Fall For These Festivals

FALL FOR THESE FESTIVALS THIS FALL FESTIVAL SEASON

= Icon indicates family-friendly festivals.

RED ROCKS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Classical music fans will want to consider attending the Red Rocks Music Festival. This series will feature a total of three shows. On Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., see five different musicians play a variety of pieces as part of “Romantic Journey.” On Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, see award-winning violinist Elmira Darvarova and French horn player Howard Well play “Music from Six Centuries” as part of a special collaboration with the Sedona International Film Festival. Enjoy works by Hugo Wolf, R. Strauss and G. Mahler at the “Great Romantics of the German Lied” performance on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. Both of those performances will be held at the Sedona Creative Life Center.

RED ROCKS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Sept. 3-4 and 30 at the Sedona Creative Life Center (333 Schnebly Hill Road in Uptown Sedona) and Mary D. Fisher Theater (2030 AZ-89A, Ste. A-3, in West Sedona). General admission tickets cost $28; tickets for students with IDs cost $15. Info: 602-402-4551 or redrocksmusicfestival.com

THUNDER VALLEY RALLY

Celebrate all things motorcycles at the Thunder Valley Rally. Besides admiring bikes of all stripes, attendees also can enjoy a poker run, vendors, concerts and ride throughout Cottonwood. As of press time, drummer Steven Adler of rock band Guns ‘N Roses is slated to perform on Sept. 16, and the American glam metal band Slaughter is set to take the stage on Sept. 17.

THUNDER VALLEY RALLY, Sept. 16-17 in Old Town Cottonwood (281 N. Main St.). Two-day weekend passes cost $25, and kids 12 years old and younger receive free entry. Parking is free. Info: thundervalleyrallyaz.com

SEDONA VORTIFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL & EXPERIENCE

Watch Grammy-award-winning hip hop group Arrested Development and bluesy act G. Love & Special Sauce perform outdoors with a red rock backdrop at the Sedona VortiFest Music Festival & Experience. Attendees also can look forward to food trucks, more music acts, a vendor village, a kid’s zone and a Friday night comedy show kickoff featuring Brent Pella.

SEDONA VORTIFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL & EXPERIENCE, Sept. 23-24 at the Sedona Red Rock High School and Sedona Performing Arts Center (955 Upper Red Rock Loop Road in West Sedona). One-day tickets cost $88. Info: sedonavortifest.com

SEDONA WINEFEST

The 13th annual Sedona Winefest will feature wine from 25 Arizona wineries, tasty cuisine from a variety of food trucks, live music and plenty of artisan vendors. Chat with winemakers from each of the state’s three wine-making regions as you taste their creations. DJ Pablo will perform on Saturday and Sunday. Jazz musician Will Donato will take the stage on Saturday afternoon. The Sugar Thieves will play a variety of styles including jazz, country, gospel and rock and roll on Sunday.

SEDONA WINEFEST, Sept. 24-25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Posse Grounds Park (525 Posse Grounds Road in West Sedona). Tickets purchased in advance cost $35 per person and include a commemorative glass along with six drinking tickets. Tickets purchased at the gate cost $45. You must show ID at the gate. Dogs are allowed at the festival. Kids ages 18 and younger receive free admission. Info: sedonawinefest.com

Given Winslow’s part of music history (the city is notably mentioned in the classic Eagles tune “Take it Easy), it’s fitting that the annual Standin’ on the Corner Festival is a two-day music extravaganza. On Sept. 24, one musical highlight among many acts includes the Eagles tribute group Mogollon, and check out the 2019 winner of “The Voice” TV show, Jake Hoot, on Sept. 25. In addition to live music, festival-goers can look forward to a live auction, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, horseshoe and cornhole tournaments and a new beer garden. FF: Kids will love the kid’s area that includes face painting and a miniature train ride.

STANDIN’ ON THE CORNER FESTIVAL, Sept. 24-25 at the Eagle Pavilion (523 W. Second St. in Winslow). Tickets cost $5 per person. Children 12 and younger receive free admission. Info: standinonthecorner.org

The Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival or FlagShakes was started by actors, scholars and educators who intended to put on shows as the legendary Bard intended them to be seen: intimate, dynamic, accessible and linguistically rich. See dynamic performances of “The Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare’s shortest play, all throughout October in Flagstaff. FF: Kids will likely love watching lively actors take the stage.

FLAGSTAFF SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, Oct. 6-9 and 13-16 at a variety of venues in Flagstaff. Ticket prices start at $12. Info: flagshakes.org

FALLFEST IN THE PARK

Roughly 5,000 people will head to downtown Prescott’s Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza to see about 100 exhibitors showing off their handmade wares at FallFest in the Park. Enjoy tasty cuisine as you browse a plethora of handmade goods and arts and crafts under the shade of the plaza’s trees.

FALLFEST IN THE PARK, Oct. 1-3 at the Yavapai County Courthouse (157 W. Gurley Street in downtown Prescott). Free. Info: 928-445-2000 or prescott.org

SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL

See a variety of work from 125 artists all over the United States at the Sedona Arts Festival. Pop in and out of outdoor tents to see original works of art in glass, photography, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics and wood, among other mediums. Enjoy the red rock backdrop as you browse. Proceeds from the festival benefit arts education in the Sedona area. To date, the festival has donated more than $300,000 in scholarships and arts education funding.

SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL, Oct. 8-9 at the Sedona Red Rock High School (995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road in West Sedona). The festival will be held on Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two-day tickets cost $15; children 12 and younger receive free admission. No dogs are allowed. Info: 928-204-9456 or sedonaartsfestival.org

SEDONA PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

Now in its 18th year, the Sedona Plein Air Festival is a celebration of the beauty of Sedona and art. A variety of plein air painters will be in town to capture the city’s beauty. Check the Sedona Arts Center’s social media channels to see specifically where they’ll be in the Verde Valley to watch them paint live. The Sedona Arts Center event also features workshops, paint-outs and an awards ceremony to wrap up the festival.

SEDONA PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL, Oct. 12-29 at a variety of locations in and around Sedona. Free. Info: 928-282-3809 or sedonaartscenter.org

LONDON BRIDGE DAYS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Listen to top tribute bands (think bands that play covers of classic artists like KISS, Queen, the Doobie Brothers, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and Foreigner) at the London Bridge Days Music Festival in Lake Havasu City. The festival pays tribute to the city’s most famous site: its iconic London Bridge. Attendees also can look forward to a full bar and a food court.

LONDON BRIDGE DAYS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Oct 21-22 at Lake Havasu State Park (699 London Bridge Road). One-day general admission tickets cost $30 per person; two-day general admission tickets cost $50; single-day VIP tickets cost $100. Tickets are slated to sell out. Leashed dogs are allowed. General admission ticket holders are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to watch the performances. Info: londonbridgedays.com

FALL ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL AT THE SEDONA HERITAGE MUSEUM

Head to the Sedona Heritage Museum to see a plethora of handmade arts and crafts, and enjoy the outdoor red rock scenery. Meet artists or craftsmen and women – many typically only display at this show or only a handful of others – who can share how they make their goods.

FALL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sedona Heritage Museum (735 Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona). Free. Info: 928-282-7038 or sedonamuseum.org

Every fall, you can gaze up at the sky in Page as you see colorful hot air balloons against a bright, blue sky. Downtown Page will be blocked off for the festivities. Visit the Lake Powell National Golf Course to see the balloons take off Nov. 3-6 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Head to Elm Street for the Regatta Street Fair on Elm Street on Nov. 4 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fair will feature a beer garden, live music, games and rides for kids. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5th, balloons will light up the night’s sky as part of the Balloon Glow. FF: Kids will delight in seeing and even riding in some of the hot air balloons in addition to playing games and enjoying rides.

PAGE BALLOON REGATTA, Nov. 3-6 at a variety of locations in Page. Flights are weather permitting. Free. Info: 928-645-4201 or cityofpage.org/balloon-regatta-2022

RED ROCKS OKTOBERFEST

Following a three-year hiatus, Red Rocks Oktoberfest has returned to Posse Grounds Park. As you might have expected, Oktoberfest is modeled after Munich, Germany’s beer festival. Naturally, you can anticipate craft beer samples, tasty food and even live music. Produced by the Rotary Club of Sedona, Oktoberfest proceeds support the rotary club and other local causes.

RED ROCKS OKTOBERFEST, Oct. 15 at Posse Grounds Park (525 Posse Ground Road in West Sedona). Gates open at 3 p.m. General admission tickets purchased in advance cost $25. No pets allowed. Parking at Posse Grounds Park will be limited. Consider getting dropped off or taking the Red Rock Magic Trolley for free. Info: redrocksoktoberfest.com

Every fall, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village celebrates Dia de los Muertos or Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebration. Look forward to festive décor and altars set up so visitors can pay respects to those who have passed away. Dia de los Muertos is held in conjunction with the Marigold Mural Project. Decorate this public mural to honor your lost friends and family members. Past murals also will be on display. On Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the festive Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring live music and performances. Costumes are encouraged. FF: Kids will delight in crafting sugar skulls and face painting.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, Oct. 29-Nov. 2 at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (336 AZ-179). Free. Info: 928-282-4838 or tlaq.com