May 1 – 28 | PRESCOTT 9th Annual Miniature Masterpieces Show & Sale
This show features small size original works of art from celebrated Western artists.
Location: Phippen Museum of Western Art (4701 Highway 89 N.) Contact: 928-778-1385
May 2 | SCOTTSDALE Charles Lewis — Hatchover Reunion Band
Be a part of the magical reunion of a band anchored in the Blue Note catalog, with brilliant soloists and a smokin’ rhythm section.
Location: ASU Kerr Cultural Center (6110 N. Scottsdale Road) Contact: 480-596-2660
May 3 – 20 | PHOENIX Red
An onstage, searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. Contains mature language.
Location: Herberger Theater Center (222 E. Monroe St.) Contact: 602-256-6995
May 3 – 27 | TUCSON Sins of the Mother
A powerful and compelling drama about revenge, forgiveness, and the comically human struggle to decipher which is which. Contains strong language.
Location: Beowulf Alley Theatre (11 S. Sixth Ave.) Contact: 520-882-0555
May 4 – 5 | PHOENIX Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem
Using a jubilant mix of traditional, original, and contemporary sounds, these four-part harmonies pair with fiddle, guitar, bass, and a suitcase drum to create a fusion of American roots music, contemporary pop, and jazz. Friday is an all-evening concert, and Saturday is for families.
Location: The MIM (4725 E. Mayo Blvd.) Contact: 480-478-6000
May 4 – 6 | KINGMAN Historic Route 66 Fun Run
More than 900 classic show cars cruise Route 66 from Seligman to Topock. Also includes a huge show-n-shine, musical performances, vendors, and food.
Contact: 928-753-5001
May 4 – 6 | PAYSON Payson Art League ’Neath the Rim Studio Tour
The 11th annual tour showcases the works of local artists at their individual studios from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Raffle tickets available.
Location: Individual art studios Contact: 928-474-6071
May 4, 11, 18, and 25 | ANTHEM Music in May
This free outdoor concert series features great music by a different band each Friday, playing everything from country and rock ’n’ roll to pop and rhythm and blues.
Location: Anthem Community Park Amphitheater (41703 W. Gavilan Peak Parkway) Contact: 623-742-6050
May 4 and June 1 | FLAGSTAFF Flagstaff's First Friday ArtWalk
Art galleries and businesses in historic downtown open their doors with special art exhibitions, performances, live music, and treats.
Location: Downtown Flagstaff (historic Route 66) Contact: 928-779-2300
May 4 and June 1 | PHOENIX Artlink First Fridays
Take a free self-guided art tour of central Phoenix, galleries, art spaces, studios on first Friday of each month with free shuttle rides.
Location: Downtown Phoenix Contact: 602-256-7539
May 4 – 25 and June 1 – 29 | PHOENIX Music in the Garden
Desert beauty and the sounds of the valley’s premier musicians mingle each Friday at this annual event.
Location: Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N. Galvin Parkway) Contact: 480-481-8188
May 5 | PRESCOTT 34th Annual YMCA Whiskey Row Marathon
One of the most challenging runs in the US, the event includes a marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 2-mile fun run/walk.
Location: Corner of Gurley and Montezuma (205 W. Gurley St.) Contact: 928-445-7221, ext. 33
May 5 | PRESCOTT “Byway of Arizona” Music Series
Sharlot Hall Museum’s own home-grown musicians, The Generation Folk Music Band, lights up the stage.
Location: Sharlot Hall Museum (415 W. Gurley St.) Contact: 928-445-3122
May 5 | SEDONA Met Live HD — La Traviata
Watch the fourth most frequently performed opera in the Met’s history (after La Bohème, Aida, and Carmen).
Location: Sedona Performing Arts Center (995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road) Contact: 928-204-2415
May 5 – 6 | SEDONA Artsts’ Open Studios Tour
This free event featuring 28 artists includes demonstrations, refreshments, and studio tours where you’ll meet the artists, see their works in progress, and hear their stories.
Location: Sedona area (see website for map) Contact: 928-282-0806
May 5 – 6 | TUCSON 27th Annual Tucson Folk Festival
One of the country’s largest free festivals, the event features more than 400 local, regional, and national musicians performing more than 20 hours of family-friendly music, dance, and entertainment for more than 10,000 fans.
Location: El Presidio Park (160 W. Alameda St.)
May 6 and June 4 | PRESCOTT Zoo by Moonlight
It’s a full moon at the zoo, so pick up a flashlight for a howling good time spotting the sanctuary’s nocturnal residents out and about.
Location: Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary (1403 Heritage Park Road) Contact: 928-778-4242, ext. 16
May 9 – 31 and June 9 – 30 | COTTONWOOD “The Ins & Outs of Art” and “The Choice is Art, For Our Kids & For Our Future”
In May, there will be a series of demonstrations and classes by gallery artists, and in June, the gallery holds a fundraising event in support of the Cottonwood Library.
Location: The Manheim (747 N. Main St.) Contact: 928-649-0130
May 11 | PRESCOTT VALLEY 2nd Annual Ian MacNessie Highland Gathering
A wee free taste of the Highland Games.
Location: Entertainment District (3201 N. Main St.) Contact: 928-237-1113
May 11 – 13 | TUCSON Come Together
Modern and aerial dance performances and live music inspired by the Beatles.
Location: ZUZI Theater (738 N. Fifth Ave.) Contact: 520-629-0237
May 12 | BISBEE 20th Annual Fiber Art Festival
Local fiber artists demonstrate spinning, weaving, knitting, and dyeing a variety of natural fibers. Plus, there will be fiber from local area ranchers, vendors, hemp products, and hands-on experiences.
Location: Vista Park
May 12 | PRESCOTT 8th Annual Prescott Highland Games
Traditional Highland games with bagpipe bands, athletic competitions, a dance competition, food, and other activities for the family.
Location: Watson Lake Park (3101 Watson Lake Road) Contact: 800-266-7534
May 12 | PRESCOTT An Evening at Sharlot’s Place
Sharlot Hall Museum’s premier fundraiser of the year, this event includes a silent auction, a live art auction, music, and dinner.
Location: Sharlot Hall Museum (415 W. Gurley St.) Contact: 928-445-3122
May 12 | PRESCOTT Hopi Quilt Show and Sale
In the Smoki Pueblo, the sale features local quilters selling their works.
Location: The Smoki Museum (147 N. Arizona Ave.) Contact: 928-445-1230
May 12 – 13 and 19 – 20 | QUEEN CREEK 20th Annual “Life is Peachy” Peach Festival
Free event features orchards open for picking, a peach food sampling tent, a peach pie eating contest, a peach pit toss, arts and crafts, carousel rides, petting barn, and live entertainment.
Location: Schnepf Farms (24810 S. Rittenhouse Road) Contact: 480-987-3100
May 13 | WICKENBURG International Migratory Bird Day
With a docent-led bird walk and hourly bird banding demos, this event celebrates the spectacular journey of migratory birds between southern wintering and northern breeding grounds.
Location: Hassayampa River Preserve (49614 Highway 60, Milepost 114) Contact: 928-684-2772
May 18 | PHOENIX International Museum Day
Explore the site of the 1,500-year-old Hohokam village ruin and the museum’s three galleries for a day of free fun.
Location: Pueblo Grande Museum (4619 E. Washington St.) Contact: 602-495-0901
May 18 – 20 | SCOTTSDALE The 6th Annual Pandora Festival of New Plays
AZWTC is the only theatre in Arizona to focus on women playwrights, producing work that reveals women’s lives and documents women’s experiences.
Location: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (7380 E. Second St.) Contact: 480-874-4690
May 19 | MESA Phoenix Children’s Chorus Spring Concerts — Celebrating the Arizona Centennial
The largest concert of the year and a special celebration of Arizona’s Centennial showcases selections that commemorate Arizona’s beauty and heritage and include the new work commissioned by Dave and Jean Perry.
Location: Mesa Arts Center (1 E. Main St.) Contact: 602-534-3788
May 19 | PRESCOTT Kaleidoscope of Color
The 13th annual Iris Exhibit will feature an amazing variety of irises in all the colors of the rainbow.
Location: Mortimer Nursery (3166 Willow Creek Road) Contact: 928-442-2498
May 19 | WILLCOX TRUST Silent Art Auction & Artist Reception
This event (from 1 to 3 p.m.) features local fine art and artists, just across the street from the Willcox Wine Country Spring Festival.
Location: Keeling Schaefer Vineyards Willcox Tasting Room (154 N. Railroad Ave.) Contact: 520-824-6972
May 19 | WHITERIVER 13th Annual Great Fort Apache Heritage Reunion — “Gathering of the People”
At this annual Apache song and dance celebration, there are arts and crafts, food vendors, trail hikes, and tours of the Fort Apache/Theodore Roosevelt School National Register Historic District.
Location: Fort Apache Historic Park (127 Scout Road) Contact: 928-338-3849
May 19 – 20 | JEROME 47th Annual Jerome Historic Home and Building Tour
A stunning display of old homes and buildings are open to the public for Arizona’s longest running home tour.
Location: Arizona State Route 89A (by the old fire station) Contact: 928-634-2900
May 19 – 20 | SCOTTSDALE Arizona Barbecue Festival
The largest barbecue event in the West, this two-day festival includes a Kansas City Barbeque Society competition on Saturday and a family fun day on Sunday at its new, expanded location.
Location: Salt River Fields (7555 N. Pima Road) Contact: 602-326-7469
May 19 – 20 | WILLCOX Willcox Wine Country Spring Festival
Join us for a weekend of fine Arizona wine, great live music, local art, and fun, along with a silent art auction at TRUST the Gallery.
Location: Historic Railroad Park (Railroad Avenue) Contact: 520-766-0600
May 25 – June 3 | MESA Hairspray
In 1960s Baltimore, loveable plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, wins a spot on the local TV dance program, and finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity overnight. Produced in cooperation with Music Theatre International by Mesa Encore Theatre.
Location: Mesa Arts Center (1 E. Main) Contact: 480-834-9500
May 26 | PHOENIX Family Series — High Flying! Cirque de la Symphonie
The Phoenix Symphony and thrilling aerial acts perform to classic favorites, creating a visual and musical spectacle.
Location: Symphony Hall (75 N. Second St.) Contact: 602-495-1999 or 800-776-9080
May 26 – 27 | PRESCOTT Annual Southwest Indian Arts Festival
Dance, song, and beautiful artistry engulf the campus in the Smoki’s eighth Annual Festival.
Location: The Smoki Museum (147 N. Arizona Ave.) Contact: 928-445-1230 |
