For National STEM Day on Nov. 8, hear from four students in each of the four areas—science, technology, math and engineering—about what drew them to their majors and what they hope to do once they enter the workforce.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, staff and community who make our parks thrive. Your time, energy and passion help create spaces where people can connect, play and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. As we look ahead to the holiday season, we are especially grateful for each of you and the difference you make.
FLAGSTAFF — From a daily Parade de los Muertos in the courtyard featuring members of Ballet Folkloric de Colores — Flagstaff, to large colorful canvas murals created by students throughout Northern Arizona, the 22nd annual Celebraciones de la Gente (Celebrations of the People) offered several new features during its presentation on Oct. 25, 26 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Sponsored by the Museum in partnership with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, the annual Día de los Muertos celebration of course included its traditional display of altars / ofrendas, approaching nearly two dozen this year, cultural lectures on the Latino impact in Flagstaff and the art of creating these meaningful ofrendas.
The event opened with a private blessing by Nuestras members to the four directions of the compass, followed by the lighting of the ofrendas.
There were plenty of activities for young people including five completely sold out sugar skull decorating workshops for students, face painting, Día de los Muertos crafts and calaveritas (short poetry).
Adults and young people were also entertained with a Mexican loteria (lottery) game, a variety of Arizona food vendors.
Performances included Ballet Folklórico de Colores of Flagstaff, with the dance group concluding their daily performance by parading through the museum’s Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard dressed in their colorful Día de los Muertos-themed costumes.
A special annual treat is the Courtyard After Dark celebration, where the lights are dimmed with the candlelight ofrendas offering a moving display. The evening included the performance by Mariachi Agave from Tucson, which also provided daily performances in the museum’s Branigar/Chase Discovery Center.
Also see:
• Arizona Daily Sun — Flag’s Día de los Muertos celebrations invite the community to honor traditions
• Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona — Marigold Mural project to be held on Oct. 30-Nov. 1
• Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona — Day of the Dead celebration to be held on Nov. 1
Join us in Downtown Flagstaff for a FREE, fun, and safe way to spend Halloween for the entire family! 4 p.m. Free.
COCONINO COUNTY — The recommended deadline to mail your voted early ballot has passed, but there is still time to return it in person.
Voted early ballots may be dropped off at any ballot drop box or at one of the early voting sites located throughout the county. For a list of early voting sites and ballot drop box locations visit coconino.az.gov/elections.
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters may drop off their early ballots in the return envelope at any Coconino County polling location between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 3 Water Restrictions and Stage 2 Fire Restrictions beginning Oct. 31, 2025, in response to limited water availability and construction activities associated with the ongoing Transcanyon Waterline Replacement Project.
A temporary interruption in water pumping is scheduled for Nov. 4 through approximately Nov. 18 to allow crews to replace and test a critical pipeline segment. This work is part of a multi-year effort to modernize the park’s aging water delivery system, expected to be completed in 2027.
View this email in your browser October Wrap Up: Halloween & More! 👻 The Haunted Ice House 👻 Halloween Night – This Friday! Get ready for a spooky night at the Haunted Ice House! 📍 Historic Ice House 201 E…
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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations next week, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to begin next Tuesday and continue throughout the week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the Tusayan Ranger District beginning Friday, October 24, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the weekend and may begin operations on the Williams Ranger District next week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
By celebrating Native American Heritage Month at NAU, “we honor our living presence, our resilience and the strength that continues to guide our peoples forward,” said Sheena Hale, director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures. Browse this November’s events.
Recently, ECoNA and our regional partners took Northern Arizona’s story of opportunity and innovation to two major industry event – SEMICON West and ICSC@Western – reaching decision makers who can help shape our region’s economic future.
This was the first year the SEMICON West was hosted in Phoenix, underscoring Arizona’s growing leadership in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Every year, the fall festivities of Homecoming unite NAU students, alumni, faculty, staff and the local community. Get ready for a week of celebrating everything that makes Lumberjack life unforgettable, from a bonfire and pep rally to an exciting football game and more.
FLAGSTAFF — With a crowd easily exceeding the 3,000 protesters on the previous No Kings Day protest in June, northern Arizona residents and visitors loudly shared their emotions about the state of the nation’s Democracy during the “No Kings Day of Action” rally on Oct. 18 in front of Flagstaff City Hall.
Organized locally by Indivisible Northern Arizona and supported by a variety of local groups, opponents of the Trump administration crowded the sidewalks from Wheeler Park and Humphreys Street along Route 66 around the curve to Milton Road, filling the grassy area up to the Flagstaff City Hall sign.
What does leadership look like when you’re just starting high school?
For 17 ninth graders from Joseph City, Holbrook, and Grand Canyon schools, that question came to life earlier this month during United Way of Northern Arizona’s Youth Experiencing Success (YES) Leadership Summit — a pilot event designed to help students explore their strengths, understand their potential, and connect with local role models.
In 1976, Lumberjack William Alger was two classes away from graduating from NAU when an acceptance to pharmacy school whisked him away to California. The retired health executive, who first earned his doctorate then master’s, always vowed to return and finish his bachelor’s degree. Fifty-two years later, he’s finally ready to cross that commencement stage with the Lumberjack Class of 2025.
FLAGSTAFF — With more than two dozen community health providers, children and family services and other nonprofits signed up to attend, the Flagstaff Mall provided families with a variety of information during its annual Health and Wellness Fair on Oct. 18, 2025 held on the westside of the mall.
A variety of organizations arrived early to set up information tables at the mall, before parents and children arrived for the opening at 10 a.m.
WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the Tusayan Ranger District beginning Friday, October 24, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the weekend and may begin operations on the Williams Ranger District next week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
FLAGSTAFF —The Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public Library invites residents of Flagstaff and Coconino County to share their thoughts, feedback and ideas on library services by participating in a community survey. The survey is open now through Dec. 31, 2025.
Library staff are soliciting feedback from residents about how they use, find out about, and feel about the Library’s services and collection. Data from this survey will convey what the public values most about the Library and help us identify areas for improvement.
We would like to keep you informed about a recent development impacting the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. Baker & Taylor, a U.S. – based company that supplies books to schools, libraries, and bookstores – including the Flagstaff Public Libraries – has gone unexpectedly out of business after a failed merger. Baker & Taylor plans to fully cease operations by January 2026.
FLAGSTAFF — Asphalt paving operations along sections of Cedar Avenue and West Street (as shown in the map) are set to take place the week of October 27. Work will occur along half of the roadway at a time, with the other half used to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction. Access to side streets and driveways may be temporarily restricted during asphalt paving operations; however, our crews will work diligently to restore access as soon as the new asphalt has been placed and conditions allow. Following asphalt paving operations, crews will return to perform utility valve and manhole adjustments and striping operations. This work is highly weather dependent and subject to change.
Tickets sold out for popular Celebraciones de la Gente Sugar Skull Decorating workshops Oct. 25, 26.
Also see:
Arizona Daily Sun — Flag’s Día de los Muertos celebrations invite the community to honor traditions
Arizona Daily Sun — Celebraciones de la Gente returning to Museum of Northern Arizona this month
FLAGSTAFF — Experience the vibrant traditions of Mexican heritage during the 22nd annual Celebraciones de la Gente (Celebrations of the People) at the Museum of Northern Arizona Oct. 25-26.
Held in partnership with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, Celebraciones honors the spirit of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with heartfelt remembrances and joyful festivities.
Festival highlights include colorful ofrendas (altars) set in honor of departed family and friends, traditional dances, live music, and cultural presentations. Visitors can enjoy sugar skull decorating, face painting, Día de los Muertos crafts, calaveritas (short poetry), Mexican loteria (lottery) and authentic food from Arizona vendors. Mariachi Agave of Tucson and Ballet Folklórico de Colores of Flagstaff will fill the festival with vibrant sound and movement.
In an era dominated by digital media, some professors at NAU are embracing handmade zines as creative projects, offering students a tactile, artistic way to synthesize knowledge. Now, efforts are underway to curate a Zine Fest showcasing students’ self-published works and highlighting how zines hold powerful stories that deserve recognition beyond the classroom.
FLAGSTAFF — On Oct. 18, Flagstaff AZ area residents will come together with millions of Americans across the country in a nationwide day of peaceful protest at the second No Kings Day of Action. There are currently more than 2500 events nationwide. We expect 4,000 people at the Flagstaff protest.
WHEN: October 18, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WHERE: Flagstaff City Hall, 121 W. Aspen, Flagstaff AZ
PROGRAM:
2:00 PM: Lady Liberty (giant puppet) promenade, drum circle, flag waving
2:15 PM: The Resistance Choir
2:45 PM: (Giant) Flag Unfurling; singing of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful
3:15 PM: Local Stories – How Flagstaff has been affected by the Trump regime
3:35 PM: Music Program – music by Stephen Babcock and Rod Robinson
4:00 PM Event Ends
