Happy Fall! Or should I say “happy last-gasp-of-summer”!?
Even if it doesn’t feel like autumn, we’re heading into September and October, and fall things are going on!
So here’s the current Happenings List, my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
- *Goodies: The List is peppered with extras, freebies, and discounts! Just look for the asterisks (*).
- While the in-person events are pretty much all in Arizona, you can skip down to the last section for Happenings and Goodies you can enjoy from virtually ANYWHERE!
- I link to artists’ Etsy sites and may earn a small commission if you click through and purchase something. But no one has paid to be included in the List.
- What Happenings on the List have you gone to? I’d love to hear about it! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
The Happenings List
– Central Arizona –
Picturing Resistance + With These Hands: Duel Documentary Photography Exhibitions
now – September 30 / Gallery 4 at HD South, Gilbert Historical Museum, Gilbert / Included with admission.
Photography exhibitions inspired by two books by Ken Light, a documentary photographer and UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism professor.
- With These Hands: A collection of Ken Light’s images of undocumented migrant children working in oppressive conditions on farms throughout the United States.
- Picturing Resistance: Images from marches, protests, rallies, and demonstrations, showing people in the public view voicing their passion for change. Public protests embody dissent and express the urgency for policy change.
- ANYWHERE: See select pieces from Gallery 4 exhibitions.
Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael: Carving Artist
September 1, 4-8pm / Heard Museum, Phoenix / Free.
Grand opening and U.S. debut of the Early Days exhibition, a survey of Canadian Indigenous art from coast-to-coast-to-coast and from historical to contemporary pieces. Artist James Johnson (Tlingit) from Southeast Alaska will be demonstrating centuries-old carving techniques and sharing his approach to art.
Organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in collaboration with Indigenous scholars, artists, and traditional knowledge keepers, the exhibition will be at the Heard through the end of the year.
- 6pm: Artist talk with James Johnson about his perspectives on key pieces from the exhibition.
- As part of First Friday, the museum, Café, and Cantina are open late.
- Sept. 1, 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024: The exhibition will be at the museum through the end of the year.
- *During regular admission times at the Heard, you can save 10% by purchasing online tickets in advance.
- *ANYWHERE: James Johnson talks about the ways he is continuing Tlingit carving traditions (on Vimeo).
Creative Saturday: Fireflies
September 9, 10am-2pm / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / Included with admission.
Re-opening of Yayoi Kusama’s interactive infinity mirror room installation, “You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies” (2005). This special Fireflies-themed Creative Saturday features art programming, workshops, and specialty food and beverages.
- *Save 10% on PhxArt memberships if you purchase by September 6 + use code FIREFLIES10. As a bonus, you’ll get admission to member preview days to see Fireflies before it re-opens to the public!
Ryan’s Case for Smiles Sew Day: Sew Helpful
September 22, 10am-2pm / A Quilter’s Oasis, Mesa / Free.
Join other crafters in sewing bright and cheerful pillowcases for children in 5 local hospitals. You can stay and sew all day or as long as you wish.
- There’s no fee to participate.
- Pre-register (required) online or by calling the store (480-354-4077).
- Kits will be available.
- Pillowcases will be distributed by Ryan’s Case for Smiles, Phoenix Chapter.
Ballet Under the Stars: Dancing the Night Away
September 23-30, 7pm / Fountain Hills, Glendale, Goodyear, Phoenix / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Ballet on an outdoor stage with lighting and costumes! These performances kick off Ballet Arizona’s 2023-2024 season. Dancers perform excerpts from both contemporary and classical ballets, so you get a preview of what’s ahead.
- Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
- Go early to save your spot and watch the dancers warm-up against the backdrop of an Arizona sunset!
- *If you go to Fountain Hills, you can take a self-guided art walk tour before the performance. There are 35 pieces in Fountain Park alone! (PDF map)
- Related: Why free, outdoor performances are great!
Performance dates:
- Sept. 23 – Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park, Glendale
- Sept. 28 – Fountain Park, Fountain Hills
- Sept. 29 – Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear
- Sept. 30 – Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
Cine Cubano: Cuba-Centric Film Series
September 27 + October 11, 6pm / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / Tickets $8.
The last half of a four-film series celebrating Cuba’s complex history, which provides deeper context for the museum’s current exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América (which runs until 9/17). Each monthly screening will be on a Wednesday at 6pm in Whiteman Hall on the first floor of the Phoenix Art Museum.
- The special-engagement Juan Francisco Elso exhibition is in the Steele Gallery and requires a $6 ticket for adults (youth 17 and under are free)!
- *Enjoy free general admission to the museum before the films (starting at 3pm), because all 4 screenings take place during Pay-What-You-Wish-Admission evenings!
- Read about a film costume exhibit we saw at Phoenix Art Museum.
Hop Around the Valley: Quilt Stores Cut Loose
October 6-14 / Quilt shops throughout the Phoenix area, Phoenix / Passports $10
The Hop Around the Valley: Maricopa County Shop Association Shop Hop is a 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 at any of the participating shops.
- Related story: My mom and I went on a fact-finding mission to get the dirt on this Hop Around the Valley!
– Northern Arizona –
Art with Nature in Mind: Organic Assemblages
Now – September 14 / ‘Tis Art Center in the Mezzanine Gallery, Prescott
Exhibition of ceramic and mixed media sculptural works by Denise Incao. She creates her art using a spontaneous process, drawing inspiration from nature and her past travels.
- *ANYWHERE: ‘Tis Art Center virtual gallery tour
- *SECRETS: Guide to Prescott’s public art that includes a map to public art sites in Prescott, photos, and historical facts about each piece. It’s available at ‘Tis for a suggested donation of $3.
- H/T Experience Prescott
Music on the Square: Flagstaff Summer Concerts
now – September 29 / Heritage Square, Flagstaff / Free.
Free concerts in Heritage Square all summer long! Follow Downtown Flagstaff on Instagram and Facebook for details and updates.
- Thursdays 5-7pm: Jazz, blues and funk.
- Fridays 6-8pm: Local bands in the evening.
- Sundays 12-2pm: Local bands at lunchtime.
Faire on the Square: Prescott Arts + Crafts Show
September 2-4 / Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, Prescott / Free.
Art festival on the lawn of Prescott’s town square with artwork, crafts, and food vendors. Old West re-enactment group the Prescott Regulators and Their Shady Ladies will perform hourly.
- *National Cabernet Sauvignon Day Special: $10 off a bottle of award-winning 2019 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at the Del Rio Springs Vineyard Tasting Room Sept. 1-3! The Tasting Room is located in the Old Firehouse Plaza, about a block away from the Faire.
- Related info: Quilt shops in Northern Arizona.
Flagstaff Art in the Park: Crafts with a Soundtrack
September 2-4 / Wheeler Park, Flagstaff / Free.
Fine arts and crafts festival that takes place over the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends in a grassy park in Downtown Flagstaff.
- Vendors: Juried selection of 70 artists from across the Southwest. Crafters include Created with Repurpose (upcycled lamps and book art), Kimbajul (jewelry) and HatsNThings By Shelly (crocheted hats. And things.)
- Food + beverage: Square Root Foods, Hot Bamboo, Safari Samosas, Cody Coyote Kettle Corn, Lulu’s Italian Waterice, Single Speed Coffee Roasters, and the Shady Beer Garden, which features local and regional breweries and benefits Special Olympics Arizona.
- Entertainment: Nonstop live music, including Craig Yarbrough, Flag5, Matt Bingham, Matthew Henry Hall, Rideshare, Sister and the Sun, Two Hand Union, Stan Clark and Tim Hogan, Paul and Friends, and TheatriKids.
Music in the Pines: Country Club Concert Series
September 2, 3:30pm / Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club, Pinetop / Free.
Live music and dancing on several summer Wednesdays and Saturdays. The event is free and open to the public! Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.
- Food + beverage: Hamburgers, hot dogs, adult beverages, and soft drinks available for purchase. (Cash only.)
- Entertainment: Free line dance lessons at 3:30pm. Music by Lakesides 4:30-7:30pm.
Prescott Indian Art Market: Fine Art + Fry Bread
September 16-17 / Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott / Admission $15 per day.
Juried show featuring artwork from over 100 top Native artists in a variety of media, including oil painting, beadwork, pottery, and weaving. Plus music, performances, demonstrations, and food!
Flagstaff Festival of Science: Discuss DNA + Discoveries
September 22 – October 1 / venues throughout Northern Arizona (particularly Flagstaff) / Free.
Annual 10-day event designed to promote awareness and enthusiasm for science in Northern Arizona and beyond. Established in 1990, it is the longest continuously running, entirely free science festival in the world.
This year’s theme is “The Mammoth World of Science” to highlight research and scientific discovery by Beth Shapiro, PhD, a pioneer in the field of ancient DNA.
- Sept. 22, 7pm: Keynote Presentation “How to Clone a Mammoth” at NAU. Dr. Beth Shapiro will share her expertise on the science of de-extinction. Free keynote tickets are now available for reservation.
- Other event reservations will be open for booking on Sept. 8.
- *ANYWHERE: Videos of past festival presentations.
- *ANYWHERE: Free 43-page ebook, Girls Just Like You Who Grew Up to Become… Scientists (Flagstaff edition), by local science writer and festival board member, Kerry Bennett. (H/T “Ecologist Clare Aslan Encourages Girls To Imagine, Be Creative, And Be Curious About Science”)
Flagstaff Fadeaway: Music Fest at a Mod Mountainside Motel
September 30, 5pm. / High Country Motor Lodge, Flagstaff / General Admission Ticket $75
All-ages festival outside a refurbished mid-century motel off Route 66. Featured performers include Color Green, Sylvie, The Senators, Spencer Cullum + Rich Ruth, and Kacy + Clayton. Proceeds benefit the Glen Canyon Institute, which is working to restore the ecosystem of Glen Canyon and Colorado River.
- Doors open at 4pm. Bands start at 5pm.
- Food trucks and a full bar will be on-site. All attendees will be carded.
- The show will go on rain or shine!
- *Complimentary valet parking for all attendees presenting a valid Flagstaff Fadeaway ticket.
Pop Up Program: Behind the Mask
October 27, 10am – 1pm / Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott / Included with admission.
Learn about the history behind masquerade parties in the Arizona territory, while making a mask of your own during this pop-up program held in one of the museum’s exhibits. These monthly mini-programs give you the chance to engage with Arizona history in an interactive, hands-on way through crafts, games, and activities!
- Open to all ages.
- No reservations required.
- H/T Experience Prescott
Día de los Muertos (Sedona): Remember Me
October 28 – November 1 / Tlaquepaque Arts + Crafts Village, Sedona / Free.
Five-day celebration of life and remembrance with large-scale installations and vignettes throughout Tlaquepaque. It’s also a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage.
- Oct. 28: Special performances.
- Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 11am-5pm: Marigold Mural Project. Visitors can paint tributes to their loved ones on a 26-foot long community remembrance wall on the Calle Independencia. Paints and brushes will be provided on site.
- Related: Día de los Muertos symbolism + DIY ideas
– Southern Arizona –
Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling: Anyone else take Latin American Lit? Just me?
now – October 20 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission.
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.
- *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.
Sabino Canyon Crawler Night Tours: Desert Night Riders
now – October 28, on Saturdays / Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, Tucson / Tickets $15/adult, $8/child + $8/vehicle Sabino Canyon Recreation Area fee
Evening tours through beautiful Sonoran desert on the Sabino Canyon Crawler. Normally, the electric shuttle’s daily rides end at 4pm. However, during the hottest months, they add an extra tour time on Saturday nights. Night tours start at 7pm in September and 6:30pm in October.
- The Crawler offers year-round tours on a 7.4-mile route with automated narration about Sabino Canyon.
- *Now through 10/14: Summer Family Rates to Sabino Canyon Dam. $15 per family rides on the Bear Canyon shuttle to Sabino Canyon Dam, where you can picnic in a shady spot.
Arizona Biennial 2023: Arizona Artist Showcase
Now – October 1 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission.
Every-other-year exhibition of innovative and diverse new works by Arizona artists. It provides an opportunity for emerging artists to exhibit their art in a museum setting and to introduce it to the public.
A new juror from outside the state is selected to curate each Arizona Biennial, reviewing the works of hundreds of artists to create a cohesive exhibition that becomes an overview of artistic creativity in Arizona.
Colors of the Stone: Gem Show Warm-Up
August 31 – September 3 / Casino Del Sol, Tucson / Free.
Colors of the Stone with To Bead True Blue and Artisan Workshops is a show that includes established and emerging glass artists, gem cutters, ceramists, bead makers, jewelry artists, mineral hunters, lapidaries, and goldsmiths.
Shop from a collection of artisan handcrafted products made from sustainable materials in natural colors and buy directly from the source.
- Hands-on workshops offered daily, 8am-9pm.
- Part of the Tucson Fall Gem Show.
Tucson Comic-Con: Pop Culture Fans Convene
September 1-3 / Tucson Convention Center, Tucson / Adult Full Weekend Membership Pass $64
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.
- Artist Alley: Meet writers, pencillers, inkers, and colorists from all over the world. Some offer one-of-a-kind sketches and commissions at their tables (usually grouped together in one aisle or section of the exhibitor hall).
- Game Area: Play video games – including vintage arcade games – board games, card games, and role-playing games!
- Inclusive Quiet Zone: A welcoming place to take a break from the hectic convention floor.
- *Hotel McCoy offers 15% off stays of 3 nights or more with code STAY – that means that for a 8/31-9/3 stay you’d pay $286.45 instead of $337!
Sonoran Restaurant Week: Taste a New Place
September 8-17 / restaurants across Tucson
10 days when many Southern Arizona restaurants offer special prix fixe menus for $25, $35 or $45 to encourage diners to try restaurants they haven’t been to, as well as revisiting old favorites. Ask for the Sonoran Restaurant Week menu at participating eateries.
Each year, part of the proceeds benefit a local non-profit, like the San Xavier Co-op Farm, a Tohono O’odham landowners’ cooperative committed to using healthy farming practices to grow traditional crops.
Summer Night Market: After Hours at the Annex
September 29, 6- 10pm / MSA Annex, Tucson / Free.
Over 60 local vendors, plus music, food trucks, and extended hours for MSA Annex shops the last Friday evening of the month. It runs from May through September, so this will be the last one of the year!
- Related: What you might find at the MSA Annex Summer Night Market.
Tucson Meet Yourself: T-Town is Talented… and Tasty!
October 13-15 / Downtown Tucson / Free.
Annual three-day celebration of the folk arts of the Sonoran region that’s been going on for 50 years! It features food, artisans, dancers, musicians, and special exhibits from the richly diverse communities in Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico.
Where to start? Here are some TMY artists we’ve seen before:
- Bonyang Michaels, who demonstrates beautiful Lao weaving on a large loom.
- Jaliya World Contemporary Music – we saw Yacouba Traore (half the duo!) perform one year during the Arizona International Film Festival.
- Las Azaleas popular all-female mariachi group.
- Ukrainian American Society‘s booth displays several traditional Ukrainian crafts, including pysanky.
Sky Islands Fall Artisan Market: Fall Festival at 4000 Feet
October 14-15 / Patagonia Town Park, Patagonia / Free.
Festival to showcasing the Patagonia community’s talent in a park nestled at over four thousand feet in the mountains of Southeast Arizona.
Vendors: 100 booths of the region’s top artisans who work in ceramics, textiles, glass, jewelry, wood, painting, photography, and metalwork. Plus, a library book sale!
Food + beverage: Food court with Patagonia Fire Department’s annual barbecue and a variety of food trucks.
Entertainment: Bluegrass, rock, jazz, and classical music performances from regional and local acts throughout the weekend at the Town Park Gazebo. For kids, there will be arts experiences, crafts, and youth music acts.
- A few of the artisans who participated in 2022: Michelle Caillet (Greyt Escape), Diane Fortney (Phun Potz and KChi Ceramics), Lenor Glover (Camino Lenor), Dan Kihl, Deanna Martinez-Hay (Art 4 Your Glasses), and Robin Tenelshof (Little Leoni Paints).
- Well-behaved leashed dogs are allowed. (I think they specified “well-behaved” after the year Quijote was there barking at everyone.)
- *ANYWHERE: Wine sale! $55 off the Wingman Trio of three bottles of wine (reg. $113) plus free shipping from AZ Hops and Vines in nearby Sonoita!
Pulse: Weavings and Paintings by Marlowe Katoney: Diné Today
October 14, 2023 – March 23, 2024 / University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Exhibition of approximately thirty weavings and paintings created by Marlowe Katoney. The multidisciplinary artist combines elements from painting with traditional Navajo iconography and designs to create pieces that take inspiration from popular culture, street art, nature, Navajo culture, and his own life.
- *Get free admission for two when you check out a Culture Pass from an Arizona Library.
- Related: The stolen painting we had to see at UAMA!
Willcox Wine Festival: Yes, they make wine there!
October 20-22 / Railroad Park, Willcox / Admission $30-45
Festival with over 15 Arizona wineries, along with live music, and fine arts, artisan foods, and vintage vendors. Admission includes 10 tasting tickets + commemorative wine glass.
- *Save $10 by purchasing admission tickets in advance instead of at the gate!
- *Outside of the festival, wine tasting flights at Willcox wineries usually include a souvenir glass, which you can take with you for a discount at the next Willcox tasting rooms you visit!
Cameron Carpenter: Metropolis (1927): Silent Movie Score Live
November 3, 7:30 pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / Tickets $20-55
Concert of world-renowned organist, Cameron Carpenter, playing the Fox’s Wurlitzer organ to accompany the 1927 film, Metropolis.
Into the Spider-Verse World Tour: Live in Concert: The Amazing Spider-Music!
November 5, 7pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / Tickets $20-67.50
Screening of the animated film Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse with live musicians and a DJ on stage playing the film’s soundtrack, which blends symphonic orchestral music with hip-hop. Into The Spider-Verse’s score is composed of of boundary-pushing original music that supports its themes of resilience and universal heroism.
– Anywhere –
Art Chat @ Five: Talk about Artwork by Women (virtual)
September 1, 15, 29 + October 6, 5pm (ET) – 5:45pm / Free.
Informal discussions with National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) educators about selected artworks from the museum’s collection. Each chat will have a different theme and sampling of artworks, which you can see in advance.
- All chats are scheduled on Fridays at 5pm (ET) for 45 minutes.
- Registration is required in order to get the link to the event.
- Limited to 45 participants each chat.
- Art Chats will be all virtual until the Museum re-opens in late October, when some will move to being an in-person/virtual hybrid (“”Art Chat Live””).
- *NMWA @ Home: resources and online exhibitions
- Related: Art-viewing and craft-making when we visited NMWA in DC.
The Jubilee Series with Lucy Barter: Scotland’s Thistle + Wales’s Daffodil
September 6 – October 18, 10 am-3 pm / Class fee $360 + materials
Two-session Zoom courses using embroidery to explore the history of the national flowers of the United Kingdom. It is part of a series on the symbolic flora of the UK’s four countries taught by Lucy Barter, SFSNAD Creative Director. Each classic design will consist of cross filling, blackwork patterns, gold couching, pearl purl, and padded satin stitching.
Upcoming courses will be centered around the thistle of Scotland and the daffodil of Wales.
- Materials: The kit for these classes will be sold separately. Your instructor will email you with further instructions.
- September 6 + 13: Scotland’s Thistle
- October 11 + 18: Wales’s Daffodil
Annular Solar Eclipse Livestream: Ring of Fire
October 14, 9am PDT / Free.
An annular solar eclipse is when the Moon only covers the center of the Sun, and there’s still a ring of light around it. The October 14th annular eclipse will be visible in parts of the Americas. However, the Exploratorium will be providing live coverage of the eclipse from the Valley of the Gods, Utah, so you can see it from anywhere in the world!
- *How to make your own pinhole projector for safe eclipse viewing.
- *Other ways to safely view an eclipse.
Goodies to enjoy anytime + anywhere:
- ‘Tis Art Center virtual gallery tour
- Video: Artist James Johnson talks about traditional Tlingit carvings and his work continuing the centuries-old art form.
- Videos of past Flagstaff Festival of Science presentations.
- Free 43-page ebook, Girls Just Like You Who Grew Up to Become… Scientists (Flagstaff edition), by local science writer and festival board member, Kerry Bennett.
- $55 off the Wingman Trio of three bottles of wine (reg. $113) plus free shipping from AZ Hops and Vines in Sonoita!
- See select pieces from the Gallery 4 exhibitions that are at Gilbert Historical Museum.
P.S. Photos are by me unless noted otherwise and linked to their source.
