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.
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.
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
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, 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.”
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!
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Flagstaff City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12 in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. City Hall offices will reopen Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Indigenous Peoples Day include:
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.
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:
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.
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!
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.
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.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is excited about recent announcements for additional air service to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport following the award of the Small Community Airport Service Development Program grant.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
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.
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.
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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
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!
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.
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.
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.
Grand Canyon Recovery and Water Conservation Efforts
The Grand Canyon community continues to come together as recovery efforts move forward following the August 29 flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon and the ongoing South Rim water emergency.
In the inner canyon, National Park Service staff, the Alpine Hotshots and the Bright Angel Creek Incident Management Team continue clearing heavy debris and mud, removing hazardous trees and re-establishing trails and facilities near Phantom Ranch. Crews are also using helicopters to transport water, equipment and other critical supplies into the canyon.
COCONINO COUNTY — In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. §16-449), the Coconino County Elections Department will conduct Logic and Accuracy (L&A) Tests on ballots, tabulation equipment and accessible voting equipment to be used for the Nov. 3 General Election.
The L&A Test will begin at 8 a.m. on Oct. 1, at the Coconino County Elections Center, 1300 W. University Avenue, Suite 180, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. Testing will continue until it is completed. The first test will be conducted by the Arizona Secretary of State on federal and statewide contests, followed by the Coconino County test on all contests and ballot measures.
I know it’s been a little while since you’ve heard from me. It’s been a busy year here at MNA and we are preparing some very special experiences for you this autumn and winter. In addition to our new exhibitions and lively programming, we are introducing a new holiday experience in November that’s sure to become a favorite tradition in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. There’s lots of information in this newsletter, so I invite you to take a moment and have a look at all that is happening here. Autumn is such a beautiful time in Northern Arizona. I look forward to seeing you at the museum.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
To be eligible for appointment to the City Council, an applicant must be 18 years of age, registered to vote in the corporate limits of the City of Flagstaff, a resident within the corporate limits of the city for a minimum of one year, and cannot hold any other public office at the time of appointment. Applications will not be considered for individuals who are running in the November election.
F3’s Voter Guide is intended to help members of the Flagstaff community learn about and understand the propositions that will appear on Arizona ballots in the November 3, 2026 election. We are reviewing the recent release of FUSD’s voting pamphlet in order to make final recommendations for propositions 407 and 409. An updated voter guide will be available shortly.
Download the Voter Guide PDF automatically here, or click on the image below.
Important Dates for the November 2026 Election provided below.
FLAGSAFF — The City of Flagstaff is considering the addition of Drones as First Responders to the resources used in providing public safety to the community. The use of drones can improve response times due to their ability to move beyond traffic and trains. The drones create efficiencies by getting eyes on the ground quickly so the City knows what public safety resources are needed. Like body worn cameras, this drone footage will be beneficial evidence to support attorneys, judges, jury members, and victims.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Flood Control District participated in Science in the Park last weekend as part of the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science. The District educated attendees about the post-wildfire flood mitigation and forest restoration processes, as well as provided an interactive display for children to get a hands-on experience of on-forest flood mitigation.
COCONINO COUNTY — What does a park or natural area in your community need? Which trails could be enhanced? Which programs should expand? Coconino County Parks & Recreation is looking for residents in Districts 2, 4 and 5 to help answer those questions as members of the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC).
The Commission is a citizen advisory body that weighs in on how county parks, trails, recreation programs and events are developed and operated, then makes recommendations directly to the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners serve three-year terms and meet monthly.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — The City of Flagstaff invites the community to the unveiling of a memorial plaque honoring the late Gene Munger. The dedication will take place on Friday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. at Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E. Route 66. The event is open to the public.
“Thank you to the City of Flagstaff for this special dedication to Gene Munger,” said Molly Munger, Gene’s wife. “He would have been very honored by this recognition.”
Rethinking history
An anthropology professor at NAU is helping rewrite history. Corina Kellner’s research into ancient sites and mummies in Peru could challenge what historians thought they knew about the Nasca civilization, the Wari Empire and how they interacted with each other.
To purchase a Christmas tree permit, visit Recreation.gov and search for Kaibab National Forest Christmas Tree Permits. It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or log in to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction. Up to 5 trees may be purchased on a single permit at $15 per tree. A small processing fee will be applied to the transaction.
FLAGSTAFF — From astronomy to rocket science and everything in between, young people had a wide variety of hand-on activities to enjoy and learn from at the 2026 Snook Science in the Park presented on Sept. 26, 2026 by the Flagstaff Festival of Science.
More than 60 exhibitor booths crowded Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff as children had a wide variety of activities to choose from. Unofficially, more than 3,500 people attended the event, according to event organizers.
Some of the exhibitors ranged from The Arboretum, CCC&Y, Coconino Community College, the Coconino Astronomical Society, Coconino High School’s CocoNuts Robotics, Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition, Flagstaff Fire Dept., Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater Education Alliance, Momentum Aerial, the Museum of Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Riordan Mansion, Slide Rock State Park, Tynkertopia, to the U.S. Geological Survey.
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COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is offering vaccinations against flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumonia at our Walk-in Vaccination Clinics. These clinics are held at the CCHHS Health and Wellness Clinic, located at 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff, every Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sept. 22 through Nov. 4. Appointments are not needed to receive your vaccination at these clinics.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will begin modified fall operations at the North Rim on Oct. 15.
As part of this transition Cape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road will be temporarily closed from sunset Oct. 15 through sunrise Nov. 3, 2026, to accommodate critical road repair and rehabilitation work in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration. The closure is necessary to maintain a safe work environment for crews while they complete these critical repairs.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County announces the retirement of Lucinda Andreani, Administrator of the Coconino County Flood Control District. Andreani’s departure marks the close of a distinguished career in public service defined by leadership, collaboration and steadfast commitment to the safety and resilience of Coconino County communities.
A trail to healthier communities
A trail that will connect Arizona from the border town of Douglas to Bullhead City will open the door to outdoor recreation, better health, stronger communities and potentially higher property values. With the help of NAU faculty and both undergraduate and graduate students, the Sun Corridor Trail is closer to becoming a reality.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Join City staff and the project team on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Flagstaff Aquaplex (1702 N Fourth Street) to learn more about the Butler-Fourth Improvements Project! This community meeting will give you the opportunity to view the current design plans, ask questions and share your feedback. This is an open house with no formal presentation, join us anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Can’t make the meeting? Displays will be available on the project website, www.butlerfourthimprovements.com, after the event.
Community Potable Water Tank Update
The Bright Angel Flash Flood Incident Management Team has updated the size and, in some cases, location, of potable water storage tanks throughout Grand Canyon Village in order to serve residents who have relied on the tanks during the current water emergency.
The potable water tank placement plan was developed with input from park leadership and based off usage reports. There are a total of 16 tanks at various locations, for a total of approximately 15,000 gallons. Although the total amount of water has been reduced, it still exceeds the average daily use of approximately 6,000 gallons per day.
