The Happenings List is made up of things I would do if I could do everything and be everywhere.

This edition includes September and October events in Italy, Spain, the UK, and the U.S. – specifically, Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington (state), and Washington D.C. If you are able to go to something on the list, please tell me about it!

Look for the asterisks (**) to read more about a place or event on Travelcraft Journal.

+Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum

• Now – Sep 10: Virtue and Valor: Sikh Art and Heritage
• Now – Oct 15: Longer Ways to Go: Photography of the American Road
• Now – Dec 17: Past/Future/Present: Contemporary Brazilian Art from the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art

Wall Draw

Now – Sep 29, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 10am to 5pm
Beasley Art Gallery, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
Annual community show that allows you to draw on the gallery’s walls.

Virginia Overton exhibition

Now – Oct 1
MOCA, Tucson
Site-specific installation by Virginia Overton in response to the Neo-Brutalist space of MOCA’s Great Hall.

Astronomy Nights

Sep 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1 every 30 minutes from 6-10pm
Mesa Community College, Mesa
Monthly Planetarium shows open to the public the first Friday of the month during the Fall semester. Free admission (first come, first served).

Operacon Extravaganza

Sep 7, 7pm
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson
Explore how opera is created with live performances, theatrical make-up demonstrations, and Q+A sessions with Arizona Opera. Free.
**Arizona Opera’s World Premiere Riders of the Purple Sage.

Arizona Restaurant Week

Sep 15-24
Central and Southern Arizona
Restaurants throughout the state offer prix-fixe dinners for $33 or $44 per person.

Rock Art of Spur Cross

Sep 16, 8am
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Cave Creek
Moderate two-hour hike to visit petroglyphs created by the Hohokam people hundreds of years ago. $3 entry.

Ballet Under the Stars

7pm. Outdoor performances by Ballet Arizona. Free.

• Sep 21. Beardsley Park, Sun City West.
• Sep 22. Fountain Park, Fountain Hills.
• Sep 23. Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix.
• Sep 28. Tempe Center for the Arts Amphitheater, Tempe.
• Sep 30. Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear.

The Story of Opera in Wine

A talk on opera’s history is paired with a tastings of European wines. Part of Arizona Opera’s OperaCon. Tickets $20. Registration required.

• Sep 26, 7pm: Tucson
• Sep 26, 7pm: Phoenix

National Public Lands Day Lake Pleasant Clean Up

Sep 30, 7am
Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Peoria
Volunteers are wanted to clean up trash in the park. Free full-day park entry for people who sign up online and help from 7am to 11am. Check in the morning of the event at the main contact station of Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

Pinners Conference + Expo

Oct 6-7
WestWorld, Scottsdale
Craft, home, food, beauty, entertaining, wellness, and photography classes and over 200 exhibitors. One-day tickets $8-29, not including class kit fees.

Film: Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast with Score by Philip Glass

Oct 11, 7pm
Tucson
Screening of Jean Cocteau’s classic film La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast) with an updated soundtrack by Philip Glass. Part of Arizona Opera’s OperaCon. Tickets $5.

Arizona Taco Festival

Oct 14-15
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale
Festival with about 50 restaurants serving $2 tacos, lucha libre wrestling, live music, tequila and margarita expos, and chihuahua beauty pageant. 1-day tickets $12.

• Oct 14, 12-5pm. Tequila Expo: Up to 10 samples of fine tequila from a selection of over 100. Tickets $20 + festival admission.
• Oct 15, 12-5pm. Margarita Tent: Showdown between local bars and up to 10 cocktail samples. Tickets $20 + festival admission.
• Oct 15, 2:30pm. Chihuahua Beauty Pageant: Participant  application fee ($15-25) supports the Arizona Chihuahua Rescue.

**Pizza Festival.

Fall Festival + Antique Show

Oct 14-15
Pine-Strawberry Community Center, Pine
Local apples, antique show, book signings by local authors, and chili cookoff. Free entry + $5 to taste/judge.

Raptor Free Flight!

Oct 21, 2017 – March 2018
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson
Watch hawks, falcons, and owls fly completely untethered in the open desert, while a narrator explains the characteristics of each species. Two presentations daily (at 10am and 2pm) with different birds of prey native to the Sonoran Desert region each time. Included with admission.

Día de los Muertos Festival

Oct 28-29
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Food, market, live entertainment, and handmade altar contest. Free admission.

Camelback Studio Tour and Art Sale

Nov 3-5
Scottsdale
Visit artists’ studios, see artists at work, and purchase art. Free admission.

Tucson Comic-Con 2017

Nov 3-5
Tucson Convention Center
Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes $30.

Hidden In The Hills Studio Tour and Sale

Nov 17-19, 24-26
Cave Creek, Arizona
Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.

ARTrageous Benefit Ansel Adams: America

Dec 2, 8:30pm
Virginia G. Piper Theater, Scottsdale
Gala to Benefit Scottsdale Arts Education + Outreach featuring Ansel Adams photography set to music. A full orchestra will perform a commissioned symphonic work by Dave Brubeck and his son Chris Brubeck. Concert + after-party tickets $75.

+California

Sculpture Is: 2017 “In the Garden”

Now – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville
Eleventh annual Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) sculpture exhibition in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens.
**Trailer or Tipi camping about 20 minutes from Watsonville (#2).

60th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival

September 15 – 17
Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey
The longest-running jazz festival in the world, celebrating the legacy of jazz with performances and educational programs. Tickets: Full weekend $145-410, Single day $45-164. Daily parking $15-40

Play!

Sep 16 – Dec 30
Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto
Group exhibition of artists who believe in the importance of play and make it part of their work.

• Opening celebration: Sep 15
• Includes work by Robert Xavier Burden, who creates intricate designs centered around toys.

The Fab Faux: Sgt. Pepper In Its Entirety

Nov 18, 8:00pm
The Wiltern, Los Angeles
Performance of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band in its entirety to celebrate the album’s 50th Anniversary. The Fab Faux with The Hogshead Horns, The Creme Tangerine Strings, and Erin Hill. Ages 5+. Tickets $40-65. To skip service charges, buy tickets in person at the Hollywood Palladium box office Saturdays from 10am-2pm, except holiday weekends.

+Colorado

Calder Monumental

Now – Sep 24
Denver Botanic Gardens
Large metal sculptures by artist Alexander Calder placed throughout the gardens. Included with admission.
**Denver Botanic Gardens.

Pastels on 5th

Sep 9, 10am
Downtown Loveland
Sidewalk chalk art festival and fundraiser for Alternatives to Violence (ATV) victim services.

Silversmithing

Sep 12 – 26, Tuesdays, 5:30pm
Center for the Arts, Crested Butte
Create a set of five stackable sterling silver rings with different metal textures. In the process, learn soldering, annealing, chasing and polishing, as well as how to safely  handle a jeweler’s tools. $85 + $45 Supply Fee. Includes take-home resource and instruction packet.

+Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions

• Now – Feb 25, 2018. The Andes Inverted: Immersive installation by Daniela Rivera with materials, images, and sounds gathered from Chile’s Chuquicamata copper mine.
• Sep 24, 2017 – Sep 3, 2018. Mark Rothko: Reflection: Exhibition of 11 Rothko pieces on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. that show the continuity of the artist’s work within western artistic tradition.
• Sep 30, 2017 – Jun 3, 2018. Black and White Japanese Modern Art: Display of a newly acquired, large-scale calligraphy by Inoue Yūichi, along with a selection of other monochrome avant-garde works from postwar Japan.

The Salem Flea

Sep 17, 10am
Derby Square, Salem
Juried selection of vendors of vintage furniture and clothing, antiques, and architectural salvage, as well as a handmade goods by local artisans.
**A Weekend in Salem.

+New York

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Arts + Crafts Ideals in Buffalo

Edmund B. Hayes Hall, University at Buffalo
Buffalo is celebrating the 150th birthday of Frank Lloyd Wright and the region’s role in the American Arts + Crafts movement.

• Now – Oct 29. Wright’s Larkin: Arts and Crafts in Industry: Exhibition of Wright-designed objects from the Larkin Company Administration Building, which Wright was commissioned to design.
• Oct 20-22. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Buffalo School: An International Arts and Crafts Conference presented by the New York State Arts and Crafts Alliance. Conference registration $120, Arts + Crafts landmarks tour tickets $80.

Kimchi

Sep 10, 11am
Q.E.D., Astoria
Course on making kimchi, its health benefits, and the science behind fermentation. Fee $45.

+Pennsylvania

Festival O17

Sep 14-25
Philadelphia
25 performances of new and classic operas at multiple venues across Philadelphia.

• Sep 16-24. We Shall Not Be Moved: World Premiere chamber opera with classical, R&B and jazz singing, spoken word, contemporary movement, and video projection. Tickets $50-100.
• Sep 23, 7pm. Opera on the Mall: Screening of an opera broadcast at Independence National Historical Park. Free.

Apple Butter Frolic

Oct 7, 10:30am
Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville
Autumn festival with Mennonite folk craft and farming demonstrations, wagon rides, and Pennsylvania Dutch (German) food – like scrapple, ground cherry pie, and a large caldron of apple butter! Proceeds help support the Mennonite Heritage Center.

+Virginia

Monticello

• Now – Oct 27, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Harvest Tasting Tour: One-hour tour of Thomas Jefferson’s vegetable garden with a tasting of seasonal produce from the garden. Monticello Day Pass required + $15 ticket.
• Sep 9. 2017 Heritage Harvest Festival: Celebration of Thomas Jefferson’s agricultural and epicurean legacy.
• Sep 30, 9:15am. Get to Know Your Trails: Monticello Trail Ranger-lead walk along a woodland path to learn about the trail’s history. Tickets $18.

**Monticello.

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum

• Now – Sep 10. Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors.
• Now – Oct 22. Common Pleasures: Art of Urban Life in Edo Japan.
• Now – Mar 3, 2019. Spencer Finch: The Western Mystery at Olympic Sculpture Park.

**A short visit to Seattle.

+Washington D.C.

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

Now – 2019
Natural History Museum
Understanding this unique tusked whale through traditional Inuit knowledge and scientific research.

Workshop Wednesdays

First + third Wednesdays, 1:30pm
National Museum of African Art
Drop-in workshops highlighting different artistic processes. All skill levels and ages welcome. Free.

• Sep 6. Bead Making: Create and string paper beads.
• Sep 20. The Big Draw: Introduction to African art and drawing fundamentals, followed by guided tour through African Mosaic exhibition and sketching. All materials provided. Registration required.

**Navigating the National Mall in Washington D.C.

INTERNATIONAL

+Italy

Sere d’Arte a Castel Sant’Angelo

Now – Sep 14
Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome
Art, music and theater at the second-century Mausoleum of Hadrian (the tomb-turned-castle-turned-museum). Tickets €14. Includes admission to Castel Sant’Angelo and Palazzo Venezia.

• Sep 2, 9pm. Sonia Bergamasco reads “Ritratto di donna” (Portrait Of A Woman)
  by Nobel Prize in Literature winner Wislawa Szymborska.
• Sep 7, 9pm. Two for You: jazz covers by Max Ionata and Dado Moroni.
• Sep 14, 9pm. “La valigia di Ravel” by Fabrizio Sinisi, with Sandro Lombardi and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra.
• Sep 14, 11pm. Live concert with Dewey Dell.

Venice Biennale

Now – Nov 26
Giardini and Arsenale, Venice
“Viva Arte Viva” – International exhibition of visual art, theater, architecture, music, dance, and film. Full regular tickets €25.

• Aug 30 – Sep 9. Venice International Film Festival.
• Sep 29 – Oct 8. International Festival of Contemporary Music.

Regata Storica 2017

Aug 30, Sep 3
Canal Grande, Venice
Centuries-old parade of gondolas and other traditional boats, as well as the most important races of Venice’s rowing season.

• Aug 30: Presentation of the teams and blessing of the gondolini.
• Sep 3, 4pm: Historic boat parade on the Grand Canal, followed by races.

Venice Glass Week

A celebration of the city’s tradition of glass artisans.

• Aug 30 – Sep 13. Gold: a precious Murano Glass art installation at the Apolline Halls of La Fenice Theater. Included with La Fenice tour admission €10.
• Sep 12, 6:30pm. Readings on the theme of glass by experts and enthusiasts of glass art in their native languages, followed by Italian translations – at Teatrino di Palazzo Grassi. Free.
• Sep 12 + 15, 10am. We Are All Beadstringers workshop with Marisa Convento. Free. Reservation required.

**Teatro La Fenice.

Mushroom Festival: Festa Del Fungo

Sep 23 – Oct 1
Piazza della Libertà, San Sisto di Piandimeleto
50th Edition Regional Mushroom Show.

Artissima Fair 

Nov 3-5
The Oval, Torino
International Fair of Contemporary Art with emerging as well as established contemporary artists from nearly two hundred international galleries.

+Spain

Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcázar

Now – Sep 9, 10:30pm
Real Alcázar, Sevilla
Nightly (Monday – Saturday) concerts in the gardens of a historic palace, including flamenco, classical, and world music. Doors open at 9pm, so you can explore the gardens before the concert. Beverages available for purchase. Ages 8+. Tickets €6.

+UK

The Big Barbican Adventure

Now – Dec 31
Barbican Centre, London
Clue solving, drawing and games for families along the Barbican do-it-yourself adventure trail. Pick up a free trail kit for The Big Barbican Adventure from the Barbican Centre Information Desk on Level G. Allow at least one hour to complete the trail. Ages 6+. Free.

While I’ve done my best to be accurate, sometimes things change or weren’t listed correctly in the first place. Also, I choose events that seem fun, unique, and like something you’d be interested in, but your mileage may vary. I may not endorse everything connected with a particular event, organization, venue, etc. So consider this your starting point, double check the details, and then venture forth!

Italy photo via Regata Storica.

Spain Real Alcázar photo via Noches en los jardines del Real Alcázar.

The Happenings List

Our curated list of upcoming festivals, workshops, shows, and other goings-on for makers and explorers – June through August 2017 (and beyond)! If you go to something from one of our Happenings Lists, please tell us all about it!

Read on for events in Italy, Germany, the UK, and the U.S.: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Asterisked (**) items link to related posts on Travelcraft Journal.

+Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum

• Now – Sep 10: Virtue and Valor: Sikh Art and Heritage
• Now – Oct 15: Longer Ways to Go: Photography of the American Road
• Now – Dec 17: Past/Future/Present: Contemporary Brazilian Art from the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art

Full Moon Hike at Red Rock State Park

Jun 9, 6:15pm + Jul 8, 6:30pm + Aug 7, 6pm
Red Rock State Park, Sedona
2-mile interpretive hike led by a knowledgeable naturalist. Watch the sunset from an overlook and hike back by moonlight. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with water and a flashlight. $5 fee + park admission ($7/adult). Reserve your spot at least one day in advance by calling Red Rock State Park at (928) 282-6907.

**A rainy day trip to Sedona.

Urban Forestry: Workshop + Discussion

Jun 10, 1pm
Tempe Public Library, Tempe
Tempe Urban Forestry Master Plan co-author Bonnie Richardson talks about the benefits, care, and planning of trees. 18 yrs+

The Tucson 23: A Mexican Food Festival

Jun 17, 6pm
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort + Spa, Tucson
Celebrate the “Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food in America” with Food demos, live music, and menu samplings from local wineries, breweries, and Mexican restaurants. Tickets $49.

**Feburary photo + Tucson Mexican food.

2017 Grand Canyon Star Party

Jun 17-24, 8pm
South Rim: Grand Canyon Visitor Center
North Rim: Grand Canyon Lodge
Nightly astronomy programs, slide shows, constellation tours, and telescope viewing. Free.

Melodramas and Megastars: The Theatre in Territorial Arizona, 1879-1912

Jun 24, 7pm
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Flagstaff
Readers theatre presentation on the development of Atlantic Coast theatrical culture in the Arizona Territory with humorous anecdotes and excerpts from the plays.

Butterfly Walk

Jun 24 + Jul 22 + Aug 26
8:30am
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior
Leisurely guided tour through the Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, Demonstration Garden and Children’s Garden collections to see, photograph and learn about butterfly species. Included with admission.

Summer Entertaining Cooking Class

Jun 24, 6pm + Jun 25, 11am
Chef Chamberlin’s Office, Phoenix
Step-by-step tips for creating a seasonal three-course dinner (and wine pairings!) with St. Francis Mixologist Titus Fauntleroy, Phoenix Public Market Café Pastry Chef Sarah Chisholm, and Chef Aaron Chamberlin. Tickets $100.

The Magic Flute Opera + Gelato Film Fest

Jun 25, 1pm
Arizona Opera Atrium, Phoenix
Screening of The Magic Flute with gelato and wine available for purchase. Free.
**Lunch with Arizona Opera.

Agave Nectar, Nopalitos and a Taste of Desert Edibles

July 23, 8am
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior
Guided tour along Curandero Trail with desert plant enthusiast Jim Shepherd with a tasting of desert edible samples including prickly pear jelly, nopalitos, mesquite flour, and agave nectar. Trail is not wheelchair accessible. Included with admission.
**Video of desert edibles cooking demo at Mission Garden, Tucson.

Star Party at Homolovi State Park

August 19, 30 minutes after sunset
Homolovi State Park Visitor Center Museum and Observatory, Winslow
Stargazing at Homolovi’s Visitor Center Museum and Observatory. Included with park admission.

HOCO Fest 2017

Aug 30 – Sep 3
Hotel Congress plaza
5-day music festival with over 40 national and regional acts. Ages 16+. Tickets $15-20.

+California

Sculpture Is: 2017 “In the Garden”

Jun 1 – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville
Eleventh annual Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) sculpture exhibition in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens.

**Trailer or Tipi camping about 20 minutes from Watsonville (#2).

Show + Tell

Jun 3, 10am
Santa Cruz Museum of Art + History
Local artisans give talks and demonstrations about their creative process and how their products are made.

dineLA Restaurant Week

Jul 14-28
Los Angeles
Fixed-price menu at restaurants throughout Los Angeles.

60th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival

September 15 – 17
Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey
The longest-running jazz festival in the world, celebrating the legacy of jazz with performances and educational programs. Tickets: Full weekend $145-410, Single day $45-164. Daily parking $15-40

+Colorado

Color: Works by Teresa Booth Brown

Now – Aug 6
Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street – Gates Garden Court Gallery
Exhibition of collage works by artist Teresa Booth Brown. Free.

Calder Monumental

Now – Sep 24
Denver Botanic Gardens
Large metal sculptures by artist Alexander Calder placed throughout the gardens. Included with admission.
**Denver Botanic Gardens.

Loveland Museum Summer Exhibit Programming

• June 9, 6pm: Artist Demonstration and Discussion. Sally Elliott shares her painting process and inspiration.
• Jul 14, 6pm: Strings in the Gallery. Concert in the Main Gallery by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra.
• Jul 20, 1pm: Painting Workshop with Sally Elliott. Learn experimental techniques in watercolor and gouache. Pre-registration required. Fee $50 non-members.

Denver Botanic Gardens 2017 Summer Concert Series

June – August
Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street – UMB Bank Amphitheater
Concerts in the round with garden admission included. Bring your own food or pre-order a picnic supper from Offshoots Café ($38 for two people). As of writing this, tickets are still available for the following shows:

• Jun 13, 6:30pm. Punch Brothers. Tickets $69
• Jul 28, 6:30pm. The Mavericks. Tickets $65
• Aug 3, 6:30pm. Dwight Yoakam. Tickets $82-182
• Aug 7, 6:30pm. Randy Newman. Tickets $74
• Aug 27, 6:30pm. Lucero with special guest Paper Bird. Tickets $62

Foote Lagoon Summer Concerts

Jun 22 – Jul 27, Thursday evenings
Foote Lagoon Amphitheater, Loveland
Weekly outdoor concert series.

Cherry Pie Celebration 2017

July 8, 5pm
Peters Park and 5th Street, Loveland
Cherry pie contest, vendor booths, activities for kids, and live music by Dixie Leadfoot (Rockabilly/Country/Swing) and Joe O’Bryan Band (Blues/Rock). Pie by the slice, ice cream, and drinks available for purchase. Free admission.

Pastels on 5th

Sep 9, 10am
Downtown Loveland
Sidewalk chalk art festival and fundraiser for Alternatives to Violence. Free.

+Florida

#BlogHer17

June 22-24
Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orlando
Annual conference for online content creators. Blogger/influencer passes $399.

+Indiana

Concerts on the Canal

Now – July 27, Thursday evenings
Indianapolis Downtown Canal
Outdoor concert series on the Historical Society’s Kruse Family Stardust Terrace. Food and beverages available for purchase or bring your own. On Thursdays during concert season, the History Center is and open until 8pm.

**Fountain Square in Downtown Indiana.

+Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions

• Now – Jun 4. Club Americano: New York-based and Mexico City-born artist Pablo Helguera explores the historic formation and contemporary definitions of American identity in an intimate one-room exhibition and shared space.
• Now – Jun 18. Make Way for Ducklings: The art of author and illustrator Robert McCloskey, in honor of the 75th anniversary of his book Make Way for Ducklings.
• Now – Jul 9. Botticelli and the Search for the Divine.
• Now – Jul 9. Matisse in the Studio.
• Now – Feb 25, 2018. The Andes Inverted: Immersive installation by Daniela Rivera with materials, images, and sounds gathered from Chile’s Chuquicamata copper mine.

Boston Pops

Symphony Hall, Boston

• May 31 + Jun 1. John Williams’ Film Night: Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williiams and Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart conduct a concert of movie music. Tickets $36 – $122.
• June 2 + 3. Cirque de la Symphonie: live orchestral music plays while aerial flyers, acrobats, dancers, and jugglers perform. Tickets $29 – $93.

**Star Wars music at Phoenix Symphony Hall.

+Michigan

Detroit Home Movies

Now – Jul 29
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit
Year-long project to exhibit home movies made around 1967 that depict everyday life in Detroit’s diverse communities.

+New York

Flower Essence Workshop

Jun 11, 12:30pm + Jun 18, 12:30pm
Sang Lee Farms, Peconic, NY
Gather flowering plants from the farm and learn how to create your own flower essence. $85
**How to press flowers on the go.

+North Carolina

ASAP’s 2017 Farm Tour

June 24 – 25
Western North Carolina
Tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities at working farms in the mountains to allow you to connect with the community’s food producers and learn about the region’s agricultural heritage.

+Pennsylvania

ARTLab

First and third Saturdays, 1-4pm
Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh
Interactive projects inspired by current exhibitions for visitors of all ages. Included with museum admission.

Indigo Dip-in

Jun 15, 5pm
Cultureworks Greater Philadelphia
Bring fabric or yarn you’d like to dye. Create patterns using Shibori resist techniques with clamps, rubber bands, and string. Donations accepted.

Festival O17

Sep 14-25
Philadelphia
25 performances of new and classic operas at multiple venues across Philadelphia.

• Sep 16-24. We Shall Not Be Moved: World Premiere chamber opera with classical, R&B and jazz singing, spoken word, contemporary movement, and video projection. Tickets $50-100.
• Sep 23, 7pm. Opera on the Mall: Screening of an opera broadcast at Independence National Historical Park. Free.

**Arizona Opera’s world premiere Riders of the Purple Sage.

+Virginia

Water/Ways + H2O Today

May 27 – Jul 9
Virginia Living Museum, Newport News
Part of the thinkWater project, these Smithsonian traveling exhibitions explore scientific and cultural perspectives on water with educational activities and digital story-collection initiatives.

Monticello

• Now – Oct 27, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Harvest Tasting Tour: One-hour tour of Thomas Jefferson’s vegetable garden with a tasting of seasonal produce from the garden. Monticello Day Pass required + $15 ticket.
• Jul 4, 9am. Annual Independence Day Celebration: Naturalization Ceremony followed by a Jeffersonian Open House with patriotic music and free walk-through tours of Monticello (first-come, first-served reservations). Free admission.
• Jul 1 + Sep 30, 9:15am. Get to Know Your Trails: Monticello Trail Ranger-lead walk along a woodland path to learn about the trail’s history. Tickets $18.
• Jul 8, 9:30am. Winemaking Workshop: Two-hour participatory workshop on how to make your own wine from harvest to bottling. Tickets $24.
• Jul 22, 9am. Plein Air Painting: Paint outdoors on the Mountaintop then share your work with other participants. (Beginning instruction by Pat Brodowski at 8:30am.) Bring your own paints and supplies. Tickets $24.
• Sep 9. 2017 Heritage Harvest Festival: Celebration of Thomas Jefferson’s agricultural and epicurean legacy.

**Monticello.

Virginia Craft Brewers Fest

Aug 19
IX Art Park, Charlottesville
Celebration of Virginia’s craft beer industry. Over 100 participating breweries serving tastings.

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum

• Now – Oct 22. Common Pleasures: Art of Urban Life in Edo Japan.
• Now – Mar 3, 2019. Spencer Finch: The Western Mystery at Olympic Sculpture Park.
• Jun 30 – Sep 10. Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors.

**A short visit to Seattle.

Craft Party 2017

Jul 16, 12pm
Ugly Baby and La Ru shop, Western Avenue (at Pike Place Market), Seattle

Craft projects and sidewalk chalk take over the block! Join in and do a community embroidery project, wood string art, watercolor cards, and a wall of coloring. There will also be a giveaways, a photobooth, and gift bags with Ugly Baby and La Ru.
Get tickets on Eventbrite by June 14. Tickets $12.

**Chalk robots.

A photo posted by Christoph Jakob (@el_kalam) on Aug 15, 2015 at 3:39pm PDT

INTERNATIONAL

+Germany

Brückenfestival

Aug 12-13
Nuremberg
Outdoor festival with a curated lineup of indie bands. Free.
**Make a mini-lamp garland.

+Italy

Venice Biennale

Now – Nov 26
Giardini and Arsenale, Venice
“Viva Arte Viva” – International exhibition of visual art, theater, architecture, music, dance, and film. Full regular tickets €25.

• Jun 23 – Jul 1. International Festival of Contemporary Dance.
• Jul 25 – Aug 12. International Theatre Festival.
• Aug 30 – Sep 9. Venice International Film Festival.
• Sep 29 – Oct 8. International Festival of Contemporary Music.

+Spain

Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcázar

Jul 15 – Sep 9, 10:30pm
Real Alcázar, Sevilla
Nightly (Monday – Saturday) concerts in the gardens of a historic palace, including flamenco, classical, and world music. Doors open at 9pm, so you can explore the gardens before the concert. Beverages available for purchase. Ages 8+. Tickets €6.

+UK

Tracey Emin and William Blake In Focus

Now – Sep 3
Tate Liverpool
Exhibition exploring surprising links between the work of Tracey Emin (b. 1963) and William Blake (1757–1827). It will be the first time Emin’s My Bed has been displayed in the north of England. Free.

The Big Barbican Adventure

Now – Dec 31
Barbican Centre, London
Clue solving, drawing and games for families along the Barbican do-it-yourself adventure trail. Pick up a free trail kit for The Big Barbican Adventure from the Barbican Centre Information Desk on Level G. Allow at least one hour to complete the trail. Ages 6+. Free.

Ashdown Park events

East Sussex

• Jun 2. English Cheese and Wine Evening. Tickets £25.
• Jun 25. National Garden Scheme Open Day. All proceeds go to charity. Tickets £5.
• Jul 2, 2pm. Pimms Sunday Luncheon and Cookery Demonstration. Tickets £39.50. Call for reservations – 01342 824988.

Outdoor cinema at Ashdown Park

East Sussex
Tickets £13.

• Jul 6. Bridget Jones’ Diary.
• Jul 7. Back to the Future.

While I’ve done my best to be accurate, sometimes things change or weren’t listed correctly in the first place. Also, I choose events that seem fun, unique, and like something you’d be interested in, but your mileage may vary. I may not endorse everything connected with a particular event, organization, venue, etc. So consider this your starting point, double check the details, and then venture forth!

Make Way for Ducklings illustration by Robert McCloskey via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

UK garden photo via Ashdown Park.

Spain Real Alcázar photo via Noches en los jardines del Real Alcázar.

The Happenings List

Our curated list of upcoming festivals, workshops, shows, and other goings-on for makers and explorers – March through May 2017 (and beyond)! If you go to something from one of our Happenings Lists, please tell us all about it!

Read on for events in Italy, New Zealand, and the U.S.: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Asterisked (**) items link to related posts on Travelcraft Journal.

+Alaska

Alaska’s Reverse Dog Sled Race

Mar 18, 10am
Kincaid Park, Anchorage
Human-powered dog sled style race to benefit the UN Refugee Agency. Online donations accepted.

• Register by March 1.

+Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum

• Now – Mar 12. Horacio Zabala: Mapping the Monochrome.
• Now – Apr 9. INFOCUS: Juried Exhibition of Self-Published Photobooks.

**Opening night of the Kehinde Wiley exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series

Now – Mar 23, Thursdays at 12:30pm
Wells Fargo Garden performance area at Mesa Arts Center

Free outdoor concerts at lunchtime. Pack a picnic or purchase food on-site.

Field to Feast Tour

Mar 1, 2, 4
8am
Visitor Information Center at Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park (201 N. 4th Ave., Yuma)
Half-day farm tour. Hands-on harvesting instruction from a local grower followed by lunch made from the produce you picked. Includes transportation, some veggies to take home, and the field-fresh lunch. Tickets $50.
**Exploring Yuma and its agriculture.

Savor Yuma

Mar 2, 14, 30
5pm
Yuma Visitors Bureau admin office (180 W. 1st Street, Yuma)
Progressive dinner tour. Visit three different restaurants and enjoy a multi-course meal. Price includes meal, two adult beverages, and transportation. Tickets $55.

Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention

Mar 3-5
Old Tucson
Steampunk convention with contests, panels and workshops, fashion show, vehicle exhibition, vendors, entertainment and rides, tea dueling, artists, authors, performers, and Cthulhu running for president. Tickets: 1-day $41, full event $55-125.

Performances at the Museum

Tempe History Museum
Free evening concerts at the Tempe History Museum, next to the Tempe Library.

• Mar 3, 7pm. Charlie King (folk music, political satire).
• Mar 11, 5pm. LOUD VI outdoor concert with (loud) bands Dead Hot Workshop, Japhy’s Descent, and Young’s Modulus; arts and crafts; and food trucks, including Burgers Amore.
• Apr 7, 7pm. Driftwood Quintet (cross-genre chamber group).
• Apr 22, 7pm. The Senators (electric folk).
• May 6, 7pm. Decker (Sedona-based singer/songwriter).
• May 19, 7pm. Sugar Thieves (blues roots).

Riders of the Purple Sage Opera

Mar 3, 4, 5
Phoenix Symphony Hall
Zane Grey’s novel transformed into Arizona Opera’s first-ever world premiere production. Tickets $25-155.
**Lunch Hour Opera.

McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Mar 3-5
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
Music festival featuring headliners Flume, The Shins, Chromeo, and Grouplove, as well as local artists like Bear Ghost, CooBee Coo and RUCA. 100% of the proceeds go to local nonprofits Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation and UMOM New Day Center. Tickets: 1-day $40-170, full event $80-510. Service charges: $15-25/ticket.

**Pizza Festival At Hance Park.

Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market

Mar 4-5
Heard Museum, Phoenix 
Market and juried show of the work of over 600 Native artists. General admission $20, deluxe 2-day pass $125.

• Artist demonstrations of weaving, carving, and jewelry-making.
• Cultural performances, including traditional dance, flute concerts, and storytelling.

Tres Rios Nature Festival

Mar 4-5
Base Meridian wildlife area (north of Phoenix International Raceway)
Outdoor festival showcasing wildlife, history and culture where the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria Rivers meet. Activities include guided bird watching tours, canoeing, archery, fishing, concerts and dance performances, beer garden, and recycling fashion show. Free.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Events

• Mar 4. Gardening Workshop with Pinal Master Gardeners (“Out of Africa”): Learn to identify aloes and other plants around the Arboretum that have come from Africa on this “botanical safari.” Arbotetum admission required.
• Mar 4. Thunder Gourd Craft Class: Turn a gourd into a percussion instrument that makes a thunder-like noise when shaken. Previous basic gourd art class recommended. To enroll, call 520.689.2723. Fee $67.50.
• Mar 5 + Apr 8. Basic Gourd Art Class: Beginners learn gourd cleaning and preparation, design drawing, wood-burning and applying color. To enroll, call 520.689.2723. Fee $52.50.
• Mar 10-26. Spring Plant Sale: Trees, shrubs, herbs, flowers, cacti and succulents for sale to raise money for the Arboretum.
• Mar 12 + Apr 1. Paint + Wine Class with Carla Keaton: Paint a simplified scene from the Arboretum. Includes use of art supplies. Fee $45.
• Apr 1. Gardening Workshop with Pinal Master Gardeners (“Going Vertical”): Tips and tricks for growing flowering vines in your desert garden. Arbotetum admission required.

**Australia Day event at the Arboretum.

Southwest Maker Fest

Mar 11, 12pm
Downtown Mesa
Collaborative, one-day festival of makers seeking to achieve the vision of a connected community, empowered by creativity. Free.

• Upcycled Journal Workshop – 4pm at i.d.e.a. Museum

**My travel journal workshop at SWMF.

CraftHack

2nd Mondays, 6pm
Gangplank Chandler
Free monthly meet-up of artists and crafters. Learn something new or bring your own project to work on!
Upcoming dates:

• Mar 13.
• Apr 10.
• May 8.

Art Detour 29

March 16-19, 2017
Downtown Phoenix

• March 16, 5pm. Art D’Core Gala.
• March 17, 6pm. Pre-Detour Third Friday.
• March 18-19. Art Detour! Studio and art space tours.

MCAS Yuma Airshow

Mar 17-18
Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma
Airshow featuring both military and civilian demonstrations, including the Patriots Jet Team, the Misty Blues All Women Skydiving Team, and the Wall of Fire, which is planning to break a Guinness World Record. Free general admission, VIP Seating + Parking available.
**Staying and sightseeing near MCAS Yuma.

Phoenix Film Festival

Apr 6-13
Harkins Scottsdale/101 Theatre, Scottsdale

The biggest film festival in Arizona. 175 films plus filmmaking seminars and parties.

The Lantern Fest – Phoenix Spring

Apr 8, 2pm
Schnepf Farms, Queen Creek
Write your hopes on a lantern to be released with thousands of others after dark. The afternoon will include live music, stage show, food, and face painters. Adult pass $25-55/person – includes admission, lantern, marker, lighter, and s’mores kit. Kid pass $7/person aged 4-12  – includes admission and small gift. Parking $10/vehicle.

Tunes & Tacos Festival

Apr 14-15
Yuma
Competition, carnival, concert, and tequila tastings.

• Apr 14, 6pm. People’s Choice Salsa Queen Competition & Kickoff Party at Yuma Civic Center with art on display and dance performance. Free admission and salsa tasting.
• Apr 15, 11am. Festival at Desert Sun Stadium. Over 50 local food vendors with carne asada, chicken, pork, and seafood tacos, empanadas, barbecue, fresh roasted corn, margaritas, and fresh squeezed lemonade for sale.

Caped Crusaders + Everyday Heroes

Now – May 28
i.d.e.a. Museum, Mesa
Hero-themed works by more than 15 national and international artists. Included with museum admission.

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey

Now – May 29
Arizona Science Center, Phoenix
Immersive shark experience in a walk-through, multi-sensory cinematic gallery with shark models cast from real animals, a collection of real teeth and jaws, and rare fossils. Adult tickets $12 plus museum admission.

ARTbeat 10

Apr 22, 4pm
Historic Downtown Yuma
Award-winning juried fine arts festival with local and regional artists – celebrating its 10th anniversary this year!

Agave Heritage Festival

Apr 28 – May 7
Downtown Tucson
A weeklong celebration of the agave plant that includes culinary events, art, music, garden tours, and seminars.

Sedona Open Studios Tour

Apr 28-30
Sedona
Free self-guided tour of working artists’ studios in the Verde Valley.
**Open studio tour in Cave Creek.

Free Comic Book Day on Main Street

May 6, 10am
Gotham City Comics and Coffee and Downtown Mesa
Businesses throughout Downtown Mesa will have over 500 comic books to give away. There will also be live music, a cosplay contest, a scavenger hunt, and the chance to meet national and local comic book artists. Maps of participating businesses will be available at Gotham City Comics and Coffee. Free.

Drawn to Comics Free Comic Book Day Festival

May 6, 9am
Drawn to Comics + American Legion Hall, Glendale
With booths and appearances by comic book artists and booths from groups like Arizona Autobots and Comicare.

• Festival at American Legion Hall 9am-2pm.
• In-store event 9am-8pm.

**Glendale for geeks.

Verde Valley Wine Festival

May 13-14
Clarkdale Town Park, Clarkdale
Northern Arizona festival with wine, beer, spirits, food, live music, and art. Tickets $35-185.

Phoenix Comicon

May 25-28
Phoenix Convention Center
Pop culture convention featuring actors, top comic book writers and artists, programming, and vendors. Full event passes $65 through April 30.

**Phoenix Comicon 2016.

+California

All In: ArtSpan’s Studio Residency exhibit

Now – Mar 28
Hotel Triton, San Francisco
Joint exhibition by artists participating in ArtSpan’s Studio Residency program.

Martial Spirit: a celebration of martial arts

Now – Apr 29
Chinese Culture Center Visual Art Center, San Francisco
Exhibition by Justin Hoover of martial arts practices transformed into conceptual artworks. Free.

**Local Art Loves.

Craftcation

Apr 27-30
Ventura Beach Marriott, Ventura
Business + makers conference with creative business classes and hands-on craft + food workshops.

+Colorado

“Bluegrass Mass” Featuring Rapid Grass

Mar 18 + 19
First United Methodist Church, Boulder
The music of the Rapid Grass Bluegrass Band combined with a new kind of choral mass. Tickets $20.

• Pre-Concert Talk by Bluegrass Historian Kevin Slick, 30 minutes before showtime.

Spring Plant Sale

May 12-13, 8am
Denver Botanic Garden (York Street)
Browse a selection of plants grown in the Gardens, as well as aquatic plants, edible plants (fruit, berries, veggies, herbs), houseplants, succulents, roses, annuals, summer bulbs, and water-smart varieties. Plant experts will be on hand to answer questions. Free admission to Plant Sale and Gardens.

**Denver Botanic Garden.

+Florida

Art of Living: Paintings, Drawings, and Ceramics of Sean Sexton

Now – Mar 15
Seminole State College Fine Arts Gallery
Paintings, drawings, and ceramics inspired by artist and third-generation cattle-rancher Sean Sexton’s lifestyle and connection to the land.

Frida Kahlo at The Dali

Now – Apr 17
The Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg
Exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s paintings, drawings, and personal photographs. Included with museum admisssion ($24).

• Outdoor collection of flowers and plants like the ones in Kahlo’s garden at Casa Azul.
• Mar 1, 10:30am. Coffee with a Curator: Frida Kahlo’s Legacy + Art History Gender Studies talk. Parking $10.

Poetry at The Dali

Apr 13 + May 11
The Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Poet Laureate, Helen Wallace joined by selected poets to present poems addressing the theme of Food and Sustenance. Following the presentation, there will be an audience Q&A.

Star Wars Celebration Orlando

Apr 13-16
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
Star Wars fan convention with panels, art show, and cosplay contest. Single day passes $65-75.
**Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim 2015.

#BlogHer17

June 22-24
Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orlando
Annual conference for online content creators. Blogger/influencer passes $399.

+Indiana

Indiana State Park Craft and Nature Events

• Mar 4, 1pm. Prophetstown State Park: Stepping Stone Workshop.
• Mar 18, 1pm. Prophetstown State Park: Walking Stick Workshop.
• Mar 27, 11am. Paynetown SRA (Monroe Lake): Lunch with Nature: Nesting.
• Apr 1, 1pm. Mounds State Park: Poetry for the People and by the People.
• Apr 3-8. Versailles State Park: Art in Nature Classes (including grapevine wreaths, water colors, woodturning, jewelry making)
• May 4-7. Indiana Dunes SP: Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.
• May 6, 9am. Brown County State Park: Arts in the Parks: Amy Greely- Forest Understory.

**Mounds State Park.

+Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions

• Now – Apr 9. Massed Media: Works made by massing multiple components into a cohesive whole.
• Now – Jun 18. Make Way for Ducklings: The art of author and illustrator Robert McCloskey, in honor of the 75th anniversary of his book Make Way for Ducklings.

Japanese Calligraphy with Michiko Imai

Mar 12 + 15
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
See an artist demonstration of Japanese calligraphy styles and techniques, then try it yourself! Create a small calligraphy work to take home with you.

Boston Pops

Symphony Hall, Boston

• May 31 + Jun 1. John Williams’ Film Night: Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams and Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart conduct a concert of movie music. Tickets $36 – $122.
• June 2 + 3. Cirque de la Symphonie: live orchestral music plays while aerial flyers, acrobats, dancers, and jugglers perform. Tickets $29 – $93.

**Star Wars music at Phoenix Symphony Hall.

+Nevada

In Transition: Female Figurines from the Braunstein Collection

Now – Mar 30, 2017
Barrick Museum at UNLV, Las Vegas
Female figurines from the pre-Hispanic era cultures of Mesoamerica, South America, and Central America. Free ($5 suggested donation).
**Our visits to the Barrick Museum, Downtown Container Park, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and other Las Vegas sights.

Red Rock Wildlife Art Workshop

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas
Materials provided. Ages 13+. Registration is required – (702) 515-5367.

• Mar 10. Geology of Red Rock: Explore Red Rock Overlook and have a lesson in landscape painting.

Glass Craft & Bead Expo

Mar 29 – Apr 2
South Point Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
Classes, exhibits, glass cutting contest, and charity auction. The Gathering, conference of International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), will be held in conjunction with the Expo.

Biddin’ for Bottles

Apr 1, 6pm
DragonRidge Country Club, main ballroom, Henderson
Blind wine tasting and auction to benefit Leadership Henderson and Henderson Community Foundation.

+New York

Unwritten Rules Cannot Be Broken: Tea Gatherings

Mar 1 + 8
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Participatory installation that invites visitors to converse and contemplate calligraphy over a cup of tea prepared and served by local tea brewers. Included with museum admission.

MoCCA Arts Festival

Apr 1-2
Metropolitan West, Manhattan
Independent comics, cartoon and animation festival, which is part of The Society of Illustrators’ mission to promote all genres of illustration through exhibitions and art education. Artists display their work, speak on their creative processes, and conduct workshops. There are also lectures and film screenings. Tickets $5/day.

Rochester International Film Festival

Apr 20-22
Dryden Theatre, Rochester
The world’s oldest continuously-held short film festival. Free (donations accepted).

+Ohio

Arc of Appalachia Wildflower Pilgrimage

April 13-15
Highlands Nature Sanctuary, Bainbridge, Ohio.
Hikes to wildflower displays and talks by naturalists. Tickets $135/person for the Pilgrimage; $185/person for Photography Workshop.

+Pennsylvania

The Art Dept community programming

Philadelphia

• Mar 3-31. Dese’rae L. Stage: Live Through This: Exhibition of portraits and true stories of suicide attempt survivors. Opening reception Mar 3, 6pm.
• Mar 29, 6:30pm. Drawing Club: Open figure drawing session for all skill levels. A live model will do several poses. Purchase supplies on-site or bring your own. $15 fee includes beer and wine.

MF@40: A Walk Through the Archives

Mar 16, 6pm

Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh 

Celebrate 40 years of installation art with the Mattress Factory! An evening of guided tours of rarely-seen archival materials, such as artists’ sketches, curator’s notes, and installation models, as well as drinks, appetizers, and after-hours gallery access. Tickets $15.

+Tennessee

Annual Spring Tennessee Craft Fair

May 5-7
Nashville’s Parthenon in Centennial Park
Outdoor art event featuring work from 195 juried artists.

+Virginia

Virginia Festival of the Book

Mar 22-26
Various locations in Charlottesville/Albemarle County
A week of readings and discussions, book signings, film screenings, and performances.
**3 Sides of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tom Tom Founders Festival

April 10-16
Downtown Charlottesville
Community-led festival with concerts, competitions, talks, workshops, local food, and public art.

INTERNATIONAL

+Italy

La Tavola Marche Inn and Cooking School

Le Marche

• Apr 24-29. Cooking with Spring’s Wild Edibles & Bottling Wine. 600 Euro/person.
• May 16-21. Made in Le Marche: D.O.C. Wine Tour, Artisan Meat & Cheese Market Trip, Craft Beer Tasting & 3 Cooking Classes. 928 Euro/person.

Venice Biennale

May 13 – Nov 26
Giardini and Arsenale, Venice
“Viva Arte Viva” – International exhibition of visual art, theater, architecture, music, dance, and film. Full regular tickets €25.

• Jun 23 – Jul 1. International Festival of Contemporary Dance.
• Jul 25 – Aug 12. International Theatre Festival.
• Aug 30 – Sep 9. Venice International Film Festival.
• Sep 29 – Oct 8. International Festival of Contemporary Music.

+New Zealand

Newtown Festival Street Fair Day

Mar 5
Riddiford Street, Newtown
New Zealand’s largest free music festival and fair with 12 stages and over 400 vendor stalls.

Wellington Wine, Food and Craft Beer Festival

Mar 10-11
Waitangi Park, Wellington
Showcase of local restaurants, wineries, craft breweries and beverages, and live music. Session tickets $27.50-50.

Bringing Back the Forest: Walk and Talk 

Mar 12
ZEALANDIA Eco-Sanctuary, Karori
Parks Week walk and talk about the reforestation of the Wellington hills. Learn to identify the trees being planted and the challenges of the project. Park admission $18.50.

Otaki Kite Festival

Mar 25-26
Otaki Beach
Bring (or buy) your own kite to fly and watch Japanese Rokkaku fighting kite battles and stunt kite flying demonstrations on the beach, as well as live performances on stage. Free.

While I’ve done my best to be accurate, sometimes things change or weren’t listed correctly in the first place. Also, I choose events that seem fun, unique, and like something you’d be interested in, but your mileage may vary. I may not endorse everything connected with a particular event, organization, venue, etc. So consider this your starting point, double check the details, and then venture forth!

Images:

• Alaska’s Reverse Dog Sled Race.
• California photo via McKinley Art Solutions.
• Massachusetts photo via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• New York photo via Guggenheim blog
• Nashville photo by Michelle.
• Italy photo via La Biennale di Venezia – 15th International Architecture Exhibition / Arsenale.
  
• New Zealand photo via Otaki Kite Festival.

The Happenings List

This is our handpicked list of upcoming events, starting January 2017, for makers and explorers. While I’ve done my best to be accurate, sometimes things change or aren’t listed correctly. So consider this your starting point, double check the details, and then venture forth and tell us all about it!

Asterisked (**) items link to related posts on Travelcraft Journal.

+Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum

• Now – Mar 12. Horacio Zabala: Mapping the Monochrome.
• Now – Apr 9. INFOCUS: Juried Exhibition of Self-Published Photobooks.

**Opening night of the Kehinde Wiley exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Picket Post Mansion Tour

Jan 7-8
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
Rare opportunity to walk through Colonel William Boyce Thompson’s mansion on the cliffs overlooking the Arboretum. Tours were last offered in 2011! Purchase tickets at the Arboretum gift shop on the day of the tour – they will not be sold in advance. Tour tickets $20 plus Arbotetum admission.
**Australia Day at the Arboretum.

New Year Canoe Trip

Jan 7, 12pm
West Wetlands Park, Yuma
Afternoon canoe trip with guided tour. Ages 6+. Call Parks and Recreation at (928) 373-5200 to register. Fee $20.

CraftHack

2nd Mondays, 6pm
Gangplank Chandler
Free monthly meet-up of artists and crafters. Learn something new or bring your own project to work on!
Upcoming dates:

• Jan 9. Learning Emboss Resist Stamping.
• Feb 13. Stitched Paper Hearts.

Field to Feast Tour

Jan 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 25
Feb 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 18
Mar 1, 2, 4
8am
Visitor Information Center at Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park (201 N. 4th Ave., Yuma)
Half-day farm tour. Hands-on harvesting instruction from a local grower followed by lunch made from the produce you picked. Includes transportation, some veggies to take home, and the field-fresh lunch. Tickets $50.
**Exploring Yuma and its agriculture.

Star Wars: The Music

Jan 13, 7:30pm
Phoenix Symphony Hall
The Phoenix Symphony performs music from the Star Wars saga, including The Force Awakens. Tickets $25-83.
**Star Wars and Star Trek Music at the Phoenix Symphony.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Art Classes

• Jan 14, 12pm. Smart Phone Photography with Lisa Langell: Learn how to take better photos with your phone by going beyond basic settings, improving your composition, and editing pictures right on your phone! Fee $40 plus Arbotetum admission.
• Feb 11. Paint + Wine Class with Carla Keaton: Paint a simplified scene from the Arboretum. Includes use of art supplies. Fee $35-45 plus Arbotetum admission.

Savor Yuma

Jan 17
Feb 7, 23
Mar 2, 14, 30
5pm
Yuma Visitors Bureau admin office (180 W. 1st Street, Yuma)
Progressive dinner tour. Visit three different restaurants and enjoy a multi-course meal. Price includes meal, two adult beverages, and transportation. Tickets $55.

Arizona Game Fair

Jan 21-22
Mesa Convention Center
Tabletop gaming convention. Open gaming (with a library of board and card games available), vendors, events, and game industry guests. Full event badge $30.
**Community garden in Downtown Mesa.

Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival

Jan 26-28
Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Admission $10 or $9 with online coupon (printable PDF).
**The 2016 Festival in Phoenix.

32nd Annual Historic Florence Home Tour

Feb 11, 10am
Downtown Florence
Tour of 17 homes and historical structures and see performances by the community.
**More to see in Florence, Arizona.

World Championship Hoop Dance Contest

Feb 11-12
Heard Museum, Phoenix
2-day competition of intricate dances with up to 50 hoops, based on traditional intertribal hoop dance. Tickets $18 (includes museum admission).

Festival Luna Llena – Art Music Love at the Garden

Feb 11, 7pm
Mesa Urban Garden, Downtown Mesa
Full Moon Festival with live music, art by local artists, telescope viewing, and origami paper lantern group craft project. Partial proceeds from the sale of artists’ work and raffle tickets benefit the garden!

**Mesa Urban Garden.

Cellar 433 Valentine’s Chocolate & Wine Event

Feb 11, 7pm
Cellar 433, Jerome
Live music and tasting of Arizona-made ports, wines, chocolate creations, fondue, and cheeses. Shuttle provided to and from Cottonwood-area hotels with advance registration. Tickets: $60.

Art in the Park

Feb 12, 12pm
Gateway Park, Yuma
Fine arts festival alongside the banks of the Colorado River, a la A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Wander through art displays with a glass of wine or a mimosa. Free admission.

Arizona Cocktail Week

Feb 17-24
Phoenix area and Tucson
Celebration of the craft of the cocktail, including parties, spirit tastings, educational seminars, cocktail competitions, and drink specials. Passes $25-550.

Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention

Mar 3-5
Old Tucson

Steampunk convention with contests, panels and workshops, fashion show, vehicle exhibition, vendors, entertainment and rides, tea dueling, artists, authors, performers, and Cthulhu running for president. Tickets: 1-day $41, full event $55-125.

McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Mar 3-5
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix
Music festival featuring headliners Flume, The Shins, Chromeo, and Grouplove, as well as local artists like Bear Ghost, CooBee Coo and RUCA. 100% of the proceeds go to local nonprofits Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation and UMOM New Day Center. Tickets: 1-day $40-170, full event $80-510. Service charges: $15-25/ticket.

Southwest Maker Fest

Mar 11, 12pm
Downtown Mesa

Collaborative, one-day festival of makers seeking to achieve the vision of a connected community, empowered by creativity.

**My travel journal workshop at SWMF.

Art Detour 29

March 16-19, 2017
Downtown Phoenix

• March 16, 5pm. Art D’Core Gala.
• March 17, 6pm. Pre-Detour Third Friday.
• March 18-19. Art Detour! Studio and art space tours.

MCAS Yuma Airshow

Mar 17-18
Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma
Airshow featuring both military and civilian demonstrations, including the Patriots Jet Team, the Misty Blues All Women Skydiving Team, and the famous Wall of Fire, which is planning to break a Guinness World Record. Ticket prices TBA.
**Staying and sightseeing near MCAS Yuma.

Phoenix Comicon

May 25-28
Phoenix Convention Center
Pop culture convention featuring actors, top comic book writers and artists, programming, and vendors. Full event passes $55 through January 31.
**Phoenix Comicon 2016.

+Florida

#BlogHer17

June 22-24
Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orlando
Annual conference for online content creators. Early bird blogger/influencer passes $249.

+Nevada

In Transition: Female Figurines from the Braunstein Collection

Now – Mar 30, 2017
Barrick Museum at UNLV, Las Vegas
Female figurines from the pre-Hispanic era cultures of Mesoamerica, South America, and Central America. Free ($5 suggested donation).
**Our visits to the Barrick Museum, Downtown Container Park, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and other Las Vegas sights.

Las Vegas Spring Festival

Jan 28, 11am
Downtown Las Vegas and Container Park
Chinese New Year Parade and Party with community cultural performances and concerts.

Red Rock Wildlife Art Workshop

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas
Materials provided. Ages 13+. Registration is required – (702) 515-5367.

• Jan 30. White-crowned Sparrow: Walk around the visitor center followed by watercolor session.
• Mar 10. Geology of Red Rock: Explore Red Rock Overlook and have a lesson in landscape painting.

+Virginia

Virginia Festival of the Book

Mar 22-26
Various locations in Charlottesville/Albemarle County
A week of readings and discussions, book signings, film screenings, and performances.
**3 Sides of Charlottesville, Virginia.

INTERNATIONAL

+France

Paris Déco Off

Jan 19-23

Paris

Home decor companies open up their Paris showrooms to the public and interior designers to debut new collections. Linen Lux 2017 lamps will be on display, as well.

**Make your own miniature version of the Linen Lux lamps.

+Italy

Carnival of Venice

Feb 11-28

St. Mark’s Square, Venice

Two weeks of pre-Lenten celebrations with revelers in elaborate masks and costumes.

Virginia Festival of the Book logo via Virginia Festival of the Book. France photo via Fat Tire Paris.