As the fall weather approaches, so does Arizona’s festival/getting-outside season. And it’s great to see how many events are re-emerging after being on hold last year!
A few things to know about this season’s Happenings List:
- Goodies: Free and discounted extras are asterisked (*).
- All the cities mentioned are in Arizona, however…
- You’ll also see ways to join in from ANYWHERE!
Happenings List
Following the Stars
now – Sep 30 / Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Museum, Tubac / Included with admission: $7, Youth (7-13): $2
Exhibition of works in diverse media – printmaking, painting, photography, glass art – inspired by Arizona’s magnificent night sky. A percentage of artwork sales will benefit the Presidio, which was the first State Park in Arizona.
Mt. Lemmon Artisan Market
now – Oct / next to the General Store, Summerhaven / Free admission.
Outdoor market with local artisan vendors in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon (north of Tucson), Saturdays and Sundays through October.
- SN: We stopped by the market this past weekend. There were maybe 15 booths with all kinds of unique gifty things – woodworking, jewelry, candles, photography, etc. Plus, a coffee and kettle corn food truck that smelled delicious!
- Market benefits Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank.
ANYWHERE: You can also donate directly to Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank.
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).
- *Free admission for Museum Day with advance registration.
*ANYWHERE: Digital jigsaw puzzles of postcards and other images from the Arizona Historical Society archives.
All Souls Procession Workshops
Sep – Nov / Tucson / Free.
Art workshops in preparation for All Souls Procession Weekend (11/5-11/7) happen throughout September and October. Details are still being finalized for several of these, so watch their site and Facebook page for details.
- Mask and Puppetry Craft with Red Herring Puppet Company: Oct 3, 10, 17, 24 at MSA Annex.
- Broken Heart Workshop with Nadia Hagen at East Hive Tucson (schedule TBA). A crafty experiential opportunity to grapple with heartfelt emotions while getting your hands dirty.
- OBON Drum and Dance Workshops with Odaiko Sonora by Rhythm Industry (schedule TBA). Learn the traditional Japanese arts of dance, drumming, and chant.
ANYWHERE: You can participate in the Ancestors Project by submitting a photo of a loved one you wish to be memorialized during the Finale Ceremony of the Procession.
Quilt, Craft, Sew Festival
Sep 2 – Sep 4 / WestWorld, Scottsdale / $12 for all 3 days
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations.
- You can now buy tickets online and enter door prize drawings in advance.
- *$2 off admission online OR bring a printed coupon to the ticket booth.
ANYWHERE: You can shop featured festival vendors in the online Quilt-Craft-Sew Mall.
Sonoran Restaurant Week
Sep 10 – Sep 19 / Tucson
A week (plus) when Tucson-area restaurants offer special prix fixe menus for $25 or $35. This year 50 locally-owned eateries are participating!
- Sonoran Sip Room: Sep 9-11 + 16-18 in the Hotel Congress. Pop-up tasting lounge with a rotating selection of regional wines, agave spirits, and local craft beer.
- Part of the proceeds benefit San Xavier Co-op Farm, which is a cooperative of Tohono O’odham landowners committed to using healthy farming practices to grow traditional crops.
- Since Museum Day happens during Sonoran Restaurant Week, you could (for example) visit the Desert Art Museum and then go across the street for dinner at Renee’s (reservations required). Or check out the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum – both Blanco and North Italia are about 5 minutes away.
ANYWHERE in the U.S.: You can order products from the San Xavier Cooperative Farm’s online shop.
ASU Jazz Ensemble Concert
Sep 10, 7pm / Tempe History Museum, Tempe / Free.
The Natalie Gallatin Quartet will perform, followed by a Q+A session with the band.
- Limited seating, masks required.
- *Admission to Tempe History Museum is always free, and they’re also participating in Museum Day.
*ANYWHERE: You can see Natalie Gallatin’s Master’s recital on YouTube.
How to Eat Weeds
Sep 11, 8-10am / Mission Garden, Tucson / $35 per person.
Guided walk through the garden to see and taste edible weeds, followed by a presentation on incorporating these healthy (and free) plants into your diet.
- Samples of mallow chips and purslane pickles will be provided.
- Masks required while indoors.
Museum Day
Sep 18 / U.S. / Free.
Many U.S. museums are offering free admission on September 18, as part of Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day. You need to reserve tickets in advance by choosing a participating museum from the list on their site, and then hit the “get a ticket” button to sign up with your email address. You’ll receive free general admission (good for 2 people)!
- While admission is free, museums may have a place for optional donations.
- Some of my previous picks aren’t participating this year, so watch for an updated list!
*ANYWHERE: Check out this list of 50 museums that have virtual tours!
Jerome Indie Film + Music Festival
Sep 23 – Sep 26 / Jerome / Day Pass $75.
Festival that screens independent films in unconventional locations throughout the mountainside ghost town of Jerome. Past venues have included a train, a haunted gold mine, wineries, hilltop residences, and the basement hallway of a hundred year-old high school.
- *Jerome’s Haunted Hamburger has nightly specials from 5-9pm, including $2 margaritas on Mondays and half-price burgers on Wednesdays.
Slow Art
Sep 23, Oct 28, 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.
- H/T Downtown Phoenix Inc.
MSA Summer Night Market
Sep 24, 6-10pm / MSA Annex, Tucson / Free admission.
MSA Annex shops stay open late, joined by over 40 local vendors, the last Friday of the month, May through September.
- Read about the Night Market I went to earlier this summer!
Oro Valley Fall Artisan Market
Oct 2 – Oct 3 / Oro Valley Marketplace, Oro Valley / Free admission + parking.
Outdoor market with a curated selection of artisan fashion, food, home goods, and visual art sold directly by local makers. Entertainment will include pop-up music performances and grab-and-go art activities.
- Food trucks.
- Dogs on leashes are allowed!
ANYWHERE: Follow the market’s featured artists and visit their online shops.
Tucson Meet Yourself
Oct 8 – Oct 10 / Jacome Plaza, Tucson / Free admission.
Annual celebration of the folk arts of the Sonoran region. It features artisans, home cooks, dancers, musicians and special exhibits from Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. This year’s “Reconnect” themed event will be slightly smaller and centered on education.
*ANYWHERE: Watch performances and panels from last year’s virtual edition of Tucson Meet Yourself.
Sky Islands Artisan Market
Oct 9 – Oct 10 / Patagonia Town Park, Patagonia / Free admission.
Formerly known as the Patagonia Fall Festival, the 2021 market will focus on bolstering small businesses, wineries, shops, and restaurants throughout the entire Sky Islands region (particularly the communities of Patagonia, Sonoita, and Elgin). While capacity will be reduced, there will still be up to 90 artisans, food vendors, and exhibitors, as well as live music, entertainment, and an animal experience with Double G Alpacas.
*ANYWHERE: Watch the birds at The Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia.
Art in Unexpected Places Festival
Nov 5 – Nov 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.
Phoenix Pizza Festival
Nov 13 – Nov 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.)
- The event benefits Downtown Phoenix, Inc.
- We went to the Phoenix Pizza Festival a few years ago. Something about pizza seems to put people in celebratory – sometimes silly – mood!
Have you gone to any of these Happenings? What are you making and doing this season?
Here’s one more goodie for you….
*ANYWHERE: Free “Hello Pumpkin” printable by House Fenway! Make it into a card or use it as part of a fall decor project.
Happenings on this list are handpicked by me. List items are not ads – just stuff that sounded neat!
