50 Places To Go in 2019: Winter Happenings List

2019 is a year you can kick off with an organ concert in San Diego (see #27) or a cliffside mansion tour in Superior (#9). In February, treat your sweetie to dinner under the date palms of Imperial Valley (#5), wear a carnival mask in Venice (#44), visit Southwest Maker Fest in Mesa (#21), celebrate Waitangi Day in Wellington (#47), or take in the mineral shows in Tucson (#19).

What are your plans for the new year?

To get you started, here are 50 happenings coming up in the U.S., Canada, Italy, New Zealand, and Peru in the first part of 2019. I thought these were all worth checking out, so, instead of ranking them, I ordered them by place and time.

 

AND SHE BORROWED HER HUSBAND’S EAGLE FEATHER CAPE by Gertrude Svarny via Anchorage Museum

+Alaska

1. Gertrude Svarny: UKUQANAADAN

Now – Apr 14
Anchorage Museum, Anchorage
Exhibition of work by Unangan artist, carver, and weaver Gertrude Svarny, who interprets her history and culture using traditional materials, such as local mineral pigments, seal intestine, and sea lion whiskers.

 

Date night salad
Yuma Date Night Dinner

+Arizona

2. Merry Main Street: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink

Now – Jan 4
Mesa City Plaza, Downtown Mesa

  • Monday – Friday 5-10pm, Saturday + Sunday (+ Jan 1) 12-10 pm.
  • $10 per person, including skates, for 1 hour.
  • Free parking in all open lots and on-street parking areas in Downtown Mesa.

 

3. Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire

Now – Jan 27
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix
Major traveling exhibition exploring the archaeological history of Teotihuacan, the first metropolis on the American continent, through more than 200 artifacts – both art and domestic objects – from the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The Aztecs discovered the ruins of the city on the Mexican Central Plateau in the 14th century and named it Teotihuacan, “the place where gods were born.” Included with paid Museum admission. $5 during voluntary-donation times.

 

4. Chef’s Wine Dinner Series

Now – April
Garden at Bar Bianco, Phoenix

Monthly four-course meal with local and seasonal ingredients hosted by Bar Bianco. Each dinner will be paired with wines from a different winery. Reception starts at 6:30pm with dinner to follow. Tickets $150-250.

Featured wineries:

  • Jan 24: Vineyard Brands
  • Feb 26: Field Recordings
  • Mar 23: POE
  • Apr 25: TBA

 

5. Date Night Dinners

Jan 4 + 18, Feb 8 + 16, Mar 1
Imperial Date Gardens (near Yuma)

Gourmet dinner served outdoors in a date grove with dates in every course. Presented by Yuma Visitors Bureau. Tickets $80.

  • 5:30pm: On-site walking tour.
  • 6pm: Dinner.

 

The Ultimate Date Night

 

6. Field to Feast Tour

Jan 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
February 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 27
March 2, 6
Visitor Information Center, Yuma
(201 N. 4th Ave.)
Half-day farm tour. Hands-on harvesting instruction from a local grower followed by lunch made from the produce you picked. Includes transportation, some veggies to take home, and a healthy, field-fresh lunch. Tickets $55.

 

7. Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series

Jan 10 – Mar 14, Thursdays at 12:30pm
Wells Fargo Garden performance area at Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Weekly outdoor concerts featuring a variety of music. Bring a folding chair or blanket. Pack a picnic lunch or purchase food on-site. Free.

 

8. Spirit of the City Guided Bike Tours

Visitor Information Center, Yuma (201 N. 4th Ave.)

  • Jan 11 + Feb 15: Downtown Bike Tour of the Colorado River Historic State Park, Armed Forces Park, Main Street, and the Sanguinetti House Museum. Includes bike, helmet, water, fun pack, and lunch. Tickets $45.
  • Jan 22 + Feb 22: Riverfront Bike Tour. Explore East and West Wetlands paths, viewpoints, history and wildlife, plus the history of the Territorial Prison Cemetery. Includes bike, helmet, water, fun pack, and lunch. Tickets $45.

 

9. Picket Post House Tour

Jan 12-13, Feb 2-3
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park (BTA), Superior

Rare opportunity to walk through Colonel William Boyce Thompson’s mansion on the cliffs overlooking the Arboretum. Purchase tickets at the BTA gift shop on the day you’d like to go – they will not be sold in advance. Tickets $20 (for self-guided Picket Post House tour) plus Arboretum admission ($15).

 

January 2017 Photo: Mansion View

10. Amerind Museum Events

Amerind Museum, Dragoon

  • Jan 12, 10:30am + 2:00pm: Agave is Life documentary screening. Q+A with the film’s producer and director immediately following each showing. Included with Museum admission.
  • Feb 2–3, 10am–4pm: The Art of Jewelry Workshop with master jeweler-metalsmith Duane Maktima (Hopi-Laguna). To register call Amerind at 520-586-3666 or email amerind@amerind.org. Class fee: $200 per person (includes lunches). / Class fee with accommodations: $430 per person (double occupancy, includes overnight accommodations and meals).
  • February 8–10, 10am–4pmMata Ortiz Show and Sale. Art on display and for sale by Chihuahua pottery artists Hector Gallegos Jr., Laura Bugarini, Graciela Martinez. and Hector Gallegos Sr.; Zapotec weaver Porfirio Gutierrez; and Taxco Silver jewelers. Daily weaving presentations at 2pm and pottery demonstrations. Included with Museum admission.
  • February 18-22: Navajo Weaving Workshop with 5th generation Navajo weavers Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete. To register call Amerind at 520-586-3666 or email amerind@amerind.org. Class fee: $1530 per person (includes all supplies and lunches).  / Class fee with accommodations: $2160 per person (double occupancy, includes all supplies, overnight accommodations and meals).
  • March 2, 10am–2pm: Molé Feast! Prepare three traditional Oaxacan Molés — Molé Negro (which uses over 20 ingredients, including bittersweet chocolate), Molé Rojo (which adds dried fruit), and Molé Manchamantales (the “tablecloth stainer” with vibrant red chiles and tomatoes, fresh pineapple, plantain, and honey, and no chocolate). The feast will be rounded out with roasted chicken, rice, tortillas, and a spicy hot chocolate pudding for dessert. To register, call Amerind at 520-586-3666 or email Debbie@amerind.org. Cost: $85 for non-members (feast included!)

 

11. Well Fed Artist Workshop Series

3rd Wednesday of every month (January – June 2019)
Mesa Arts Center (Contemporary Art Building Classroom), Mesa
A series of workshops lead by working artists on networking and professional skills for artists, entrepreneurs, and makers. Refreshments provided. Free. Registration required.

  • Jan 16: DIY Publishing: How to share your voice through zines with Charissa Lucille from Wasted Ink Zine Distro
  • Feb 20: Active Listening: Sharing People’s Stories Through Podcasting with Jaye McAuliffe, audio journalist and producer.

 

12. East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Festival

Jan 21, 11am
Downtown Mesa
Parade and community celebration from the Mesa Convention Center down Center Street and 1st Street, ending near the IDEA Museum (route map). Free.

  • 12-4pm: Festival at Macdonald Street, just north of Main. Music and art celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

13. A Wild Life: Talk by Photographer Bertie Gregory

Talk by photographer Bertie Gregory, who specializes in intimate shots of animals in their natural environment, including spaces where nature and humanity coexist.

  • Jan 22, 7:30pm: Del E Webb Center, Wickenburg. Tickets $35.
  • Jan 23, 7:30pm: Mesa Arts Center, Mesa. Tickets $27-41.
  • Jan 24, 10:15am: Student Matinee with Q+A. Recommended for grades 3-8. Mesa Arts Center, Mesa. Student, teacher + chaperone tickets $4. Reservations: 480-644-6540.

 

old city hall in yuma arizona
Old City Hall, Yuma

14. Savor Yuma

Jan 22, Feb 12 + 19, Mar 5
Old City Hall, Yuma

Progressive dining experience with a tour bus that takes you to sample food at several Yuma eateries. Tickets $60.

 

15. We Shall Overcome: A Celebration Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan 25, 7:30pm
Piper Repertory Theater at Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Concert of music from across African American traditions interwoven with spoken word from Dr. King’s speeches. Tickets $41.

 

16. Brunch Bash

Jan 26, 10am – 4pm
Cityscape, Phoenix
Festival of brunch with food and cocktail samples, live music, and beach games. A portion of the proceeds go to One N Ten. General Admisison $8 online / $10 at the door / free for kids (ages 12 and under). Additional food and beverage items available for purchase ($2-$15).

 

17. Tempe FanCon (formerly Tempe Public Library Comicon)

Jan 26, 10am – 4pm
Tempe Public Library, Tempe

Celebration of comics and pop culture with costume contests, authors and artists, photo ops with characters, fandom related items for sale, and food trucks. Free.

 

2018 Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

18. Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

Jan 31 – Feb 2
Arizona Fairgrounds
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Admission $12 (full event). $2 off with online coupon (printable PDF).

 

19. Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase

Feb 2-17
Tucson
Two weeks of gem shows, including the original Tucson Gem + Mineral Show® plus dozens of satellite shows – many with free admission.

  • Jan 24 – Feb 16, 9am-6pm: Granada Gallery. Minerals, fossils, jewelry and sculptures carved from gemstones, plus natural history displays.
  • Feb 2-17, 7am-6pm: African Art Village at Cushing Street + Linda Avenue. Approximately 125 exhibitors from various countries in Africa showcase masks, beads, statues, fabrics, shea butter, and food. 
  • Feb 14-17: Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® at the Tucson Convention Center. 65th annual expo presented by the Tucson Gem + Mineral Society with exhibits, vendors, giveaways, lectures, and junior education area. Tickets $13 (available Jan 16) / Kids 14 and under are free with paid adult. / $2 off with online coupon (printable PDF).

h/t Visit Tucson

 

Tucson Music Hall

20. Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival

Feb 10-24
Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe
Merger of the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival (PJFF) and the East Valley Jewish Film Festival (EVJFF) that presents films on the themes of Jewish life worldwide. The Festival aims to increase awareness in the Valley of the Sun of the variety and richness of Jewish culture.
Single tickets: $11 online / $13 at the door. Festival Pass: $150

 

21. Southwest Maker Fest

Feb 16, 10am – 4pm
Downtown Mesa

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

Southwest Maker Fest 2016

 

22. Sedona International Film Festival

February 23 – March 3
Sedona

25th anniversary celebration of this festival with over 160 independent films from around the world, including features, shorts, documentaries, animation, foreign films, and student films. 10-ticket pack $130.

 

The Blue Boy painting
The Blue Boy (ca. 1770) by Thomas Gainsborough at The Huntington

+California

23. Blue Boy Restoration Project

Now – Jan or Feb 2019 (estimated)
Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino (Pasadena)
Watch the process of conservation work on the iconic painting The Blue Boy (ca. 1770) by Thomas Gainsborough each Thursday and Friday, 10am – noon + 2-4pm and 2-4pm on the first Sunday of the month. This is one segment of Project Blue Boy, which is ongoing from September 22, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

  • Free admission with advance reservation 1st Thursday of every month, 10am–5pm.

 

Jungle Garden

 

24. Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) Exhibits

Long Beach

  • Now – Feb 3: Ink. Photography exhibit exploring the histories of Long Beach, the US Navy, and LA Chicano culture through tattoo art and the personal stories of 6 community members. Ink looks at the importance of the tattoo art form in Southern California and throughout the world.
  • Jan 12, 10am: Dream Mask Workshop. Day-long workshop with psychotherapist Lynne Okon Scholnick, who will lead participants in making a mask by casting their own face and then personalizing it with images or objects related to a dream they’re had. Participants should bring photographs or found objects related to the symbology of their dream, as well as a sack lunch. All other materials will be provided. Fee: $45
  • Free Museum admission Sundays 11am–5pm + 4th Friday of every month, 5–9pm.

 

25. Origami in the Garden²

Now – Apr 14, 2019
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont
Outdoor sculpture exhibition of larger-than-life origami creations by Jennifer and Kevin Box.

 

26. PostSecret Exhibtion 

Now – 2020
Museum of Man, San Diego

A collection of the handmade postcards submitted to the PostSecret community art project from millions of people from all over the world anonymously sharing their secrets. Included with admission ($13).

  • You can submit a postcard of your own or share you secret by leaving a voicemail at 619-269-3894.

 

27. Spreckels Organ New Year’s Day Concert

Jan 1, 2-3pm
Spreckels Organ at Balboa Park, San Diego
Outdoor concert celebrating the 104th Anniversary of the Spreckels Organ with Civic Organist Emeritus Jared Jacobsen. All ages. Free admission.

June 2018: Spreckels Organ

 

28. Craftcation: Business + Makers Conference

Apr 3-7
Ventura Beach Marriott, Ventura
Four days of creative business classes and craft workshops. Registration $475 (+ticket fee) through Jan 17 / $498 (+ticket fee) Jan 17 – Mar 1

 

Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado

+Colorado

29. MLK Day 2019 Celebration

Jan 17-21
Grand Junction

  • Jan 18, 7pm: Poetry Slam at Charlie Dwellington’s.
  • Jan 19, 4pm: MLK Jr. Celebration Potluck
  • Jan 20: Avalon Theater Movie Day. “42” at 3pm + “The Hate U Give” at 7pm. Tickets for each film are $5.
  • Jan 21: Commemorative March.

 

30. Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF)

Feb 21-23
The American Mountaineering Center (AMC), Golden
Screenings of films that aim to motivate audiences to awareness and action on environmental issues.

 

DIA paper dolls
via DIA

+Michigan

31. Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Exhibits

Detroit

  • Now – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.
  • Jan 11, 7pm + 8:30pm: Friday Night Live! The Michigan Philharmonic’s Miniature Masterpieces. Included with admission.
  • Jan 12 + Jan 13, 2pm: DFT Animation Club: Liyana. Screening of the film Liyana, which follows five orphaned children from Swaziland as they craft a collective fairytale drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their fictional character, Liyana, is brought to life as she embarks on a perilous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. Ages 10+. General admission $5

Drop-In Workshops

Make and takes in the Detroit Institute of Arts – Art-Making Studio. Included with DIA admission.

 

Barrick Museum UNLV

+Nevada

32. VESSEL: Ceramics of Ancient West Mexico

Now – Aug 17
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Las Vegas
Exhibition exploring form and function through ceramic vessels from West Mexico. Suggested voluntary contribution: $5

 

7 Vegas Things to Do Off the Strip

Vogue Knitting Live
via Vogue Knitting LIVE

+New York

33. Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done

Now – Feb 3, 2019
The Museum of Modern Art, Floor 2, Marron Atrium

Gallery exhibition, print publication, and performance program that celebrates the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers in the 1960s who would go on to profoundly shape all fields of art in the second half of the 20th century.

 

34. Vogue Knitting LIVE

Jan 25-27
New York Marriott Marquis, New York
Experiential knitting event with workshops at all skill levels on fit and shaping, pattern writing, lace, and socks. The weekend also includes designer fashion shows, a knitted art gallery, and a Marketplace with new yarn and accessories from around the world. 2-day Marketplace Ticket: $25 / Single 3-Hour Class: $120 / Packages: $130-985

 

+Pennsylvania

35. The Space in Between

Now – Feb 11
Old City Publishing (InLiquid Vestibule), Philadelphia
Signature fiber installation of the intricate hand-crocheted work of artist and international yarn-bomber Melissa Maddonni Haims.

 

+Oregon

36. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Exhibitions

University of Oregon, Eugene
Admission $5. Voluntary donations Wednesdays 5-8pm, the first Friday of each month, and home football game weekends.

  • Now – Jan 20: Matthew Picton: Cultural Mapping. Three-dimensional aerial cartographies each based in a particular city and feature layers of cultural references and historical text.
  • Now – Feb 3: Exploring Identity and Place through the Arts. Through travel as well as artistic appreciation and creation, UO students, with little to no background in art, artistically and historically reflect on autonomy, social construction, and power relations in their personal lives.
  • Now – Feb 3: Paper Weight: Works in Paper by Elsa Mora. 2D and 3D pieces made solely of paper and glue, inspired by the intricacies of the human brain, the wonders that it can produce, and its potential for destruction and chaos.

 

new york ave dc
New York Avenue in Washington D.C.

+Washington D.C.

37. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Now – Jan 21
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

38. Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

Now – 2019
Natural History Museum

Understanding this unique tusked whale through traditional Inuit knowledge and scientific research. Free.

 

39. NMWA’s New York Avenue Sculpture Project

Now – Sep 20, 2020
New York Avenue (east of the White House)
Public art space featuring changing installations of contemporary works by women artists. Currently on display is Huellas y cicatricez (Traces and scars), four totemic sculptures by Mexico City-based Betsabeé Romero that speak to themes of human migration and the natural environment. The structures are constructed from carved tires with gleaming metallic paint and interior lighting.

 

+Washington

40. Spencer Finch: The Western Mystery

Now – Mar 3
Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle

Installation of suspended glass panes that are, in the words of the artist, “creating a moving abstraction of a sunset.”

 

Québec Winter Carnaval
via Carnaval de Québec

INTERNATIONAL

+Canada

41. Carnaval de Québec

Feb 8-17
Old Quebec
Quebec Winter Carnival of outdoor activities, including Ice Canoe Race, two Parades, and live music at Jos’ Camp. Official pass: $11.53

 

Venice
Carnival mask shop in Venice, Italy

+Italy

42. Marina Abramović: “The Cleaner”

Now – Jan 20
Palazzo Strozzi, Florence 
Retrospective of more than 100 of artist Marina Abramović’s works, including video, photography, paintings, objects, installations, and performances from the 1970s up to the 2000s.

 

43. World’s Largest Christmas Tree

Now – Jan 7
Gubbio, Umbria
Every year, a group of volunteers arrange lamps on a hillside at the base of Mount Ingino to create what is known as the “Largest Christmas Tree of the World”. More than 300 green lights outline the shape of a 650-meter-high Christmas tree with over 400 multi-colored lights filling the center, and it becomes a backdrop to the medieval town of Gubbio.

 

44. Carnival of Venice

Feb 16 – Mar 5
St. Mark’s Square, Venice
Pre-Lenten celebrations with revelers in elaborate masks and costumes.

A Glimpse of Venice

+Netherlands

45. Openluchtmuseum (Open Air Museum) Winter Concerts

Jan 13, 14, 20, 21 at 1:30pm + 2:15pm + 3pm
Zeeland church at Openluchtmuseum, Arnhem
Half-hour performances by various choirs, bands and singing groups.

 

 

Otaki Kite Festival
photo via Otaki Kite Festival.

+New Zealand

46. Gardens Magic

Jan 8-27
Wellington Botanic Garden – Soundshell stage, Wellington
Nightly outdoor concerts (8-9:30pm) and lighting installation (9-10:30pm) at the Botanic Gardens. Picnic while you watch local Wellington musicians perform. Free.

 

47. Waitangi Day

Feb 6
Wellington waterfront
Live performances, activities, and food to celebrate the National Day of New Zealand.

  • 10am at Te Wharewaka o Pōneke: Maori performers and activities
  • 10:30am – 12pm at Karaka Cafe: Traditional pit-oven cooked Hāngi available for purchase ($15).
  • 12–7:30pm at Waitangi Park.

 

48. Otaki Kite Festival

Feb 16-17
Otaki Beach

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

 

49. Māoriland Film Festival

Mar 20-24
Ōtaki
New Zealand Film Festival that welcomes Indigenous filmmakers from around the world to celebrate Indigenous creativity and storytelling.

 

Virgen de la Candelaria festival
via Peru’s Ministry of Culture

+Peru

50. Festivity of Virgen de la Candelaria of Puno

Jan 25 – Feb 8
Puno

Festival that mixes the ancient Quechua and Aymara rituals of the Puno region with Catholic traditions. It includes a religious procession with the image of the Virgin carried aloft, Andean dance contests, mask-making, and music.
h/t UNESCO

 




This is my handpicked Happenings List! I’ve edited down event descriptions to be more clear and concise. As much as I try to make sure everything accurate, it’s possible it’s not. Let me know if you see anything that should be changed.  

Have fun!

-S



Alaska photo via Anchorage Museum.

Michigan image via Detroit Institute of Arts.

New York photo via Vogue Knitting LIVE.

Canada/International photo via Carnaval de Québec.

New Zealand photo via Otaki Kite Festival.

Peru image © Ministry of Culture, 2012.

Happenings List: Holiday 2018 (November/December)

thanksgiving picnic centerpiece

We are on the brink of another holiday season, and, even though it seems impossibly soon, 2018 is about to wrap up.

As the pace picks up for the final months of the year, here are a sampling of workshops, festivals, exhibitions, performances, tastings, and tours worth taking notice of. Let me know if you go!

 

THE DANCING UNANGAN by Gertrude Svarny

+Alaska

Gertrude Svarny: UKUQANAADAN

Now – Jan 20, 2019
Anchorage Museum, Anchorage
Exhibition of work by Unangan artist, carver, and weaver Gertrude Svarny, who interprets her history and culture using traditional materials, such as local mineral pigments, seal intestine, and sea lion whiskers.

 

Anchorage International Film Festival

Nov 30 – Dec 9
Anchorage
Festival of local and international “films worth freezing for,” which includes original films, filmmaker workshops, and events like Martini Matinee and the Golden Oosikar Awards.

 

 

Black Cloud by Carlos Amorales

+Arizona

Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire

Now – Jan 27, 2019
Phoenix Art Museum
Major traveling exhibition exploring the archaeological history of Teotihuacan, the first metropolis on the American continent, through more than 200 artifacts – both art and domestic objects – from the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The Aztecs discovered the ruins of the city on the Mexican Central Plateau in the 14th century and named it Teotihuacan, “the place where gods were born.” Included with paid admission. $5 during voluntary-donation times.

  • Nov 15, 5-8pm: After Hours. Music by DJ Byron Fenix, performances by Grupo Coatlicue, and no-host bar. Tickets $8 each / 2 for $12, includes admission to Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire exhibition.
  • Dec 12, 6pm: Indigenous Astronomy Lecture and Workshop. 45-minute overview of the cosmogony, archaeoastronomy, and astronomies of native peoples from the American Southwest, followed by a workshop on sky watching with hands-on demonstrations and tutorials. Both will be presented by Dr. David Koerner, Professor of Astronomy at Northern Arizona University. Advance registration recommended for workshop. Lecture only: $5 / lecture + workshop: $10

 

Mighty Monarchs and the Plant Protectors

Now – Nov 18
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Fall Butterfly Exhibit with Monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects. Included with admission.

 

The Mural Marigold Project

Oct 30 – Nov 3, 11am-5pm
Tlaquepaque Arts + Craft Village, Sedona

26-foot long community mural in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos, which honors friends and family who have passed on. Everyone is encouraged to paint their own tributes and remembrances. Paints and brushes are provided.

 

Astronomy Nights

Nov 2 + Dec 7, every 30 minutes from 6-10pm
Mesa Community College, Mesa

Monthly planetarium shows open to the public the first Friday of the month during the Fall semester. There is also telescope viewing (if the skies are clear) and hands-on activities. Free planetarium show tickets at the door (first come, first served, starting at 5:30pm). Advance tickets available online for $3 each.

  • You can line up for seating 15 minutes before the show starts. No late entry.
  • The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.
  • Free parking in the lots south of the planetarium, except in spaces marked “EMPLOYEES,” which are reserved until 6pm.

 

All Souls Procession

Nov 2-4
Tucson

Two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. Leading up to the procession are art exhibits, performances, and other Dia de los Muertos events. Free. (Donations accepted.)

 

DIY Día de los Muertos

Camelback Studio Tour and Art Sale

Nov 2-4
Scottsdale

Visit artists’ studios, see artists at work, and purchase art. Free admission.

 

Tucson Comic-Con

Nov 2-4
Tucson Convention Center, Downtown Tucson

Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes $45.

 

Pineapple Triangle

Nov 3, 10am-4pm
DeSoto Central Market, Phoenix
Event with Arizona-based artisans, food trucks, and live music. ​20% of event proceeds benefit local non-profits. Admission: $10 /adults, free for kids (12 + under).

 

Shemer Arizona Arts Festival

Shemer Art Center, Phoenix
Nov 3-4, 10am–4pm
Two-day holiday shopping event to benefit the non-profit Shemer Art Center. One-of-a-kind works and demonstrations from 40 Arizona artists, as well as live music, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and opportunities to create your own glass, blacksmith, or ceramic gifts. Free festival admission / $5 Kids Zone.

 

Pie Social

Nov 4, 2–5pm
Hance Park (west lawn), Phoenix
The 9th annual Pie Social will feature pies baked by professional Arizona chefs competing for your vote, live music, art, and storytelling. Benefits Roosevelt Row CDC, Hance Park Conservancy, Arizona School for the Arts, and BioScience High School. Free admission. Pie tasting: $15 for 5 tickets.

  • Storytelling presentation of Shoo Flies (sister version of Bar Flies).
  • Community pie art installation created by Phoenix Union Bioscience High School

 

Chef’s Wine Dinner Series

October – April
Garden at Bar Bianco, Phoenix

Monthly four-course meal with local and seasonal ingredients hosted by Bar Bianco. Each dinner will be paired with wines from a different winery. Reception starts at 6:30pm with dinner to follow. Tickets $150-250.

Featured wineries:

  • Nov 9: Matthiasson Wines
  • Dec 1: Failla 
  • Jan 24: Vineyard Brands
  • Feb 26: Field Recordings 
  • Mar 23: POE
  • Apr 25: TBA

 

From Fleece To Fiber

November 10, 3pm
The Bungalow @ Heritage Square, Phoenix
Learn the art of spinning from shepherdess Celia Petersen, starting with a fleece fresh from the sheep. She will take you through the process of cleaning, carding, turning it into fiber, and building your own drop spindle. No experience is necessary. All materials are included. Class fee $15-16.

 

Workshops at The Farm

The Farm at South Mountain, Phoenix

  • Nov 10, 10am: Fall Flowers Aplenty! Flower arranging class by a Certified Master Florist. There will also be information about flower care and floral design. Flowers and all supplies provided. No refunds. Tickets $69.
  • Dec 2, 10am: Poinsettia Felt Wreaths Workshop. Learn how to make a felt holiday wreath. No refunds. Class Fee $40.
  • Dec 9, 11am: Farm-to-Table Plant-Based Dessert Cooking Class for the Holidays. Cookbook Author Melanie Albert teaches how to prepare 3 different, plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free holiday desserts, featuring chocolate, berries, nuts and seeds, and superfoods. No refunds. Tickets $55.

The Farm at South Mountain

 

Grand Avenue Festival (10th Annual)

Nov 10, 11am – 8pm
Historic Grand Avenue
Art-centric, non-traditional walking festival that highlights arts, small businesses, adaptive re-use, recycling, and the unique history of Grand Avenue. It includes local music, outdoor art installations, free historic building tours, mural projects, pop-up galleries, kid’s activities, artist-designed “selfie stands,” wandering performers (stilt walkers, poets, dancers, balloon twisters, clowns, face painters), arts/craft vendors and food trucks. There are also hands-on, make-and-take arts and crafts booths by art teachers, artists, and makers.

  • 3-4pm: Trashy Hat Promenade and Untrashed Recycled Fashion Show. Participants make and model clothing from recycled materials. Make your own trashy hat at the festival. Free (supplies provided).
  • 8-10pm: After Hours.

 

Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

Nov 15-17
Tucson Expo Center, Tucson
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Admission $10 or free with online coupon (PDF).

 

Hidden In The Hills Studio Tour and Sale

Nov 16-18, 23-25
Cave Creek, Arizona

Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.

 

Hidden in the Hills Art Show Returns

 

Dogs’ Day in the Garden

Nov 17, 8am-2pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

This is the day your dog can join you at the DBG! You and your pup can walk the garden trails, take a family photo, meet other dog lovers, try Doga (dog yoga), learn about local dog-related nonprofits, and shop vendors with Fido-friendly samples. Included with garden admission (humans) + $4 admission per dog. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Humane Society.

 

Phoenix Pizza Festival

Nov 17, 11am-5pm
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

Festival of top pizza makers, featuring live music, lawn games, local vendors, and craft beer and wine bars. Food and beverages (including $2-4 slices) available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc. Tickets: $10 advance / $12 at the gate / free for kids under 5.

Phoenix Pizza Festival

Lace Day

Nov 17, 10am-4pm
Beatitudes Life Center, Phoenix
27th annual event with lace making, exhibits, vendors, and lessons. Presented by the Lacey Ladies of Arizona.

 

Merry Main Street

Merry Main Street

Nov 23 – Jan 4, 2019
Downtown Mesa
Mesa’s holiday celebration with the City’s official Christmas tree, outdoor ice skating rink, Christmas Market with hand-crafted gifts, visits from Santa, food trucks, and Polar Express light rail car.

  • Free parking in all open lots and on-street parking areas in Downtown Mesa.
  • Nov 23 – Dec 29: Free light rail rides between Country Club and Mesa Dr. on Fridays and Saturdays, 5-10pm. Excludes Polar Express.
  • Mesa Christmas Market (Fridays and Saturdays): local vendors pop-up shops with food and handcrafted items, festive lights, and live performances.
  • Winter Wonderland Ice Rink on the east side of Mesa City Plaza, Monday – Friday 5–10pm, Saturday + Sunday 12 – 10 pm. $10 per person, including skates, for 1 hour.
  • Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest at Pioneer Park. Saturdays + Sundays 5:30- 9pm

Merry Main Kick-off! Nov 23, 4-10pm

  • 4pm: Ice show with AZ ICE at the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink
  • 5pm: Holiday music followed by tree lighting
  • 6pm: Merry Main Street, Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, and Mesa Christmas Market open.

 

Scottsdazzle

Old Town Scottsdale
A month of celebratory festivities leading up to the December holidays.

  • Nov 24, 7-9pm: Holiday Tree Lighting and Sing-Along at the Scottsdale Waterfront’s Soleri Bridge, featuring orchestra MusicaNova with over 50 musicians/instruments.
  • Dec 1, 8, 15, + 22, 7-8:30pm: Canal Concert Series at Soleri Bridge Plaza. Free holiday concerts by local talent, such as the Phoenix Boys Choir, Campanillas del Sol Handbell Ensemble, and MusicaNova Brass Quintet.
  • Dec 8, 3-7pm: Sugar Plum Avenue on 5th Avenue. Fairytale village with aerial performances, carriage rides, candy land bounce houses, Nutcracker ballet performances each hour, and a tea party in the street.
  • Dec 13, 6:30-9pm: Gold Palette Artwalk in the Old Town Arts District. Meet local artists in their own studios and at local galleries, while enjoying strolling carolers and refreshments.
  • Dec 22, 8-11am: Java Jingle Crawl. Featuring free tastings and experiences at local coffee shops.

 

2018 Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts (50th Annual)

Nov 30 – Dec 2, 10am-5:30pm
Downtown Tempe
More than 300 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets presenting handmade artwork, including woodwork, photography, ceramics, and wearable art. There are also live entertainment stages, street performers, and entertainment booths. A portion of the proceeds raised at the Festival benefits local charities.

 

Crafeteria Indie Craft Fair

Dec 7, 6-10pm
Medlock Plaza parking lot
(behind Frances/Stinkweeds/Golden Rule Tattoo), Phoenix
Annual arts and crafts festival with local handmade original work, (jewelry, toys, knitwear, beauty products, holiday decor, etc.), as well as live music and food trucks. Free.

 

Brunch Bash

Jan 26, 2019,  10am – 4pm
Cityscape, Phoenix
Festival of brunch with food and cocktail samples, live music, and beach games. A portion of the proceeds go to One N Ten. General Admisison $8 online / $10 at the door / free for kids (ages 12 and under). Additional food and beverage items available for purchase ($2-$15).

 

pond at Mission San Juan Capistrano

+California

Origami in the Garden²

Now – Apr 14, 2019
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont
Outdoor sculpture exhibition of larger-than-life origami creations by Jennifer and Kevin Box.

 

Blue Boy Restoration Project

Now – Jan 2019 (estimated)
Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino (Pasadena)
Watch the process of conservation work on the iconic painting The Blue Boy each Thursday and Friday, 10am – noon + 2-4pm and 2-4pm on the first Sunday of the month. This is one segment of Project Blue Boy, which is ongoing from September 22, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

Jungle Garden

 

PostSecret

Now – 2020
Museum of Man, San Diego
A collection of the handmade postcards submitted to the PostSecret community art project from millions of people from all over the world anonymously sharing their secrets. Included with admission ($13).

  • You can submit a postcard of your own or share you secret by leaving a voicemail at 619-269-3894.

 

Museum of Latin American Art Exhibits

Long Beach

  • Now – Jan 21: Ink. Photography exhibit exploring the histories of Long Beach, the US Navy, and LA Chicano culture through tattoo art and the personal stories of 6 community members. Ink looks at the importance of the tattoo art form in Southern California and throughout the world.
  • Now – Nov 12: DÍa de los Muertos Altar Display and Art Exhibition. Juried display of art and altars by Southern California artists.

 

Patchwork Show

Modern Makers Festival featuring local craft and food makers, live music, and community.

  • Nov 3, 11am-5pm: Jack London Square, Oakland. Featuring a location on the water, several restaurants, and a modern hotel with live jazz on the weekends.
  • Nov 18, 11am-5pm: Marine Stadium, Long Beach. The largest Patchwork event, is pet- and cyclist friendly with 200+ vendors, multiple music stages, and bike valet.
  • Nov 25, 11am-5pm: Downtown Santa Ana (2nd at Sycamore). Historical setting  incorporating local shops, museums and a handful of restaurants and bars.

 

Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair: Fall Fair

Nov 17-18, 10am – 4pm
Central Park, Pasadena
Shop handcrafted goods from over 200 local artisans. All ages. Free admission.

  • Donations accepted for Brighter Future Charity.
  • Leashed pets are welcome.

 

Bedford Gallery Exhibits

Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.

  • Nov 17 at 11am: Public Art Walking Tour. One-hour docent-led walking tour of Walnut Creek’s downtown public art collection. $5 fee includes Bedford Gallery admission.

 

Christmas at Capistrano

Mission San Juan Capistrano, downtown San Juan Capistrano

  • Nov 19 – Dec 19, 9am-5pm: Serra’s Pantry Food Drive. Drop off a donation of food or hygiene items (toothpaste, soap, etc.), to the Mission Gate House.
  • Dec 1, 5:30-8pm: Christmas at the Mission. Tree lighting program, reading of “The First Christmas,” holiday carols, live performances, and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. Tamales, hot cocoa, and sweet treats will be available for purchase. Included with Mission admission.
  • Dec 2 – Jan 6, 2019, 5pm: Capistrano Lights 2018. Nightly tree lighting and music program.
  • Holiday celebration in San Juan Capistrano’s historic downtown district. After the Mission closes, there are a variety of free activities for families in the downtown walking area (PDF map). Many restaurants and shops are open late and offer special discounts or entertainment. Free shuttle around the downtown area 3:30-11pm.

 

Brass in the Park

Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego
Interactive concert series by professional ensemble Westwind Brass.

  • Dec 10, 7pm: Holiday Lights.

 

+Colorado

Candlelight Walk

Nov 30, 6pm
Foothills Art Center, Golden
Community caroling walk from Foothills Art Center to the Golden Visitors Center. Hot beverages, cookies, and entertainment will be provided at several businesses and cultural facilities. Free to join the walk. Candles and glow sticks available for purchase for $1 each.

  • 6pm: Pre-walk caroling and music.
  • 6:30pm: Walking and holiday song sing along.
  • After the walk: Annual Christmas showcase, lighting of the tree and holiday lights, a look at this year’s special holiday ornament, hot cider, and a visit from Santa and his reindeer at the Visitors Center.
  • Brief fireworks show above the Golden Hotel.
  • Trail of holiday lights and roasted chestnuts in Golden History Park.

 

Jackalope Denver

Dec 8-9, 10am – 5pm
McNichols Building, Denver

Shop handcrafted goods from local artisans. All ages. Free admission.

  • Donations accepted for Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies.
  • No pets.

 

Snowcats Cat Convention

Dec 8-9, 11am-5pm
EXDO Event Center, Denver
Cat-lovers’ convention in the Denver RiNo arts district that will raise funds for over 50 non-profits. There will be art, music, presentations by vets and other speakers, kitty yoga, and a cat cafe and lounge with adoptable cats. General admission tickets: humans $15 / cats $5.

  • Dec 8: Moshow the Cat Rapper concert
  • Dec 9: Cat Film Festival
  • Dec 8, 11am + Dec 9, 5pm: Kitten Lady Meet + Greets

Moxie Craft Fest

+Georgia

Moxie Craft Fest

Old City Hall, Brunswick
Nov 10, 10am-5pm

Handmade Holiday Market by a group of 40+ modern, eclectic makers.

 

Salem house by Jess Tennant

+Massachusetts

Salem Arts Association – Holiday Art Market

Nov 24-25
Old Town Hall, Salem
Festive market of handmade treasures with live music and a seasonal theme.

 

+Michigan

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Exhibits

Detroit

  • Now – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.

 

Barrick museum Burtynsky exhibition

+Nevada

VESSEL: Ceramics of Ancient West Mexico

Now – Aug 17, 2019
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, Las Vegas
Exhibition exploring form and function through ceramic vessels from West Mexico. Suggested voluntary contribution: $5

7 Vegas Things to Do Off the Strip

 

New York airport

+New York

Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done

Now – Feb 3, 2019
The Museum of Modern Art, Floor 2, Marron Atrium

Gallery exhibition, print publication, and performance program that celebrates the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers in the 1960s who would go on to profoundly shape all fields of art in the second half of the 20th century and expand dance in ways that reconsidered its place in the world.

 

Latke Festival

Dec 3, 6-8:30pm
Brooklyn Museum
10th annual potato pancake tasting event to benefit The Sylvia Center, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching healthy eating habits to children and their families. $75 admission ticket includes unlimited latke tastings, beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages.

 

+North Carolina

A Festival of Fabulous Mums

Nov 4-6
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham
3-day event that includes a dazzling floral display of show mums grown by members of the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society, cultural and historical information, arts and crafts, and gardening tips. All ages. Free.

 

 

Virginia

+Virginia

Artisans Studio Tour

Nov 10-11, 10am-5pm
Albemarle, Greene, Madison, and Nelson Counties
Self-guided tour of 28 studios showing the work of 49 artisans in Central Virginia. Each studio on the Tour provides locally-sourced refreshments, and many provide demonstrations. Free.

 

Craft + Design 2018

Nov 16-18
Main Street Station, Richmond
Museum-quality show that aims to showcase the finest in contemporary craft. See work in the categories of ceramics, precious metals, glass, wood and recycled materials, contemporary design, innovative use of traditional craft materials, and fiber from over 150 artists from across the country.  The event will take place at Main Street Station’s newly renovated train shed. $10 general admission / $80 weekend pass

 

Smithsonian Native American Museum

+Washington D.C.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Current exhibitions included with admission ($10):

  • Now – Nov 25: Bound to Amaze: Inside a Book-Collecting Career. Exhibition celebrating curator emerita Krystyna Wasserman, who assembled NMWA’s collection of more than 1,000 artists’ books over a thirty-year period.
  • Now – Nov 30: Full Bleed: A Decade of Photobooks and Photo Zines by Women. A selection of photobooks and photo zines, created by an international group of women artists in the last ten years. These deliberate, ordered, and sometimes narrative arrangement of photographic images bound in a book with little or no text encompass photographs of American locations, digital photos snapped through a car window, and prints resulting from experiments with expired photo paper.

 

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

Make a Plan to See Smithsonian Museums in D.C.

Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead (Smithsonian)

American Indian Museum, National Mall
Oct 27, 10am–5pm + Oct 28, 10am–3pm
This year, the museum celebrates monarch butterflies through the creation of an interactive mural, butterfly luminaria, and butterfly masks. Butterflies will also appear in both contemporary and traditional ofrendas. Grupo los Tecuanes (Mixtec) shares cultural performances of Danza de los Tecuanes (Dance of the Jaguar) and Danza de los Viejitos (Dance of the Old Men). Free.

  • Oct 26, 6:30-9:30pm: Día de los Muertos After Hours. Extended hours for a free, family-friendly evening with performances by Mariachis Los Amigos and Mexican folk dance group Bailes de Mi Tierra. Help create an interactive mural, learn to make paper marigolds, and visit the galleries. Enjoy food and drinks—including tacos, tamales, mescal cocktails, desserts, and aguas frescas—from the museum’s Mitsitam Café and local vendors. No charge to attend. Food and beverage tickets will be available for purchase onsite.
  • Oct 28, 3-4pm: Afternoon Concert with Pasatono, an indigenous music ensemble of musician-ethnomusicologists, who are dedicated to celebrating, reinterpreting, and sustaining Native Oaxacan and Mixtec musical traditions.

 

 

Wintergreen Craft Market - Fiber art by Cindy Hoppe

INTERNATIONAL

+Australia

Yankalilla Community Carols

Dec 9, 5:30pm pre-program + 7pm carols
Yankalilla Show Hall, Yankalilla, SA
Pre-program activities include free jumpy castle, free face painting, and sausage sizzle. At 7pm, there will be a selection of traditional carols, guest artists, and nativity play.

+Canada

WinterGreen Fine Craft Market

Nov 16-18
Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
Thousands of skillfully hand-crafted works by new and returning local artists. Saskatchewan-made food products available for purchase.

  • Shopping Spree Giveaway: Nov 16, 1-9pm + 17, 10am-2pm. Enter to win a $300 gift certificate, which can be spent at any booth at WinterGreen 2018.
  • Cash bar: Nov 16, 4-9pm.
  • Live music: Nov 16, 5:30-8pm (Latin guitar) + Nov 17, 1-2:30pm (Regina Symphony Orchestra strings) + Nov 18, 12-1pm (bluegrass).

 

Fall for Local Holiday Market

Dec 8-9, 11am-5pm
The Pipe Shop Building, North Vancouver, British Columbia
Over 95 independent local vendors, free do-it-yourself workshops, and food trucks. Tickets: $3 until Dec 7 / $5 at the door / free for kids (12 and under)

  • The first 50 guests each day will receive a free canvas tote bag filled with local goodies.
  • 2 hours free parking at the Lonsdale Quay Market parkade or ICBC parkade.

 

+Italy

Antica Fiera di San Martino

Nov 10-12
Inveruno, Milan
Regional fair of Lombardy in its 411th year. It includes an agri-food exhibition, agricultural equipment,  seminars on sustainable agriculture, equestrian shows, and local food.

 

World’s Largest Christmas Tree

Dec 7 – Jan 7
Gubbio, Umbria
Every year, a group of volunteers arrange lamps on a hillside at the base of Mount Ingino to create what is known as the “Largest Christmas Tree of the World”. More than 300 green lights outline the shape of a 650-meter-high Christmas tree with over 400 multi-colored lights filling the center, and it becomes a backdrop to the medieval town of Gubbio.

  • Dec 7: Tree lighting ceremony in Piazza 40 Martiri, Gubbio.

 

native new zealand parrot

+New Zealand

Kai Niue Food and Wine Festival

Nov 2-5
Scenic Matavai Resort, Niue Island
Festival showcasing the local produce and Polynesian flavors of Niue, paired with New Zealand wines, as well as chef cooking demonstrations, classes, and dinners. 3-night package $599 / 7-night package $1099

 

 

Weaving Women's Stories via Being Human Festival

+UK

Edward Burtynsky: The Human Signature

Flowers Gallery, London (Cork Street)
Now – Nov 24
Exhibition of new work by Edward Burtynsky in collaboration with Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier, stem from the artist’s ongoing Anthropocene Project, a multidisciplinary investigation into human impact on the planet. The Anthropocene Project debuts this fall with simultaneous museum exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada, a feature-length documentary film, and a book.

 

Northlight Studio Workshops

Northlight Studios, Hebden Bridge
Autumn Term Workshops offer the chance to work with practicing artists. Basic materials are included in the price. Day workshops run from 10:30am-4:30pm.

  • Nov 11: Clay Sculpture from the Life model. £75
  • Nov 18: 3D Textiles – Insect Sculpture. £60
  • Nov 24: Winter Watercolor workshop. £60
  • Dec 8: Printmaking Card workshop.
  • Dec 15: Leather Belt Workshop. £75

 

Being Human

Nov 15-24
Universities Around the UK (Dundee, Exeter, Newcastle, Nottingham, Queen Mary London, and Swansea)
Festival of the humanities, which aims to make research in the humanities accessible to non-specialist audiences. The 2018 theme is ‘Origins and Endings’.

 

Jane Lightfoot Designs Sewing Workshops

Hoveringham Village Centre, Hoveringham
One-day workshops in Jane Lightfoot’s home studio. Includes instruction and a homemade lunch. Workshop fee: £55 + materials.

  • Nov 16, 9:45am-4pm: Red-work Christmas Decorations. Embroider or free-machine heirloom redwork decorations.
  • Dec 7, 9:45am-4pm: A Christmas Wreath. Create a Christmas wreath decorated with wool felt flowers.

 

Shrewsbury United Reformed Church via Being Human Festival




This is my handpicked Happenings List! No one has paid to be on it. I’ve scoured the internet to find events of interest for you, standardize the format, and edit down the descriptions to be more clear and concise. As much as I try to make everything accurate, there could be errors or changes. So let me know if you notice something off. 

Have fun!

-S


Alaska photo via Anchorage Museum.

Georgia image via Moxie Craft Fest.

Massachusetts photo by Jess Tennant.

International photo via Wintergreen Craft Market / Cindy Hoppe.

Italy photo via Albero di Natale.

New Zealand image via WellingtonNZ.com.

UK photos via Being Human Festival.

Happenings List: Fall 2018 (September/October)

mural at mesa arts center

Fall leaves at arboretum

While they don’t get the fanfare that comes with summer or the holiday season, a lot of good stuff goes on in September and October!

A few notable dates…

 

Museum in Pine-Strawberry Arizona

The Happenings List is my hand-selected, seasonal roundup of notable goings-on around the world. While it’s heavy on Arizona events (hey, I live here!), you can also find out about festivals, workshops, art exhibitions, etc. in other states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Washington) and countries (Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK).

So read on, venture out, and let me know how it goes!

The Happenings List

Mesa Arts Center mural

+Arizona

Scorched: a celebration of heat!

Now – Sep 21
First Studio, Phoenix
Art on the theme of heat or made with heat, including metal, ceramic, wood-burning (pyrography), fused-glass, encaustic, and paintings.

  • Gallery open for a Self-Guided Tours: Mon – Fri, 9-5pm
  • Sep 7, 6-10pm: Artists’ Reception
  • Sep 21, 6-9pm: Closing Artists’ Reception

Ida y Vuelta: There and Back

Aug 30 – Oct 6
Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery
An exhibition featuring the work of printmaker and performance artist Diana Calderon alongside the paintings and photographs of Oliverio Balcells. Both artists create imagery inspired by Mexican history, heritage, nature, and culture and personal migration.

 

The Loft Cinema Film Fest on the Road: Rumble

Sep 1, 4pm (screening at 7pm)
The Amerind Museum*, Dragoon
Outdoor showing of the documentary film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World by the Loft Cinema Film Fest on the Road. Before the screening, there will be food available for purchase from the Wicked Burgers food truck, free museum admission, and a performance by The Ohitika Souls. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World begins at 7pm. Bring a chair. Free.

[I watched Rumble recently, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it! It’s this fascinating look at the roots of American music that you don’t always hear about. If you can’t make a screening, it’s available on Amazon/Prime, Google Play, and iTunes. -S]

 

6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US

 

Intro to Cookie Decorating Workshops

Smith-O-Lator Cookie Shop, Mesa
Instructor-led sugar cookie decorating class. You will decorate 6 cookies, using a variety of royal icing techniques. Classes last about 60 to 90 minutes. No experience necessary. Ages 18+. Advance ticket purchase required. $35

  • Sep 6, 5:30pm
  • Sep 7, 10am
  • Sep 11, 5:30pm
  • Sep 13, 5:30pm
  • Sep 15, 1pm
  • Sep 18, 5:30pm
  • Sep 22, 1:30pm

 

Astronomy Nights

Sep 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, + Dec 7, every 30 minutes from 6-10pm
Mesa Community College, Mesa

Monthly planetarium shows open to the public the first Friday of the month during the Fall semester. There is also telescope viewing (if the skies are clear) and hands-on activities. Free planetarium show tickets at the door (first come, first served, starting at 5:30pm). Advance tickets available online for $3 each.

  • You can line up for seating 15 minutes before the show starts. No late entry.
  • The planetarium is wheelchair accessible.
  • Free parking in the lots south of the planetarium, except in spaces marked “EMPLOYEES,” which are reserved until 6pm.

Local Art Loves

Ballet Under the Stars

7pm. Outdoor performances by Ballet Arizona. Free.

  • Sep 12. Tempe Sports Complex, Tempe.
  • Sep 13. Fountain Park, Fountain Hills.
  • Sep 14. Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear.
  • Sep 15. Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix.

Ballet Under the Stars and the beauty of free culture

2018 Furry Friends Fine Arts Festival

Sep 15, 8am–2pm
Shemer Art Center*, Phoenix
Animal-themed arts festival with paw readings, pet adoptions, animal-themed art, live music, vendors, and entertainment, as well as food and beverages from Black Cat Coffee and Short Leash Hot Dogs! Admission $5 individual / $10 family.

Guerilla Film making: An evening with Tony Topaz

Sep 20, 7pm
Tempe History Museum*, Tempe
To launch the Independent Filmmakers Tour, filmmakers Tony Topaz and Steve Wargo will share how they partnered up to complete Tony Topaz’s first film. This is part of the museum’s Third Thursday series, which offers monthly hour-and-half shows, each planned by a different local host to be interactive, entertaining and thought-provoking. Intermission features small batch artisan coffee and dessert.

Mighty Monarchs and the Plant Protectors

Sep 29 – Nov 18
Desert Botanical Garden*, Phoenix
Fall Butterfly Exhibit with Monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects. Included with admission.

Museum Day in the Garden

American Craft Week Show

Oct 4-26
Fountain Hills Community Center, Fountain Hills
Showcase of artwork by Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery artists and workshop participants to celebrate American Craft Week.

  • Oct 4, 5-7pm: Opening reception

The (Fountain) Hills

Dia de los Muertos Festival (Mesa)

Oct 27, 10am-5pm + Oct 28, 12-5pm
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Art and craft market, live entertainment, and artist demonstrations and altars. Free.

All Souls Procession

Nov 2-4
Downtown Tucson
Two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. Leading up to the procession are art exhibits, performances, and other Dia de los Muertos events. Free. (Donations accepted.)

 

DIY Día de los Muertos

Pineapple Triangle

Nov 3, 10am-4pm
DeSoto Central Market, Phoenix
Event with Arizona-based artisans, food trucks, and live music. ​20% of event proceeds benefit local non-profits. Admission: $10 /adults, free for kids (12 + under).

Shemer Arizona Arts Festival

Shemer Art Center*, Phoenix
Nov 3-4, 10am–4pm
Two-day holiday shopping event to benefit the non-profit Shemer Art Center.  one-of-a-kind works and demonstrations from 40 Arizona artists. Plus, live music, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and opportunities to create your own glass, blacksmith, or ceramic gifts! Free festival admission, $5 Kids Zone.

Camelback Studio Tour and Art Sale

Nov 2-4
Scottsdale
Visit artists’ studios, see artists at work, and purchase art. Free admission.

Tucson Comic-Con

Nov 2-4
Tucson Convention Center, Downtown Tucson
Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes $35 through Sep 29 (early bird pricing).

Hidden In The Hills Studio Tour and Sale

Nov 16-18, 23-25
Cave Creek, Arizona

Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.

Hidden in the Hills Art Show Returns

10th Annual Grand Avenue Festival

Nov 10, 11am – 8pm
Historic Grand Avenue
Art-centric, non-traditional walking Festival that highlights arts, small businesses, adaptive re-use, recycling, and the unique history of Grand Avenue. It includes local music, outdoor art installations, free historic building tours, mural projects, pop-up galleries, kid’s activities, artist-designed “selfie stands,” wandering performers (stilt walkers, poets, dancers, balloon twisters, clowns, face painters), arts/craft vendors and food trucks. hands-on, make-and-take arts and crafts booths this year, headed up by art teachers, artists, and makers.

  • 3-4pm: Trashy Hat Promenade and Untrashed Recycled Fashion Show – Participants Make and model clothing from recycled materials. Make your own trashy hat at the festival for free (supplies provided).
  • 8-10pm: After Hours

Phoenix Pizza Festival

Nov 17, 11am-5pm
Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

Festival of top pizza makers, featuring live music, lawn games, local vendors, and craft beer and wine bars. Food and beverages (including $2-4 slices) available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc. Tickets: $10 advance / $12 at the gate / free for kids under 5.

Phoenix Pizza Festival

 

Museum of Man, San Diego

+California

PostSecret

Now – 2020
Museum of Man, San Diego
A collection of the handmade postcards submitted to the PostSecret community art project from millions of people from all over the world anonymously sharing their secrets. You can submit a postcard of your own or share you secret by leaving a voicemail at 619-269-3894. Included with admission ($13).

  • Open late on Labor Day (Monday, September 3) – until 7pm.

 

Museum of Latin American Art Exhibits

Long Beach

  • Now – Jan 21: Ink. Photography exhibit exploring the histories of Long Beach, the US Navy, and LA Chicano culture through tattoo art and the personal stories of 6 community members. Ink looks at the importance of the tattoo art form in Southern California and throughout the world.
  • Sep 26 – Nov 12: DÍa de los Muertos Altar Display and Art Exhibition. Juried display of art and altars by Southern California artists.

 

Bedford Gallery Exhibits

Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.

  • Now – Sep 16: The World of Frida weaves juried and invitational shows that reference the artist with a national, traveling photography exhibit titled Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray.
  • Sep 15, Oct 20, Nov 17 at 11am: Public Art Walking Tour. One-hour docent-led walking tour of Walnut Creek’s downtown public art collection. $5 fee includes Bedford Gallery admission.

 

Sculpture Is: 2018 “In the Garden”

Now – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville

Annual Pajaro Valley Arts sculpture exhibition of over 80 works in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens. Free.

  • Picnicking is allowed!

 

SF Needlework Events

San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, San Francisco

  • Sep 5, 8, 12, 19, 26 + Oct 3 at 11am: Free Stitch-Ins. Bring your knitting, embroidery, or other projects to work on in the company of fellow enthusiasts.
  • Sep 18, 12pm: Lunch + Learn. Carol Ziogas presents on the origins and future of Japanese Sashiko. 19th + 20th century pieces will be on display. Tickets $10.
  • Oct 17, 12pm: Lunch + Learn. Artist Mary Teetor present on tessellation with shadow stitch. Tickets $10.

 

Brass in the Park

Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego
Interactive concert series by professional ensemble Westwind Brass.

  • Sep 13, 7pm: The Music of the Californias. Works include pieces from the mission era, the gold rush, and the golden age of Hollywood.
  • Dec 10, 7pm: Holiday Lights.

 

Roadworks Steamroller Printing Festival

Sep 23, 11am-4pm
San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco
Public printmaking and book arts extravaganza that includes free hands-on printmaking and book arts activities, demonstrations, 50 arts and crafts vendors, and art gallery and studio tours. Free admission.

Steamrolled Art

 

Denver

+Colorado

Broken Bone Bathtub

Sep 6-23
Secret location in The Lakewood Glens, Denver
Interactive one-woman show staged in bathrooms in homes around the world. Siobhan O’Laughlin uses the ritual of bathing to tell her story of a bike accident, a broken arm, and borrowed bathtubs. Tickets $36.

 

Pastels on 5th

Sep 8, 10am-5pm
Downtown Loveland

Sidewalk chalk art festival and fundraiser for Alternatives to Violence (ATV) victim services.

Sneffels Fiber Arts Festival

Sep 29-30
Ridgway, Colorado
Fundraising event for Weehawken Creative Arts, a non-profit arts education center in Ouray County. The festival features fiber vendors, food, workshops, classes, and demonstrations.

 

Moxie Craft Fest

+Georgia

SCAD FASH Exhibitions

Museum of Fashion + Film (Savannah College of Art and Design), Atlanta
Exhibitions are included with admission ($10 adults/free for kids under 14).

Moxie Craft Fest

Brunswick
Nov 10, 10am-5pm

Handmade Holiday Market by a group of eclectic makers. Applications will open in September.

 

House of Seven Gables in Salem

+Massachusetts

Fiber Arts Weekend

Sep 1-2
The House of the Seven Gables, Salem

Hands-on event exploring the historical methods of wool production, hand-sewing, rug-hooking, and card weaving. Included with admission.

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park

  • Rock the Fort at Georges Island: Sep 1, 1-3pm. Free concert.
  • Jazz on Spectacle Island: Sep 2, 1-4pm. Free outdoor jazz concert.
  • Kayaking on Spectacle Island: Sep 3. Ranger-led kayak tours for those who want to try sea kayaking. Hour-long trial also includes park history and information. Ages 12+. Free.
  • Free Ferry Day: Oct 7. (2-for-1 passes are also available for library cardholders at participating Boston-area libraries.)

Exploring Salem: Day Two

 

2018 BIG E FAIR

Sep 14-30
Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield
Annual autumn extravaganza of entertainment, exhibits and the agriculture of New England. There are demonstrations of farming techniques and New England traditions (like pulling contests and cow milking); horse shows; livestock shows with more than 25 breeds of cattle, sheep, goats and hogs; a circus; band concerts; rides; a petting zoo; and a nightly parade. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

  • Avenue of the States: Buildings for the six New England states that demonstrate each one’s architectural style and traditional foods and products.
  • Storrowton Village: recreation of an American village of the 1700s and 1800s.  Traditional Early American crafts and chores are demonstrated within the historic buildings that comprise the Village.
  • Craft Common: Exhibits of work by craftspeople and artisans.
  • Magic Midway: the world’s largest traveling midway – featuring the 115 foot high Giant Wheel, the Drop of Fear, and other rides, as well as games and other attractions.

The Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival

Sep 29, 12-6pm
Columbus Avenue, Boston (west of Massachusetts Avenue to Burke Street)
Annual, outdoor public concert on three stages with jazz, Latin, blues, funk, and groove performances, along with KidsJam, an instrument petting zoo, arts and crafts, and food vendors. Free.

 

Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace.

+Michigan

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Exhibits

Detroit

  • Now – Sep 30: “Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume.” Exhibition focusing on the creative process behind the costume design for the first seven films of the Star Wars saga. Includes more than 60 original costumes, as well as a multimedia tour that draws connections between the films’ costumes and works of art in the DIA’s collection. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Tickets $19 adults / $7 youth + museum admission. Free museum admission + $14 exhibition tickets for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
  • Now – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.

 

Bellagio, Las Vegas

+Nevada

Primal Water: An Exhibition of Japanese Contemporary Art

Now – Oct 21
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (in the Promenade Shops), Las Vegas
Exhibition of post-war Japanese art curated by Midori Nishizawa, who uses water as a motif to present a survey of Japanese Contemporary art history. Featured artists approach water by documenting its absence, capturing its abundance, decontextualizing its existence, or exploring its relationship with humanity. Nishizawa finds a meaningful connection between Las Vegas as an oasis in the desert and this very universal theme. General Admission: $14

 

Searching for the Fountains of Bellagio

 

New York airport

+New York

Beekeeper Tours

Storm King Art Center, Cornwall 
Now – October, Saturdays at 1pm + 2pm
A beekeeper leads tours of Peter Coffin’s Untitled (Bees Making Honey) (2012), at the apiary at the far edge of Storm King’s property.

Judson Dance Theater: The Work Is Never Done

Sep 16 – Feb 3, 2019
The Museum of Modern Art, Floor 2, Marron Atrium

Gallery exhibition, print publication, and performance program that celebrates the Judson Dance Theater, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers in the 1960s who would go on to profoundly shape all fields of art in the second half of the 20th century and expand dance in ways that reconsidered its place in the world.

 

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

+Pennsylvania

Festival O18

Sep 20-30
Philadelphia
This civic experiment, comprised of eleven days of opera and citywide events, transforms Philadelphia into an urban stage where diverse audiences gather to share an experience and amplify human connectedness.

  • Sep 20, 8pm:Sky on Swings” World Premiere at Perelman Theater

Apple Butter Frolic

Oct 6, 9:30am-4pm
Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville

Autumn festival with Mennonite folk craft and farming demonstrations, wagon rides, and Pennsylvania Dutch (German) food – like scrapple, ground cherry pie, and a large caldron of apple butter! Proceeds help support the Mennonite Heritage Center. Admission $8 adults / $2 children age 6-12 / free for children under 6

  • 7:30-10am: Pancake + Apple Sausage Breakfast
  • Parking with shuttle at Indian Valley Middle School.

Seattle

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum*

His and Hers: Paintings and Quilts Exhibit

Cascade Park Community Library, Vancouver
Sep 1 – Oct 31
Art by married couple Ned McConnell, a painter, and Joan McConnell, a quilter/quilt-designer. Free.

Knitting with Booze

Sep 4 + Oct 2, 6pm
Blue Star Cafe + Pub, Seattle
A self-described “welcoming group” that meets for “booze, fiber and inappropriate conversation.”

Wooden Boat Festival

Sep 7-9
NW Maritime Center, Port Townsend
Festival featuring more than 300 wooden boats that both honors traditions and invites energetic debate. Experts and enthusiasts give presentations and demonstrations on the latest innovations in boatbuilding, equipment, and skills.

Columbia Springs Guided Walks

Sep 12 + Oct 10, 5:30pm
Columbia Springs Visitor’s Center, Vancouver
Easy walking tour to learn more about Columbia Springs, the Vancouver Hatchery, and native plants and animals. Lead by volunteer guides, walks typically last 30 minutes to one hour and include trails that have uneven surfaces and steps. Register by emailing volunteering@columbiasprings.org. All ages are welcome. Free ($5 donation suggested).

Friday Harbor Film Festival

October 26-28
San Juan Island
Documentary film festival in the historic seaside community of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

 

art at NMWA

+Washington D.C.

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

Women in the Arts and a Pop-up Makerspace

National Museum of Women in the Arts*

These exhibitions and events are included with admission ($10).

  • Bound to Amaze: Inside a Book-Collecting Career – Now – Nov 25: Exhibition celebrating curator emerita Krystyna Wasserman, who assembled NMWA’s collection of more than 1,000 artists’ books over a thirty-year period.
  • Full Bleed: A Decade of Photobooks and Photo Zines by WomenNow – Nov 30: selection of photobooks and photo zines, created by an international group of women artists in the last ten years. These deliberate, ordered, and sometimes narrative arrangement of photographic images bound in a book with little or no text encompass photographs of American locations, digital photos snapped through a car window, and prints resulting from experiments with expired photo paper.
  • MakeHER MartSep 23, 10am-4pm: Pop-up artisan market, promoting local women artists and designers who create handcrafted art and merchandise, including jewelry, fine art, home accents, and personal accessories.

 

 

Roman Forum ruins

INTERNATIONAL

+Australia

Festival of Nature

Sep 5-9, 9am-4pm
Yankalilla, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
6-day celebration of all things sustainable with guided walks, open homes and gardens, classes on health and longevity, panel discussions, guided Yoga and Wayapa Wuurrk sessions, pop-up workshops, and international visiting chefs.

  • Sep 9, 10am-4pm: Sustainable Living Expo.  Hands-on workshops, market stalls, guest presenters, Nature Playground, live music, and local food, wine and beer. Free.
  • Workshops on DIY topics: Home cheesemaking 101, make-and-take essential oils, Ingalalla tree planting, beeswax wraps.

 

+France

Parcours des Mondes 2018

Sep 11-16
Galerie FLAK, Paris
AfriCubism is an exhibition exploring the intersection of Ancient African Art and Cubism. It includes Senufo, Lwalwa, Dogon, Songye, Kota, and Tsogho masks and figures, along with drawings and paintings by Picasso, Léger, Braque, Gleizes, and Lipchitz.

  • Sep 11, 3-9pm: Opening Preview

 

+India

Bandishana – Indian Classical Music

Sep 15, 8:30pm
Harkat Studios, Versova, Mumbai
Evening of melodic compositions in various moods and time signatures with Indian classical vocalist Ronkini Gupta and musicians Adinath Patkar and Rupak Dhamankar. ₹350

 

cheese at FOTE

+Ireland

Aniar Boutique Cookery School

Galway City, Ireland
Classes are led by chef patron JP McMahon and include demonstration and hands-on activities for students to learn how to cook and engage with current trends. Each includes a light lunch with a tasting of the day’s produce and a glass of wine at the end of the day. Bring a container/lunch box to take home samples.

  • Sep 3 – Oct 8: Understanding food. 6-week course looking at the origin and traceability of basic food elements, as well as the seasonality of food, wild foods, and foraging in one’s own local environment. Course: €450
  • Sep 9, 10am-5pm: Vegetables, Wild Food + Seaweed. One-day workshop exploring modern approaches to vegetarian cooking, with a particular focus on Irish ingredients, such as local seaweed, wild mushrooms, autumnal fruits, and wild herbs. Class:  €195 / Class + Cava Bodega Tapas Cookbook: €215
  • Oct 14, 10am-5pm: Gastropub Classics. One-day workshop on the often over-looked classics of pub food, including steak, fish and chips, ham hock terrines, potted crab, and handmade burgers. Students will learn new cooking and culinary techniques with an emphasis on food provenance and sourcing from local suppliers. Class:  €195 / Class + Cava Bodega Tapas Cookbook: €215

Food On The Edge: The Future of Food

Oct 22-23
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Galway City
Not-for-profit conference seeking to make good food accessible for everyone. Approximately 50 chefs speak over the two day symposium. €350

 

Venice

+Italy

Regata Storica 2018

Aug 30 + Sep 2
Canal Grande, Venice
Centuries-old parade of gondolas and other traditional boats, as well as the most important races of Venice’s rowing season.

  • Aug 30: Presentation of the teams and blessing of the gondolini.
  • Sep 2, 4pm: Historic boat parade on the Grand Canal, followed by races.

 

Mushroom Festival: Festa Del Fungo

Sep 29 – Oct 7
Montefeltro, Sasso Simone e Simoncello Nature Park, San Sisto di Piandimeleto

Week of mushroom-focused conferences, tasting events, mushroom picking competition, market of local products, and excursions within the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Park.

Japan

+Japan

Type Camp Japan 2018

Nov 5-11
Makabe, Ibaraki, Japan
Retreat focused on typographic concepts applied to traditional Japanese arts and crafts, including brush calligraphy, Shibori indigo dying, historic letterform carving, and sake labels. There will be daily trips from the camp in the countryside to workshops and activities, such as a Shibori dying studio and Shinto Temple. Registration $3650 (by 15 Oct).

 

+Netherlands

Zundert Flower Parade

Sep 2-3
Markt Street, Zundert
Corso Zundert is the world’s biggest flower parade and a tradition since 1936. You can see the floats on exhibition the following day. Parade: €9 advance / €10 at the gate

Dutch Design Week

Oct 20-28
Eindhoven
2500 designers – both established and newcomers – present solutions in the fields of product design, spatial design, textile + fashion, design management + trends and graphic design at more than 100 locations scattered across the city.

 

native new zealand parrot

+New Zealand

Ngāi Tipu Taketake – Indigenous Flora

Wellington Botanic Garden, Wellington
Now – Sep 9
Exhibition of over 40 works by contemporary botanical artists, showcasing New Zealand flora as part of the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition 2018. Artwork, prints, and cards will be available for purchase. Free admission.

PechaKucha Night Christchurch

Sep  19, 7:30pm (Doors at 6:30pm, with Ilex café open for drinks and snacks)
Christchurch Botanic Garden’s Visitor Centre
Short talks by local female scientists, writers, and entrepreneurs on the theme of “Women, Science and Conservation,” in honor of the 125th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and Conservation Week. Tickets $18.

 

On an Uphill Track: Funiculars

Otari-Wilton’s Bush Open Day and Plant Sale

Sep 22, 10am-4pm
Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Wellington
Annual Spring Festival with guided walks, kids’ activities, and plants, food and handmade gifts for sale. Free.

 

 

Double decker bus London

+UK

Independents Biennial

Now – Oct 28
Williamson Art Gallery, Liverpool City 
Festival celebrating grassroots and emerging artists with a largely free program offering a fresh perspective on how we see, make and use art in the region.

Native Spirit Festival

Oct 11-21
Bloomsbury, London
Native Spirit Film Festival presents Indigenous Film, Native Media and Artists, with some focus on languages in the run-up to UNESCO 2019 Year of Indigenous Languages.

Northlight Studio Workshops

Autumn Term Workshops offer the chance to work with practicing artists. Basic materials are included in the price. Day workshops run from 10:30am – 4:30pm.

  • Oct 20: Making Books: Coptic Binding. £60
  • Oct 21: Mosaic on Slate. £60
  • Nov 11: Clay Sculpture from the Life model. £75
  • Nov 18: 3D Textiles – Insect Sculpture. £60
  • Nov 24: Winter Watercolor workshop. £60
  • Dec 8: Printmaking Card workshop.
  • Dec 15: Leather Belt Workshop. £75

Being Human

Nov 15-24
Universities of Dundee, Exeter, Newcastle, Queen Mary London, and Swanse
Festival of the humanities, which aims to make research in the humanities accessible to non-specialist audiences. The 2018 theme is ‘Origins and Endings’.

 

 




*Participating in the Smithsonian’s Museum Day.


Georgia image via Moxie Craft Fest.

Massachusetts photo by Jess Tennant.

Michigan photo via DIA. Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace. © & ™ 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Ireland image via Food on the Edge.

Japan image via TypeCamp.

New Zealand image via WellingtonNZ.com.

Happenings List: Summer 2018 (June/July/August)

andes mountains in peru

The seasons are shifting.

Like desert creatures, Arizonans start to be more active in mornings and evenings to avoid the heat this time of year. There will be moonlight hikes, nighttime ballet performances, and stargazing parties at the Grand Canyon – all of which you can read about below.

Happenings in cooler climates tend to embrace the summer days. You can enjoy the outdoors at Canadian campground concerts, a solstice parade in Seattle, or Summerfest in Evergreen, Colorado. Or perhaps you’d prefer to party in a Paris fire station or see a play inside a San Francisco bathroom.

Siobhan O'laughlin

Also on our list are a couple of Southern Hemisphere spots, where it’s the winter solstice that’s approaching. You can still see traditions like the Māori New Year (Matariki) in New Zealand and Incan harvest ceremonies (Inti Raymi) in Peru performed.

Read on, because there are truly beautiful things going on all over the world!

desert botanical garden phoenix

+Arizona

Eroica – An Evening at The Garden

Now – June 2 (Tuesdays through Saturdays), 8pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
World premiere ballet by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen, performed to Beethoven’s Third Symphony with a desert garden backdrop.

 

Museum Day in the Garden

Entertainment at Reid Park

Gene C. Reid Park and Reid Park Zoo, Tucson

Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Spring Music Under the Stars series concerts are Sundays through June 10 at DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. Please bring folding chairs or a blanket.

Summer Safari Friday Nights at Reid Park Zoo are Fridays through August 3. They include live music, wildlife activities and encounters, and theme nights. Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids

Highlights:

  • ​June 3, 7pm: Tribute to Leonard Bernstein with special guest Sophia Righter (Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Music Under the Stars series).
  • June 8, 6pm: Go Blue – World Ocean’s Day Celebration at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Learn about the importance of water conservation. Entertainment: Shrimp Chaperone. Rubio’s food available for purchase. Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids
  • June 10, 7pm: 1812 Overture (Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Music Under the Stars series).
  • June 16, 6:30pm: Brew at the Zoo 2018 at Reid Park Zoo. Sample craft brews in your own eco-friendly cup, try glass painting, play games, hear live music. Pub food available for purchase. Funds raised will support the Zoo Project Fund. Ages 21+. Tickets $45 advance / $55 at the door / $20 designated drivers.
  • July 6th, 6pm: Explore Your Wild Side at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Watch zoo animals play including goats, owl, snake, bearded dragon, giraffe, rhino, otter, tortoise, ferret. Entertainment: The Just Intervals Tickets $10.50 adults / $6.50 kids
  • August 3, 6pm: Care and Training at Reid Park Zoo (Summer Safari Nights). Learn how the zoo cares for its animals. Entertainment: Michael P. & the Gully Washers

 

Moonlight Hike at Red Rock State Park

May 29, 6:15pm + June 27, 6:30pm
Red Rock State Park, Sedona 
2-mile interpretive hike led by a  naturalist. Watch the sunset from an overlook and hike back by moonlight. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with water and a flashlight. $5 fee + park admission ($7/adult). Reserve your spot at least one day in advance by calling Red Rock State Park at (928) 282-6907.

 

October 2017 Photo: Sedona

“Craft For A Cause”

Jun 1, 4:30-7pm
Craft Nights (10832 N. 32nd St.), Phoenix
String art make-and-take benefiting the Paradise Valley Emergency Food Bank. Templates and materials provided. All ages. Fee: 5 non-perishable food items for donation or $25.

 

Wooden Bow Tie Make-and-Take

Jun 9, 1:30pm
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, Phoenix
Make a wooden bow tie by choosing a type of wood, using a bandsaw or scroll saw to cut out your design, adding strips of inlay, sanding and finishing your piece, and attaching an elastic band. No experience required. Free.

 

2018 Grand Canyon Star Party

Jun 9-16, 8pm
South Rim: Grand Canyon Visitor Center
North Rim: Grand Canyon Lodge

Nightly astronomy programs, slide shows, constellation tours, and telescope viewing. Free.

 

Payson Pie and Strawberry Llamas

 

Pine-Strawberry Summer Fest

Jun 16, 9am-5pm + Jun 17, 9am-4pm
Pine-Strawberry Community Center and Ramada, Pine
Summer festival with flats of strawberries and strawberry treats available for purchase, as well as arts, crafts, and food vendors.

 

Navajo Festival of the Arts & Culture​

Aug 4-5
Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Artist demonstrations, traditional and contemporary art and food vendors, musical performances, and hoop and social dances. Weekend Pass (last year): $18 adult

 

 

+California

Bedford Gallery Exhibits

Walnut Creek
Gallery dedicated to allowing the public access to learn about the visual arts, including the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. Admission $5.

  • Now – Jun 24: Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press.
  • July 8 – Sep 16: The World of Frida weaves juried and invitational shows that reference the artist with a national, traveling photography exhibit titled Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray.
  • Jun 16, Jul 21, Aug 18 at 11am: Public Art Walking Tour. One-hour docent-led walking tour of Walnut Creek’s downtown public art collection. $5 fee includes Bedford Gallery admission.

 

What Nourishes Us

May 30 – Jul 15 (open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am – 4pm)
Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery, Watsonville
Group exhibition in honor of Watsonville’s 150th birthday. Members of Pajaro Valley Arts use a variety of media to explore ways the Santa Cruz County community nourishes them (bodies, souls, imaginations, arts). Free.

 

Mainly Mozart Festival

Jun 1-24
Balboa Theater, San Diego
30th anniversary of a festival with a mission to enrich the lives of music lovers by connecting them to Mozart and the Masters, to world-class musicians and music-making, and to each other.

 

Sculpture Is: 2018 “In the Garden”

Jun 1 – Oct 31
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens, Watsonville

Annual Pajaro Valley Arts sculpture exhibition of over 80 works in the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens. Free.

  • Picnicking allowed.
  • June 14, 5-7pm: Opening reception.

 

Taste of Gaslamp

Jun 16, 1-4pm
Gaslamp Square, San Diego

Self-guided culinary tour showcasing dining options available in Gaslamp Quarter. Tastings from 24 restaurants and beers from the Karl Strauss brewery. Tickets $35 (advance) / $45 (day of)

 

Lunch + Learn Series

San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, San Francisco
Interactive presentations and workshops with a community speaker or small project monthly on the third Wednesday (January to October) at noon. Tickets $10

  • Jun 20: Stephanie Vinces presents on Kinetic embroidery, which combines laser cutting, wire work, needlework, textiles, mosaic, and sculpture.
  • Jul 18: Sarah Pedlow of ThreadWritten presents embroidered textiles from her artist’s residencies in Hungary, Romania, Holland, and Ukraine.
  • Aug 15: Molly McClaughlin presents Crazy Quilt construction and embellishment.
  • Sep 18: Carol Ziogas presents on the origins and future of Japanese Sashiko. 19th + 20th century pieces will be on display.

 

Broken Bone Bathtub: Bay Area

July 6-24
Secret locations throughout the Bay Area
Interactive one-woman show staged in bathrooms in homes around the world. Siobhan O’Laughlin uses the ritual of bathing to tell her story of a bike accident, a broken arm, and borrowed bathtubs.

 

 

 

 

ridgway colorado

+Colorado

Michael McCullough’s 6th Annual Amateur Sculpting Contest

June 2, 1pm
Ridgway Community Center, Ridgway

Amateur sculptors sculpt three to five pounds of clay into a complete work in just two hours. A panel of professional artists determines the winners and award cash prizes. Adult registration: advance $35 / drop-in $30. Youth registration: advance $15 / drop-in $20.

6 Airbnb Getaways in the Western US

 

2018 Ridgway Concert Series

July 5, 12, 19, 26
Hartwell Park, Ridgway
Thursday night concert series with dancing and mountain views. Free. All ages.

  • Children’s activities area.
  • You can bring chairs, blankets, and a picnic – but no outside alcohol.
  • Food and beverages (including local beer) will be available for purchase. Beer sales benefit a local not-for-profit.

Enjoy anywhere: Stream concert series live at kvnf.org or tune in to KVNF Community Radio (90.9, 89.1 FM).

 

Summerfest

July 21, 10am-6pm + July 22, 10am-5pm
Buchanan Park athletic fields, Evergreen
Festival of art, crafts, music, and beer. Over 120 artists and craftspeople with work for sale in ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood. Admission $5 for adults / free for children.

  • Proceeds benefit Center for the Arts Evergreen.
  • July 21, 11am-5pm: Palette of Brews. Beer tasting event of Colorado microbrews. Includes unlimited tastes. Ages 21+.  Tickets $25 + festival admission. Beer, wine, and margaritas will also be available for purchase.

 

+Georgia

SCAD FASH Exhibitions

Museum of Fashion + Film (Savannah College of Art and Design), Atlanta
Exhibitions are included with admission ($10 adults/free for kids under 14).

 

 

+Indiana

Vintage Indiana Wine + Food Festival

June 2, 12-6pm
Military Park, Indianapolis
Samples available of over 200 wines from Indiana wineries, food and wine sessions with chefs and winemakers, live music, food and artisan vendors. Ages 21+. Tickets $30 advance / $40 at the gate / $10 designated driver

 

Boston harbor island

+Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions

  • Now – Sep 3. Mark Rothko: Reflection: Exhibition of 11 Rothko pieces on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. that show the continuity of the artist’s work within western artistic tradition.
  • Now – Jun 3. Black and White Japanese Modern Art: Display of a newly acquired, large-scale calligraphy by Inoue Yūichi, along with a selection of other monochrome avant-garde works from postwar Japan.

 

Exploring Salem: Day One

 

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park

  • Free Ferry Days: Aug 10, Oct 7. (2-for-1 passes are also available for library cardholders at participating Boston-area libraries.)
  • Rock the Fort at Georges Island: Jul 1 – Sep 3, 1-3pm on Saturdays. Free concerts featuring a variety of music.
  • Jazz on Spectacle Island: Jul 3 – Sep 4, 1-4pm on Sundays. Free outdoor jazz concert series.
  • Kayaking on Spectacle Island: Jul 6 – Sep 7 on Mondays. Ranger-led kayak tours for those who want to try sea kayaking. Hour-long trial also includes park history and information. Ages 12+. Free.

 

Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace.

+Michigan

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)

Detroit

  • Now – Sep 30: “Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume.” Exhibition focusing on the creative process behind the costume design for the first seven films of the Star Wars saga. Includes more than 60 original costumes, as well as a multimedia tour that draws connections between the films’ costumes and works of art in the DIA’s collection. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Tickets $19 adults / $7 youth + museum admission. Free museum admission + $14 exhibition tickets for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
  • Aug 25 – Feb 17, 2019: Lost + Found. Exhibition showcasing the “accidental” art form of vernacular photography, featuring salvaged snapshots by amateur photographers, including over 500 of 1970s Detroit.

 

Hollywood Costume: The art of film costuming

 

road to Albuquerque

+New Mexico

Festival Flamenco 31

June 9-16
Albuquerque
Visiting artists, performances, and daily workshops for all experience levels. All Access Workshop Package (unlimited workshops) $1,050

 

Silver City CLAY Festival

Silver City
July 16-21
Hands-on pottery and sculpting workshops, exhibitions, tours, lectures, market, and youth activities. Lectures $10, workshops $30-300

  • Entrepreneurship for Creatives series $225
  • July 21, 11am: Entrepreneurship for Young Artists $30
  • July 21: Juried Market

 

New York airport

+New York

Marc Camille Chaimowicz: Your Place or Mine…

Now – Aug 5
The Jewish Museum, New York
Exhibition of cross-disciplinary work (painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, installation, furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, and wallpaper) from an artist with cross-cultural perspective.

  • Thursdays 5-8pm are Pay-What-You-Wish admission. Saturdays are free (but audio guides, shop, and children’s exhibition are not available).
  • July 15, 1pm: Pattern Power in Floor 4 Studio. Adult Studio Workshop taught by contemporary artist Timothy Hull. Create your own unique patterns and learn block printing techniques to apply them to fabric. All materials included. Fee: $80
  • July 21, 5:30pm: Exhibition tour in ASL. Pre-tour reception meets at Russ & Daughters. Advance registration required. Free.

 

+Virginia

Spring Farm to Table

Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, Mount Vernon
June 15, 7pm
Dinner featuring products cultivated and produced on George Washington’s estate. $99/guest or $178/couple.

 

Robot cross stitch By LaRu

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum

 

Robot Cross Stitch Class

June 1, 6:30pm
Robot vs Sloth, Pike Place Market, Seattle
Learn (or refresh your memory) how to cross stitch with Lauren Rudeck (La Ru) and an adorable robot! Tickets: $35, plus ticket fees.

  • Includes La Ru Robot Cross Stitch Kit (fabric, hoop, needle, thread, and robot pattern), personalized instructions from Lauren Rudeck, snacks and beverages.
  • 20% discount on any Robot vs Sloth purchases made during class.
  • A percentage of each ticket sale goes to a bunny rescue.

 

Fremont public art

 

Fremont Fair

June 16-17
Seattle

Neighborhood street festival to celebrate the beginning of summer. The weekend features the 30th Fremont Solstice Parade, art car show, live music, impromptu street performances, and 300+ artists, craft vendors, and food booths. Free.
Saturday, June 16:

  • Craft Market 10am – 8pm
  • Corona Light Main Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 8pm
  • Casa Noble Center Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 8pm
  • Solstice Parade 1pm

Sunday, June 17:

  • Craft Market 11am – 6pm
  • Corona Light Main Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 5:30pm
  • Casa Noble Center Stage and Beer Garden 11am – 5:30pm
  • Dog Parade 2:30pm (Participant registration at the COLA tent on 34th Avenue, 11am-1:30pm. $20 registration fee benefits Citizens for Off Leash Areas.)

 

Washington monument

+Washington D.C.

Hung Liu In Print

Now – Jul 8
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Best known as a painter whose work explores themes such as movement and migration, artist Hung Liu also creates pieces using an array of printing and collage techniques. She describes printmaking as “poetry,” layering images with highly textured surfaces and screens of drip marks. Museum admission $10.

 

Make a Plan to See Smithsonian Museums in D.C.

 

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Now – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

IMG_2597

INTERNATIONAL

+Canada

Cook Shack Sessions

Family-friendly arts and music by Yukon Women in Music members in campgrounds. Free.

 

On an Uphill Track: Funiculars

 

The Works Art & Design Festival

June 21 – Jul 3
Federal Building Plaza (Capital Plaza on the Alberta Legislature Grounds), Edmonton
Festival of visual art, design, and entertainment with tours, receptions, demonstrations, and interactive experiences. Free.

  • 50 exhibits at 30 different venues.
  • The Works Street Stage: Daily live performances 12-9:30pm.

 

La Cloche Art Show

Jun 30 – Jul 8, 11am-5pm daily
Whitefish Falls Community Center, Whitefish Falls, Ontario
Juried show and sale with work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, photography, and sculpture by local and international artists. Free admission.

 

+France

Les Bals des Pompiers (Fire Brigade Balls)

Jul 13-14, 9pm to 4am
Paris
Bastille Day parties hosted at a dozen fire stations throughout Paris as fundraisers.

 

+Germany

Bookbinding Workshop: Stab Stitch to Coptic

June 30, 11am
Volta Press, Berlin

Learn several classic binding techniques, including stab stitch/block binding, saddle stitch, and coptic binding. Then create three of your own handmade blank books. All materials are included. Fee 161 €

 

 

Isola di cinema- Rome

+Italy

Il Terzo Giorno

Now – July 1
Palazzo del Governatore, Parma
Photos, installations, and paintings offering a poetic look at the topic of sustainability. Curated by Didi Bozzini, the exhibition is designed to take visitors through a cathartic journey starting from the creation of plants on the Third Day of Genesis and continuing through destruction, overcoming, nihilism, and a return to nature.

 

Getting a Taxi in Rome

 

L’Isola del Cinema

Jun 7 – Sep 2
Isola Tiberina, Rome
Film and cultural festival with art, music, and food on an island in the Tiber River.

Winter Celebrations of Light

+New Zealand

Matariki Festival

30 June – 22 July
Auckland
Celebration of the Māori New Year with events regionwide, including ceremonial chanting (karakia) at dawn, traditional dance performances and singing, kite-flying, and street food.

 

andes mountains in peru

+Peru

Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)

Jun 24, 9am
Sacsayhuaman, Cusco
Incan winter solstice and harvest ceremony followed by music and the dance of the four sides of the Tawantinsuyo (nations). Tickets $59-259.

Steamrolled Art

+UK

Bainbridge Print Studios workshops

Elephant and Castle studio, London

  • June 3, 10am. Etching one-day workshop. £85 fee
  • July 1, 10am. Cyanotype one-day workshop. £85 fee
  • July 14 + 15, 10am. Collagraph one-day or weekend workshop. £85/160 fee

 

 




This is my handpicked list of events that sound interesting to me. However, I can’t go to all of them. If you’re able to make it to any, let me know how it goes!

Also, if you notice any information that’s incorrect, let me know that too. I do try to get it right, but it’s possible there are errors or changes. 


Photo of Siobhan O’Laughlin via Broken Bone Bathtub.

Massachusetts photo via Boston Harbor Islands.

Michigan photo via DIA. Concept Art, Queen Amidala Senate Gown. Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace. © & ™ 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Washington photo via LaRu.

Canada photo (Pine Lake Campground in the Yukon) by Peter Waterman. CCL.

Germany photo via Volta Press.

Happenings List: Spring 2018 (Mar/Apr/May)

London Craft Week ceramics

Did you know that March is Hong Kong Art Month? May 9-13 is London Craft Week. In New Zealand, where March is autumn, there’s a street festival called “CupaDupa” in Wellington’s Cuban Quarter. (Did you know Wellington had a Cuban Quarter?!)

In Washington D.C., they’re currently installing this amazing-sounding Burning Man exhibition (“No Spectators”) that’s set to open at the end of March. It will take up the entire Renwick Gallery and spill out into the surrounding neighborhood. (Also, the Renwick is a Smithsonian museum, so admission is free.)

Pompeii AZ exhibition

If you’re in Phoenix, you have until May 28 to catch the Pompeii exhibition at Arizona Science Center. I highly recommend it. They brought all this 2000-year old stuff over from the museum that houses Pompeii’s artifacts in Southern Italy. (Can you imagine being in charge of that packing job?? Yikes.)

The last weekend in April, the Arizona International Film Festival and Agave Heritage Festival – both in Tucson – overlap, so you could catch a couple films in between agave roasts and tequila tastings.

There’s lots to explore and enjoy this season. Read on to find out more!

+Arizona

Gems from the Burton Barr Library Art Collection

Now – May 25, 2018
The Gallery @ City Hall (ground floor), Phoenix
Artwork from the Burton Barr Central Library Art Collection by artists including Ed Mell, Joan Miró, and Fritz Scholder.

  • Free and open to the public from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • Light rail: Washington/Central
  • Parking: Street parking (metered) or 305 parking garage at 305 W. Washington St. ($4/hour)

 

Irish Cultural Events

Downtown Phoenix

 

Spring Out to Lunch Concert Series

Now – Mar 22, Thursdays at 12:30pm.
Wells Fargo Garden performance area at Mesa Arts Center
Free outdoor concerts at lunchtime. Pack a picnic or purchase food on-site.

 

Raptor Free Flight!

Now – Apr 15
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson
Watch hawks, falcons, and owls fly completely untethered in the open desert, while a narrator explains the characteristics of each species. Included with admission.

 

Autumn into Spring Art Show

Now – May 11
Cornerstone Hospital, Tucson

Art on display (and for sale) by 25 local artists throughout the facility. Sponsorsed by Southern Arizona Arts Guild.

Pompeii: The Exhibition

Now — May 28
Arizona Science Center, Phoenix
Exhibition of artifacts from the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Over 200 items are on loan from the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, including wall-sized frescoes, mosaics, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, statues, Roman coins, and body casts of the volcano victims. Timed-entry ticket required. Tickets $12 (adults) / $10 (ages 3-17) + science center admission.

 

24th Annual Sedona International Film Festival

February 24 – March 4, 2018
Sedona

Festival with over 160 independent films from around the world, including features, shorts, documentaries, animation, foreign films, and student films. 10-ticket pack $130.

 

Field to Feast Tour

March 1, 7
Visitor Information Center, Yuma
(201 N. 4th Ave.)
Half-day farm tour. Hands-on harvesting instruction from a local grower followed by lunch made from the produce you picked. Includes transportation, some veggies to take home, and the field-fresh lunch. Tickets $55.

 

Phoenix Scottish Games

Mar 3-4
Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix
Games and entertainment presented by The Caledonian Society of Arizona, including competitive highland dancing, pipe bands, heavy athletics, country dancing, and historical re-enactments. Tickets $20/adults, $5/kids (6-12).

 

Savor Yuma

Mar 7
Old City Hall, Yuma

Progressive dining experience with a tour bus that takes you to sample food at several Yuma eateries. Tickets $55.

 

Art Detour 30

Mar 15-20
Downtown Phoenix

  • March 15. Art D’Core Gala.
  • March 16, 6-10pm. Pre-Detour Third Friday.
  • March 17-18. Art Detour! Studio and art space tours.

 

18th Annual Spring Heritage Pecan & Wine Festival

Mar 17-18
Community Field, Camp Verde
Wine tasting and all-ages festival with live music, an archaelogy fair, canoe and kayak racing, 40 vendors, and activities for kids.

Red Mountain in Mesa

El Tour de Mesa

Apr 7, 9am-2pm
Downtown Mesa
Rides from 5 to 61 miles, starting in Downtown Mesa and going as far as Red Mountain. Entry fee varies and goes to local charities.

  • CycloMesa: Unchained Bicycle Festival has a view of the El Tour start/finish line and Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony, as well as activities (zip line, rock walls, bungee trampolines, inflatables, etc.), BMX stunt shows, food trucks, and live music. Free.

 

Garden Project

Apr 8, 7pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Pianist-composer Michael Brown, clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, violinist Elena Urioste, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis perform a new work inspired by Desert Botanical Garden, Wave Hill in New York and Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Tickets $40.

 

Museum Day in the Garden

27th Arizona International Film Festival

April 18-29
Exhibition venues throughout Tucson
Film festival with a focus on independent cinema and diverse cultures.

 

ARTbeat 11

Apr 22, 4-9pm
Historic Downtown Yuma
Award-winning juried fine arts festival with local and regional artists and live music.

  • Application Deadline: March 2, 2018

 

The Opening Of The Fire Pit

 

Agave Heritage Festival

Apr 27 – May 6
Downtown Tucson
A weeklong celebration of the agave plant that includes culinary events, art, music, garden tours, and seminars.

 

Cottonwood

 

Verde Valley Birding + Nature Festival

Apr 26-29
Cottonwood
4-day event with guided walks (and canoeing!), workshops, vendors, and exhibitors focused on the Verde Valley habitat. Register online by April 18 or on-site starting April 25. Registration fee $15/person or $30/family. Additional fee for some events, including field trips and seminars.

  • Apr 26, 5pm: Welcome Social at Main Tent – River Day Use Area (Owl Rd) of Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Mixer with snacks and wine. Exhibitor booths will be open.
  • Apr 27, 6:30pm: Keynote Reception with Decadent Desserts at Cottonwood Rec Center, featuring Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America author Nathan Pieplow, who will share audio and stories from over a decade of recording birds in the field.
  • 2018 Featured Artist Gary Binder.
  • Camping available at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

 

Eroica – An Evening at The Garden

May 15 – June 2 (Tuesdays through Saturdays), 8pm
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
World premiere ballet by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen, performed to Beethoven’s Third Symphony with a desert garden backdrop.

 

Phoenix Comic Fest (Comicon)

May 24-27
Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix
Pop culture convention (formerly Phoenix Comicon) featuring actors, comic book writers and artists, programming, and vendors. Full event passes $100+.

 

The Golden Gate Bridge over the San Francisco Bay

 

+California

Found in Translation: Design in California and Mexico, 1915–1985

Now – Apr 1
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

Exhibition about how four design movements — Spanish Colonial Inspiration, Pre-Hispanic Revivals, Folk Art and Craft Traditions, and Modernism — defined California and Mexico throughout the twentieth century.

 

Handcraft Studio School Spring Workshops

El Cerrito

San Francisco is for makers

 

Spring at San Francisco Botanical Garden

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

  • Mar 3, Apr 1, May 6 at 8amBirding at the Garden. The first Sunday of each month, beginning birders are welcome to join this docent-led slow-paced walk. Meet at Main Gate. Free (donations accepted).
  • Mar 25, 10am: Painting from the Garden: An introduction to botanical watercolors. $95
  • Apr 21, 12pm: The Secrets of the Cosmos: Paper Flower Making Workshop. $95

 

Jewish Meditation

Mar 20 at 2pm
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
Instruction and exercises on meditation techniques that draw from Jewish contemplative practice, texts, and traditions. Lead by meditation teacher Alison Laichter, founder of the Jewish Meditation Center in New York City. Free.

 

+Colorado

Quilt, Craft + Sewing Festival

Mar 22-24
Denver Mart, Denver
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Admission $10. Free parking.

3 Denver sites not to overlook

 

+Georgia

Surprise! Art Journaling

​Apr 7, 10am
Sacred Space Studio, Statesboro
Learn how to add pop-ups, hidden pockets, and sneaky details to your journal! Materials provided. Fee $25. ​​

 

+Massachusetts

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibitions

  • Now – Sep 3. Mark Rothko: Reflection: Exhibition of 11 Rothko pieces on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. that show the continuity of the artist’s work within western artistic tradition.
  • Now – Jun 3. Black and White Japanese Modern Art: Display of a newly acquired, large-scale calligraphy by Inoue Yūichi, along with a selection of other monochrome avant-garde works from postwar Japan.

 

Embroidery Workshop

Mar 17, 6pm
Jamaica Plain
4-hour hands-on contemporary embroidery workshop with Sarah K. Benning. Learn to prep your hoop and fabric, transfer a design from paper to cloth, and embrace freestyle stitching and non-traditional embroidery techniques. Materials included. Fee $140.

New York airport

+New York

World Amigurumi Exhibition vol. 4: Dolls for Daily Life!

Now – Mar 31
RESOBOX LIC, Long Island City
Exhibition of innovative uses of the Japanese crochet art amigurumi. Free.

 

+Oregon

SE Area ARTWalk

Mar 3-4, 10am-5pm
Southeast Portland
Self-guided walking tour of artist studios, home workspaces, galleries, and businesses within the boundaries of SE 9th Ave, SE 41st, SE Powell and SE Hawthorne Blvd. Free.

 

Annamieka Artist Retreats

  • May 4-6: Painting in the Ancient Forest: Opal Creek. Stay in a cabin in Jawbone Flats and learn about painting with acrylics in the Opal Creek Wilderness. Food, lodging, and art supplies provided. Fee $455.
  • Jun 29 – Jul 1: Painting on the Oregon Coast: Sitka Center for Art + Ecology. Annual “Layers of the Forest” mixed media painting workshop at the confluence of the Pacific Ocean, the Salmon River, and the Cascade Head Nature preserve. Ages 16+. Lodging is not provided. Tuition + materials $310.

 

+Washington

Seattle Art Museum

 

Washington monument

+Washington D.C.

Hung Liu In Print

Now – Jul 8
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Best known as a painter whose work explores themes such as movement and migration, artist Hung Liu also creates pieces using an array of printing and collage techniques. She describes printmaking as “poetry,” layering images with highly textured surfaces and  screens of drip marks. Museum admission $10.

 

Women in the Arts and a Pop-up Makerspace

 

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Mar 20 – Apr 15

  • Mar 24, 5pm: Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre. Advance tickets required. $5 fee.
  • Mar 24 – Apr 8, 12-6pm: ANA Performance Stage. Free.
  • Mar 31, 10am-4:30pm: Blossom Kite Festival at Washington Monument Grounds. Kite competitions and demonstrations, public field for flying your own kite, kids’ kite-making activity station, and kite vendors. Free.
  • Apr 14, 10am-12pm: Parade along Constitution Avenue with floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and entertainment. Standing along the route is free, Grandstand Seating $20.

 

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man

Mar 30 – Jan 21, 2019
Renwick Gallery

Large-scale, participatory artwork from Burning Man will take over the entire Renwick Gallery building, as well as extending into the surrounding neighborhood. The in-gallery exhibiton will include immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera, along with photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art. Free.

 

Shenson Chamber Music Concerts

May 2, 9, 23 at 7:30pm
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Annual concert series of women musicians. Free, subject to availability. Registration required.

INTERNATIONAL

+France

Expo Orchidées de Colombie (Colombian Orchid Expo)

Now – March 5
Galerie de Botanique, Jardin des Plantes, MNHN, Paris

Project to highlight the historical collections at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, as well as the biodiversity of Colombian flora. There will also be light and sound installations by Claudia Isabel Navas.

 

Chinese new year in hong kong

+Hong Kong

Hong Kong Arts Month

Mar 1-31

  • Feb 23 – Mar 24: 46th Hong Kong Arts Festival. Traditional and contemporary music, opera, drama and dance performances.
  • Mar 29-31: Art Basel at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Work by Emerging and established artists from 32 countries and territories, especially the Asia/Asia-Pacific region. 3-day tickets HKD 750 in advance or HKD 850 on-site.

 

Spring Lantern Festival

Mar 2
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
The last day of Chinese New Year (a.k.a. “Chinese Valentine’s Day”) is focused on couples with colorful lanterns hung in parks, flower markets, and restaurants.

 

+Italy

Carnival of Venice

Now – Mar 13
St. Mark’s Square, Venice
Pre-Lenten celebrations with revelers in elaborate masks and costumes.

Teatro La Fenice in Venezia (Venice)

 

+Mexico

Contemporary Embroidery with Sarah K. Benning

1. Hibiscus in San Miguel de Allende

Hands-on Contemporary Embroidery workshop at Hibiscus creative retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Learn about free-style working methods, embroidery stitches, tools and materials. Supplies and lunch included. Fee $125.

  • Apr 10, 10am-2pm
  • Apr 12, 10am-2pm

2. Mexico City Workshop

  • Apr 14

3-hour hands-on contemporary embroidery workshop. Learn to prep your hoop and fabric, transfer a design from paper to cloth, and embrace freestyle stitching and non-traditional embroidery techniques. Pre-registration required. Materials included. Fee $100.

 

Cuba Dupa festival

+NEW ZEALAND

CubaDupa

Mar 24-25
Cuba Quarter, Wellington
Festival with a wide range of street performances, including theater, bands, and opera, as well as a parade and interactive art installations. Free.

 

Petersham Nurseries

+UK

London Craft Week

May 9-13
Across London
Curated program showcasing international creativity and craftsmanship.

  • May 12, 10:30am: Stenciling with Nature at Petersham Nurseries. Learn about natural dying techniques including silk screen-printing, hand-painting and stencil printing to create unique soft furnishings for the home. £70

 




So much great stuff, right?!!

I kind of wish I could do it all. Obviously, I can’t. But if you go anywhere I mentioned, let me know how it goes!

Finally, while I do handpick events that seem rad, I’m not in charge of them and don’t always know the organizers. So consider this your informational starting point and know that there could be errors, changes, etc.

Hopefully, though, everything will be fabulous, and you’ll enjoy yourself immensely!

 


Top photo via London Craft Week.

Hong Kong photo via Discover Hong Kong.

Massachusetts photo via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Paris photo via Orchidées de Colombie. 

New Zealand photo via Amandala Photography.

UK photo via Petersham Nurseries.