Verde Valley Pottery Festival
There is a particular pleasure in choosing a mug, bowl or sculptural piece directly from the person who made it, then imagining the place it will hold in everyday life. That connection between maker and collector is at the heart of the Verde Valley Pottery Festival, returning Nov. 13-15, 2026, to D.A.Ranch Vineyards for a weekend of handmade work, live demonstrations, family activities, local food, live music, and estate-grown Arizona wine.
The festival enters its next chapter this year as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, a milestone that gives its growing community event a stronger foundation to support ceramic artists, expand hands-on arts education and create more opportunities for people across the Verde Valley to experience studio ceramics.
Set along Oak Creek on over 100 acres of farmland shaded by cottonwoods, D.A.Ranch has become a natural meeting place for artists, families and visitors. During the festival, guests can browse pottery, watch clay take shape on a wheel and enjoy the vineyard setting, where the region’s agricultural landscape and its creative community meet.
“Becoming a nonprofit is a huge step forward for us, but our heart remains exactly the same,” says Ben Roti, founder and executive director of the Verde Valley Pottery Festival. “What started as a simple desire to bring ceramic artists together has grown into a vital community gathering. As a nonprofit, we can expand our educational programming, better support our visiting artists and ensure that studio ceramics remain accessible and celebrated in the Verde Valley for years to come.”
What began in 2022 as a grassroots gathering in Camp Verde has evolved into a regional destination for makers, collectors and curious first-time buyers. The festival invites guests to slow down, meet artists and discover the range of contemporary work made by hand, from functional pieces meant for daily use to sculptural art.
“There is something meaningful about selecting a piece of pottery directly from the person who created it,” says Alexis Petznick, executive at D.A.Ranch Vineyards. “This festival gives patrons a chance to hear artists’ stories, see the range of contemporary and functional work, and take home pieces that become part of their everyday lives. We are proud to continue building a gathering where established collectors, first-time pottery buyers, families and fellow makers can all share in the tradition of ceramics.”
Festival highlights include:
– First Pick Friday. Friday, Nov. 13, 4-6 p.m. A $25 early-access preview gives guests first choice of ceramic work, plus D.A.Ranch wine, local food trucks, craft beer and live music.
– Festival Weekend. Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free, with a full weekend of shopping, demonstrations, food, live music, and family activities.
– Artist Marketplace. Potters from across Arizona will offer handmade work, from functional pottery to sculptural art.
– Live Demonstrations. Watch wheel throwing, surface design and alternative firing techniques in action.
– Food and Drink. Local food trucks, coffee, craft beer and D.A.Ranch estate-grown wines will be available.
– Family and Community Activities. Hands-on clay experiences for children and educational demonstrations will invite guests of all ages to explore the medium.
General admission is free Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking is available onsite on a first-come, first-served basis.
D.A.Ranch Vineyards is located at 1900 Dancing Apache Road in Cornville. For schedules, tickets, volunteer opportunities, nonprofit donation information and sponsorship opportunities, visit verdevalleypotteryfestival.com. To sponsor or support the Verde Valley Pottery Festival, visit verdevalleypotteryfestival.com/sponsor.
