The phrase made me pause the first time I heard it, as I tried to make sense of those words together as a unit. I wasn’t aware that rodeos had parades or that parades had museums – until I moved to Tucson.
Rodeo
Officially known as “La Fiesta de los Vaqueros,” Tucson’s Rodeo takes place for nine days in late February. It’s a big enough deal that schools take off the Thursday and Friday of Rodeo Week. There are roping and riding competitions, a large parade, kids’ events, barn dances, a rodeo clinic that’s also a fundraiser for local breast cancer patients, and something called “cowboy church.”
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros was first held in 1925, as a way to preserve Tucson’s cowboy-era culture, while also bringing in tourist dollars.
The idea came from winter visitor and Arizona Polo Associaton president Frederick Leighton Kramer. He met with local business owners, cattlemen, and probably some of his polo buddies to organize the inaugural Tucson Rodeo, which they held at a polo field near his house.
Parade
Before the competitions began, however, there was a 300-person parade down Congress Street. Among the participants were ranchers, U.S. Army bands from the Buffalo Soldier 10th Cavalry and 25th Infantry Regiments, Leighton Kramer’s polo players, and artist/cowboy/part-time Tucson resident Lone Wolf in the impressive regalia of his Blackfeet tribe.
Now considered the longest non-motorized parade in the U.S. (possibly the world), the 2.5-mile long procession of horses, carriages, bands, folk dancers, and decorated wagons continues to be a part of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros tradition. In past years, it has attracted around 200,000 spectators.
Museum
When the historic vehicles are not on parade, they reside in the Tucson Rodeo Parade Musuem on the west side of the current rodeo grounds in South Tucson. Specifically, they’re exhibited in a couple barns and a hangar that’s a holdover from the property’s previous days as an early municipal airport.
After the first Tucson Rodeo Parade, the museum started collecting horse-drawn vehicles and restoring them. In some cases, families donated carriages that they no longer used after switching to automobiles.
In 2021, many of these wagons and buggies were put on display outside of the museum for a special event (which is where most of these photos were taken), but that is a story for another day…
As far as I can tell, “Rodeo Week” in Tucson refers to the 5-day workweek in the middle of the festival. The Rodeo also includes the weekend before and after that, making the whole thing 9 days.
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros is one of the top 25 professional rodeos in the U.S.
Professional rodeos are the ones where the competitors do rodeo full-time (like professional ball players). There are also regional amateur rodeo circuits for people who just want to compete on weekends.
I learned about Tucson schools observing “Rodeo Break” or “Rodeo Vacation” from a friend who grew up here. He always had those days off – and he never went to the rodeo.
Happy new year! I’ve grouped this season’s Happenings into ones you can participate in from anywhere, ones with lots of locations across the U.S., and ones that are in-person in Arizona – where it’s great weather for being outdoors right now!
See antique stagecoaches and buggies in the Tucson Rodeo Parade Feb. 24.
Happenings List
The Happenings List is my handpicked selection of events I think you artsy-crafty wanderers would be into! No one is paying for inclusion on the List. It’s simply my way to help support small businesses and artists and point you toward some neat things to take part in.
Yume @ Home Virtual Membership (ongoing): Includes online garden visits, a member’s newsletter, and exclusive offerings with insight into the arts, customs and traditions of Japan. $35.
January 6 – February 20 / Online / Individual screenings $12 per household. Full season pass $120.
Film festival celebrating Jewish history and values. This year’s online-only lineup includes 12 full length films, a mini-series, 6 shorts, and several post-film talks and Q+As.
A few of the upcoming screenings…
Jan. 12-15: On Broadway, a musical documentary on Broadway theater.
Jan. 21-24: Here We Are, a drama about the interdependence between a father and his adult son with autism.
Feb. 11-17: Labyrinth of Peace, a miniseries based on the true stories of displaced Jewish children in a small Swiss village post-WWII.
SN: The Tucson Jewish Community Center that hosts this annual festival is near a couple of parks where we like to take Quijote, so I always see signs about upcoming events there when we drive by. There’s also a sculpture garden (open to the public), which I’d like to check out sometime.
Virtual event recognizing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his quest for equality for all people. You can watch it on the City of Phoenix’s Youtube channel.
Local Art Loves is our annual online celebration of art and artists from different corners of the globe. During the month of February, use the hashtag #LocalArtLoves to share art you love wherever you are!
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is designated as a national day of service to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities, because working towards a more equitable world brings us closer to creating the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s Dream.
January 17, April 16, August 4, September 24, November 11 / All U.S. National Parks / Free admission.
This year, there are five dates when you can visit any U.S. National Park without having to pay an entrance fee!
The entrance fee waiver does not apply to camping, boating, special tours, or other activity fees.
There is at least one National Park in every state. Search for a Park that piques your interest at FindYourPark.com.
If you can’t go on one of those dates, keep in mind that only 110 out of over 400 National Parks even charge admission. The rest are entrance fee-free year round!
Screenshot from virtual Slow Art session of an Oscar Muñoz self-portrait.
January 11, 18, 25 / Yume Japanese Gardens, Tucson / $105 for a package of 3 classes
Outdoor classes in Ikebana, the art of traditional Japanese flower arranging. Learn to make the type of striking displays you see in the Garden’s Ikebana exhibitions yourself.
All classes require prior registration and payment in advance.
January 14-23 / Multiple venues in Downtown Tucson / Ticket prices vary by event.
10-day destination festival with world-class musicians. It was created to influence the discovery and celebration of live jazz performance and music education.
January 15: Jazz Jam at Hotel Congress. An afternoon of jazz improv on 3 stages. Tickets $35.
January 17 (MLK Day): Downtown Jazz Fiesta at Hotel Congress. Annual day of free performances.
January 15 – April 9 / Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler / Free.
Exhibition of the Flower Mound series that Tucson-based artist Lex Gjurasic started making at the onset of the pandemic. Her art helps her combat anxiety, and she hopes it brings others joy, as well.
February 5-6 / Mesa Historical Museum, Mesa / Free admission to the sale.
Used book (and DVD / CD) sale outdoors on Museum grounds with thousands of bargain-priced items starting at $1.
Includes rare and unusual books.
Most of the remaining books will be half off on the final day, Feb. 6.
SN: If you head east on Lehi Road past the Museum this time of year, you may find small roadside citrus stands where people sell extra oranges, lemons, and grapefruit from their backyard trees for about $3-5 a bag.
February 19-27 / Tucson / Weekend rodeo tickets start at $18.
A tucson tradition since 1925, the nine-day Fiesta celebrates real-life ranch skills and cowpoke culture. Events include bull and bronco riding, barrel racing, roping competitions, junior rodeo events, and a big parade.
When you rush through a museum, everything can start seeming like a non-descript blur. Oftentimes, you’ll have a better experience by spending more time with fewer pieces – instead of speeding by in an effort to see (or at least glance at) every single item.
In this spirit, Phoenix Art Museum introduced their “Slow Art” events. Pre-Pandemic, I believe this was an option you could choose instead of a gallery tour on certain days. People would gather around a specific work of art and a docent would talk about just that piece.
I’m more familiar with the program’s COVID-safe incarnation as a monthly Zoom meditation. You may have seen this as a “join in from anywhere” item on our Happenings List.
I attended one of these a couple months ago. It focused on the work of Colombian artist Oscar Muñoz, whose Invisibilia exhibition is currently on display at the museum.
You slow down, settle in, and take deep breaths. Phoenix art educators guide you in examining the work.
We looked at several of Muñoz’s self portraits, as a series and individually. The docents explained his unusual artmaking processes and shared how you could see some of them on display at the museum. The pace of the presentation was measured, allowing plenty of time for questions and contemplation.
It was a refreshing way to calm my mind and reset, while also learning about an artist and his process!
The next session is Thursday, December 23 at noon (Arizona time). RSVP is required, and the cost is just pay-what-you-can.
The Oscar Muñoz: Invisibilia exhibition is on display at Phoenix Art Museum in the Katz Wing for Modern Art through January 16, 2022.
There are lots of great things coming up over the next couple months! The in-person holiday Happenings I’ve listed this time are in Arizona. However, I’ve also highlighted ways you can join in from ANYWHERE!
I’m especially excited about upcoming holiday markets, so I gave them their own section. If you’re looking for craft fairs and artist pop-ups, scroll on down to the “Holiday Market” section. It’s an excellent year to shop early and shop local!
Festive printable envelopes by Amy Christie of This Heart of Mine.
Goodies
Throughout the List, I’ve asterisked (*) goodies. These are free or discounted extras inspired by the places and events on the List, like shop sales or a map of nearby trails. (Unintentional rhyme!)
Although some goodies are specific to a particular activity (like free parking for the Arizona History Museum), there are others you can enjoy without being there in person (like free digital puzzles with images from Arizona History Museum collections).
In fact, here are a couple seasonal goodies to kick things off!
Ready to Launch: Arizona’s Place in Space now – Nov 30 / Arizona History Museum, Tucson / Admission $10, Youth (ages 7-13) $5
Exhibition investigating the impact that the people, landscape, and universities in Arizona have had in space exploration.
*Free validated parking at the Main Gate Garage (815 E. 2nd Street).
*ANYWHERE:Digital jigsaw puzzles of postcards and other images from the Arizona Historical Society archives.
Altar for All Souls Day in progress during Tucson Meet Yourself 2019.
All Souls Procession Weekend Nov 5-7 / Tucson
A weekend of events to deepen your connection to the community, leading up to a two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors.
Luz de Vida II Benefit Concert / Nov 6 / Tickets start at $25 + proceeds support Homicide Survivors, Inc.
Procession and Ceremony / Nov 7, 6-9pm / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Art in Unexpected Places Festival Nov 5-7 / Kierland Commons and The Westin Kierland Resort + Spa, Scottsdale
3 days of immersive experiences, including a community art festival, 5K run/walk, and arts + crafts marketplace.
Beginner Embroidery: Pay-What-You-Can Community Class Nov 6, 12pm / Good Things Tucson Studio, Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Learn 8 basic stitches and other embroidery fundamentals. Then use what you’ve learned to embroider a simple desert-themed pattern onto a baseball cap.
Bring your own canvas baseball cap to embroider or purchase one supplied by a local shop, Mi Reina Boutique, for $10.
Donations to cover the cost of supplies are welcome but not required.
Phillip and Quijote walking in a picnic area at Catalina State Park.
Music in the Mountains Concert Series Nov 6 – Dec 18 / Catalina State Park, Tucson / Included with Park admission ($7/vehicle).
Outdoor performances by local musicians on stage in a Catalina State Park picnic area.
*Save on admission to Arizona State Parks with a standard ($75) or premium ($200) annual pass.
Lunchtime Virtual Lecture: On the Front Lines of Arizona Weather: Blizzards, Fires, and Floods Nov 8, 12:15pm / ANYWHERE (via Zoom) / Free.
From Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Dr. Brian Klimowski, Meteorologist in Charge for the Flagstaff National Weather Service office, will talk about wild weather in Northern Arizona, including some of the incredible storms of the past couple years, the current “megadrought,” climate change, and what the NWS is doing to help us all prepare for high-impact weather events.
Loft Film Fest Nov 10 – Nov 18 / The Loft Cinema, Tucson
Eight-day showcase of independent, foreign and classic cinema. Film fans can experience hand-selected festival favorites from Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, etc. and meet internationally-renowned artists from the world of independent cinema.
The 2021 festival will be 100% in person, with all screenings and special events taking place in The Loft Cinema’s Screen 1 and in the Open Air Cinema.
Select screenings will also feature live or pre-recorded virtual interviews with filmmakers.
Phoenix Pizza Festival Nov 13-14 / Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix / Tickets $12 (advance purchase only), free for kids under 5.
Festival of pizza makers selling $2-4 slices. Plus live bands, lawn games, local vendors, and a kids’ zone.
Arizona Wilderness Brewery will offer local craft brews. Wine, soda, water, lemonade, and other beverages will be available, too. (Cash only.)
Whiskey Del Bac Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration Nov 13, 4:30 pm / Westbound, Tucson / Free
Tucson-based Whisky Del Bac is celebrating 10 years of crafting their mesquite-smoked whisky. The party will be open to the public with cocktails, special Private Barrel releases, a Del Bac farmer’s market, limited edition merchandise, music and food.
*ANYWHERE IN ARIZONA: Free shipping when you purchase two or more bottles from Whiskey Del Bac directly.
Photo via Southern Arizona Arts + Cultural Alliance (SAACA).
Sahuarita Chalk Art Festival Nov 13, 10am-3pm / Sahuarita Lake Park / Free.
In one day, a collection of chalk artists will transform park pavement into colorful works of art. Attendees can watch professional artists create stunning murals or create their own masterpiece.
Slider Throwdown Nov 14 / High Street, Phoenix / $40 admission
Food truck battle to see who makes the best slider! There will also be music by Josh West Trio and a silent auction. The event raises money for the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF). Admission includes samples of all sliders, one (non-alcoholic) drink coupon, one lemonade coupon, one frozen yogurt coupon, and one People’s Choice vote.
Concert at Marana Tree Lighting Festival. Photo via Town of Marana.
Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting Dec 4, 3-8pm / Town of Marana
This year’s festivities in Downtown Marana include the lighting of a 25-foot Christmas tree with synchronized music and dancing lights, live holiday music performances, activities for kids, a holiday market, and more than 40 food trucks.
3pm: Beginning of performances (local musicians, youth choirs and dance troupes)
6pm: Christmas tree lighting and show.
Kids’ activities include a make-and-take ornament station, foam snow dance party, bounce zone, kiddie train, and visits with Santa.
Slow Art Dec 23 / ANYWHERE (Zoom) / Pay what you wish.
Spend some extra time with Phoenix Art Museum pieces during meditation sessions lead by museum educators and mindfulness guides.
RSVP required.
SN: I participated in one of these a couple months ago. It was a refreshing way to calm my mind and reset, while also learning about an artist and his process!
Good Stuff Pop-up Nov 7, 10am-2pm / 2734 E. Exeter St., Tucson / Free admission.
A micro art market in a Broodmoor neighborhood backyard with just seven select vendors, organized by Tawney Weir (Little Toro Designs) and Lex Gjurasic.
*Free mimosas!
La Encantada Fine Art Market Nov 20-21 / La Encantada Shopping Center, Tucson, AZ / Free admission.
The open-air La Encantada Fine Art Market is an opportunity to support local artisans and fine art crafters creating metalwork, locally-designed fashion, sculptural pieces made from fallen old-growth trees, art glass, and paintings on canvas.
*Free parking is available at La Encantada Shopping Center. When the lot is full, attendees can park at the Plaza Colonial Shopping Center (Campbell Ave and Skyline).
Dogs on leashes are allowed.
Their next market will be Jan. 29-30, 2022.
Early Bird Makers Market Nov 20, 9am-3pm / The Shops at Town + Country, Phoenix / Free admission.
Pop-up market by Local Trade AZ, featuring over 120 local makers with one-of-kind art, jewelry, furniture, decor, clothing, food, and health and beauty products.
Crafeteria Nov 27, Dec 4, Dec 11, Dec 18 / behind Frances Boutique, Phoenix
Award-winning independent craft fair with local handmade original work, as well as live music and food vendors. This year, instead of a single evening event, Crafeteria will be held on 4 Saturdays.
*ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.: You can shop online yearround at Frances, the boutique that hosts Crafeteria. They offer free gift wrapping and free shipping on orders of $50 or more!
Made in Tucson Market Nov 28, 10am-5pm / Historic Fourth Avenue District, Tucson
Outdoor market of local + handmade goods on 4th Ave. in Downtown Tucson.
Desert Air Market
Dec 4, 10-4pm / 6th Ave. + 6th St., Tucson
Reoccurring popup market created and run by local makers + artists.
Fourth Avenue (sans fair)
Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair Dec 10-12 / 5 blocks of Fourth Avenue
51-year-old fair that hosts artists from around the world, local entertainment, and food! Funds are used to support the Avenue’s infrastructure and events.
*Free shuttle service from the Pennington Street Garage and the Tyndal Avenue Garage.
You can also park along the streetcar line + take Sun Link in.
No pets.
Winter Art Market Dec 11-12 / Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA), Flagstaff / Free admission.
Come admire, browse, and bring home some of the diverse arts created on the Colorado Plateau, from traditional weavings to contemporary paintings, as well as unique cards and gifts.
Annual Holiday Bazaar Dec 17-19 / Mercado San Agustin, MSA Annex and on Avenida del Convento, Tucson
Local artists, artisans, and makers will be selling their wares at Mercado San Agustin, MSA Annex, and down Avenida del Convento.
Vendor applications are due by December 1.
Happenings on this list are handpicked by me. List items are not ads – just stuff that sounded neat!
Smithsonian magazine has an annual tradition of celebrating Museum Day, and many museums across the U.S. join in by offering free admission that day.
Visitor center for Smithsonian museums in D.C.
I had planned to tell you – before Museum Day – about a few participating museums I’ve visited in the past. But life is weird right now and I’ve pretty much lost all sense of time, so September 18 came and went before I realized I hadn’t posted this yet. I’m still going to tell you about those museums, though. There’s one in Indiana, one in Washington, and five in Arizona. While I posted a similar list ahead of Museum Day a couple years ago, a lot of those museums weren’t participating this year. So, on to the new list!
2 Museums I’ve Visited While Traveling
Mike Pace, interpreter and specialist on Lenape life and culture. Photo via Conner Prairie.
This is a living history museum that I loved visiting as a kid! I remember candle-dipping demonstrations and sitting in on a lesson in an old-timey one-room schoolhouse. They’ve added a lot of things since the last time I was there (many years ago), like make-and-take craft activities, a balloon ride, and the Lenape Indian Camp, which explores what life was like for members of the Lenape (a.k.a. Delaware) tribe in 1816 Indiana.
Regular admission $20/adults, $15/youth (ages 2-12). $2 off when you purchase tickets online.
Closed Mondays.
Storytelling series: Thursday – Sunday evenings, September 16 – October 2. Hear about Indiana’s early history from expert storytellers, including former assistant chief of the Lenape tribe Mike Pace, who helped create the Lenape Indian Camp experience. Separate admission required for the event series: $10/adult, $6/youth.
Prairie Pursuits: various dates. Workshops on traditional skills for teens and adults. Upcoming class topics include blacksmithing, woodworking, cooking, and pottery.
Detail of “If VI Was IX: Roots and Branches” guitar sculpture, Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle.
The museum formerly known as the Experience Music Project (EMP) has an atrium devoted to constantly-playing music videos (“Sky Church”), a towering guitar sculpture (“If VI Was IX: Roots and Branches”), and galleries for Seattle legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, as well as exhibitions on sci-fi, video games, and fantasy genre archetypes. Housed within a striking building designed by Frank O. Gehry, MoPOP is located at Seattle Center, near the Space Needle.
Admission prices vary, depending on factors like when you’re going and how far in advance you purchase tickets.
An eclectic history of life in Arizona. On display are objects as varied as vintage vehicles, rock and mineral samples, maps, and re-creations of notable Arizonans’ homes and offices. There’s a new temporary exhibition (“Still Marching: From Suffrage to #MeToo”) on how Arizona women have worked to drive social change over the past century.
The permanent collection is grouped into themed rooms, like…
The People: Not only will you learn about the diverse groups that populated the Old West, but you can also read testimonies of people who saw the Phoenix Lights in 1997 and either did or didn’t believe they were UFOs.
WWII: Takes you inside a military barracks, Japanese internment camp, and a POW camp. Dark corners that should not be forgotten.
Desert Cities: Probably the most nostalgia-inducing area for those of us who grew up in Arizona, It focuses on the cultural changes in the Phoenix metro area during its post-WWII boom and includes an exhibit on local children’s t.v. show Wallace and Lladmo and an iconic statue from Bob’s Big Boy restaurant chain.
30,000 square feet of exhibition space devoted to the history of combat aircraft, plus a working maintenance hangar and active aircraft ramp. Located at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, this is my pick for enthusiasts of old military planes and memorabilia. In other words, if you’re my grandpa, this is the museum for you!
The Mesa Historical Museum is housed in what was originally a school, built in 1913 in the very oldest part of the City of Mesa as we now know it. There is a replica of the one-room adobe schoolhouse that came before it, antique farm equipment and other artifacts from the area, and a couple rotating exhibits.
SMoCA is an art and event space with a permanent collection and exhibitions in the areas of contemporary art, architecture, and design. It’s part of Scottsdale Civic Center, along with Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, City Hall, Civic Center Library, and a bunch of restaurants and bars centered around a 21-acre park.
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays.
Regular admission is $10/adults, free for anyone 18 and younger.
Pay-What-You-Wish admission on Thursdays and the second Saturday of each month.
Timed-entry reservations are now required for all admissions – even free tickets.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
The permanent collection is grouped into themed rooms, like…
