There are some great Happenings over the next couple months! Quite a few festivals, some maker markets, craft classes, experimental art exhibits, nature hikes, and city strolls. A couple festivals are (Something) and Wine festivals. And did you know that May 18 is International Museum Day?
Of course there are Juneteenth celebrations throughout the month of June – including one that kicks off with a ballet collaboration!
There are also outdoor performances of ballet, flamenco, and folklorico. Wanna dance around a maypole? That’s on this List. Go to a space rave? That too.
I mean, really, what you should do now is start skimming through these upcoming Happenings, and see where you end up!
The Happenings List
Events for art, culture, food, and nature lovers with Goodies* starred throughout the List! If you’re not in Arizona, then the Anywhere section is for you, and so are the aspects of Arizona events labeled “ANYWHERE.”
Finally, there may be an Etsy affiliate link or two. Support local makers and this site at the same time!
• Anywhere •
“…the analog activity of observation, drawing, and writing (by hand!) about the natural world is the key to connecting more people to science and nature conservation, as well as a path to personal well-being.”
—Roseann Hanson
Photo by Roseann Hanson via Natural History Institute
Mark Your Calendar
The Art of Exploration: How Field Sketching and Journaling Bridge Science, Conservation, and Well-being
Roseann Hanson has been keeping science-based nature journals for 40 years! She’s a naturalist, artist, author, and explorer. In this talk, she’ll share the history of field sketching as a way humans have recorded exploration – starting as far back as the stone age – and explain why it’s still an essential activity.
The Verde River runs through Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.
Protecting One of Arizona’s Last, Best, and Wildest Rivers: The Upper Verde
Rachel Ellis, an expert on rivers in the Southwestern U.S., gives a talk about what makes the Upper Verde River area special and why it should be protected with a federal Wild + Scenic River designation.
“The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects more than 13,400 miles of rivers and streams in the U.S. … Designation as a wild and scenic river is our nation’s strongest form of protection for free-flowing rivers and streams.”
Sewing beginners can take classes at their own pace with new projects posted monthly to the Camp Verde Community Library’s website and Facebook.
Classes are posted on the third Friday of each month at 9am.
A list of supplies needed for each project will be posted the week before the class.
Recommended for ages 9 to adult.
“Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”
Every year, on International Museum Day (IMD), museums around the world plan creative events and activities related to that year’s International Museum Day theme, engage with their public, and highlight the importance of the role of museums as institutions that serve society and its development.
now — September 15 / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / included with paid admission ($10 during free admission times)
The Cold War didn’t stop art. Even behind the Iron Curtain, artists were still creating and experimenting. Multiple Realities showcases the work of almost 100 artists from six Central-Eastern European nations (East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia). Although a number of well-known artists from the region are on display, the focus is on largely unknown women artists, artist collectives, and LGBTQIA+ artists.
“The exhibition traces how a generation of artists … embraced experimentation and interdisciplinary practices to confront at times harsh conditions of everyday life, while circumventing and eluding the very systems that sought to surveil and silence them.”
— PhxArt’s introduction to the exhibit
Exhibit is included with paid museum admission. During free admission times, like PhxArt AfterHours or Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays, a $10 special exhibition ticket is required.
*PhxArt AfterHours: June 7 + Sep. 6, 5-9pm. Free admission, extended hours live music, art-making workshops, and specialty food and drink.
May 4 + 11, 8-11am / Desert Botanical Gardens (DBG), Phoenix / Included with admission
Walk your dog through DBG’s trails on Saturday mornings this spring. There are always plenty of interesting new things to see – and to sniff – especially this time of year when the Garden is in bloom!
now — July 7 / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / included with paid admission ($10 during free admission times)
Exhibition about Barbie’s identities and influence through the last six decades. It includes over 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, and exclusive interviews.
“The exhibition is complemented by original PhxArt exhibition The Power of Pink, which explores the history, science, and associations of the color synonymous with the iconic Barbie brand.”
—PhxArt
Chuck Close self-portrait at the Phoenix Art Museum.
May 5, 12pm – 4pm / 55th Avenue between W. Campbell + W. Glenrosa Avenue, Maryvale
Family-friendly event with live entertainment and unique goods for sale from small businesses. It is part of the same nonprofit that’s behind the Mujeres Mercado, E.L.L.A. (Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona).
Vendors: Local vendors of accessories, apparel/fashion, art, beauty and wellness products, candles, crafts, as well as produce and desserts/drinks.
Food + beverage: Food trucks and other food businesses will be there.
View of Downtown Phoenix near Washington Street + 3rd Avenue.
May 5, 10am / Kaya Holistic, Phoenix / *$20 advance, $30 at the door
Local curandera Patricia Federico shares what we can learn from the Medicine Wheel, an ancient symbol that, in some North American Indigenous cultures, symbolizes balance and connection between humans and the natural world.
May 15 — June 1, 8pm / Desert Botanical Gardens (DBG), Phoenix / $60-100 per ticket
Ballet Arizona dances to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the Desert Botanical Gardens. The performance will feature costumes designed and hand-painted by Artistic Director Ib Andersen, who also choreographed the work!
An old symbol for copper outside Arizona Heritage Center.
May 18, 10am – 3pm / Arizona Heritage Center, Tempe / Free
In honor of International Museum Day, free admission to the Arizona History Museum (Tucson) and Arizona Heritage Center (Tempe), plus crafts and activities!
No registration is required.
Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry National Association at the Tucson Rodeo Parade.
June 16, 10am / Arizona Heritage Center, Tempe / Free (donations accepted)
Day of recognizing the impact of Black communities in Arizona and the Juneteenth Holiday. Community members can connect with each other and with organizations representing historical societies, action groups, state resources, and the community at large. Guests are welcome to wander, discuss, and enjoy performances, activities, and food!
You can choose a Free Admission Pass or make a $10 donation by choosing the Supporter Admission Pass.
Via Verde Canyon Railroad.
• Northern Arizona •
“Immerse yourself in the details of life on the riverbanks, feel the rhythm of the flowing waters, and experience the rich cultural heritage tied to this vital waterway.”
now — July 12 / Natural History Institute Art Museum, Prescott / Free
Exhibition showcasing a diverse array of artworks – paintings, sculptures, and other installations – calling for responsible conservation of the Upper Verde River. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a series of related workshops, talks, and excursions.
5/9, 7pm: Talk on why the Upper Verde River area is being proposed for a Federal Wild + Scenic River designation. Registration required for in-person attendees. Free
5/11, 8am: Excursion to an archaeological site in the Upper Verde. $75 fee
Photo by Roseann Hanson via Natural History Institute
The Art of Exploration: How Field Sketching and Journaling Bridge Science, Conservation, and Well-being
May 2, 7pm / Natural History Institute, Prescott / Free
Roseann Hanson has been keeping science-based nature journals for 40 years! She’s a naturalist, artist, author, and explorer. In this talk, she’ll share the history of field sketching as a way humans have recorded exploration – starting as far back as the stone age – and explain why it’s still an essential activity.
ANYWHERE: The presentation will also be livestreamed on Natural History Institute’s YouTube channel.
Cover art for the Star Wars soundtrack on the very retro CED format. But also seems perfect for this event.
May 4, 8:30pm / Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff / $24 per ticket (includes ticketing fee) / 18+ only
Dance party in the historic Orpheum Theater! This Flagstaff Pride event will feature DJ Bear Cole and BG NFTY with pop up performances from Dillon Duvet, Brandy Alexander as Han Solo, Miasma and Planet Cree.
May 18, 4pm / Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott / $90 per ticket
Live music, gourmet bites, wine tasting, mead, and mocktails in support of the Sharlot Hall Museum.
“An evening of enchantment and culinary delights … Embark on a sensory adventure where music and the finest libations intertwine to create an unforgettable experience.”
—Sharlot Hall Museum
View from Jerome overlooking Clarkdale and the Verde Valley.
May 18, 12pm – 6pm / On 10th Street (westside of Brewery, east of Clarkdale Park), Clarkdale / All ages
A celebration of Arizona craft beers that puts the ale in Clarkdale! Beer vendors will be providing 16-ounce beers for 1 ticket. Purchase 4 tickets for $25 or 2 Tickets for $15. Sister + the Sun and What’s the Big Idea will be performing.
Food + beverage:
Breweries: Smelter Town, THAT, Simple Machine, Lake Pleasant, Belfry, Dark Sky.
Wine can be purchased inside the Brewery.
Non-alcoholic beverages will be available as cash purchases at food trucks: Sidewalk Grill (Burgers, chicken sandwiches), Mad Honey (BBQ) Nana’s Tacos, Dog Town (hot dogs), Kettle Korn, BREWHA
June 5 – 28 / Sedona Arts Center (SAC), Sedona / Free
Beautiful Latinx cultural identity and traditions are the subject of this vibrant exhibition. Seen through several different artists and diverse art forms, it highlights histories, familism, forgotten stories, and rich personal and collective experiences.
June 13 — July 13 / Red Rock Ranch and Farms, Concho / Free
Five-week fête in lush fields of lavender. Visit this farm in the mountains of Northeastern Arizona when lavender is in bloom, and you can cut your own bouquet! You can also learn how to cook with lavender, visit their gift shop, and purchase your own plants to take home!
Festival happensThursdays through Saturdays.
Red Rock Ranch’s wine tasting room will be open during the festival for tastings, as well as for purchasing wine and cheese plates.
Pets are not allowed at the farm during the festival.
June 22 – 23, 10am – 4pm / Museum of Northern Arizona (outside), Flagstaff / general adult, one-day access $20 / All ages
Celebration of artists and traditions of the people of the Colorado Plateau – Acoma, Apache, Diné (Navajo), Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Pai, Ute, Yavapai, and Zuni.
Online ticket sales begin May 8.
Entertainment: Dancers, demonstrators, cultural experts, and musicians playing indigenous music from the region. Plus, hands-on activities and experiences for all ages.
Vendors: Buy authentic pieces directly from Native American artists. Artists take home 100% of their earnings from Festival purchases!
*Full weekend passes are just $5 more! ($25/adult, $14/youth, free for kids age 9 and under)
*Free entrance to the Museum with your festival ticket.
Getting there…
Car: Free shuttle from parking areas.
Bike: Accessible via Flagstaff Urban Trail System. 2 locations for free, secure bike parking.
Bus: The Mountain Line Route 5 stops directly in front of the museum.
My finger traces / the edge of a feathery / leaf. Yep, that’s a thorn.
Walk along Congress Street and Stone Avenue to find poems in planters! The 20 that have sprouted up are winners of an annual literary competition that anyone can participate in. Winners are chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert.
now — October 6 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / included with admission
Because Tucson Museum of Art turned 100 years old this year, it’s featuring an exhibition of significant artworks the Museum has collected over the past century. The aim is to consider the works’ complex relationships to the past, present, and future.
now — October 20 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission
Mayan mythology is the starting point for this exhibition that mixes ancient art with modern, looking at Mayan image-making and storytelling through the years.
*First Thursday. On the first Thursday of the month, TMA offers extended hours (5-8pm), pay-what-you-wish admission, art activities, entertainment, and a cash bar. Reserve your free ticket online.
now — August 31 / University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson / Free
Multilingual exhibit (O’odham / Spanish / English) examining the intersection of spirituality, migration, and policies that have impacted the borderlands of the Sonoran Desert through the work of collaborating poets, photographers, and artists.
After the Tohono O’odham community in San Xavier lost access to much of their main water source, they came together to find ways to revitalize their land while honoring their traditions. Dr. Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan tells the story of how they did it.
Open to the public, but registration is required.
After the presentation, there will be drinks and opportunity for conversation with fellow attendees.
*ANYWHERE: Tohono Chul’s featured videos on “hot topics” like monsoons and the Queen of the Night plant.
CATALYST Artist-in-Residence Emiland Kray will be teaching a series of book-making classes!
5/4, 3pm: Hardcover Accordion Book. Beginner-friendly bookbinding workshop where each participant will walk away with a handmade book and the skills to make more! $10 materials fee.
5/5, 3pm: Softcover Pamphlet Stitch. Learn a brief history of the Pamphlet Stitch, a simple binding structure often used in zines, brochures, music, and other printed ephemera. Then make two blank journals using the technique! $15 materials fee.
5/19, 3pm: Hardcover Pamphlet Stitch. Learn how to use this simple binding structure and make a hardcover book. Covers will be wrapped with fabric. Each attendee will walk away with a blank notebook made by hand. $25 materials fee.
Some of the performers are also part of the group Flamenco For La Vida, seen here onstage at the Phoenix Chile Festival.
Half a dozen flamenco virtuosos come together to create an evening of music and dance in Tohono Chul’s Performance Garden.
“Blending tradition with modern flair, this special Flamenco performance will transport you to the streets of Spain with its stunning costumes, expressive movements, energetic footwork, captivating guitar rhythms, and moving vocals.”
–Tohono Chul
Creative Kind’s booth at the Made in Tucson market.
May 8, 10:30am / Creative Kind at La Encantada, Tucson / $60 fee
Marlies of Flow! Art + Awareness will talk about each person’s unique perception of the world. She will then guide everyone through the process of creating a watercolor painting, while letting go of visual reality and expectations and instead embracing your own essence and creativity.
May 11, 10am – 2pm / the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum (Next to the Amtrak Depot), Tucson / Free / All ages
The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum’s annual celebration of trains! You can climb inside a steam train (Locomotive 1673) and ring the bell.
The Museum and gift shop will be open.
Shop model trains and railroad paintings.
Children’s art activities.
The flyer also promises “Fun Farm Choo Choo rides” with no further explanation. Maybe the “choo choo” is a kid-sized train. Did it come from the Fun Farm? Is that where it’s going? Where is the Fun Farm? What is the Fun Farm?
May 12 – 26, 7pm / Reid Park, Tucson / Free (pet food donations accepted) / All ages
Live music for all ages Sunday nights at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Reid Park.
May 12: Guest artist Gabriel Ayala
May 19: Music for the Planet Concert. Live music inspired by nature. Before the concert, there will be booths from environmental non-profits in the park.
May 26: Memorial Day Concert with the Tucson Pops Orchestra, featuring members of the Honor Guard performing Taps
There is no cost to attend. However, if you’re able, you can bring a donation of pet food for the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank!
The Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank…
coordinates the food trucks for the concert series.
is a nonprofit with a mission to ensure no one has to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pets.
has provided free animal food to over 800 families throughout Southern Arizona!
May 12, 1pm / Creative Kind at La Encantada, Tucson / $55 fee
Learn how to create a personalized white board from clay! Claire from Marigold Fontana Ceramics will lead the workshop and provide botanical and letter stamps attendees can use to customize their boards. She will then apply a white satin glaze that will make them usable with dry erase markers. Finished boards will be returned in about 3-5 weeks.
Sour orange trees were originally brought from Seville, Spain to Tucson and now grow in Mission Garden.
“Since wheat was adopted as a valued crop here in the 18th century, it has been harvested on Saint Isidore’s Day. This day was an opportunity to remember San Ysidro [St. Isidore] — the patron of laborers and farmers — and to harvest the wheat.”
—Mission Garden
Mission Garden brings to life traditions of an 18th-century wheat harvest. It begins with a procession, lead by a costumed “San Ysidro,” and blessings at the threshing ground.
Then volunteers will demonstrate how the harvesting, threshing, winnowing, and milling wheat into flour (with the help of a horse!) would have been done in that era. Finally, a lunch of pozole de trigo, the traditional food for this festival, will be served with fresh flour tortillas.
May 18, 10am – 3pm / Arizona History Museum, Tucson / Free
In honor of International Museum Day, free admission to the Arizona History Museum (Tucson) and Arizona Heritage Center (Tempe), plus crafts and activities!
May 18, 9am – 6pm / Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia / Included with Park entrance fee. / All ages
A day of international mariachi dancing and bands!
Park entrance fee is $20 per vehicle (up to 4 adults). Kids 13 and under are free.
Entertainment: Mariachi and folklorico performances throughout the day, plus mariachi musical chairs, an amateur singing competition, a piñata and other kids’ activities.
Food + beverage: Local food vendors will be selling tacos, sushi, churros, fry bread, shaved ice, and fruit in a cup. Essential Coffee and Cook’s Kettle Corn will also be there.
May 18, 10:30am / Creative Kind at La Encantada, Tucson / $60 fee (includes supplies)
Sandy of Luna’s Paper Designs will demonstrate how to assemble large crepe paper flowers (with petals, stem and leaves) using pre-cut crepe paper with wire and glue. She will share step-by-step instructions to help attendees create with confidence!
Celebration of the moment when the US “finally and truly became the land of the free.” Festivities include a kick-off concert, ballet performance, and festival.
6/8, 2pm:Cinderella ballet performance, a collaboration between Dancing In the Streets AZ collaboration and Tucson Juneteenth Committee.
6/9, 3pm: Juneteenth Jubilee Mass Choir.
Tucson Juneteenth Committee is planning a series of events and activities throughout the month of June.
Workshop on building a sweet and savory charcuterie board that looks and tastes fabulous! Learn how to choose meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, crackers, and chocolate dipped treats that complement each other – in an Independence Day inspired color palette!
Attendees aged 21 and over can also take part in a red, white, and blue cocktail demonstration and tasting.
I gathered some really nice serving boards and other dishes into this Etsy collection.
August 30 — September 2 / Tucson Convention Center, Tucson / $69 at the door plus parking / All ages
Is this America’s friendliest convention? That’s the goal of this 3-day community-based pop culture event! It features Q+A panels, workshops, costume contests, photo ops, and a large exhibitor hall. You can also count on special guest appearances by actors, authors, comic book artists, and cosplayers!
15th anniversary of the event.
This is where we met Paul Blake, one of the actors who played Greedo.
Parking Map: Convention Center lots are at least $10/day, but there are less expensive alternatives on the map.
*Super Early Bird Special: Adult (Age 14+) Full Weekend Memberships are $40 until May 2! Save $29 versus buying this membership at the door.
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