The big summer musical Annie comes to the Flagstaff stage. It’s a hard knock life—but this beloved family classic will fill your heart with love and joy. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
“The audience will love the energy and the laughs as well as the talented cast,” said Teri Gochanour who plays Mrs Gear. “It’s a feel-good show that will have everyone humming and singing along long after the show.”
It’s no secret that 4th of July events can be an economic driver, with parades, festivals, and fireworks prompting tourists to visit communities large and small. In northern Arizona we are fortunate to have a wide range of Independence Day events for visitors – and locals – to enjoy.
The celebrations start early in Flagstaff where hundreds of runners will compete in the Downtown Mile, a series of races held prior to the annual 4th of July Parade. There are races for all levels of runners, including elite races for cash prizes and one just for children. The first race starts at 6:30 am.
Junk Journal Deconstruction
with Nicole Austin
July 17 – 18 : Wednesday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 9am – 4pm
Some call us monsters for ripping up and altering books – I think of us more as creatives who can see potential in anything! Let’s gather together with kindred spirits and rip and alter to our hearts’ content! We’ll take an ordinary vintage book and turn it into something extraordinary using paint, embellishments, and reconstructive techniques. You bring the book, (BYOB!) and I’ll supply the rest!
Flagstaff Beer Festival is a fundraising event for non-profit organizations in Northern Arizona. This year’s proceeds support Flagstaff STEM City.
Theatrikos Theatre Company brings the big summer musical Annie to the Flagstaff stage. The sun’ll come out tomorrow! It’s a hard knock life—but this beloved family classic will fill your heart with love and joy. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Juneteenth with a weekend of events at the Murdoch Community Center, including a gala, outdoor festival, and community talk highlighting the history of the building, Southside neighborhood, and the mural. Various Times.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
As Summer rapidly approaches, it’s time for parents to start collecting resources for upcoming Summer Programs including food security, reading support and more throughout Coconino County.
Please check with individual organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.
The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org. Thank you. (Updated June 11, 2024).
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Impressionistic Painting
with Gretchen Lopez
July 12 : Friday 10am – 4:30pm
I love the “Impressionists”! They had an incredible way with color and light. In this class, we will explore the color mixtures and brush work the Impressionists used, and work from the still life and the landscape! Let’s plan to learn more about the light, and discuss Artists such as Monet, Sorolla and Renoir!
Dear Museum Friends,
I am thrilled to invite you, your family, and friends to our highlight event of the year – the Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture – June 22 & 23 at the Museum. The festival promises an immersive experience, connecting you with the rich and diverse traditions of the Indigenous peoples of the Colorado Plateau. Dozens of Native American artists will showcase their work, interspersed with dancers, musicians, demonstrators, and cultural experts sharing their knowledge and insights. My favorite part of this MNA annual festival is the opportunity to talk with artists directly and purchase unique handmade pieces reflecting the beauty and spirit of the Plateau. The painting above by Venaya Yazzie (Diné) gives you an idea of the talented artists who will be on hand. There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including activities for children, energizing music from Tha ‘Yoties, and tasty regional foods like frybread from Sacred Hogan.
The anticipation for summer is building! I can’t wait to see you at the Museum.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
Dear Museum Friends,
The silent auction for this year’s Party on the Plateau will close tomorrow, June 8th at 7:00 pm! You do not have to be attending the Party on the Plateau to participate and bid on items in the silent auction. Bidding is heating up! With items ranging from artworks to experiences, there is something for everyone and all the proceeds benefit the museum.
You can bid online by clicking here. Note that if you view the auction on your desktop browser, keep your cursor in the middle of the screen as you scroll to ensure you see all auction items. Some of our great items are showcased below!
The 34th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will conclude for the season on Saturday, June 8. South Rim events include a nightly slide show from a special guest speaker at 8 p.m. in the plaza of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
The list of speakers can be found on the Grand Canyon Star Party webpage and also in the NPS Mobile App. The talks are followed by free telescope viewing behind the building. Green-laser constellation tours will be offered nightly at 9, 9:30, and 10 p.m.
North Rim events include telescopes set up on the terrace of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening along with astronomers with green lasers to pointing out constellations. By day, look for solar telescopes on the terrace and surrounding the Grand Canyon Lodge. A flyer for the evening events on the North Rim can be found here.
Flagstaff Pro Rodeo, Fort Tuthill County Park
Get ready for thrilling rodeo action, live entertainment, and fun for the whole family in the cool pines of Flagstaff! 5 p.m.
Junk Journal Deconstruction
with Nicole Austin
July 17 – 18 : Wednesday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 9am – 4pm
Some call us monsters for ripping up and altering books – I think of us more as creatives who can see potential in anything! Let’s gather together with kindred spirits and rip and alter to our hearts’ content! We’ll take an ordinary vintage book and turn it into something extraordinary using paint, embellishments, and reconstructive techniques. You bring the book, (BYOB!) and I’ll supply the rest!
• Hello From Supervisor Horstman
• Andy Bertelsen Appointed Next County
Manager
• 4FRI and Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Update
• Flood Control District Receives $19.3 Federal
• PROTECT Grant for HWY 89
• Pinyon Uranium Mine Continues to Extract Ore
• County Designates Lake Mary Road as Recreation Corridor: Where the World Comes To Train
• Valle Arizona: An Innovative Community
ª Cheshire Community Gets Creative about Improving Street Safety
• BLM/AZ RAC Meeting on Proposed Recreation Fees at Arizona BLM Sites
• Western Interstate Conference in Yosemite Highlights Partnership and Responsible Land Management
• Northern Arizona Tradition Continues … Next generation of Moon-Bound Astronauts Train at Babbitt Ranches.
• Mount Elden Trailhead Re-Opens
Frontiere Draft Concept Master Plan
Thank you to everyone who participated in our May Values and Vision workshop. Join us on June 13th, 10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall, to review the Draft Concept Master Plan. Share your insights and comments regarding this beautiful property and its continued use! For more information, click here.
As we bid farewell to the bustling Memorial Day weekend, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated frontline staff. Your unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and enjoyment of visitors during this busy time does not go unnoticed. Thank you!
One last weekend to catch Arizona-born playwright Jaclyn Backhaus’ Men on Boats on the Flagstaff stage. The show about John Wesley Powell’s first trip through the Grand Canyon has been produced nationwide. Now, for the first time, it comes home to Northern Arizona (where it belongs!) with a production by Theatrikos.
Erika Acosta of Ash Fork Middle School has been named a 2024 “Esperanza” Latino Teacher Award winner by Chicano For La Causa (CPLC).
“(May 6), we honored four outstanding teachers at the 2024 Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards,” CPLC stated on its Facebook page.
Congratulations to our honorees from across Arizona: Erika Acosta, Margaret Gallego, Gabriel Robles, and Lilian Williams
You are not just teachers— you are mentors, role models, and an inspiration to all. Your passion and hard work shapes the future of our community
As we celebrate your well-deserved recognition today, we also celebrate the countless lives you have touched
Gracias to our sponsors: Salt River Project, Cox, Amazon Fire TV, Southwest Airlines, and HUB International”
ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona is a 10-day event, with art-centric activations across the city. May 23-26
Grand Canyon Unified School District high schoolers spent last week on a four-day whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. Facilitated in partnership with Grand Canyon Youth (GCY), 20 students participated in the Diamond Down Expedition that covers the last 50 miles of the river through Grand Canyon National Park into Lake Mead Recreational Area. This is their third year the school has provided this experience for students. Grand Canyon National Park rangers Monique Navarro and Catrina Whitton were able to attend the trip which was coordinated by high school science teacher Forrest Radarian.
Summer Youth Clay Camp!
with Dennis Ott
Ages 8–12
June 24 – 28
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9am – 12pm / Friday 1 – 4pm
Come Play in the Clay!
Come spend the week playing in the “mud” with two ceramicists who love sharing their clay talents with young folks. Each student will have the opportunity to learn throwing skills on the potter’s wheel as well as create several hand-built projects. You will also learn how your clay projects will be fired and glazed.
No experience is necessary – just your willingness to come and have fun creating in clay.
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP! STARTS TOMORROW!
Creating the Abstract Landscape
with Amanda Hawkins
May 22 – 24 : Wednesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm Daily
There is a sweet spot of overlap between the traditions of abstraction and contemporary landscape painting where mark-making and the implications of planar structure combine with color and light to create a magical realm of newly discovered space.
This workshop will help you transform Sedona’s beautiful scenery into loose and expressive abstract landscape paintings.
“Men on Boats is a brilliant reimagining of the mapping of the Grand Canyon,” said actor Sunny Richardson, who plays John Wessley Powell. “The show has direct quotes from Powell’s field journals, adding another layer of authenticity to the play.”
Photos from last night’s preview performance.
“Men on Boats is said to be a ‘true-ish’ story, based on the journal writings and accounts of John Wesley Powell and the crew that survived. Audiences will learn many rafting terms and how to work together out in the wilderness and on the water as a team to get through challenging situations,” said Theatrikos Board Member Lisa Coe, who plays trapper/hunter William Dunn in the play. Dunn was one of those who tragically left the expedition just moments before the successful conclusion. “Men on Boats is based on local history with a connection to the Grand Canyon and river running.”
Inner Canyon Water Status
The North Rim has reopened for the season and inner canyon temperatures are beginning to climb! Our water utilities staff are working diligently to turn on all remaining inner canyon water sources over the next week.
Projected “ON” dates for remaining inner canyon water sources:
ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona is a 10-day event, with art-centric activations across the city. 12 a.m
Learn More
Embrace the wild and honor your untamed heart in Alaska while making memorable art.
July in Alaska is synonymous with gorgeous weather. So it comes as no surprise that flowers are at their prime, the wildlife is active and the days are warm in the land of the midnight sun.
We will mix colors in rich hues inspired by the lush landscape, and create mono prints on a Gelli plate. As we amass a stack of abstract printed paper we will choose our favorites to incorporate into our art journals for compositions featuring circles, symmetry and symbolism that are personalized and inspiring to each individual.
FLAGSTAFF — Community members spent a lively evening dancing, enjoying bowlfulls of posole, participating and having a good time during the annual Cinco de Mayo Dance, featuring Los Alambrados, held at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3 on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The event was presented by the American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.
The Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces invite you to participate in the annual Celebraciones de la Gente, a lively Day of the Dead festival on October 26 & 27, 2024.
Exhibitor booths will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Please click here to download and fill out a vendor application.
Dear Museum Friends,
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy a vibrant array of activities we have lined up over the coming weeks. I’ll share some highlights but be sure to scroll down to see all the happenings at MNA.
International Museum Day is May 18 and we’re offering free admission all day long. It’s an ideal chance to enjoy the Museum exhibits and some special events alongside your friends and family – absolutely free of charge.
Get ready for the unveiling of a captivating new exhibit, The Grand Canyon Dragon Map. I had the opportunity to see this extraordinary geology map during a rafting trip on the Colorado River in 2022. It immediately drew me in with its intricate details, colors, and design. This exhibit delves into the creation of the map in the 1970s, its applications today, and the stunning geology it depicts. Whether you’re a geology buff, an admirer of the Grand Canyon, or someone who appreciates exquisite maps, this exhibit promises to be an engaging experience.
View this email in your browser LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP! FIELD EXPEDITIONS Grand Canyon / Alaska Grand Canyon: Painting From the South Rim with Bill Cramer June 4 – 6 Tuesday – Thursday GRAND CANYON: PAINTING FROM THE SOUTH…
Stroll throughout Downtown Flagstaff to see and purchase paintings, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and more! 5 p.m
Town of Tusayan Weekend of Festivities—May 3-5
The Town of Tusayan is sponsoring several astronomy events and a Cinco de Mayo festival May 3-5.
On Friday, May 3, there will be a free showing of ‘Deep Sky’ an IMAX film on the images from the Webb telescope, and the ‘Grand Canyon Rivers of Time’ at the IMAX theater at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 4, there will be a drone and light show after dusk at the Tusayan Sports Complex with telescope viewing available.
Tusayan’s second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on Sunday, May 5 at the Squire Resort. The fiesta takes place from 4 to 9:30 p.m., is family-friendly, free, and open to the community. There will also be lawn games, Mexican music and dancing, and a variety of authentic Mexican foods for guests to enjoy.
By the Coconino County
FLAGSTAFF — Under the bright lights of recognition and applause, the 2024 Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony was a resounding success, honoring educators whose dedication and innovation illuminate the path to excellence in education.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget proudly announces the recipients of the 2024 awards:
• Teacher of the Year: Jeremiah Smith of Coconino High School
• Rookie Teacher of the Year: Emily Cartwright of Eva Marshall Magnet Elementary School
• Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Jeanne Crookston of Fredonia Elementary School District and Dr. Rick McEnaney of Flagstaff High School
The ceremony, held at the High Country Conference Center on Thursday, April 25, 2024, gathered educators, administrators, and community members to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these outstanding educators.
SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. –The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Sunday, May 15 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2024 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2024 seasonal operations on this date.
Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Office will open at 8 a.m. Information on daily Park Ranger programs will be available at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, will also open May 15. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2024 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2024.
FLAGSTAFF — The American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present their annual Cinco de Mayo Dance, featuring Los Alambrados, from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff.
Tickets are $20 per person / $35 per couple.
The True(ish) Adventure of JW Powell’s First Expedition through the Grand Canyon Opens May 17
May 2024
Celebrate Sedona engages the local community while celebrating and
featuring local and regional arts, food and drink! Held at Sedona Arts Center,
Celebrate Sedona is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of our
community’s music, food, drink, and artistry.
FLAGSTAFF — Come rain or shine, the 2024 Annual Community STEM Celebration will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2024 at the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds.
Flagstaff STEM City invites everyone to join in this FREE celebration of knowledge, innovation, and community collaboration featuring both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
The STEM Celebration offers Flagstaff residents a chance to explore the dynamic world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This day will be full of hands-on activities, engaging demonstrations, and insightful conversations. At this event, attendees should expect to be introduced to STEM as potential for educational opportunities and viable career paths.
Beginning this week, fire managers from the Kaibab National Forest are planning to begin ignitions for prescribed fire treatments. Exact ignition dates are unknown at this time as burning is dependent upon daily weather conditions.
One treatment area includes the Tusayan Ranger District and the Blue Stem Rx, totaling 2,724 acres located east of Forest Road 311 and approximately 16 miles southeast of the Town of Tusayan. During this burn Russell Tank will be inaccessible and approximately 4.5 miles of the Arizona Trail will be rerouted.
For more information on this unit and the other treatment areas planned for this spring, please visit the Kaibab National Forest’s website.
DON’T MISS THESE UPCOMING
FIELD EXPEDITIONS
Field Expeditions are created around the idea of a perfect match between an artist, a special place and the best season to explore that location. We work with local resources and providers to create an exclusive one-of-a-kind experience for participating artists/students. Field Expeditions are designed with expert instruction and support staff. There is no replacement for experiencing life directly with great instruction in a unique location!
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP!
STARTING TOMORROW!
Colorful Concertina Sketchbook
with Lori Roll
April 24–25 : Wednesday & Thursday, 11am – 4pm
Many artists employ sketchbooks to capture daily exercises and inspire finished pieces. This expressive class will utilize collage to create uniquely personalized sketchbooks in one continuous story that unfolds like a concertina.
In this class you have the option of making your own concertina sketchbook from recycled folders and heavy papers, or purchasing a commercial concertina sketchbook in which to work for $28, available the first day of class.
We will use acrylic paints, markers, charcoal and carbon pencils, inks, paper pieces, handmade papers and stencils, cloth, scraps and other materials using water-based adhesives to create colorful sketchbooks. While the instructor will bring folders, heavy papers and many materials, students are highly encouraged to bring special papers, found objects and odd pieces to add to their work. All skill levels are welcome. Wear old clothes or an apron.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Center for the Arts will present “Lying Down to Face Power / Enfrentando al poder—acostado” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at 2300 North Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff.
Robert Neustadt, Ph.D., Professor of Global Languages and Culture at Northern Arizona University, presents an engaging and informative lecture on performance art and activism that places Francisco González Castro’s work in a contemporary global context.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences program seeks artists, graphic designers and illustrators to create original designs for traffic signal cabinets. The deadline to apply is May 7, 2024.
The call is open to artists 18 years or older who currently live and work within the United States. Submitted designs must be original artwork and can be created in any medium, so long as the design can be represented in a high-resolution digital image without loss of integrity or quality. Designs will be printed on vinyl and installed on cabinets in high-traffic areas. Three artists will be selected to create artwork for three cabinets at the following signalized locations: N Fourth St and E Sparrow Ave, N Beaver St and Flagstaff Medical Center Pedestrian Crosswalk and S Lake Mary Rd and W High Country Trail.
Fostering literary community through the creation, publication, showcase, and investigation of contemporary literary arts from Northern Arizona, the Colorado Plateau, the American Southwest, and beyond.Various times.
NOW FEATURING:
Nancy Foo,
Lili Anne Laurin,
and Amy Light
Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.
This Wednesday…
Free Artists Talks with Jeff Perkins, Donna Reitz, and Dennis Ott April 10, 5-7pm
Join us for artists talks featuring Jeff Perkins, Donna Reitz and Dennis Ott this Wednesday, April 10, from 5-7 p.m. and delve into the history and impact of Sedona Arts Center’s ceramics studio. Each of the artists will share personal and meaningful stories.
Perkins will discuss learning how to throw on the potter’s wheel from SAC founder Nassan Gobran, Reitz will talk about her father the late Don Reitz, known throughout the world as a ceramic’s innovator, while Ott will highlight his 33-year career in ceramics and how SAC and its Ceramic Department changed his life. The event is free and open to the public.
FLAGSTAFF — Creative Flagstaff is pleased to announce the keynote speaker for Ideas Night. ARTx launches its inaugural, 10 day festival on Friday May 17th with a community party called Ideas Night at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff. This free open house invites the public to convene for entertainment, a sampling of grantee projects and a keynote by Donna Walker Kuhne.
Ms. Kuhne is widely acknowledged as the nation’s foremost expert in audience development and has devoted her professional career to increasing access to the arts. She has raised over $23 million in earned income promoting the arts to multicultural communities. Award-winning arts marketing consultant, Ms. Kuhne calls the process of engaging audiences “a journey of life.”
Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years.
FLAGSTAFF — Join us Wednesday, April 10 at 7pm in Liberal Arts Room 120 for a screening of La Sociedad de la Nieve (Society of the Snow), the 2023 survivor thriller film based on the experience of survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes and the harrowing decisions they must make to survive while trapped in one of the most inaccessible and hostile environments on the planet.
During excavation work at the Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, as part of the Transcanyon Waterline project, a member of the NPS monitoring team unearthed a rare and entirely new fossil for Grand Canyon and the Hermit Formation. One of the park’s research partners at UC-Berkeley has identified it as an Equisetalean strobilus.
This fossil is approximately 290 million years old and represents the spore-producing reproductive organ of an extinct species of horsetail known as Sphenophyllum. While Sphenophyllum fossils are not uncommon in the Hermit Formation, discovering the fruiting bodies is unprecedented.
The public affairs office is in the process of coordinating public communication efforts including a news release to announce this and other recent paleontological discoveries. Stay tuned for more updates!
Fostering literary community through the creation, publication, showcase, and investigation of contemporary literary arts from Northern Arizona, the Colorado Plateau, the American Southwest, and beyond.Various times.
From April 5-14, volunteers from NAU will be busy working behind the scenes at the Northern Arizona Book Festival, which hosts more than 40 events in downtown Flagstaff featuring bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize winners and local writers, publishers, editors and event organizers. These events—and those that the organization supports throughout the year—foster a vibrant literary community in the Southwest and ensure that the Colorado Plateau is recognized as a bona fide place of literature.
Celebrate Sedona engages the local community while celebrating and
featuring local and regional arts, food and drink! Held at Sedona Arts Center,
Celebrate Sedona is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of our
community’s music, food, drink, and artistry.
Spring is in the air, even if we have a couple second or third winters. Our spring season is packed with opportunities to learn, explore, and connect!
Theatrikos is proud to bring Ken Ludwig’s divine farce, The Gods of Comedy, to the Flagstaff stage. The play is a comedic whirlwind of divine intervention and scholarly chaos, centered around a young woman who invokes the gods of Ancient Greece to save her love life. As the gods step in, hilarity ensues in the form of screwball deities, a lost manuscript of a Greek tragedy, and uproarious predicaments.
