Here’s my handpicked list of events coming up this summer in Arizona and around the world!

Happenings List

Around the World…

Beyond the Public Theater

You can see plays from The Public Theater in New York, even if you’re not in New York! The Public Theater’s digital programming – performances, playlists, series, music videos, etc. – is on their Public Play Now platform.

For even more ways to watch, check On Broadway and Beyond to see which productions are being broadcast, streaming, and/or coming to a stage near you. Audiences can catch Hamilton, for example, on its North American tour, and later on in England, Germany, or Australia. (If you’re not ready/able to go to a live show, it’s also on Disney+.)

• Public Play Now’s digital programming is free.
• Donations are accepted.

ongoing / online, on television + on stages internationally / price varies by venue

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra tour

European and American concert tour by a newly-formed ensemble of top Ukrainian musicians, in support of Ukraine and its artists.

As the conductor, Canadian-Ukrainian maestro Keri-Lynn Wilson, put it, “This tour is an expression of love for their homeland and to honor those who have died and have suffered so much.”

• July 28: Opening concert at Teatr Wielki–Polish National Opera, Warsaw.
• July 31: Proms Festival, London performance will be televised on BBC Four (U.K.) + the audio will be streamed live on BBC Sounds (international).
• August 18-20: U.S. concerts in New York and D.C. will wrap up the tour.
• You can donate to the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture.

July 28 – August 20 / Poland, England, Germany, France, Scotland, Netherlands, Ireland, U.S. + television/radio

THIRST 2022 Virtual Shop

Sale of artwork to raise funds for humanitarian aid at the Arizona-Sonora Border. THIRST 2022 will support Tucson based nonprofits No Más Muertes/No More Deaths and The Florence Immigrant + Refugee Rights Project. It also benefits the contributing artists, who each determine what percentage of their sales they’ll keep versus donate.

July 2-9 / online

Arizona State Museum online exhibits

• Quilt squares depicting Reservation life by Goldie Richmond
• 19th Century Navajo Weaving
• Virtual Reality Tour of the Pottery Project Exhibit

ongoing / online / free

In Arizona…

Quilts in the Gardens

Exhibition of quilts throughout the botanical gardens and sale benefiting organizations working to eradicate breast and gynecologic cancers, as well as a portion that goes to TBG.

Now – August 21 / Tucson at Tucson Botanical Gardens (TBG) / Included with admission.

Verde Valley Farmers Market

Weekly market providing fresh, seasonal produce that’s grown within a 50-mile radius of Camp Verde. There are also breads, meat, flowers, crafts and live music.

• June 25: Kids Day! Oak Creek School students will be selling produce and flower bouquets from the school gardens to raise money toward the school’s Agriculture/STEM program.
• BYO bags or purchase reusable ones to support the market’s efforts to go plastic free!

Now – October 1, Saturdays 8am-11am / Camp Verde (Northern Arizona) at Main and Hollamon / Free.

Summerhaven Artisans Market

Local artisan market on Mt. Lemmon held Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer, starting Memorial Day weekend. Part of the proceeds benefit Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank (SAAFB).

Now – October / Summerhaven (Tucson area) next to the General Store

Dog Days of Summer

Dogs are allowed in TBG 7 days a week all summer long! Canine companions will find shaded pathways for walks, interesting things to sniff, and snacks at the café.

June 1 – September 30 / Tucson at Tucson Botanical Gardens / Dog admission $3 + human admission ($15)

Sharkk Heartt Release Show

Release show for Sharkk Heartt’s new single “How to Love” at Groundworks, a nonprofit organization promoting the youth-driven music and arts community in Tucson. Musicians Imogen Rose, Freddy Jay Walker, and Pineross will also be performing.

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccine or negative test within 48 hours required.
• Masks required indoors.

June 4, 7pm / Tucson at Groundworks (2919 E. Grant Rd.) / Tickets $10. / All ages show.

Music Under the Stars

Tucson Pops Orchestra spring outdoor concert series.

• Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
• Parking tends to fill up at Reid Park. Plan to arrive early or use alternate transportation.
• #17 bus line’s Country Club/Eastland stop is near the stage.

June 5 + 12 at 7pm / Tucson at DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park / Free.

Mesquite Artisan Training

Hands-on collaborative workshop series that will teach mesquite management and artisan skills that can enhance Southern Arizona habitats. Workshops will be conducted outdoors and will provide practical knowledge on fine woodworking, mesquite as a local food source, and how to manage mesquite on your property.

• Register in advance by emailing the Borderlands Restoration Network contact person for your class (listed on the events page).
• Classes are limited to 20 participants.
• June 10, 11, 24, 25: Single-day summer classes in Patagonia and Nogales, Arizona.
• October 14 – 16: Beekeeping and Honey Production, Patagonia.
• October 22: Mesquite Pod Milling + Food Safe Processing of Mesquite Flour, Patagonia.

Patagonia + Nogales (Southeastern Arizona) / June 11 – October 22 / Free. / Ages 18+

2nd Saturdays at the Fox: Music + Movies

Monthly summer event pairing a music-themed film with a performance by local musicians.

• June 11: Walk the Line with musical artists South Western Stars, featuring Mamma Coal and Charlie Hall
• July 9: Ray with musical artists Miss Olivia and the Interlopers
• Aug 13: Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice with musical artists Liz and Pete (Liz Cerepanya and Peter Dalton Ronstadt)

June 11, July 9 + August 13 at 7pm / Tucson at Fox Theatre / Tickets: $12.50 adult, $10 kids (age 12 and under)

Lavender Bloom and Wine Festival

Eight-day festival of lavender grown in northeastern Arizona’s White Mountains. See the fields in bloom, learn about growing and cooking with lavender, and visit the lavender shop.

• Red Rock Ranch is also a vineyard, winery, and producer. The wine tasting room will be open during the festival.
• VIP Festival Package ($20) includes a wine tasting, cheese plate, and 10% off wine purchases.
• Regular hours for the farm: Saturdays, 1-6pm from July 2 through November.

June 16-19 + 23-26, 9am-3pm / Concho (Northern Arizona) at Red Rock Ranch and Farms / Free.

Black Joy: Juneteenth Market

Juneteenth celebration of Black-owned businesses in Arizona. Shop vendors, then enjoy a bite and a drink from the Red Light Lounge.

• All community members welcome to attend.
• A Blax Friday event.

June 17-18, 5pm / Tucson at The Downtown Clifton Hotel / Free.

Bisbee Pride

Bisbee Pride is a community-wide event that takes place during Father’s Day weekend.

• June 17: Unique events, shows and a street dance in the evening.
• June 18: Parade through Historic Old Bisbee, followed by an open-air festival with vendors and entertainment, and a main stage event.
• June 19: Drag Bingo hosted by the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

June 17-19 / Bisbee (Southeastern Arizona) / Free.

Valley of the Sun Juneteenth Celebration

Family-friendly event featuring live entertainment from local musical performers, educational workshops, a youth essay contest, children’s activities, vendors, and games. Authentic soul food and beverages available to purchase.

• Free parking at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (15th Street + Jefferson)
• Light rail stop: 12th St./Washington or 12th St./Jefferson

June 18, 5pm / Phoenix at Eastlake Park / Free.

Studio Ghibli Summer at The Loft Cinema

Weekly screenings of classic Studio Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service and My Neighbor Totoro.

June 22 – September 4 / Tucson at The Loft Cinema / General admission $10

MSA Summer Night Market

Over 60 local vendors, plus music, food trucks, and extended hours for MSA Annex shops the last Friday of the month, May through September.

June 24, July 29, August 26 + September 30, 6-10pm / Tucson at MSA Annex

Independents Week

Around the first week of July, Indie Week encourages Arizonans to “go local” by supporting as many locally owned businesses as possible. This year, complete 5 Calls-to-Action on your Indie Week bingo card for a chance to win gift cards, tickets to sporting events, and other prizes!

June 25 – July 4 / Across Arizona

Flagstaff Art in the Park

Fine arts and crafts festival that takes place over the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends in a grassy park in Downtown Flagstaff. A juried selection of 70 artists from across the Southwest will show their handmade work while live music plays throughout the event. There will also be various types of food available and the Shady Beer Garden, featuring beer local and regional breweries.

July 2-4 + September 3-5 / Flagstaff at Wheeler Park / Free.

Borderlands Nursery & Seed

Shop the nursery’s full selection of native plants and seeds with music and retail booths from local farmers and artisans including Patagonia Flower Farm, Patagonia Plants, and Shooting Star Pottery.

July 16-17 / Patagonia (Southeastern Arizona) at Borderlands Nursery + Seed

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival

4-day festival for recreational birders, featuring a Nature Expo / vendor fair, field trips, workshops, photography events, social hours, and evening programs. It’s organized by Tucson Audubon Society, a nonprofit for engaging people in the conservation of birds and their habitats.

• Nature Expo is free to attend.
• Registration fee required for festival participants who are attending fee-based activities, like field trips, workshops, and evening programs.
• Scholarships available.

August 10-14 / Tucson at  DoubleTree Hotel – Reid Park / $30 registration + activity fees

Tucson Comic-Con

Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!”

• Full weekend pass: Adults (14+) $55, Kids (ages 9-13) $10 until September 1.
• Early Bird full weekend passes are $35 through July 7!

September 2-4 / Tucson at Tucson Convention Center

RinCon x TCC: Tucson’s Tabletop Game Convention, RinCon, will be collaborating with Tucson Comic-Con this year.

• RinCon will present tabletop programming, panels, and games during Tucson Comic-Con (TCC) at the Tucson Convention Center (also TCC).
• Additional RinCon programming will happen after hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6:30pm – 1am, and Monday 9am – 6pm at the nearby Ramada by Wyndham.
• Separate tickets are required for RinCon at the Ramada programming, which includes dinner for evening events and brunch on Monday.

Finally, some things to keep in mind with the Happenings List:

• I’m not in charge of anything on the List, except for picking out stuff that sounds interesting to me and sharing it with you.
• I do my best to share accurate information. But there’s a chance that something is not or that something may change.
• If you go to something on the List, I’d love to hear how it went! Feel free to contact me.