It’s spring and there are yellow wildflowers blooming along most of the roadside from Picacho Peak to Phoenix!
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.”
– Anywhere –
True Grit: Anne Coe’s Western Art Odyssey
now – TBD / Museum of Arizona Artists (virtual museum) / Free
The first solo exhibition on the online Museum of Arizona Artists (MOAZA) is a retrospective of artist Anne Coe’s work over fifty years. According to Julie Sasse, Chief Curator of the Tucson Museum of Art, her “colorful and often whimsical paintings … reveal a passion for the West with all its stereotypes, icons, and ironies.”
What got my attention:
A museum dedicated exclusively to work from Arizona artists!
Weaving Cultural History into Our Family History Writing
March 2, 10:30 am MST (UTC/GMT -7 hours) / Zoom / Free
Workshop on using history to better understand, connect with, and tell the stories of our ancestors. Taught by Duane Roen, a retired professor of English at ASU.
From the organizer(s)…
…we yearn for more personal connections to and understanding of those who came before us, found in stories about their lives and accounts of their daily struggles, hopes, and dreams.
International Women’s Day Keynote with Ferren Gipson
March 8, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (UTC/GMT -5 hours) / livestream / Free
March 8 is International Women’s Day! The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) will livestream the keynote presentation that will be happening during their day of celebrations.
From the organizer(s)…
Ferren Gipson is a British-American art historian, writer, and artist. In this virtual program, Gipson will discuss the women artists featured in her latest book Women’s Work: From feminine arts to feminist art (2022).
- Registration required.
- Find an event near you!
- For people in the DC area, NMWA will also host a program of in-person International Women’s Day events.
- *NMWA’s online collection
The Stuff of Legends: Pearl Hart, “Notorious Woman Bandit”
March 12, 12:00 pm MST / Live presentation via Zoom / Free
Livestream talk on the life of Pearl Hart before and after her famed stagecoach heist by John Boessenecker, the author of Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, the Wild West’s Most Notorious Woman Bandit.
This will be the last program in the museum’s Arizona Biography Series: The Stuff of Legends.
From the organizer(s)…
“On May 30, 1899, history was made when Pearl Hart, disguised as a man, held up a stagecoach in Arizona and robbed the passengers at gunpoint. …Word of her heist spread, and Pearl Hart went on to become … the most notorious female outlaw on the Western frontier.”
Slow Art Day
April 13 / Worldwide at participating museums and other spaces where art is found
Annual event that encourages people to spend some time really looking at artwork and see what they discover. No prior knowledge is needed.
A small sampling of interesting participants…
- In Arizona: Studio 917, Douglas + Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
- National Museum of Women in the Arts, DC
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians + Western Art in Indianapolis, IN
- Museum for Papirkunst (Paper Art) in Blokhus, Denmark
- Chichester Cathedral in Chichester, England
- The Arts House Trust in Auckland, New Zealand
- …and four different museums in Reims, France!
Record Store Day (RSD)
April 20 / Worldwide at participating independent record stores / Free to shop
This is a day for the people to come together and celebrate the unique culture of record stores and the special role they play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet + greets with artists, parades, and (of course) DJs spinning records.
- *Special RSD releases.
- *Zia Records concert ticket contests.
– Central Arizona –
Dog Days at the Garden
Now – May 11 (most Saturdays) / 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!
- Specific dates: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 + April 6, 13, 27 + May 4, 11 from 8-11am
- *Free days during the Spring Plant Sale (3/15-17) + Community Days (3/12, 4/9 + 2nd Tuesday of every month).
- ANYWHERE: Online courses from Desert Botanical Gardens that you can take when and where it’s convenient for you. Tuition: $120 or $300, depending on course length.
Barbie®: A Cultural Icon + The Power of Pink
now — July 7 / Phoenix Art Museum (Fashion Design Mezzanine), 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.
From the organizer(s)…
The exhibition is complemented by original PhxArt exhibition The Power of Pink, which is drawn exclusively from the Museum’s expansive fashion-design collection. The Power of Pink explores the history, science, and associations of the color synonymous with the iconic Barbie brand.
Guarding the Art: A Frontline Perspective
now — December 1 / Phoenix Art Museum (Rineberg Gallery + Ballinger Gallery), Phoenix / Included with admission
Exhibition of works from the Phoenix Art Museum Collection curated by members of the Museum’s security, event-rentals, and retail-services teams.
From the organizer(s)…
The project, which challenges traditional museum hierarchies and fosters dialogue about who can and should talk about art, is the first of its kind at Phoenix Art Museum.
- *Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdaysat PhxArt every Wednesday 3-9pm.
- SN: The gallery attendants and other staff see firsthand how visitors respond to museum pieces day-to-day, so I’m sure they have some interesting picks!
Ceasefire Postcard-Writing Campaign: Craft a Message
Now – TBD, 11am – 2pm / Palabras Bilingual Bookstore, Phoenix / Free
Weekly gathering to make, write, and mail postcards to Congressional reps to demand a ceasefire in Palestine. The postcard writing sessions will continue every Sunday until there is a permanent ceasefire.
- If you’re unable to make it on Sundays, postcards and materials will be available in the backroom seating area anytime Palabras is open.
- Contributions of stamps, postcards and cereal boxes (to be made into postcards) are needed!
- ANYWHERE: Viva Palestina: Liberation Movement Resources
Phoenix Scottish Highland Games: Kilts Optional
March 1 – 3 / Gilbert Regional Park, Gilbert / $25 admission / All ages
Festival loosely based on Celtic/Nordic/world traditions with a focus on competitions and pageantry. Also a British car show.
- Entertainment: Live music, photo booth, Clydesdale horses, competitive athletic events, piping and drumming, and highland dancing.
- Vendors: Themed merchandise, clothing, art, jewelry, genealogy services, and bottles of wine from Zarpara Vineyard.
- Food + beverage: Scottish, Irish, British, New Zealand and other cuisines, plus a host of snack and sweets options. Impex Beverages whisky tastings. Water, soda, and Guinness available throughout the event.
- ANYWHERE: You can donate to the Gilbert-based USA Clydesdale Foundation, which is working to save Clydesdales, a Scottish breed of draft horse whose population is shrinking.
Ceramics + Ikebana with Ping Wei
March 1, 8, 15 / Shemer Art Center, Phoenix / $270-290 total class fees
Three-part workshop on Ikebana, the art of Japanese flowering arranging, including making ceramic vases for the arrangements. Students will be able to take their creations home with them!
From the organizer(s)…
The practice of Ikebana brings natural botanical materials (flowers, branches, leaves etc.) into living spaces. Vases not only provide the function of supplying water to flowers, but also help achieve the perfect harmony between natural materials and man-made forms.
- SN: I find Ikebana fascinating. It seems like such an exquisite art form! And it’s neat that you learn how to make the vase in the same workshop too!
- Class fee details: $225 tuition + $45 materials fee (includes glazes and flowers) + $20 clay fee (optional)
Maryvale Mercado
March 3, April 7, May 5, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm / 55th Avenue between West Campbell + West Glenrosa Ave, Maryvale
New monthly market on the westside the first Sunday of each month through May. The family-friendly event will have live entertainment, while you shop unique goods 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.
The Magic of Mexican Artistry
March 7 – 10 / Superstition Mountain Museum, Apache Junction / Free
Exhibition and sale of fine art from Mexico that will fill the Museum grounds, patio, and barn! Artisans will be on-site demonstrating their work and conversing with visitors. Finished pieces will be available for purchase.
From the organizer(s)…
Pottery makers from Mata Ortiz and wood carvers from Oaxaca will be on hand. Celebrated weaver Porfirio Gutierrez will be here with his loom, showing you his technique using all natural dyes.
Book Binding Workshop (National Poetry Month)
March 9, 1:00 pm / Tempe Public Library, Ironwood Classroom, Tempe / Free (includes supplies)
Special workshop where participants will create a bound poetry chapbook and have the opportunity to be part of the library’s Poetry Month display of work by local poets.
- All experience levels with poetry are welcome.
- All supplies will be provided.
- Registration required.
- Display will be on the main floor of the library April 8-22.
Making and Playing Simple Instruments: March to the Beat of Your Own Drum
March 9, 10:00 am / Tempe Public Library, Desert Willow Program Room, Tempe / All ages / Free
Workshop on making and playing simple percussion instruments created from everyday household objects. The instructors will demonstrate some percussion instruments that they have built (like rain sticks, cajons, kalimbas, guiros, and thunder drums), explain their building techniques, and then help participants make their own.
- Taught by Maureen Roen (Chandler Symphony Orchestra percussionist!) and Duane Roen, retired professor.
- The workshop will end with a brief concert with the class performing on their newly-made instruments.
Downtown Glendale Arts + Culture Fest
March 9, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm / Downtown District walkways and Civic Center Plaza, Glendale / Free
Community festival with over 100 artists, musicians, and interactive arts experiences!
- Entertainment: Art installations, pop-up performances in front of local businesses, community chalk art competition, live street painting, dance and live music performances throughout the day.
- Vendors: 75 food and artisan vendors along W. Glenn Drive, between 57th and 58th Ave.
- Food + beverage: Food trucks will line the streets of Murphy Park, and there will be a local wine and beer garden in The Civic Center Plaza and surrounding courtyards.
- A limited-edition custom sticker collection by mural artist Ignacio Garcia will be at participating businesses on the day of the event and beyond.
Mask Alive! Festival of Masks
March 10, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm / Pioneer Park, Mesa / Free
Festival focused on live performances of dance and music that celebrates the global artistic tradition of storytelling through masks.
- Entertainment: music, dance, art, and hands-on activities
- Vendors: artists, food vendors, and non-profits
Mul-Chu-Tha Fair: This Isn’t Their First Rodeo
March 15 – 17 / The Gila River Indian Community’s Mul-chu-tha Fairgrounds, Sacaton
Annual fair of the Gila River Indian Community! Open to the public, it includes a rodeo, fair, carnival, parade, and Pow-Wow. It began as a fundraiser for a community pool and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year!
- Entertainment: battle of the bands, car show, concerts and cultural performances, sporting events (basketball, Shoñgivu’l, thoka)
- Vendors: Native American jewelry, arts, and crafts
- Food + beverage: food vendors
National Geographic Live: Life on Thin Ice – Kiliii Yuyan, Photographer
March 20, 7:30 pm / Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center, Mesa / $37-55/ticket + fees
Immersive storytelling experience from Kiliii Yuyan, a photographer of Siberian Native (Nanai) and Chinese-American heritage, who has traveled across the polar regions with National Geographic. He will share beautiful images from the Arctic, an often misunderstood area that is actually home to 40 different Indigenous cultures – including the Nanai – as well as lots of unique flora and fauna.
Quilt Arizona!: Quilt Show that Says It’s “Hip to be Square”
March 21 – 23 / Mesa Convention Center, Mesa / $5-10 admission (includes snacks)
From the organizer(s)…
With a theme centered around squares, this Arizona Quilters’ Guild event will showcase imaginative quilts from traditional artwork to modern abstract compositions.
- Quilt Arizona 2024 will offer five lectures, included with admission.
- Any workshops will have an additional fee.
Spring Carefree Fine Art + Wine Festival: Literally located on Easy Street.
March 22 – 24, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Downtown Carefree / General admission: $5 (cash only), Souvenir wine glass with tasting tickets: $15 (cash preferred)
From the organizer(s)…
The carefully curated selection of fine art ensures that guests are exposed to a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums, allowing them to discover new favorites and expand their artistic horizons.
- Entertainment: Live music by After Glow (instrumental contemporary jazz and funk tunes).
- Vendors: Over 160 world-class artists displaying pieces in a variety of media, including paintings, blown glass, hand-thrown pottery, woodwork, gourd carvings, metalsmithing, sculptures, photography, and one-of-a-kind jewelry.
- Food + beverage: Wine tasting, spirit sampling, microbrews, savory food and sweet treats
- Featured artist duo: Myra Burg and Liz Cummings, two individual artists who normally work with completely separate media, joining forces to create Quiet Oboes.
Early Earth Day Celebration: Get a Head Start on Saving the World!
March 23, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm / Auditorium at Sunland Village, Mesa / All ages / Free
Bird-themed Earth Day celebration targeted to trail lovers, nature enthusiasts, and conservationists. There will be a seed swap table, where growers can share their excess seeds or pick up new seeds to try.
- Entertainment: Free plants, a seed swap, and animal rescue organizations with live reptiles and birds.
- Vendors: Wildlife photographers and small businesses like Blue Planet Outdoors and Big Sky soap will be selling their products. There will also be space for non-profits, including the Arizona Trail Association, Tru Garden Hydroponic Growers, and Desert Audubon.
HERarts n Crafts Festival
March 23, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm / Kroc Center Phoenix (East Field), Phoenix / Free with RSVP / All ages
Festival with over 40 local women artists and vendors, live performances, art demos, food, music, and giveaways.
- Substance-free, family-friendly event.
- Organized by the Black Girl Brown Girl Collective, a South Phoenix nonprofit that aims to provide opportunities for women to engage in cultural events and share their art and make all women feel safe and welcomed.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum Founder’s Day
March 24, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm / Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior / Included with admission
Celebration in honor of Colonel Thompson, the founder of the Arboretum, on its 100th anniversary!
- Entertainment: Live music, interactive photo booth, and scavenger hunt.
- Food + beverage: Sweet treats (first come, first served).
- *Free BTA swag (first come, first served)!
Inaugural Casa Grande Southwest Taco Fest
March 30, 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm / Dave White Regional Park, Casa Grande / All ages / $10 advance, $15 day-of admission + ticketing fees, free admission for children 12 and under (with paid adult admission)
- Entertainment: Live music featuring headliner Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, as well as folklorico dancing and Mariachi Nueva Era. There will also be hot air balloon tethered rides (weather permitting), a fireworks display, and activities for kids (inflatables, face painting, balloon artist).
- Vendors: Retail vendors.
- Food + beverage: Taco, salsa, and margarita vendors, and a beer garden. Food and beverage is not included in the ticket price, and you can’t bring in your own alcohol and/or food.
- No pets allowed.
- Free parking.
Exploring Material Diversity with Bela Fidel
April 18, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm / Shemer Art Center, Phoenix / $75 fee + $30 supplies / materials
What got my attention:
This workshop sounds phenomenal! I love the use of a wide variety of materials and the spirit of experimentation with different techniques for artists at any level.
From the organizer(s)…
Dive into the realm of tactile artistry in this immersive course. Explore the possibilities of compounds, pastes, collages, art- and non-art materials.
Other upcoming workshops with Bela Fidel:
- 4/19: Acrylic Pouring ($75 + $30 materials fee)
- 4/26 – 5/24 (Fridays): Abstract Painting through Working on a Series ($150 + $30 materials fee)
– Northern Arizona –
Landforms + Lifeforms
now — April 12 / Natural History Institute, Prescott / Free
Exhibition of fine art nature photography by Taylor McKinnon. The collection centers on the beauty of western North American landscapes, the biodiversity within them, and our relationships with the natural world.
- 3/23, 1pm: Nature Photography for Everyone. Loosely-structured workshop in Prescott’s Granite Dells with the exhibition’s artist, Taylor McKinnon. Learn about cameras and composition and practice photographing beautiful scenery on the Mogollon Rim. Advanced registration required. $35/person
- H/T Prescott Chamber of Commerce
The Bluegrass on the Beach Festival
March 1 – 9, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor Beach, Lake Havasu / $25-30/day pass + ticketing fees
What got my attention:
Bluegrass in Lake Havasu! Also, it’s cool that attendees are invited to join in with the jam sessions.
- Entertainment: jam sessions on and off stage – bring your favorite instrument to join in – workshops, arts and crafts.
- Food + beverage: “great food and beer”
- Shuttle service available within the festival.
Petrified Forest National Park Guided Backcountry Hikes
March 1 – 30 / Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook / Included with admission ($25 per car) / No children under 12.
The Petrified Forest National Park offers guided hikes on Fridays and Saturdays through backcountry trails to notable locations within the Park. Descriptions of individual hikes will give you an idea of the level of difficulty (easy to strenuous), distance, elevation gain, and how much time to allow.
- Don’t forget to make a reservation for your guided hike!
- While pets are not allowed on guided hikes, they can come to this National Park with you and even participate in the BARK Ranger program!
- *Free entrance on National Park free days! Upcoming: April 20, June 19, August 4.
Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope
March 8 – 9, 5 showtimes over 2 days / Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University., Prescott / $5 admission
What got my attention:
Jane Goodall. Hope.
From the organizer(s)…
Drawing on decades of work by the world’s most famous living ethologist and environmentalist, Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope, is an uplifting journey around the globe to highlight good news stories that will inspire people to make a difference in the world around them.
- ANYWHERE: Find it in a theater near you.
- Shows run approximately 45 minutes.
Pecan and Wine Festival
March 16 – 17 / Downtown Camp Verde / Free to attend
Celebration of Camp Verde’s pecan growers and wineries. The festivities will include nut and wine tastings, vendors, and music.
- Not a pet-friendly event.
- Wine tasting tickets can be bought online or at the event.
2nd Annual Mesquite Weekend
March 23 – 24 / Golden Valley / Free
Learn how to use, eat, and grow the mesquite trees native to Arizona, as part of living a more sustainable life. In addition to learning about mesquite, attendees will be able to spend time with other people who are also interested in topics like permaculture, homesteading, and natural living.
What got my attention:
Off the beaten path, relaxed, sustainability, mesquite.
From the organizer(s)…
Come on out to Golden Valley, Arizona (a hamlet nestled between Kingman and Bullhead City) to taste mesquite in its many forms … and enjoy a slow weekend in a small town right off of historic route 66.
- Entertainment: workshops, food demonstrations, exercise clinics
- Vendors: plant nurseries and farms, natural living products, artisan goods
- Food + beverage: Brina’s Brews Mobile Coffee, Dr. D’s Gourmet Popcorn, Desert Daisy Lemonade
- H/T Visit Arizona
Arizona Fiber Festival
April 5 – 7 / Camp Verde Parks + Rec Building, Camp Verde / Free admission + workshop fees
Inaugural Arizona Fiber Festival, featuring three days of workshops, vendors, and demonstrations on an array of fiber arts, including spinning, dyeing, weaving, felting, knitting, crocheting, basketry, beading, braiding, and embroidery. Work by members of the Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners Guilds on display.
- The vendor market, demonstrations, and Guild booths are free and open to the public.
- Workshops require fees and advance registration.
- H/T Visit Camp Verde
Red Rock Earth Day Celebration
April 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm / Red Rock State Park, Sedona / Included with admission
Celebrate Earth Day in one of the world’s most beautiful places – surrounded by Sedona’s red rocks! There will be live wildlife presentations with rescue animals, as well as hikes, community partner booths, games, prizes, and kids’ crafts.
- *ANYWHERE: Parks + Trails Guide and other Arizona State Parks publications.
Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition (SVAC) Open Studios
April 26 – 28 / studios throughout the Verde Valley / Free
Spring tour of artists’ studios in Sedona and nearby towns!
Star Party at Homolovi State Park
April 27, 6:00 pm / Homolovi State Park’s Visitor Center Museum and Observatory, Winslow / Included with admission
A night under the stars that begins with a guest speaker presentation, followed by viewing deep sky objects – like nebulas, distant stars, and galaxies – through a 14″ telescope.
– Southern Arizona –
UA Poetry Center Readings
now — May 11 (select dates) / University of Arizona Poetry Center, Tucson + online / Free
Series of poetry readings by nationally-known and Arizona poets, as well as interdisciplinary performances and outreach events where writers of all ages share their creative work.
- *Archive: 50 years of poetry readings
- ANYWHERE: All readings are also livestreamed and available afterwards on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
Popol Vuh and the Maya Art of Storytelling: Two Words — Piñata. Wall.
now – October 20 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Exhibition that looks at the traditions of Maya storytelling and image-making from ancient times up to the present. As a starting point, it uses Mayan mythology from the Popol Vuh. Artwork by Guatemalan modern artist Carlos Mérida (including a wall that looks like a giant, flat piñata) complement the ancient work.
- *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.
- *Second SundAZe. Focused on intergenerational learning, the Second Sunday of the month features activities and art-making for kids, as well as docent talks, free performances, and pay-what-you-wish admission.
Art in Oro Valley Gallery Exhibition: OV at 50!
Now – May 3 / Ventana Gallery at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Tucson / Free
Exhibition of work by artists who live, work, and/or were inspired by Oro Valley, in honor of the town’s 50th anniversary. It will be housed in an unconventional space – a gallery located on the campus of Roche Tissue Diagnostics.
Tubac Nature Center’s Hawk Watch
March 1 – 31 / Ron Morriss Park, Tubac
Monthlong focus on watching hawks and other raptors migrate through Tubac with experts on these birds of prey. Several thousand raptors migrate north above the Santa Cruz River – including over half of the Common Black Hawks in the U.S. Many stop to roost in nearby cottonwood trees overnight before continuing their journey.
- Entertainment: Guided nature walk along the Santa Cruz River, raffle, demonstration by local nature artist and plein-air painter Virginia Vovchuk, opportunity to learn how to identify hawks and why they fly over Tubac, children’s activities that include a Birdy Treasure Hunt.
- Vendors: Major optics companies will display their products. (Binoculars and such, I assume.)
- March 2024 will be the 12th year that Peter Collins will count the hawks over Ron Morriss County Park.
pre-AGAVE FEST: Tohono O’odham Foodways
March 5 – April 7 (approximately) / University of Arizona Zoom platform + San Xavier Cooperative Farm / $120 tuition
From the organizer(s)…
Many people call the Sonoran Desert and its striking landscapes home. Long before our urban centers and city lights lit up the dark desert skies, the Tohono O’odham were cultivating and shaping the land with abundant agriculture. Learn about the foodways of the Tohono O’odham and their connection to the land, plants and animals. This includes pre-encounter methods of farming, hunting, and food gathering, contemporary cultivation methods and effects of food subsidy programs on traditional diet.
- 4 live online sessions on Tuesdays March 5, 12, 19, 25 from 5pm – 6:30pm
- 5th class will be a hands on learning experience in person at San Xavier Cooperative Farm, date TBD (first week in April).
Pysanka Easter Egg Workshop
March 9, 11:00 am / St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Tucson / $25 Adults, $10 Students.
From the organizer(s)…
In this 4-hour workshop at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Tucson, you will learn how to decorate eggs using symbolic designs made with wax and colored vegetable dyes according to the practices of generations.
- SN: If you read my Pysanky post and thought “Wow! I’d love to try that some day,” then here’s your chance to do it and support a good cause!
- All profits donated for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
- Sponsored by the Ukrainian-American Society of Arizona.
- ANYWHERE: Donate to the Ukrainian-American Society of Arizona, which goes to humanitarian aid for Ukrainians impacted by the war with Russia and cultural preservation.
The Joy of Sketchbook Journaling: Draw Your Days
March 9 – 10 / Tubac School of Fine Art, Tubac / $395 fee
Workshop on how to keep a sketchbook journal to record an event, memory, or your day-to-day life. Instructor Jim Petty will also cover basic drawing, perspective, and values. This course is both in the classroom and outdoors!
What got my attention:
Journaling through art! Inside AND outside! Another way to do a travel journal.
How to Make Limoncello with Glass Etching
March 14, 6:00 pm / CATALYST at Tucson Mall, Tucson / $65 fee (includes supplies, tax)
Learn how to make Limoncello from local lemons and how to safely and successfully etch glass!
- Cocktail demonstration.
- Limoncello Spritz tasting for participants who are 21+
- You will take home a recipe (for completing your limoncello), etched decanter, and limoncello.
Sculpture Festival Show + Sale
March 15 – 17 / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free
Outdoor juried Sculpture Festival hosted at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park. The 2024 Festival will showcase sculpture across a wide range of media by over 50 sculptors from around the country.
- Now – 5/20: Julia Arriola and Hector Ortega Exhibit
Altan · Donegal to Tucson
March 15, 7:30 pm / Fox Theatre, Tucson / $23-81 / ticket (includes fees)
Concert of Irish traditional music from the band Altan, along with step dancers and a guest fiddler from Ireland.
From the organizer(s)…
Ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, Altan is committed to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences. Altan believes that Irish traditional music is modern music in every sense and its growing popularity proves them right.
- *Public tours of Fox Theatre the first Tuesday of each month at noon. (Requires climbing stairs.) Free, but donations to the non-profit, historic theatre are welcome.
Oro Valley Spring Festival of the Arts
March 16 – 17 / Oro Valley Marketplace, Oro Valley / Free
Juried arts and crafts marketplace with work in a variety of media on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend.
- Entertainment: Celtic musical performances (bagpipers, traditional folk dance from the Maguire School of Irish Dance, Saguaro Stompers clogging, and fast Irish jigs from bands Rave Review and Puca and the Wild Ones), inflatable art installations, a comic bookmobile, and a kid’s crafting station by Lucky Cat Social.
- Vendors: Metal sculpture, jewelry, photography, handmade beauty products, and artisan foods from over 125 artists.
- Food + beverage: Sonoran style carne asada, home cooked BBQ, Italian ice, fruit smoothies, and a full beer and wine garden.
Desert Air Market (DAM)
March 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm / corner of 6th Street + 6th Avenue under the pavilion in front of Let’s Sweat, Tucson / Free to shop
From the organizer(s)…
Desert Air Market (DAM) is a recurring outdoor popup market created and run by Tucson artisans for Tucson artisans since the Winter of 2020. As fellow creators, we uniquely understand the highs and lows of running a small business, and we created this one-of-a-kind pop up with a focus on our local creators.
Sustainable Landscapes EXPO
March 16, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm / UA Cooperative Extension (4210 N. Campbell Avenue), Tucson / Free
Over 40 exhibits to increase your knowledge on efficient water usage and sustainable landscaping in the Southern Arizona desert!
- Entertainment: Hands-on activities for all ages, free raffle for items and services, and a chance to take home one of 200 free trees from Civano Growers!
- Food + beverage: Food trucks
Time Travelers: Foundations, Transformations, and Expansions at the Centennial
March 17 — October 6 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) celebrates 100 years since its founding by looking at the relationship of art to time. The “Time Travelers: Foundations, Transformations, and Expansions at the Centennial” exhibition looks at significant artworks collected by the museum over the past century to reconsider their complex relationships to the past, present, and future.
Haiku hike
March 19 – June 1 / Downtown Tucson / Free
Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on acrylic signage and placed in planters along Congress Street and Stone Avenue. The 20 poems are winners of an annual literary competition, submitted by the public and chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert.
- ANYWHERE: Read winning poems online.
Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair
March 22 – 24 / Fourth Ave, Tucson / Free / All ages
Bi-annual, family-friendly tradition that hosts artists from around the world, decadent food, and local entertainment. Produced by local non-profit, North Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, proceeds are used to support the Avenue’s infrastructure, invest in surrounding neighborhoods, and host programs that promote arts, culture, and community.
Connect to Your Creativity through Abstract Art: So You Think You Can Paint!
March 22 – 23 / Tubac School of Fine Art, Tubac / $270 fee
From the organizer(s)…
Have you ever said of an abstract in a museum: “Well, hrrmph, I could do that”? Time to find out!
This course welcomes, not only artists and art lovers, but all curious participants to the world of abstraction. Through this two-day course, you will practice letting go of expectations and creating with the abandon and joy of a child.
What got my attention:
I like the idea of giving the naysayers the opportunity to try it themselves! Regardless of the outcome, it sounds like a fun and freeing – maybe even therapeutic – class.
DIY Charm Necklace Workshop
March 23, 10:00 am or 1:00 pm / Creative Kind at La Encantada, Tucson / $60 fee (includes supplies)
Choose charms and a chain, and create your own chunky charm necklace! Includes either a 14k gold plated or 14k silver plated “paperclip” chain (both hypoallergenic). You are also welcome to bring your own chain. Customize it with 6-8 charms that speak to you from an assortment of gold, silver, and enamel chunky charms.
- 2 separate class times: 10am–noon or 1-3pm
- Workshop seats are non-refundable.
- *Anywhere in the US: Free shipping on Creative Kind orders over $75
‘Amai Mo ‘Am Ṣo:ṣon G Cewagĭ / El lugar donde se forman las nubes / The Place Where Clouds Are Formed
April 4 — August 31 / Poetry Center’s Jeremy Ingalls Gallery and the Center for Creative Photography’s Alice Chaiten Baker Interdisciplinary Gallery / 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.
Tucson Folk Festival
April 4 – 7 / Jácome Plaza, Tucson / Free / All ages
From the organizer(s)…
Festival celebrating Americana and Folk Music traditions and all the wonderful variations, including bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, Celtic, and various styles of Latin and Mexican music! This annual family-friendly festival is held in some of the most historic sections of Tucson.
- 4/4: Official festival kick off party at Monterey Court.
- 4/5: Performer social and annual Stefan George Memorial Songwriting Competition on the Plaza Stage at Jácome Plaza.
- 4/6-7: Main event. Five stages downtown and more than 125 live performances.
Made in Tucson Market (MinT)
April 7, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / 4th Avenue + 7th Street, Tucson / Free to shop
From the organizer(s)…
It’s not just about commerce, it’s about community.
The Made in Tucson Market is a celebration of the risk-takers and dream-makers that personify the Tucson maker movement. It honors the authentic nature of the rugged desert and the unique spirits that call it home. It revels in the profound resilience and connection of our community.
- Vendors: Pima County based artists and makers selling their own work.
- Food + beverage: Food trucks, trailers, and booths.
- Funds from Made in Tucson go right back into community projects like murals and events.
Pueblos del Maíz
April 11 – 14 / Tucson
From the organizer(s)…
Tucson will host the first weekend of a month-long international food and culture celebration. The festivities will include regional food vendors, chef demonstrations, live music and entertainment, educational panels, art installations, and so much more celebrating the rich traditions of maíz.
- 4/11, 4pm: Noche de Maíz Chef’s Dinner at The Carriage House. Chefs from four UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy collaborate on wine-paired courses + hors d’oeuvres. $150/ticket
- 4/13, 4-10pm: Maíz Fiesta at Kennedy Park. Live music, art installations, and family-friendly activities. Free
- 4/14, 7pm: CIMAFUNK at The Rialto Theatre. Afro-Cuban Rockstar who aims to subvert classical Cuban rhythms with innovative mixes of funk, afrobeat and hip hop. $20/ticket advance or $25 at the door
Arizona International Film Festival
April 17 – 28 / multiple venues, Tucson / Ticket prices TBD.
The Arizona International Film Festival (AZIFF) is a venue for independent filmmakers in search of an independent audience. Screening locations this year include The Screening Room (downtown), MSA Annex, Hotel Congress, UA Main Gate, and other venues throughout Tucson.
- The Selection Committee will be announcing the finalists for the 2024 Festival by March 18.
- *Lodging discounts of 10-20% off for Festival attendees!
Chiricahua Centennial Commemoration Days: A Wonderland at 100!
April 18-20 / Chiricahua National Monument, Willcox / Free
Known as a “Wonderland of Rocks” Chiricahua National Monument was established on April 18, 1924, which means it’s the Park’s 100th anniversary!
- 4/18, 2pm: Commemoration Ceremony at Faraway Ranch. Refreshments, pre-program music (from 1:30pm), parking shuttle service until 4:30 pm.
- 4/19, 1-4pm: Living History at Faraway Ranch.
- 4/20, 11am-3pm: Geology Programs at Massai Point. 30-minute talk, “Story Behind the Scenery: Geology Chiricahua Style” will be repeated on the hour.
- *Chiricahua no longer charges an entrance fee!
Agave Heritage Festival
April 18-21 / venues around Tucson
Some event highlights…
Thursday: Agave Planting at Mission Garden
April 18, 8:00 am – 10:00 am / Mission Garden, Tucson / Free / All ages
Help plant agave in the style of traditional Hohokam-era agave plantings on nearby Tumamoc Hill, while learning more about this food’s ancient methods and future possibilities. At the end of the planting, Archaeologist Allen Denoyer will demonstrate the use of a replica agave knife, used for cutting leaves off agaves in preparation for roasting.
- No experience necessary.
- Wearing a hat and long pants is recommended.
- All tools and gloves will be provided.
Thursday: Seis Heritage Dinner
April 18, 5:30 pm / Seis Kitchen (Joesler Village location), Tucson / $130/ticket (includes tax + tip) / 21+
Multi-course dinner of regional Mexican cuisine paired with curated agave spirits and cocktails.
Friday: Festival Kickoff with Flor de Toloache and Som do Sisal
April 19, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / Hotel Congress Plaza, Tucson / $25/advance ticket / 21+
Concert to kick off the Agave Heritage Festival, featuring Grammy Award-Winning Mariachi Flor de Toloache with Som do Sisal, a 13-piece Brazilian Youth Orchestra that plays instruments made of repurposed Agave Sisal plants.
- *The first 200 concertgoers will get an agave spirit sample courtesy of Mezcal Union!
Saturday: Agave Roast + Learn
April 20, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm / Mission Garden
Explore Mission Garden and learn more about agave from staff and volunteers, as well as environmental and cultural organizations from around the region.
- 9am: The Future of Agave. Panel discussion on why agave’s drought-tolerance may make it a key crop of the future.
- 10:30am: Agave Roast with the Hualapai Tribe. Members of the Hualapai Tribe will describe their own traditions and relationship to agave roasts, using a different type of agave and a different style of roasting pit than the Hohokam methods demonstrated in past years. They will then open the roasting pit and share tastes with visitors!
Saturday: Introduction to Mezcal Course
April 20, 10:00 am / AC Marriott, Tucson / $210 fee
Course exploring the history, production, and taste of six different agave spirits. Over the course of 2.5 hours, you will taste 6 different varieties, learning how to identifying aromas, flavors, and overall quality, as well as gaining the tools to better appreciate the many varieties of mezcal.
Saturday: Agave Fiesta
April 20, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / Hotel Congress, Tucson / $65 /ticket / 21+
Signature event with over 50 artisanal and ancestral mezcals, an agave cocktail showcase, live music, agave art, and presentations from industry experts.
Each ticket also includes…
- 4 agave spirit tastes
- 1 beer sample
- 2 cocktail samples
- paired food from the Cup Café culinary team
Verdi, Kalman, Rósza, and Sibelius
April 27 – 28 / Oro Valley + Tucson / $25-32/ticket
The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra (SASO) performs a series of concerts from fall to spring.
- Saturday performances are 7:30pm at DesertView Performing Arts Center in Oro Valley. $32/ticket (includes tax + fees).
- Sunday performances are 3pm at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson. $25/ticket.
In the final performance weekend for the 2023/2024 season, guest conductor Giovanni Pompeo leads the orchestra in playing Verdi’s Overture to I Vespri Siciliani and a selection from Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5, in addition to Kalman’s Hudson Concerto and Rósza’s Spellbound Concerto, which will both feature pianist Alexander Frey.
- ANYWHERE: Watch SASO’s series of livestreamed concerts from the 2020-2021 season, featuring smaller string ensembles on a socially distanced stage.
