Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff and Banda La Excepcional to perform on the Main Stage on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026 at the Coconino County Fair (Sept. 4-7)

COCONINO COUNTY — This Labor Day weekend, northern Arizona’s biggest annual celebration returns with more than ever. The 77th Annual Coconino County Fair is September 4-7 at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, marking a convergence of milestones – Route 66 at 100, Coconino County at 135, Flagstaff’s Dark Sky designation at 25 and America at 250.

With more than 35,000 attendees expected across four days of rides, live music, livestock shows, fine arts food and family fun, the Coconino County Fair is northern Arizona’s largest Labor Day weekend event and one of its best community traditions.

‘American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez’ to be shown through Sept. 10 during Sedona International Film Festival

SEDONA — The Northern Arizona premiere of “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” comes to Sedona for a one-week run (Sept. 3-10), starting with a screening at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 as part of the Sedona International Film Festival.

The opening night screening will be followed by a Q&A with director David Alvarado and producer Everett Katigbak. The Sundance audience favorite tells the story of Luis Valdez, the man who built El Teatro Campesino out of the fields of California and turned the figure of the pachuco and the history of the Zoot Suit Riots into influential American stage art.

Narrated by Edward James Olmos in character as El Pachuco, featuring Dolores Huerta. It began on a flatbed truck at the Delano picket lines, with farmworkers performing their own strike, before it ever reached a stage. A Mexican American story on the big screen, brought to Sedona by the festival that keeps this red rock town in love with film.

Election Watch — AmigosNAZ launching weekly information feature ahead of upcoming Nov. 3, 2026 elections

Editor’s note: Given the constantly churning news cycle with stories on court cases possibly impacting mail-in ballots or reduction of polling places nationwide and other political issues, AmigosNAZ is launching this new weekly feature to help readers gather accurate information from local and state elections officials on the upcoming election. Future stories will include details on how to track your ballot, ballot drop off locations in Coconino County and other information. Please see links below for local and Arizona election resources.

Discover Flagstaff — Labor Day Weekend Plans? Check Out These Events!

Get Your Kicks & Fair Fix at the 77th Annual Coconino County Fair! Celebrating 135 years of Coconino County, join us Labor Day Weekend, September 4-7, 2026, at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff.

Enjoy carnival rides, live bands every day, Friday through Monday, livestock shows, fine arts, food, games, and family fun for all ages. 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2026

Bright Angel Flash Flood Response and South Rim Water Conservation

Grand Canyon National Park continues response and recovery efforts following the August 29 flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. Search, accountability, infrastructure assessment, and recovery work are ongoing under a Type II Incident Management Team.

Flash Flood Response and Search Efforts

At this time, 82 people have been rescued, two people have been recovered deceased, and one person remains missing. Search efforts for the missing hiker continue with park staff and partner agencies.

The flood caused extensive damage to trails, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure in the inner canyon. Early assessments indicate that approximately 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline and five to seven miles of the North Kaibab Trail have been severely damaged. Four bridges in the Box were severely damaged or washed away. Assessments are continuing, and these estimates may change as crews learn more about the extent of the damage.

City of Flagstaff announces Labor Day closures

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Flagstaff’s City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. City Hall offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Labor Day include:

Cinder Lake Landfill and Hazardous Products Center (6770 E Landfill Rd.)
Citizens Cemetery (1300 S San Francisco St.)
Downtown Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N Izabel St)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.)
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) (1800 E Butler Ave.)

Coconino Center for the Arts — First Friday is Here! September ArtWalk Highlights

Flagstaff’s First Friday ArtWalk is a monthly celebration of creativity that brings downtown to life. Local galleries stay open late with special artist receptions and entertainment, so check out the gallery map to visit them all!

Join us for First Friday tomorrow, September 4, starting at 5pm! The 2026 ArtWalk season is generously underwritten by Dapper Dre, supporting Car-Free First Fridays with traffic closures on Aspen St. for art and performance activations.

The NAU Review — How NAU and the Navajo Nation are searching for safe water

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The NAU Review. The official news source for Northern Arizona University.
Sept. 3, 2026

We deliver top headlines to the Lumberjack community every Tuesday and Thursday during the academic year. For more, visit in.nau.edu/news.

A Navajo man pumps water from a tank into a barrel. Red rock mesas are in the background.
Identifying safe drinking water on tribal lands

A group of NAU researchers, led by analytical chemist Jani Ingram, sampled water in wells throughout the Navajo Nation to identify which wells contained safe drinking water and which contained dangerous levels of uranium. The work doesn’t just protect Navajo Nation residents’ health; it also provides them with data they can use to advocate for safer community resources.

Celebrate MNA’s 98th Birthday this Sunday!

Join us Sunday, September 6, as we celebrate MNA’s 98th birthday with a special presentation by Kristan Hutchison, MNA’s Exhibitions & Publications Manager. Discover the remarkable story behind the museum’s founding, then enjoy cupcakes as we celebrate MNA’s past and look ahead to the museum’s centennial in 2028!

Grand Canyon National Park expands inner canyon closures following Aug. 29 flash flood

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park continues response and recovery operations following the destructive August 29 flash flood that caused significant damage in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.

Park staff and partner agencies are conducting damage assessments and beginning repair and stabilization work in areas where trails, bridges, utilities and other infrastructure were damaged or destroyed. Maintaining safe access for response personnel and keeping visitors out of hazardous areas is critical as this work continues.

Coconino County — More than 36 properties receive free environmental assessments; space available to enroll in program

COCONINO COUNTY — Property owners are encouraged to apply for a free environmental assessment through the Northern Arizona Property Revitalization Program.

More than three dozen free environmental assessments have been completed in Coconino, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties as part of the Northern Arizona Property Revitalization Program.

Explore new ceramic techniques at Sedona Arts Center

Learn from talented ceramic artists in a series of hands-on workshops exploring specialized techniques and creative processes. From alternative firing and surface decoration to throwing, form, and functional design, these workshops offer inspiring opportunities to build new skills, experiment with fresh ideas, and connect with fellow makers.

Emergency Management Director Tim Carter named Emergency Management Professional of the Year

COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Emergency Management Director Tim Carter was named the Emergency Management Professional of the Year by the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers (AAEM).

“Coconino County has faced an extraordinary series of emergencies over the last year, from the White Sage Fire and Dragon Bravo Fire to the Pocket Fire and the Grand Canyon flash flood,” District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Patrice Horstman said. “Throughout each event, Tim demonstrated steady leadership, clear communication and an unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. This award is deeply deserved, and we are grateful for his service.”

Get the latest news updates from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes including ‘Attorney General Mayes Defends Arizona’s Proof-of-Citizenship Voter Registration Law at U.S. Supreme Court’

Click below for the latest news updates from the:

Office Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on Sept. 3 to share your story

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.

Guest speakers this month include Austin Laster of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff and Sandra Quintanilla of Coconino County Juvenile Court, who will speak about “Children of Incarcerated Parents Day at the Park,” Flagstaff.

Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.

READ MORE

City of Flagstaff invites nominations for free environmental assessments through Route 66 Brownfield Coalition Assessment Grant

FLAGSTAFF — Property owners, business owners, developers, and community members are invited to nominate previously developed or used commercial and industrial properties and buildings for a free environmental assessment under the Route 66 Brownfield Coalition Assessment Grant. Eligible properties may include those that are underutilized, vacant or abandoned, and are sometimes called “brownfields.”

Creative Flagstaff — 19th Annual Viola Awards SAVE THE DATE (April 24, 2027!

Join us for the 19th Annual Viola Awards, taking place at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff on April 24, 2027.

Celebrate the creativity, talent, and contributions that make Flagstaff’s arts and culture community so vibrant. More details coming soon!

Grand Canyon National Park — Two deceased hikers recovered and identified following flash flood. All community meeting at Shrine of Ages Auditorium on Sept. 2

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – The National Park Service has recovered the bodies of two hikers who were caught in a destructive flash flood Aug. 29 in Bright Angel Canyon. The hikers have been identified as John Guisti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas. 

One member of the hiking group remains missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams continuing efforts to locate the missing hiker and account for anyone else who may have been in the affected area at the time of the flood.

The NAU Review — Run, freshmen, run! and more news

VIDEO: See the Class of 2030 run!

Between a 100-yard kickoff return TD, the football overcoming a 21-point deficit to win the first game of the season and the Running of the Freshmen at halftime, the Lumberjacks showed up at the Skydome on Saturday. In addition the video of the second-most exciting 100-yard run, see NAU Social’s photos from the game + the epic tailgate party .

Want to catch the next home game? Get your tickets to all NAU Athletics today!

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — September Community Events

Community Council Candidate Forums

September 3rd: Historic Preservation Forum with City Council Candidates: 5:30 to 7:00 pm at LCM Canterbury Chapel at 319 S San Francisco St. Includes educational information and Q&A with candidates.

September 10th: Southside Community City Council Forum: 5 to 7 pm at the Murdoch Community Center. More information here.

September 17th: Northern Arizona Interfaith Council Candidate Accountability Session: 6:00-7:45 pm at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church. More information here.

*September 28th – Friends of Flagstaff’s Future Forum: 6 pm at Coconino Community College Lonetree Campus. More information here.

Choose your next creative adventure at Sedona Arts Center

Whether you’re exploring a new passion or building on years of experience, Sedona Arts Center offers inspiring classes and workshops for every skill level. Learn from working artists in a welcoming, hands-on environment while exploring painting, ceramics, jewelry, stained glass, photography, mixed media, and more.

Join us in the heart of Sedona and discover where creativity can take you.