While we haven’t seen any big storms yet, it’s technically Arizona monsoon season. One of these days, the clouds will move in overhead to deliver much-appreciated rain to this desert town.
In the meantime, our schedules shift to avoid the midday heat. Events move to nighttime, indoors, or up in elevation. This season’s Happenings List focuses on events in cooler parts of Arizona and at cooler times of day.
If you’re new to the Happenings List, here’s what to know:
- The Happenings List is 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 (*).
- Not in Arizona? In the last section are Happenings and Goodies you can enjoy from virtually ANYWHERE!
- World Embroidery Day is July 30! So this time, the ANYWHERE section also includes worldwide embroidery classes and bonus embroidery Goodies!
- Full disclosure: There’s not much to disclose. I’m not paid to list particular events. I don’t work for any of these companies. As an Etsy affiliate, I may earn a small commission from links I share, but I choose which artists and products to highlight.
- Did you go to one of the events on the List? I’d love to hear how it went! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
That’s enough things, right?! Let’s get to the List…
The Happenings List
• Central Arizona
Try Taiko Classes: Intro to Japanese Drums
July 8, 4-5:30pm / Fushicho Daiko Dojo, Phoenix / Trial class fee $20
Single-class sessions on Taiko, Japanese ensemble drumming, so you can try it out before deciding whether to commit to ongoing classes. Learn the background and significance of Taiko and learn your first song! Try Taiko classes for adults are on Saturday evenings at the beginning of each month. Classes for kids happen less frequently, so watch the registration page.
- Secure facemasks required inside the dojo.
- *On Phoenix First Fridays, the dojo is open to visitors and you can watch classes practice taiko (free).
Page Possibilities: Papercraft Peacocking
July 9, 2-4pm / Tempe Public Library, Tempe / Free.
Step-by-step paper craft class on turning a “retired” book into a colorful, decorative peacock! There is no fee, but registration is required.
- *Part of the library’s Adult Summer Reading Program. Earn points and prizes by signing up, logging your time reading, and participating in events (like this class)!
- Read more about Why I look for Art in Libraries.
Cine Cubano: Cuba-Centric Film Series
July 12 – October 11, 6pm / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / Tickets $8.
Four-film series celebrating Cuba’s complex history, which provides deeper context for the museum’s current special-engagement exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América (which runs until 9/17). The films will screen monthly, starting this summer and continuing through Hispanic Heritage Month. Each screening will be on a Wednesday at 6pm in Whiteman Hall on the first floor of the Phoenix Art Museum.
- The related Juan Francisco Elso exhibition is in the Steele Gallery, (between the museum entrance and the room where the films are showing). This special exhibition 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.
• Northern Arizona
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.
2023 Lavender Bloom + Wine Festival: A Feast for the Nose
now – July 22 (Thursdays through Saturdays) / Red Rock Ranch and Farms, Concho / Free.
Six-week festival of lavender grown in the mountains of northeastern Arizona. See the fields in bloom, learn about growing and cooking with lavender, visit the lavender shop to purchase plants and gift items, or cut your own lavender bouquet (clippers provided).
- Red Rock Ranch’s wine tasting room will be open during the festival for tastings, as well as for purchasing wine and cheese plates.
- Pets are not allowed at the farm during the festival.
- Post-festival hours: Starting July 29, the Wine Tasting Room and Shop will be open Saturdays 1-6pm.
July 4th Fine Arts + Crafts Festival: Celebration of High Country Craftsmanship
July 1-3 / Charlie Clark’s Orchard, Pinetop / Free.
Arts festival with live music, food and drink under tall pines. Attended by thousands of seasonal and year-round residents and visitors, it takes place in the Orchard, a park-like setting adjacent to Charlie Clark’s restaurant.
- The Festival is organized by the High Country Art Association, a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to showcasing creative, original visual arts and fine crafts in the White Mountains.
- Read about a camping trip we took near Pinetop-Lakeside.
Flagstaff Art in the Park: Handcrafts at High Altitude
July 1-3 / 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.
- 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
July 1 + 10, August 2 + 16 / 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. Live music 4:30-7:30pm.
Japanese Boro Stitch and Scrap Scarf: Sew Sustainable!
August 3, 10am-3pm / Prescott Quilt Works, Prescott / $45 class fee
5-hour course on the art of Boro stitching, a traditional Japanese textile technique renowned for its beauty, history and sustainability. Instructor Socorro “CoCo” Alaniz will explain how Boro originated in Japan during the Edo Period (1609-1868) as a means of mending and repurposing textiles in rural farming communities. Learn about its profound cultural significance and walk away with a beautiful handmade scarf!
- A limited number of kits will be available for purchase at Prescott Quilt Works
a week before the class. These will include linen or muslin fabric for the scarf,
lace findings, and other cute accessories to add to your project. - Fabric scraps not included.
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.
• Southern Arizona
Summer Safari Nights: Evening Event for Party Animals
Now – August 12, Saturdays 6pm – 8pm / Reid Park Zoo, Tucson / Admission $6-11.
The zoo opens up on summer Saturday nights for live music and entertainment, keeper chats, animal encounters, crafts and games. Each week is themed around a different kind of animal from the zoo.
- Face painting and glitter tattoos will be available for purchase.
- Ticket details: $10.50 for adults (ages 15-61), $8.50 for seniors (ages 62+), $6.50 for youth (ages 2-14), and free for children under 2.
- *ANYWHERE: Zoo web cams.
Highlights:
- July 15: Shopping Night showcasing the creative, one-of-a-kind artwork and products of Tucson’s local makers.
- July 29: Entertainment by The Circus Academy.
- August 12 (World Elephant Day): Focus on African Elephants.
Sonoran Quipu: Immersive Installation of Knotty Art
Now – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Incorporating locally-found materials, Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña arranged hundreds of hanging knotted fibers and into what she calls a “poem in space,” which speaks to the way we are interconnected with each other and our environment. This is an exhibition created specifically for the Great Hall of MOCA Tucson, shaped by contributions from the community!
Goodies:
- *Outside the museum is Mini MOCA, a small artworks exchange in the style of a little free library.
- *Discounts for Downtown Clifton Hotel guests: 2 for 1 admission at MOCA, as well as 10% off any purchase in the MOCA Shop.
Arizona Biennial 2023: Arizona Artist Showcase
Now – September 17 / 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.
- This year’s juror, Taína Caragol, is the Curator of painting, sculpture, and Latinx art and history at the National Portrait Gallery, who led the portrait commission of former President Obama by Kehinde Wiley.
- *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.
Independence Day Celebration Concert: July 4th Pops!
July 1, 7:30pm / St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Tucson
Independence Day concert by the Tucson Pops orchestra, bringing back the tradition of this performance in the historic church.
Moonlight Market: Night Shopping among Nightshades
July 1, 7-10pm / Rozet Nursery and Landscape Design, Tucson / Free.
Music, food, drinks, local artists, and plant folks in a plant nursery on a cool(er) summer evening! All ages.
Paint Nights in the Park: Stable-side Painting Class
July 14 + Aug 11, 6-8pm / Marana Heritage River Park, Marana / Fee $38
Evening painting class inside a barn on July and August evenings! An experienced instructor will guide you stroke-by-stroke to create your very own take-home masterpiece! The cost of registration includes a 16×20″ canvas and painting supplies. No experience necessary.
- Participants who are over 21 may bring beer or wine to enjoy responsibly (with ID). Although not provided, you can also bring your own food to the event.
- Each month’s paint subject will be on the Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
- Advance registration is required on the event website.
- H/T Discover Marana
Old Pueblo Market: Makers You Might’ve Missed
July 15, August 12, September 16, 10am-5pm / The Annabelle Studio, Tucson / Free.
Indoor market meant to reflect Tucson’s unique, diverse maker community, especially BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. Every Old Pueblo Market has new vendors, because they give priority to creators who are just starting out and may have not have market experience.
Summer Night Market: After Hours at the Annex
July 28, August 25, 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, May through September.
Tohono Chul Plant Sale: A Plant-Lover’s Paradise
July 29-30 / Tohono Chul Gardens, Galleries, and Bistro, Tucson / Free.
Annual plant sale where Tohono Chul hosts dozens of nursery growers, who showcase their botanicals under the shade of ramadas. You can pre-order plants from Borderlands Restoration Network to pick up there.
- *Free admission to Tohono Chul during the sale!
- More about Tohono Chul.
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival: Birder is the Word(er…)
August 9-13 / Headquarters: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park, Tucson / $30 registration + activity fees.
4-day festival for recreational birders, featuring a Nature Expo / vendor fair, field trips, workshops, photography events, and social hours. It’s organized by Tucson Audubon Society, a nonprofit for engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats.
- The Opening Celebration and the Nature Expo are free and do not require registration.
- Scholarships Available: Tucson Audubon Society is committed to connecting all people to nature regardless of income. Anyone with a financial need is encouraged to apply. Scholarships are given based on availability of funds.
- *ANYWHERE: Online guide to the birds of Southeast Arizona.
Celebration of All Things Tucson: The Old Pueblo turns 248!
August 19, 6:15pm – 9:30pm / Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum, Tucson / Free.
Modern-day Tucson’s official founding day fiesta to “Celebrate All Things S cuk-sǫn/Tucson.” Food, drinks, family activities, and cultural performances, including folklorico dancing and Waila Music!
- H/T Visit Tucson
- *ANYWHERE: Visit virtually
- ANYWHERE: Online Auction benefitting The Presidio Museum August 7-30.
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 gold smiths.
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.
- During the Tucson Fall Gem Show.
- *The hotel at the casino offers special room rates for Fall Gem Show attendees. (Book in advance.)
- *Casino Del Sol RV Park is offering discounts up to 10% off.
Tucson Comic-Con: Pop Culture Con
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.
- *Early Bird Pricing: Adult (age 14+) Full Weekend Pass $50 through 7/7. Kids (age 9-13) $20.
• Anywhere
Anytime:
- Virtually Visit Tucson Presidio Museum
- Online guide to the birds of Southeast Arizona
Watch:
-
- Water Harvester – short documentary about rainwater collection that’s perfect for monsoon season!
- Reid Park Zoo web cams– see what the animals are up to! August 12 is World Elephant Day.
- The Thief Collector documentary looks at the painting Woman-Ochre’s theft and the secret lives of the crime’s main suspects. It is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. You can also pre-order the Blu Ray/DVD before its August 15 release date.
Events:
Coffee, Tea, and Books
July 18 + August 15, 6-8pm / Free.
Tempe Library volunteer-lead discussion of recent novels or the occasional nonfiction title on the third Tuesday of the month.
- 7/18: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
- 8/15: The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
- Socialize with the group 6-6:30pm
- Book discussion 6:30-7:45pm
- You will receive the URL after you register.
Art Talk: Juan Francisco Elso and Mexico: Curator Cuauhtémoc Medina in dialogue with artist Magali
July 19, 12pm – 1pm / Free.
Learn about Juan Francisco Elso’s deep cultural and aesthetic ties to Mexico and Mesoamerican cultural traditions from Mexico City-based artist Magali Lara and Cuauhtémoc Medina, Chief Curator at MUAC (University Museum of Contemporary Art, Mexico City).
- Presented on Zoom (in Spanish with live English translation).
- Juan Francisco Elso exhibition
Online Auction Benefitting The Presidio Museum
August 7-30
The Presidio Museum is auctioning off fun and unique items to raise money for operations and programming.
July 30 is World Embroidery Day!
“Make 30th July a day filled with creativity for the sake of Peace, Freedom and Equality.”
–from the World Embroidery Day Manifesto (English translation)
Embroidery goodies:
- Fern Stitch Embroidery Tutorial + Free Pattern via Wandering Threads Embroidery
- Special pricing on kits and patterns (at least 30% off!) from Bird Brain Designs
- 18 Modern Embroidery art pieces for inspiration
Online Courses
Upcoming embroidery classes from around the world that you can take without leaving home…
Traditional Ukrainian Embroidery Workshop
July 12, 10-11:30am / Class fee $12
San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (SFSNAD) exhibiting artist Lesia Pona demonstrates traditional embroidery techniques from across Ukraine. She will highlight embroidered shirts from regions such as Merezshka (drawn thread), Vyrizuvania (cutwork), and Nyzynka (vertical weaving stitch).
- There are over 250 stitches used in Ukrainian folk embroidery with techniques unique to each region.
- A portion of ticket sales will go towards Razom for Ukraine, a 501(c)3 based in the Bay Area helping provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war in Ukraine.
Related in-person San Francisco School of Needlework and Design events:
- July 22 – September 16: Lesia Pona’s exhibition, “Life is One Fragile Thread: Traditional Embroidery of Ukraine” in SFSNAD’s Hanging Thread Gallery. Free admission.
- July 22, 10am-1 pm: donation-based Merezshka (drawn thread) embroidery workshop with Lesia Pona at SFSNAD. Followed by an artist reception (2-4pm).
Embroider Your Own Tote with Claribel
July 22, 10:30am – noon (Central) / 9:30-11:am Pacific / Class fee $60
Class with a master embroideress from Sumpango, Guatemala, a town known for its beautiful embroidery tradition. Fee includes live Zoom instruction, background cultural information on the patterns, step-by-step stitching PDF guide, a canvas tote stenciled will the embroidery pattern, and a variety of naturally-dyed cotton threads.
- Materials will be shipped to you.
- Class recording will be available for participatants to re-watch.
The Jubilee Series with Lucy Barter: Ireland’s Shamrock
August 9 (part 1) + August 16 (part 2), 10 am-3 pm / Class fee $360 + materials
Two-session Zoom course using embroidery to explore the history of the shamrock of Northern Ireland. 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. (The course on Englands’s Tudor rose was in June.)
- 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
PS Photos I didn’t take link to their respective sources.
