, Scandinavian dance, Klezmer music, Hula group

Water Is Life Music + Resistance Festival: Indigenous-led Benefit Concert

March 11, 1pm – 10pm / MSA Annex, Tucson / Tickets: $30 + fees

Inaugural Honor the Earth: Water Is Life Music + Resistance Festival, an Indigenous-led benefit concert. Proceeds will go to funding Indigenous land back, sovereignty, and food and water initiatives by Indigenous People in Arizona. The event will feature local and international Native speakers, art, food, and music.

• Vendors/exhibitors: regional artist village, environmental organizations, Southwest Folklife Alliance
• Food + beverage: local + indigenous food vendors
• Entertainment:  performances by Keith Secola, Papago Warrior, Rebel Diaz, XIXA (acoustic), David Huckfelt, Giant Sand, Gary Farmer, Djentrification, One Way Sky, Cihuatl Ce, Humblelianess, DJ Q, Lady Gugu

Oro Valley Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series: Concertos at the Catalinas

March 12, 4pm / Riverfront Park Outdoor Grass Amphitheater, Oro Valley / Free.

The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra concludes the Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series with a special performance showcasing their 2022-2023 season.

Why it made the list: These free outdoor concerts give classically trained musicians a monthly opportunity to perform on Tucson’s North Side.

• Final concert of the season.
• Concerts are 60-90 minutes in length.
• Limited seating is provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.
• Food + beverage: food trucks onsite

Made in Tucson Market: Meet Your Makers

March 19, 10am – 6pm / Fourth Avenue District, Tucson / Free.

Market of goods handmade by Tucson artists, many of whom will be there demonstrating their work.

• Vendors: 300 local makers and creatives
• Food + beverage: food trucks + 4th Avenue restaurants
• H/T Made in Tucson Market on Facebook

Haiku Hike: Poetry in Planters

March 20 – June 1 / Downtown Tucson, Tucson / Free.

Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on acrylic signage and placed 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.

• Submissions accepted through the online form until March 9, 2023!
• This year’s theme is “Planting Seeds.”
• See also: Poetry in Planters

Arizona Biennial 2023: Arizona Artist Showcase

April 1 – September 17 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission.

Juried exhibition that showcases innovative and diverse new works being created in the state. For emerging artists, this exhibition provides an opportunity to exhibit their art in a museum setting and to introduce it to the public. It will be on view in the James and Louise Glasser Gallery and Chann Gallery at Tucson Museum of Art.

• For each biennial, a new juror from outside the state is selected to review the works of hundreds of artists and create a cohesive exhibition that becomes an overview of artistic creativity in Arizona.
• This year’s juror is Taína Caragol, Curator of painting, sculpture, and Latinx art and history at the National Portrait Gallery. (She led the portrait commission of former President Obama by Kehinde Wiley.)
• April 6, 5:30 -7pm at TMA: Arizona Artist Spotlight. Join Arizona Biennial 2023 artists as they discuss their process, share insights on their works in the biennial and discuss how they relate to their larger body of works. / $5
• *March 12 + April 9, 10am-5pm: Second SundAZe Family Day. The second Sunday of every month TMA features art-making, performances, and Pay-What-You-Wish Admission.

DIY Macrame Wall Plant Hanger Workshop

April 2, 12pm / Hotel McCoy, Tucson / $45 fee

Workshop on how to make your own macrame plant hanger by expert maker Jessica Melrose. All materials are provided, including different yarn color options. You can take home written instructions and a video, so you can try making another one on your own.

• Registration fee also includes a mimosa and a tamale!
• See also: An Artisan Market on Tucson Summer Nights

Arizona International Film Festival (AZIFF): Indie film fest

April 19 – April 30 / Downtown Tucson area / Tickets TBD. (Last year: $8/individual film admission.)

The Arizona International Film Festival is a venue for independent filmmakers in search of an independent audience. Screening locations this year include The Screening Room, MSA Annex, Hotel Congress, and UA Main Gate.

• The Selection Committee will be announcing the finalists for the 2023 Festival by March 16.
• See also: Independent Filmmaker Insights from AZIFF

Desert Air Market (DAM): Maker-Made Market

April 22, 10am-4pm / 6th Street + 6th Avenue (in front of the Firestone Building), Tucson / Free.

Created and run by local artisans, DAM is a popular popup market that aspires to be a day of joy and connection! This spring’s market will be held on Earth Day and a portion of vendor fees will be donated to a local conservation non-profit.

• Vendors: craftspeople selling items they’ve made
• Food + beverage: Banhdicted food truck (+ they are looking for more)
• Entertainment: live DJ

Goodies from the market’s “neighbors” in the Firestone building:

• *ANYWHERE: Bhava Wellness is offering free shipping for online orders over $100. Use code GETINTHEBHAV at checkout.
• *LET’S SWEAT: First-timers can get a pack of 3 spin/strength classes for $33 (instead of $54 if purchased separately).

TPF XL: Poetry Festival

April 22 – April 23 / UA Poetry Center, Tucson

Tucson Poetry Festival (TPF) is celebrating 40 years of poetry in Tucson! The schedule for TPF XL: Poetry and Presence includes workshops at the UA Poetry Center, a featured reading at the Temple of Music and Art, and a Sunday morning open mic brunch.

Agave Heritage Festival

April 27 – April 30 / Tucson / Includes both paid and free events.

Sustainability-focused celebration of the agave plant, the culture surrounding it, and the spirits made from it. Events include workshops, traditional agave pit roasting demonstration, spirit tastings, heritage dinners, a Mezcrawl, and an agave fiesta.

See also:

• Agave Expo 2022
• My Cactus + Succulent favorites on Etsy.