Celebrate NAU Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Tailgate & Game on Oct. 10

FLAGSTAFF — Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Alumni Day with a special football game and tailgate event against Montana at the Skydome. Tailgate for 150 people!

Members of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and other local community leaders and residents will be honored during the game.

‘ICE OUT RALLY’ to be held at Flagstaff City Hall on Oct. 10

FLAGSTAFF — An ‘ICE OUT RALLY’ will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. MST, Saturday, Oct. 10 at 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.

##Join Flagstaff DSA to protest ICE’s detention and deportation of our neighbors.

Immigrants are being removed quietly – so it’s up to us to show up and speak up for them!

‘No Kings: Vote Early – Flagstaff’ rally to be held at Flagstaff City Hall on Oct. 17

FLAGSTAFF — A ‘No Kings: Vote Early – Flagstaff’ rally will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. MST, Saturday, Oct. 17 at 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.

Join us to rally in celebration of exercising our superpower – voting!

We will provide non-partisan education for those who haven’t yet voted, including finding the closest ballot box or how to vote early in-person. We will also provide volunteer opportunities for our Election Protection program.

Bring signs with the theme of early voting en mass as the best way to thwart attempts to disrupt elections. Have fun with it! Superhero costume + voting is our superpower. Voting is as American as Apple Pie. Express yourself! The People Decide Our Elections,

Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces’ ‘Celebraciones de la Gente,’ Flagstaff’s premier Día de los Muertos celebration, returns to the Museum of Northern Arizona on Oct. 24-25, 2026

FLAGSTAFF — Mariachi music, folklorico dances and a central courtyard illuminated by hundreds of candles placed on nearly two dozen ofrendas/altars — visitors to the Museum of Northern Arizona will once again experience it all when Celebraciones de la Gente returns on Oct. 24-25, 2026 courtesy of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and its partnership with the Museum.

The 23rd annual Celebraciones de la Gente will feature headline performances by Mariachi Agave from Tucson and Flagstaff’s own Ballet Folklorico de Colores, which has performed at the annual event since Celebraciones was founded in 2003. It was at that time that Nuestras member and longtime historian Delia Munoz came up with the name which means Celebration of the People.

Reservations now open for Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC)’s inaugural Nuestra Comunidad Community Recognition Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 13

FLAGSTAFF— The public is invited to attend the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council’s (CHAC) inaugural Nuestra Comunidad Community Recognition Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 at American Legion Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff. Doors open at 6:45 a.m.

The celebration includes guest speakers, community and veterans award presentations and entertainment.

Bring your handouts for our Community Information Table!

Discover Flagstaff — Star Party at High Country Motor Lodge on Oct. 8; Route 66: The Main Street of America at the Orpheum Theater on Oct. 10-11, more events

Star Party

High Country Motor Lodge

Journey through the stars with cultural astronomer Dr. Danielle Adams for an evening of celestial storytelling and telescope viewing under the night sky.

As twilight deepens, you’ll experience the night sky through the lens of cultural astronomy as Dr. Adams reveals the rich histories behind well-known star names and showcases Arabian star names. You can also enjoy close-up telescopic views of Saturn and other celestial objects as the Milky Way rises.

Election Watch — Coconino County has announced that early voting has begun and that ballots have been mailed out. Check your registration

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Coconino County has announced that early voting has begun and that ballots have been mailed out.

To check your voter registration status, visit my.arizona.vote.

Make sure to go to Coconino County Elections and the Coconino County Recorder’s Office for important dates and information about the November 3 General Election!

Grand Canyon Community Update – Oct. 9, 2026

A Message to Our Grand Canyon Community: Every Drop Counts 

This community has met every challenge the canyon has thrown at it with grit and generosity. These past weeks have tested us, and you have answered with patience, cooperation, and care for one another. Thank you. 

As the park scales back the temporary resident water services starting Friday, Oct. 9, we want to acknowledge what you’ve already accomplished. You have adapted your routines, supported your neighbors and worked together to conserve water during Stage 4 restrictions.  

Pile burns planned next week on Flagstaff, Mogollon Rim ranger districts

The Coconino National Forest is planning to conduct pile burns next week as conditions allow. Pile burns are a type of prescribed fire. Certified prescribed fire specialists will use these upcoming pile burns to help reduce unwanted fuels – notably by cleaning up debris left over from area timber sales. More information about the importance of prescribed fire is available on the Coconino National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/fire/management

The NAU Review — What’s a desert bestiary? + reviving a campus garden

Building a desert bestiary

Bobby Long, an associate teaching professor of visual communication, recently created more than 65 detailed illustrations for “Sonoran Desert Bestiary: A More-than-Natural History,” a book that explores small and underrepresented species through folklore and natural history. We asked Long a few quick Qs about the experience.

Flagstaff City Manager Joanne Keene recognized as 2026 Women Achiever of Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Flagstaff City Manager Joanne Keene was recognized as a 2026 Women Achiever of Arizona within Government and Public Service. The Women Achievers Award recognizes exceptional women whose leadership, service, innovation, and dedication have made a meaningful impact on Arizona’s communities, industries, and public life. Awardees represent leaders who inspire others through their accomplishments and commitment to making a difference.

Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett said “Joanne’s dedication to Flagstaff and her commitment to public service have made a lasting impact on our community. We are proud to celebrate her achievements and are grateful for her service to our city.”

Get the latest news updates from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes including ‘Attorney General Mayes Urges Arizona Corporation Commission to Investigate Whether APS Customers Subsidized Data Centers and Other Large Energy Users’

Click below for the latest news updates from the:

Office Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes

Sedona Arts Center — Sedona Plein Air Festival Begins October 16 — Reserve Your Place!, more events

For nine days this October, 26 artists from across the country will spread out across Sedona and the Verde Valley, painting the landscape as it changes around them—capturing the light, color and extraordinary beauty of Red Rock Country in real time.

And you don’t have to experience the festival from a distance.

This year, there are several special opportunities to join us where the painting is happening—from an evening among the vineyards at D.A. Ranch to an intimate private Sedona residence, or by picking up your own brushes and participating in the Community Paint Out.

Reserve your place now and be part of the 22nd Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival!

Fire managers plan prescribed fires on Williams Ranger District beginning Oct. 8

WILLIAMS — Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to begin ignitions on over 3,200 acres of prescribed fire units on the Williams Ranger District tomorrow, which will produce noticeable smoke in and around the community of Pumpkin Center and Kendrick Mountain Wilderness, and south of the Bill Williams Mountain area and from South Perkinsville Road.

We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Coconino Center for the Arts — Life Update & Recent Highlights!

These last couple of months have been busy, filled with community, events, art, and Flagstaff fun. Thank you for your involvement in everything we do and for your continued engagement in art, science, and culture! Here is what has been happening at Creative Flagstaff and Coconino Center for the Arts:

Public Involvement Period Opens on Long-Term North Rim Recovery and Redevelopment Concepts at Grand Canyon National Park

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — The National Park Service invites the public to help shape the long-term recovery and future of the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park by participating in a 30-day public involvement period beginning Oct. 6, 2026. 

Following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire and significant recovery work over the past year, recent flash floods have underscored the importance of resilient infrastructure, reliable utilities, public safety, emergency preparedness, and thoughtful long-term planning in this remote and dynamic environment.

Find your creative inspiration This Fall at Sedona Arts Center

Explore Something New. Create Something Wonderful
 

There’s always something new to discover at Sedona Arts Center! Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time, developing your skills at the pottery wheel, or exploring a completely new medium, our upcoming classes and workshops offer opportunities to learn, experiment, and grow.

From painting and ceramics to stained glass, photography, mixed media, and more, you’ll find welcoming instruction, hands-on experiences, and a creative community ready to inspire you.

Find your next creative experience and join us in the heart of Sedona!

Coconino County Parks and Recreation Newsletter-October 2026

Our newsletter has a new design, but it still brings you the same great news from Parks & Recreation.
The air is getting cooler, and Fort Tuthill County Park is the place to be this fall! From hands-on culinary classes and archery clinics to live music at the Pepsi Amphitheater, there is something for everyone this October. See what’s coming up in programs, events, and everything happening at Coconino County Parks & Recreation.

Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council announces 2026 awards and opens community nominations

The Coconino County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 CJCC Awards, recognizing individuals, organizations and partnerships making meaningful contributions to the criminal justice system and the communities it serves.

The awards will be presented at a joint Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y seeks to connect community with help through variety of resource guides

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
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COCONINO COUNTY — Whether it’s connecting families to food and shelter resources, to helping foster care families learn about potential scholarship programs for their youth, resource guides provide a valuable assistance to residents throughout Coconino County and Northern Arizona.
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To spread the word about these valuable information resources, CCC&Y has compiled a listing and links to a variety of additional resource guides throughout the region including CCC&Y’s own recently updated Fall/Winter 2026 Page/Fredonia and Tuba City/Navajo Nation resource guides.

READ MORE

The NAU Review — Mapping an ancient pueblo + celebrate Disability Pride Heritage Month!

Preserving the past for the future

From site to screen, a team from the Department of Anthropology is working to preserve history at Wukoki Pueblo, an ancient Indigenous dwelling 30 miles north of Flagstaff. Their work will not only create a detailed digital record of the site but will also create a three-dimensional model that’s accessible to people anywhere in the world

Fire managers plan prescribed fires in Jacob Lake area beginning this week

FREDONIA — Kaibab National Forest fire managers plan to begin ignitions on prescribed fire units on the North Kaibab Ranger District in the Jacob Lake area this week, which will produce noticeable smoke in and around the Jacob Lake and Fredonia areas and along highways 89A and 67.

We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Discover Flagstaff — Beer, Stars, and Rock n Roll

Flagstaff Oktoberfest

Wheeler Park

Raise your steins, Flagstaff — the 17th Annual Flagstaff Oktoberfest returns to Wheeler Park on Saturday, October 3rd from 10 AM–9 PM! Celebrate fall in the mountains with a full day of craft beer, brats, live music, contests, kids activities, vendors, and our famous Puppy Races with High Country Humane.

Come dressed in your best Bavarian gear and enjoy everything from the Root Beer Garden to lawn games to local food favorites. Every ticket supports the Debbi Grogan Memorial Fund, helping fund music education for local students through the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation.

Coconino Center for the Arts — First Friday is Here! October 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 today, October 2, 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.