I’ve paired nine shots of Arizona fall color with Etsy finds that match their autumn vibes! Each pair is a place to go along with fall-inspired decor and other fun stuff.
Every fall, this Chinese Pistache Tree at Boyce Thompson Arboretum turns brilliant shades of orange. You can see it from far away, as it stands out from the green leaves of trees surrounding it.
BTA is a great day trip from the Phoenix area! It’s just about 45 minutes from the East Valley via US 60.
In similarly striking oranges and yellows, you could use these fall foliage stems as part of a flower arrangement or on their own, grouped together to make a standout seasonal centerpiece.
At 24 inches tall, they could really add some height to your Thanksgiving tablescape!
Sourced by BoutiqueBarn + shipping from New Hampshire.
I wasn’t planning on taking a photo of a tree stump while I was admiring the view from Mount Lemmon. Then I noticed teeny – almost cute – little mushrooms growing out of it, and those needed to be captured!
From Tucson, drive up the Mt. Lemmon Highway for about an hour, and you’ll reach the little town of Summerhaven.
I don’t think I’ve seen anything like these mushroom shelves! They are the result of a husband and wife collaboration. She makes the ceramic mushrooms, and he designed a metal mount that allows you to hang them on almost any type of interior wall. Their shop has a variety of mushroom hooks, floating shelves, and even a mushroom soap dish!
We were at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and noticed a small row of plants with yellow flowers on them – and each had multiple butterflies on it slowly opening and closing their wings, and (I assume) feeding on nectar. They were so beautiful. And so focused on the task at hand that I could get a little closer than normal to snap some photos with my phone.
BTA is right ouside Superior.
If you’re heading east, you’ll pass the Arboretum before you get to Superior proper.
This cluster of bright orange berries was another BTA find, when I was on the hunt for fall colors in unusual places.
Back when Phillip and I lived in the Phoenix area, there were a couple years we got memberships to the Arboretum. It neat to see it in all different seasons!
You can get this type of berries in more vibrant colors, but there was something I preferred about the muted, neutral tones of this one.
Cake-topping miniature papel picado, made by AyMujer in Indio, California.
5. Papel Picado
Go: Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson
Intricately cut paper flags are part of the celebration of Day of the Dead, which also happens this time of year. They’re a different kind of fall color!
We saw these hanging on one corner of TMA on a visit to Tucson, years before we lived here.
I love these miniature papel picado flags made into a cake topper!
Sold in sets of two strands with bamboo flag stems included.
Fits a 6-12 inch cake.
Handmade by Melshomedecorshop in Chicago, Illinois.
6. Wispy
Go: Willcox, Arizona
Phillip and I visited Apple Annie’s Farm in Willcox to go apple picking during a weekend trip. We left because the sun was setting, and then saw these fantastic clouds!
Apple Annie’s has 3 locations around Willcox with different offerings.
If you want to go apple picking, make sure you’re headed to their fruit orchards, which are about 15 minutes northwest of the center of town.
I like how understated this is compared to a lot of fall wreaths! The pampas grass reminds me of those wispy clouds. And I guess I’m into a kind of into neutral color palette this fall.
Approximately 20-21 inches from leaf tip to tip.
Made with faux pampas grass, cream berries, blackberries, brown bunny tails, and laurel leaves, accented with a brown velvet bow, on a grapevine wreath.
Candle made with soy wax by Monsoon Wildflowers in Maricopa, Arizona.
7. Fallen Flora
Go: Sedona, Arizona
While hiking in Sedona, I noticed how the fall leaves were collecting up against stones in the creek, and mixing with the plants that were growing in the shallow water.
Frida Kahlo-inspired flower crown for Día de Los Muertos. Fabric flowers are attached to a headband with eco felt underneath to keep it comfortable to wear!
Signed original print, handmade by KathyHuttonPrints in Bath, UK.
9. Last Leaves
Go: Boyce Thompson Arboretum
The last few leaves hanging out in the tree. They probably got around to falling eventually.
The shape comes from the artist’s sketches of chestnut tree leaves. She hand-carved a stamp, covered it in saffron yellow ink, and used that to create these prints. They were individually printed onto Washi paper from Japan, so each is unique.
Product photos are from the seller’s Etsy page.
I may receive compensation from Etsy for affiliate posts and links.
Butterfly garden during Patagonia’s Fall Festival.
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!
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!
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.
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 EDT
The session will be in Portuguese with simultaneous English translation.
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
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.)
Zbigniew Rybczyński, Take Five, 1972. 35mm short film transferred to digital. Courtesy of the artist, Vail, Arizona.
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
Left: “La esquina a la intemperie” by Mariana Ramos Ortiz. Right: “La Confluencia” by Estephania González. Images via ASU Art Museum, courtesy of each artist.
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
Dancers warm up before the performance at Steele Indian School Park, 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!
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!
Inside Sweet Pz Designs during last year’s Shop Hop.
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.
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.”
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
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.
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
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.)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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
Naturalist, artist, and author Roseann Hanson is an explorer. But her definition of the word doesn’t require you to have traveled extensively on 5 continents the way she has.
To her, being an explorer is more about how carefully you study something – whether it’s the Sahara Desert or a grain of sand – than how far you go. (Incidentally, I agree!)
She gave a talk at the Natural History Institute in Prescott called “The Art of Exploration: How Field Sketching and Journaling Bridge Science, Conservation, and Well-being.”
Krkonoše Mountains drawing by archaeologist Jan Erazim Vocel, c. 1841. Photo via State Regional Archives in Prague + Wikimedia Commons.
Field Note History
In the days before you could just carry a camera with you, it was common practice for scientists and explorers to draw what they were observing out in the world.
Their field notes often included beautiful illustrations, along with handwritten descriptions.
Ancient rock art in Twyfelfontein. Photo by SqueakyMarmot / Mike, Vancouver, Canada – CC BY 2.0
Sketched in Stone
The impulse to make a visual record of what’s around us and what we’ve seen on our journeys goes all the way back to the Stone Age, to cave walls and sandstone boulders. Roseann Hanson sees these drawings as early field notes.
She shared photos of her visit to Twyfelfontein, Namibia, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its large array of well-preserved ancient rock art. Some of it depicts proportionally and anatomically correct animals with the kind of precision you can only achieve after spending time closely observing your subject.
Once paper was an option, journals and sketchbooks became the preferred place to take field notes. Since those are significantly more portable than boulders, people could take notebooks with them to record what they were seeing in real time. Or sketch what was in front of them and add color after they got back home (or back to camp or the studio or wherever).
Photo by Roseann Hanson via Natural History Institute
Since Roseann Hanson does all her drawing in the field, her streamlined set up includes…
1 fountain pen
5 watercolor paints: cyan, magenta, yellow, burnt sienna, dark blue
1 brush
journal
Sometimes she collects mineral pigments from where she’s working and adds those to her palette, as well.
illustrations by Beatrix Potter via Victoria and Albert Museum
The Analog Antidote
Sketching out in the field has largely been replaced by photos and video.
However, Roseann Hanson argues that analog field notes still have a lot to offer. Spending time in nature, careful observation, and manual note taking are cures for our digital overload. Documenting what you observe in a way that’s shareable contributes to the body of human knowledge.
“You can draw and it’s good for you and good for the world!”
—Roseann Hanson
She believes everyone can and should draw. If you feel you’re not good at it, the solution is to practice. Make a habit of drawing every day, and you’ll see your sketching skills improve over time.
Photo by Roseann Hanson via Natural History Institute
To me, the most important thing is slowing down and noticing what’s going on in the natural world around you — whether or not you do that through drawing.
A little watercolor painting I did at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Since another World Embroidery Day is just around the corner, I updated this 2018 post and added more information about the embroidery artists and what they’ve been up to lately. Also, since it is World Embroidery Day, I listed what countries they are from and/or living in.
—S
In honor of the upcoming World Embroidery Day (July 30), here are 18 modern embroidery art pieces and patterns!
Brannon Addison of Happy Cactus Designs does spontaneous freehand embroidery of tiny flowers, leaves, and ferns. Doesn’t this piece just look so joyful?! (h/t Brown Paper Bag)
Artist: Brannon Addison
Country: USA
Currently…
Happy Cactus Designs is her line of framed, one-of-a-kind pieces that she has embroidered by hand.
High quality photos of some of her work become the front of cheerful, blank greeting cards.
Emily Lewin, whose travel photography we featured in a previous post, uses embroidery to embellish her photos with subjects ranging from landscapes to latte art.
Artist: Emily Lewin Bose
Country: USA
Currently…
She got married! Search “Emily Bose” to find her on social media.
While she’s no longer selling on Etsy, you can find links to her book, past podcast episodes, and other projects at EmilyLewin.com.
These pineapples were stitched by Yumiko Higuchi, with help from her cat, Bona. To see more of Bona on Instagram, check out hashtag #樋口ボナ or #BonaHiguchi.
Artist: Yumiko Higuchi
Country: Japan (Tokyo)
Currently…
Yumiko Higuchi’s latest book is Embroidery in Everyday Life. (It’s in Japanese with an English translation is in progress.)
Several of her other books have been translated into English, as well as some into Korean, French, and German.
GrannyAbell upcycles paper grocery bags into postcards with designs embroidered onto them. There’s white cardstock on the back, so your writing will show up clearly!
Artist: Alicia Hubbell (F.K.A. Granny Abell)
Country: USA (from Navajo Nation, living in Illinois)
Besides authoring Embroidered Life, Sara Barnes writes about great illustration (which often includes embroidery) on her site, Brown Paper Bag.
Her site is where I learned about two of the artists I featured above, Brannon Addison (#2) and MICAO (#7). (So we’ve kind of come full circle!)
By Sarah K. Benning.
Updated July 2024. Originally posted July 2018.
Etsy links shops have been converted to affiliate links. Etsy purchases you make after clicking them earns a small commission that helps this site without costing you anything extra!
We were driving back recently from a sunny visit to Saguaro National Park as the sky clouded over. We thought we heard thunder in the distance and hoped we could get home before the storm. We didn’t. The rain wasn’t so much falling as it was being slammed against our car by big gusts of wind.
While it may not be the first image that comes to mind when you think of the desert, that’s the Arizona monsoon season, when Tucson receives around half its annual rainfall.
That storm as we were leaving the Park was the first one of this year’s more humid “second summer.”
So while we watch for rainclouds and listen for thunder, here’s what else is going on around Arizona – as well as events you can access from anywhere!
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!
Mushroom: Hand Embroidery Kit and Thread Painting Tutorial by Emillie Ferris.
Introductory workshop that will show you how to start stitching and create your own miniature work of textile art (an artist trading card or ATC). You will learn free-form embroidery and mixed media techniques centered around a simple shape, like a heart symbol.
Workshop format is a PDF file, plus four videos demonstrating all the techniques needed to complete your project.
No previous knowledge of sewing required.
*Includes two pages of customizable ATC-backgrounds!
“Defiance House dwelling in Forgotten Canyon, 1964” via NAU archives.
Exhibit of historical photos of Glen Canyon before it was flooded.
“Glen Canyon died in 1963. However, it lives on … in the magnificent collection of photographs preserved in the Special Collections Department of the Cline Library.”
The Smithsonian Institution offers a ton of courses inspired by its research, collections, and exhibitions, both in-person and via Zoom! This is just a minuscule sampling of upcoming classes that caught my attention…
7/16, 7pm ET: The Jazzmen. Talk by Larry Tye, author of The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America. “Each defied and ultimately overcame racial boundaries… [and] wrote the soundtrack for the civil rights movement.” $30 fee
7/27, 1pm ET: Visual Journaling: Creativity Workout. “…an afternoon of artistic experimentation designed to strengthen creative muscles and deepen skills in visual expression.” $95 fee
August—
8/19, 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. *$75 fee for the 3-class series or $30/class *Recipes you can make on your own are included with each class!
8/26, 6:45pm ET:Understanding Cephalopod Behavior. Discussion separating truth from tall tales about octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish and how their “extraordinary cognitive capacity” may cause us to question our definition of intelligence. $25 fee
8/28, 9/4 + 9/11, 6pm ET: Alternate Pens for Mark Making and Calligraphy. Create writing instruments from common household objects and items foraged from nature to engage your spirit of play and push your creativity. $140 fee
Six-week online series to practice specialized yoga poses that support your lymphatic system and immune system health, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Online counterpart to the in-person film festival, which presents independent cinema from local, national, and international filmmakers in a wide range of themes, including avant-garde dramas, comedies, animations, and science-fiction. Films will be available for 8 days as video-on-demand.
now — September 2 / Arizona Science Center, Phoenix / Included with admission / All ages
Interactive exhibition that gives visitors access to a replica of the OceanXplorer research vessel and the experience of what it’s like to conduct experiments and explore the ocean.
Tickets to OceanXperience + Giant Screen theater shows are included with Arizona Science Center admission!
*Discounted parking at the Heritage and Science Park Garage (5th Street and Monroe Street) with validation from the Arizona Science Center.
Exhibition of experimental art made by almost 100 artists from six Central-Eastern European nations (East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia) from 1960-1980.
Multiple Realities focuses on largely unknown women artists, artist collectives, and LGBTQIA+ artists.
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.
*Arizona libraries offer Culture Passes for free admission to Phoenix Art Museum.
I don’t know what the actual project will look like, but I really like this paper tropical wreath by Lia Griffith! I also featured it in the Teal Color Story.
July 21, 2pm / Tempe Public Library, Tempe / Free (includes supplies)
Learn how to make a floral wreath out of paper! There is no fee, but registration is required.
In the library’s Ironwood Classroom.
*Part of the library’s Adult Summer Reading Program. Earn points and prizes by signing up, logging your time reading, and participating in events (like this class)!
“VSQ’s atmospheric hits have made classical versions of pop music cool.”
November 14, 7pm / Mesa Arts Center, Mesa / $52 per ticket (includes fees)
Performance of the Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ), who create beautiful classical covers of pop music. You may have heard them on Bridgerton, as the string section slyly sneaking a current hit into the period drama.
VSQ is currently touring with fresh arrangements of music from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, Bridgerton, The Weeknd, and Daft Punk.
now — October 16, 6pm – 8pm / Dark Sky Brewing Co. Beer Garden, Flagstaff / Free (donations accepted) / 21+
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!
“The map presents a wealth of detailed information about Grand Canyon’s geology on a single page with such beauty that it became the bestselling geology map of all time.”
—Museum of Northern Arizona
The Grand Canyon “Dragon” Map I saw hanging on the wall at Flagstaff City — Coconino County Public Library.
now — January 19, 2025 / Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff / Included with admission
Exhibition centered around an iconic map of the Grand Canyon and the geology it depicts. Now the most famous map of the Grand Canyon, it was first published by the Museum of Northern Arizona in 1976.
Seeing the shape of the Colorado River’s path through the Canyon reminded many people of the shape of a Chinese dragon, which is why it’s known as the “Blue Dragon Map.”
*Arizona libraries offer Culture Passes for free admission to the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Grand Canyon map bracelet.
Via Flagstaff Dance. Photography by Jimmy Cho Carrauthers.
Dancing on the Square: It doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there.
now — August 28, 7pm – 10pm / Heritage Square, Flagstaff / Free / All ages and family friendly.
Free social dancing lessons in Heritage Square! Local volunteer instructors teach a mixture of Swing, Latin, and Ballroom dancing on summer nights. This is a community-oriented event designed to be welcoming to learners. You don’t even need to bring a partner!
now — July 12 / Natural History Institute Art Museum, Prescott / Free
Exhibition showcasing a diverse array of artworks – paintings, sculptures, and other installations – calling for responsible conservation of the Upper Verde River. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a series of related workshops, talks, and excursions.
6/28, 5-7pm: Visit the NHI Gallery during the Fourth Friday Art Walk to peruse the exhibition after hours and enjoy complimentary refreshments.
*ANYWHERE:Watch videos from past speaker series talks.
Four Directions Plaque by Annette Nasfotie via Museum of Northern Arizona Shops.
July 1, 11:30am – 1:30pm / Taawaki Inn (441 S Broadway, Clarkdale), Clarkdale / Free
Celebration of the opening of the first Hopi Tribe owned and operated hotel outside of the reservation, Taawaki Inn. The new build is located in Clarkdale, Arizona at the entrance to Tuzigoot National Monument and overlooking the Verde River. The Inn is committed to being a testament to the Hopi people’s rich culture and history, including respect for nature.
11:30am – 12pm: Welcome and guest speakers.
12 – 1:30pm: Ribbon cutting ceremony followed by hotel tours.
July 4, 3pm / Fort Tuthill Park, Flagstaff / Free / All ages.
Annual Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra patriotic pops concert on the lawn at Pepsi Amphitheater. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and non-ticketed.
Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Bondhi Bowls and Flyin’ K BBQ food trucks will be there.
July 4th + Labor Day weekends / Orchard at Charlie Clark’s, Pinetop-Lakeside / Free to shop
Arts festivals with live music, food and drink in a park-like setting. Both events are put on by the all-volunteer High Country Art Association, a non-profit dedicated to showcasing creative, original visual arts and fine crafts in the White Mountains.
July 4 – 6: July 4th Fine Arts + Crafts Festival
Aug. 30 – Sept. 1: Labor Day Arts + Craft Festival
Locally owned arts and crafts festival that features tightly juried one-of-a-kind fine art and fine crafts designed and shown by the artists. It takes place over the Fourth of July weekend in a grassy park in Downtown Flagstaff.
Entertainment: Nonstop live music throughout the three days of the event!
Vendors: Juried selection of 80 artists from across the Southwest.
Food + beverage: Food trucks and booths, including Square Root Foods, Hot Bamboo, Cody Coyote Kettle Corn, and Lulu’s Italian Waterice, and a beer garden.
July 13 + 20, 9am – 4:30pm / College of Arts + Letters, NAU FLG Mountain Campus, Flagstaff / $249 fee (each class)
Single-day hands-on classes on bookbinding and relief printmaking, which are presented by Northern Arizona University’s Continuing Education Department. Both classes are taught by professor of printmaking David Williams.
Bring a pencil, a large Sharpie, and a 10×14″ sketchbook. Other supplies will be provided.
7/13: Relief Printmaking. Learn the basics of relief printmaking methods, how to create your own designs, and then make small relief prints with a variety of products. H/T Flagstaff 365
7/20: Creative Bookbinding. Learn both both traditional and innovative methods for making your own handcrafted books, journals, notebooks, and sketchbooks. H/T Flagstaff 365
*Anyone can use the MakerLab in NAU’s Cline Library! The multidisciplinary collaborative workspace provides a wide selection of tools, equipment, supplies, and services including 3D printing (fee for material), project consultations, and open workshops.
Quartermaster map of steamboat and overland supply routes between military forts (including Fort Verde) throughout the Southwest in the 1800s. It’s displayed at the Colorado River State Historic Park in Yuma.
*The 7/22 “Archaeology” talk is part of the library’s Summer Reading Challenge. Attending this event will give you a secret code to get points toward reaching your goal.
August 3 — 4 / Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff / $45 for a Weekend Pass, plus ticketing fees.
Film Festival presenting independent cinema from local, national, and international filmmakers in a wide range of themes, including avant-garde dramas, comedies, animations, and science-fiction. Beyond film screenings, FIFF also hosts Q+A sessions, workshops, and networking events to provide insights into the filmmaking process, and opportunities to interact with filmmakers and fellow film enthusiasts.
A Weekend Pass provides entry to all in-person screenings on the Saturday and Sunday of the Festival.
Festival that brings Hopi arts, crafts, and culture to the public. The event is a bridge that allows Flagstaff and surrounding communities to come together and learn from one another.
Vendors: Over 30 artists selling jewelry, traditional pottery and basketry, contemporary clothing, Kachina Dolls, photography, and mixed media artwork.
7/20 at 7pm:Desert Haze Vintage Market with L.A. artists The McCharmlys + The Charities. $5 entry. All ages.
“A year in which a group of audacious filmmakers, daring performers and adventurous studio execs pushed cinema to new limits, blurring the boundaries between mainstream and art films …”
now — July 31 / The Loft Cinema, Tucson / $8 per ticket
The Loft will re-release a selection of influential movies that premiered in 1999.
Copies of the book, Best. Movie. Year. Ever. How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen by Brian Raftery, will be available for sale at the box-office during this series.
now — August 31 / University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson / Free
Multilingual exhibit (O’odham / Spanish / English) examining the intersection of spirituality, migration, and policies that have impacted the borderlands of the Sonoran Desert through the work of collaborating poets, photographers, and artists.
August 7 – 11 / Reid Park, Tucson / $30 registration
5-day festival for recreational birders, featuring a Nature Expo / vendor fair, field trips, photography events, and presentations. It’s organized by Tucson Audubon Society, a nonprofit for engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats.
The Festival Headquarters is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park.
The Opening Party and the Nature Expo are free and do not require registration.
Scholarships available: Tucson Audubon Society is committed to connecting all people to nature regardless of income. Anyone with a financial need is encouraged to apply. Scholarships are given based on availability of funds.
*Discounted room rate for festival-goers: $112/night at La Quinta Inn + Suites.
The 11th Annual Salsa, Tequila + Taco Challenge is bound to elevate cocktail craft and culinary creativity once again.
August 24, 6pm / El Conquistador Tucson, Tucson / $100 general admission
Culinary competition where attendees sample and vote for the best salsa, tequila, and tacos in the region from well-regarded mixologists and chefs. It’s a blend of culinary arts, live music, entertainment, and local culture.
General admission tickets include food and beverage samplings from 30 local restaurants and chefs. Plus, access to live entertainment all night.
Food + beverage: A variety of custom salsa and tequila cocktails in over 15 categories. Creations from previous events included salsa infused with chicharrones, a dulce de leche dessert taco, and even a watermelon Sour Patch Kids margarita!
Entertainment: Lucha Libre matches. Performance by 10-piece band Mariachi Herradura de Tucson. Live painting by Phoenix artist Jesse Perry.
August 30 — September 2 / Tucson Convention Center, Tucson / $69 at the door plus parking / All ages
Community-based pop culture event that seeks to be America’s friendliest convention! The 3-day con features Q+A panels, workshops, costume contests, photo ops, and a large exhibitor hall. There will be actors, authors, comic book artists, and cosplayers appearing as special guests.
15th anniversary of the event!
Parking: Convention Center lots are at least $10/day, but there are less expensive alternatives in the area.
*Early Bird Special: Adult (Age 14+) Full Weekend Memberships are $50 until July 11! Save $19 versus buying this membership at the door.
November 13, 7:30pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / $25-65 per ticket (includes fees)
Performance of the Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ), who create beautiful classical covers of pop music. You may have heard them on Bridgerton, as the string section slyly sneaking a current hit into the period drama.
They are currently touring with fresh arrangements of music from Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, BTS, Bridgerton, The Weeknd, and Daft Punk.
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