Championing the makers, artists, and wanderers in all of us.
New year, new Happenings! Here’s my list of upcoming goings-on and goodies.*
The Anywhere section is for anyone, wherever you are. There are also things you can enjoy ANYWHERE sprinkled throughout the rest of the List.
Continue reading “Winter 2024 Happenings (Jan/Feb)”
This year, it feels like one minute we still had long summer days and the next it was suddenly dark by dinnertime.
Which means it’s the time of year to light candles, line your walk with luminarias, drink hot beverages around a bonfire – celebrate bringing light to the darkness.
There’s plenty of light in this season’s Happenings List. And hot beverages. And maker-focused holiday markets. Oh yeah, and goodies! (Look for the *s.) Plus, other fun stuff I happened to find and thought you’d want to check out.
Not in Arizona? The ANYWHERE section is for you!
I’ve included links to shops and items I’ve found on Etsy, because I like them and because I can earn a little affiliate commission if you buy something. And that helps support this site and keep the Happenings List… happening.
Anyway, read on and let me know where you go!
Now – January 2, 2024 / Heard Museum, Phoenix / Included with admission.
The Early Days exhibition is a survey of Canadian Indigenous art from coast-to-coast-to-coast and from historical to contemporary pieces. Organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in collaboration with Indigenous scholars, artists, and traditional knowledge keepers.
Now – January 4, 2024 / Shemer Art Center, Phoenix / Free (suggested donation $7 per person).
Exhibition honoring the career of Arizona artist Ed Mell, including some never-seen-before works of art!
November 3 – November 12 / Scottsdale Waterfront, Scottsdale / Free.
Internationally-recognized public art exhibition that illuminates the Scottsdale Waterfront for 10 evenings in November. The immersive event features large-scale, light-based artworks created by local, national, and international artists. There are also educational workshops and activities, art tours, live music and dance performances, a beer and wine garden, and food trucks!
November 4, 11am – 7pm / Historic Grand Avenue, Phoenix / Free.
Quirky, artsy community party on Phoenix’s unparalleled Grand Avenue. Everyone is invited to join the festivities, which will include an artisan market, live music, and interactive art experiences, other events showcasing the neighborhood’s artists and businesses.
November 4, 10am-4pm / Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix / Free.
Local First’s festival of Arizona businesses!
November 5, 4pm – 7pm / Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery, Fountain Hills / $50 class fee
Workshop on creating greeting cards and bookmarks from your own painting on a canvas sheet.
November 18, 10am – 4pm / Shops @ Town + Country, Phoenix / Free.
Annual market, featuring local makers with one-of-a-kind wares, including art, clothing and accessories, furniture, food, and health and beauty products.
Sneak preview these Phoenix-based vendors’ work on Etsy:
November 25 – December 31 / Old Town Scottsdale / Price varies by event.
Month-long holiday extravaganza featuring more than 45 events!
December 1 – December 3, 10am – 5:30pm / Downtown Tempe / Free.
Well-loved urban fine art festival and community event that showcases over 350 artists from around the country, plus local music, a Kids Block, and many great food options – all located on the streets of historic Mill Avenue!
December 9, 10am – 4pm / Taliesin West, Scottsdale / Adults $5, youth free with registration
Opportunity to explore a part of Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, Taliesin West, at your own pace. There will also be performances and participatory activities like ask-me stations and crafts for all ages!
December 9, 10am – 3pm / Heritage Square, Phoenix / Free.
First-annual holiday celebration in Phoenix’s Heritage Square!
December 14 – December 16 / Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market space (720 North 5th Street), Phoenix / Free.
Holiday market with its own Phoenician traditions! It’s also fundraiser for Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market and Community Food Connections, which supports local growers and businesses. This year, the event will extend to two back-to-back nights and a Saturday morning!
November 5, 3pm / Sedona Performing Arts Center, Sedona / General admission $45, reserved seats $65
Concert celebrating the 150th birthday of romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pianists Orion Weiss and Roman Rabinovich perform his two monumental two-piano suites, alongside other works by composers in his orbit.
November 13, 12:15pm / Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Flagstaff / Included with admission.
Riordan Mansion Lunchtime Lecture by Science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny on the riveting tale of two pioneering botanists and their historic boat trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1938.
November 18, 2pm / Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood / Included with admission.
Presentation by Jerry “Geronimo” Martin. Not only is he the great-great-grandson of the legendary Geronimo, he is also a historian of Geronimo’s birth, life, struggle between the U.S. and Mexican armies, and life as a prisoner of war.
December 8, 5-8:30pm / Downtown Prescott / Free. (Donations accepted.)
A night of live music down the festively-lit streets of Downtown Prescott that raises money for music education. It begins with an Opening Ceremony and school choir performance. Over 100 Prescott businesses open their doors to give Acker Night musicians a place to play. Tips go to provide music lessons and instruments to local youth and support school music programs.
December 15-17 / W. Goodwin Street, Downtown Prescott / Free entry.
Traditionally-inspired German Christmas Market with Prescott flavor. West Goodwin Street will be filled with holiday vendors and live music.
December 20-23, 4:30pm / Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Flagstaff / Free entry.
In the days leading up to Christmas, the Riordan Mansion grounds will be open until 6pm. Get a cup of hot apple cider, and enjoy walking along the luminaria-lined pathways.
To see the inside of the mansion, decorated for the holidays and illuminated by Edison bulbs, reserve a special Christmas Twilight Tour. This guided tour begins at 5pm and focuses on historical Christmas traditions.
Now – 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.
November 2 – November 5 / The Screening Room, Tucson / Tickets start at $10.
Festival focused on music-related content, with an emphasis on films and filmmakers with a connection to Arizona and the desert Southwest. It includes both narrative and documentary features, and shorts of all genres including animation, experimental, comedy, drama and world.
November 3 – November 5 / Mercado District and Tucson’s west side, Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
A uniquely Tucson celebration, which draws on the many cultural traditions of the community, to honor the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. The focal point of the event is a two-mile long procession on blocked-off streets in west Tucson, where all are invited to walk and remember. It ends on the Mercado District Festival Grounds, where there will be performances, art installations, and food vendors. The culmination is the ceremonial burning of collected remembrances in a large metal urn.
The main events are free. Ticket sales for the 3 Dance of the Dead Concerts ($12-30) help to support this huge, volunteer-lead undertaking.
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.
November 4, 10am – 2pm / Forty Niner Country Club, Tucson / Free.
Eastside artisan market in a covered pavilion with golf course views.
November 5, 2pm / Centennial Hall (at UArizona), Tucson / Tickets $39-69.
University of Arizona dancers, Megan Garcia and Christian Blue, take the stage with internationally renowned dance company Parsons Dance. The company is known for their athleticism, stunning ensemble work, and the passion they bring to every performance.
November 5, 7pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / Tickets $20-68
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.
November 11, 5pm – 8pm / Proper Shops Courtyard, Tucson / Free.
Sing karaoke and shop local artisans on the Proper Shops patio. Meet the makers behind Beautiful Little Things, ENB Jewelry, Tucson Handmade and Unsilenced Pride while you sing under the stars!
November 11, 10am – 4pm / on the corner of 6th Street + 6th Avenue in front of the Firestone Building, Tucson / Free.
Outdoor pop-up market created and run by Tucson artisans. Desert Air Market (DAM) aspires to be a day of joy and connection, where you can shop handcrafted items and meet the people who made them!
Sneak preview these vendors’ work on Etsy:
November 17-20 / Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, Tucson / Free.
Street fair with over 100 unique and local artists and artisans with crafts, original artwork, pottery, glass, jewelry, textiles and gift items. Café a la C’Art, the museum’s restaurant, will be open throughout the weekend with outdoor seating on the expanded patio (and some indoor seating, too). The market is organized by TMA’s Museum Store to fundraise for the museum.
November 19, 4pm / Riverfront Park Grass Amphitheater, Oro Valley (Tucson area) / Free.
Performances by classically-trained musicians at the base of Pusch Ridge on select Sundays. Concerts take place outdoors, on the grass at the community’s largest amphitheater.
November 25, 10am-5pm / 55 N. 5th Avenue, Tucson / Free.
Small business Saturday celebration of Black business resilience with interactive activities, live music, art, dance, vendors, food trucks and information about the thriving Black community in Arizona. All people and ages are invited to come together to share in the family-friendly festivities!
November 26 / 4th Avenue District, Tucson / Free.
Market of goods handmade by Tucson artists, many of whom will be there demonstrating their work.
December 2, 4pm – 8pm / The Meading Room, Sonoita / Free.
Evening in Arizona wine country with lights, bonfires, food trucks, live music by Juniper Djinn, and over 20 unique local artisans and makers! Enjoy hot chocolate, hard cider, or mead, while doing some holiday shopping.
December 8 – December 10 / along 4th Ave. from University Blvd. to 8th St., Tucson / Free.
Holiday season edition of historic downtown Tucson’s semiannual street fair! Shop original, handmade art from 350+ artists from around the world, while enjoying live entertainment and more than 40 food vendors. Plus, Fourth Avenue merchants are open during the event.
December 9 – December 25, 6-10pm / Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Neighborhood with elaborate holiday light displays. While the Festival is free to attend, organizers request that everyone bring a donation of food or money for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
Now – November 5, 5pm MST / Free to browse.
Over 100 local gifts, staycations, and Arizona experience packages up for auction to support Local First’s mission of creating a sustainable and inclusive economy for Arizonans.
November 4, 11am MST / Free.
Artist talk with Ryan Singer, a Diné (Navajo) artist-painter, who is known for creating artwork based on his Navajo heritage and incorporating pop culture elements, including science fiction imagery. He weaves stories of his childhood memories with nostalgic iconography and has been drawing Star Wars characters since 1977.
November 5, 6pm MST / Free.
Community members walk to honor the lives of loved ones and ancestors. (More about this tradition under “Southern Arizona.”) Portions of the procession and finale will be livestreamed for those who can’t be there in person.
November 9 – November 18 / Free.
The Being Human festival of the humanities has several virtual events on its program, in addition to the in-person ones held in cities across the UK.
November 9 + December 7, 1pm Eastern / 10am Pacific time / Free.
Behind-the-scenes looks at Frank Lloyd Wright-designed public sites with insider tips for visitors. Those who are streaming live on Facebook will be able to ask questions, and recordings of each event will be available to watch afterward.
All the Etsy links from above…
Early Bird Makers Market vendors:
Desert Air Market vendors:
P.S. Photos are by me unless the caption says otherwise.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Performance dates:
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
P.S. Photos are by me unless noted otherwise and linked to their source.
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:
That’s enough things, right?! Let’s get to the List…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Highlights:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Watch:
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.
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).
August 7-30
The Presidio Museum is auctioning off fun and unique items to raise money for operations and programming.
“Make 30th July a day filled with creativity for the sake of Peace, Freedom and Equality.”
–from the World Embroidery Day Manifesto (English translation)
Upcoming embroidery classes from around the world that you can take without leaving home…
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).
Related in-person San Francisco School of Needlework and Design events:
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.
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.)
PS Photos I didn’t take link to their respective sources.
The Happenings List is my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
now – June 2023 / Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Scottsdale / Included with admission.
Collection of boxes covered in elaborate patterns made of gem materials. This complex form of lapidary art is known as “gem intarsia.” Artist Nicolai Medvedev uses deep green malachite and dark blue azurite from Bisbee, turquoise from Globe, as well as other minerals sourced worldwide.
May 1 – May 31 / throughout Metro Phoenix / Free.
Project for Valley residents to document saguaros you see. Each observation can include photos, a location, and notes about the general health of the saguaro and can be recorded using iNaturalist, a free smartphone app and website.
May 6, 3pm – 7pm / Chandler Community Center, Chandler / Registration fees: adults $30, kids (age 4-9) $15, ages 3 and under are free
Welcome in the year 2080 B.S. (according to the traditional Nepali lunar calendar) with the Nepalis and Friends Association! The celebration will include dinner, performances of Nepali songs, and a cultural fashion show.
The Nepali New Year festival is just one of the events the Nepalis and Friends Association (NAFA) organizes in Arizona and celebrates with the Nepalese community and American friends. The non-profit organization promotes Nepali culture and strives to educate the next generation on their heritage.
May 6, June 3, July 8, 4-5:30pm / Fushicho Daiko Dojo, Phoenix / $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.
June 17, 5pm – 10pm / Eastlake Park, Phoenix / Free.
Black history and culture appreciation event with musical and arts performers, community groups and schools, free health screenings, educational workshops, a youth essay contest, childrenʼs activities, arts and crafts, vendors, games, and soul food.
June 21, 11am-1pm / Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix / Free.
Event centered around the once-a-year moment when sunlight lines up perfectly to illuminate the tops of columns across the library’s Great Reading Room, designed by architect Will Bruder. It only happens at solar noon on the summer solstice!
May 3 – May 26 / Sedona Arts Center (SAC), Sedona / Free.
Exhibition featuring painting, drawing, mixed-media, photography, and art installation that celebrates Latino/a cultural identity, histories, traditions, and contemporary social justice issues. Diverse Arizona artists – both established and emerging – have created imaginative works to spark conversation, cultural connections, and community.
June 15 – 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 lavender plants and gift items, or cut your own lavender bouquet (clippers provided).
June 17, 11am – 9pm / Thorpe Park ball fields, Flagstaff / Day-of tickets: ages 11+: $25, free for children 10 and under.
Flagstaff’s family-friendly Pride Festival works to support cultural diversity and human rights by fighting discrimination of any kind. It has been held annually for the past 26 years at the Thorpe Park ball fields. This year, however, will be the 1st Annual Flagstaff Pride Parade! Also on the agenda: vendors and exhibitors, food, a beer garden, and entertainment, including music, performers, a dance tent, and drag shows.
June 24-25 / Museum of Northern Arizona (outside), Flagstaff / Admission: adults $20, youth (ages 10-17) $10, free for children 9 and under
Showcase for the diverse Indigenous cultures of the Colorado Plateau region, which include the Acoma, Apache, Diné (Navajo), Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Pai, Ute, Yavapai, and Zuni. The expanded 2023 market and mainstage will be located on the forested grounds outside of the museum, so there will be plenty of space and fresh air.
now – May 20 / University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Thirty-seven years after being stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Willem de Kooning’s painting, Woman-Ochre, has returned to the UAMA galleries! This exhibition features the work and its unusual history, including the extensive restoration it underwent after being recovered.
now – May 27 / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free.
16 large-scale sculptures all about awakening joy!
Now – June 1 / Downtown Tucson, Tucson / Free.
Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on signs in planters along Congress Street and Stone Avenue. The 20 poems are winners of an annual literary competition, submitted by the public and chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert. This year’s theme is “Planting Seeds.”
Now – June / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / Included with admission.
Cultivating Colors by Colored Pencil Society of America, Phoenix
Flower Mounds by Lex Gjurasic.
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.
Goodies:
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 different 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.
May 4-7 / Downtown Tucson
Part of a month-long cross-border culinary celebration of maíz (corn), co-hosted with 4 other UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy: Puebla, Mexico; Mérida, Mexico; and San Antonio, Texas.
Event highlights for Pueblos de Maíz Tucson:
May 4, 5pm: Opening Celebration of Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling / Tucson Museum of Art / Free.
May 4, 7pm: Noche de Maíz Dinner / The Carriage House / $200 (+$25 fee) / 21+
May 5, 6:30pm: Maíz Showcase / Tucson Museum of Art / $75
May 6, 3pm: Maíz Fiesta / Kennedy Park / Free.
May 6, 8am – 3pm / Borderlands Nursery + Seed, Patagonia / Free.
Shop native plants and seeds with music and retail booths from local farmers and artisans, including artist/designer Jenna Tomasello, and Shooting Star Pottery.
May 6, 12pm / Armory Park, Tucson / $15 general admission
Festival promoting liberty, equality, and justice for the Latino LGBTQ community! The event will include national and local performing artists, mariachis, baile folklorico, vendor booths, and food trucks.
Nature Photography in the Gardens: Capturing Cacti
May 10, 10:30am / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / $75
Class about getting outside and taking pictures! Includes targeted instruction on basic composition, nature and landscape photography, close up / macro photography, and the use of props.
Patterson Observatory, Sierra Vista / Free.
The Patterson Observatory has a 20” aperture telescope, capable of observing objects one million times fainter than the human eye can detect! Huachuca Astronomy Club (HAC) volunteers operate the observatory, located on University of Arizona Sierra Vista Campus.
Free Observation Times:
May 13 + June 10, 9-11am: Solar Saturdays. Every second Saturday of the month (weather permitting), HAC Members will show you sunspots, solar prominences and other solar features through safe solar telescopes.
May 25 + June 22, 7:30pm: Public Viewing Nights. Monthly (Sept. – June) on the Thursday nearest the first quarter moon.
May 14, 21, 28 at 7pm / DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Reid Park, Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Tucson Pops Orchestra’s May outdoor concert series, includes these themes…
Tips for all DeMeester performances:
May 20, 9am – 7pm / Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia / Park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle (up to 4 adults). Kids 13 and under are free.
A day of international mariachi dancing and bands with local wineries, food vendors, and activities for kids.
May 26 + June 30, 6- 10pm / Mercado San Agustin 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.
June 10 – June 17 / multiple venues, Tucson
A week of celebrating the moment when the US “finally and truly became the land of the free.” Festivities include a kick-off concert, jubilee, legacy night, and festival.
May 18 + June 15, 12pm – 1pm / Free.
Online discussion series about watching films, sharing stories, and having an honest conversation about the tough issues faced by the LGBTQ community. Registration required. Participants will receive an email with instructions on how to join the WebEx meeting.
Upcoming monthly film selections (all will be available through the library’s Kanopy collection)…
May 26, 10am / $30
Learn strategies to help your garden become more resilient to hot temperatures, including heat-proof plants and ways to minimize the effects of the long desert summers within the garden itself.
Extras you can enjoy anywhere there’s internet!
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