*** Ongoing – May 14th – Spring Butterfly Exhibit – Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix – Hundreds of butterflies native to the Southwest are waiting to greet you at the Garden’s Spring Butterfly Exhibit. Get an up-close look at painted ladies, zebra longwings and more, with new butterflies added to the exhibit weekly. Plus, don’t miss the caterpillar nursery and emergence chamber to see hungry caterpillars and watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.  Included with paid admission – https://www.dbg.org/events/spring-butterfly-exhibit

May 2nd – May 6th – Southwest Wings Birding Spring Fling 2023 – Sierra Vista – Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival is Arizona’s oldest birding festival. Since 1991 we’ve been offering small group trips through monsoons and droughts…and even a global pandemic.​ The Southwest Wings Spring Fling will run from Wednesday May 3 to Saturday May 6, 2023 with a welcome pre-festival Jamboree on Tuesday May 2nd.​  Spring Fling 2023 will be mainly Group Van Field Trips to more distant and less accessible locations with a small number of small car-caravan style guided field trips in participants’ own vehicles. https://www.swwings.org/spring-fling

May 5th – First Friday Artwalk – Flagstaff- Downtown Flagstaff. This is one of Northern Arizona’s premier arts events. On the first Friday of each month the art galleries and businesses of downtown Flagstaff stay open from 4-8pm. There are special arts exhibits, live music and more. https://downtownflagstaff.org/do/first-friday-artwalk-2

May 5th – Artlink First Friday Phoenix – Downtown Phoenix – Enjoy the spirit and culture of downtown Phoenix as you mingle with thousands of other residents and visitors. Tour art galleries, venues, and related spaces from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. every First Friday of the month. (Note: each art space has their own hours.) There is even a First Friday Trolley to help you get around! Free. https://www.visitphoenix.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/first-friday-art-walk/

​

May 5th – First Friday in the Galleries – Sedona – ​On the 1st Friday of each month, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, members of the Sedona Gallery Association offer a unique monthly showcase highlighting artists, special exhibits, and art events. These special art receptions give locals and Sedona visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments while beginning their weekends with an exploration of Sedona’s exciting art scene.  https://visitsedona.com/events-calendar/1st-friday-evening-in-the-galleries/

May 6th – Cinco de Mayo Fiesta – Tlaquepaque, Sedona.  This colorful Fiesta salutes a rich heritage as it kicks off the festival season with Cinco de Mayo. Admission is free and everyone is invited! Enjoy the pulsating sounds, savory flavors, and colorful dances of Mexico in a fun-filled South of the Border bash.  Family fun doesn’t get any better with activities all day long, including traditional high-energy Spanish flamenco dances to roaring applause and a get-up-and-dance Latin music. For the kids, there will be an arts and crafts table and line up for the most imaginative and fun face painting you have ever seen.  11 am – 5 pm, 928-282-4838 or https://www.tlaq.com/annual-events/cinco-de-mayo

May 7th –  30th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival – Washington Street, Phoenix – Are you looking for  a Cinco de Mayo Festival that is less about partying and more about traditions?  Then you will want to head to downtown Phoenix to celebrate the rich Mexican heritage.  This is Arizona’s largest Cinco de Mayo festival!!  You will be able to enjoy music, ballet floklorico dancers, wrestlers and have plenty of opportunities to eat some great Mexican food.  Admission $10.00.  Noon to 10pm Sunday  602 279-4669  www.cincophx.com

Didn’t find anything of interest for this week – Check out the Facebook page Things to do in Arizona for even more ideas and updates…

Or join our 54,000 member group     https://www.facebook.com/groups/502116790132910

May 7th  – Chandler Symphony Orchestra Concert  – Chandler Center for the Arts – This is a great opportunity to bring the whole family to enjoy beautiful classical music for free (Donations appreciated)!!  This Concert “So Romantic” will feature Richard Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger and other classical selections.  Free but a donation is suggested..   3 pm,  Seating is on a first come first serve basis. https://www.chandlersymphony.com/

May 11th – 14th – 45th Annual Prescott Valley Days– Prescott Valley – Prescott Valley Days will be held May 11-14th in the Entertainment District.  Included in the weekend long events are a Talent Show, Bear Dash 5K Run, Cosplay, Parade, entertainment, food trucks, vendors and more!   For more information visit http://www.pvchamber.org/prescott-valley-days or call the Chamber at 928-772-8857

May 12th – May 21st –  Annual National Public Gardens Days – Public gardens throughout the state,  This campaign brings a special focus from the Friday before to the Sunday after Mother’s Day (May 12-21st, 2023) of public gardens. You can find links to Garden’s Events Pages and Social Media on their Garden Pages on the Garden Map.  https://www.publicgardens.org/programs/go-public-gardens

May 19th through May 28th – Arizona Spring Restaurant Week  Restaurants throughout Arizona.   Take advantage of restaurant week pricing on a three course pre-fixe meal (excluding tax and gratuity).  This is a great opportunity to check out some new restaurants!  https://arizonarestaurantweek.com/

May 20th – Annual Mariachi Festival and Wine Tasting– Patagonia Lake State Park, Enjoy this lively Mariachi festival with authentic Mexican food, hot dogs, hamburgers, kettle corn & shaved ice in a fun family environment, bring: plenty of water, lawn chair, sunscreen, hat, in addition, Patagonia offers fishing, birding, boat tours, and nature walks, $20/vehicle (up to four adults), 19am – 7pm.  https://azstateparks.com/patagonia-lake/events/patagonia-lake-mariachi-festival

May 20th – Verde Valley Wine Festival – Riverfront Park Cottonwood.   The Verde Valley Wine Festival, Northern Arizona’s foremost wine and culinary festival, is returning on May20th. People come from around the region and beyond to the City of Cottonwood, known as “The Heart of Arizona Wine Country” to sample the best wines the region has to offer.  Organizers anticipate more than 20 Arizona wineries to participate. There will be live music, General admission tickets are $35 online. $45 at the door. Includes commemorative glass and 8 tasting tickets.  https://verdevalleywinefestival.com/

May 20th – Pure Imagination Music Festival – Prescott, Watson Lake – Billed as Arizona’s most unique music festival this sounds amazing.   Pure Imagination brings diversity of sound and culture to a picturesque, inspiring outdoor setting.  We set the stage, together we bring the vibes! Don’t miss 2023 with an eco-friendly focus, a curated and eclectic line-up, Pure Imagination is Arizona’s most unique music festival marrying soundscape and landscape while leaving limited impact on the gorgeous topography of the region and Prescott’s remarkable Watson Lake.  Featuring Ziggy Marley, Los Lobos, Allison Russell and many more!!  Tickets start at $85pp – children 7 and under are free.  Gates open at 11:00 am and the festival starts at noon.  https://pureimaginationfestival.com/

If there is an event that you think that we should know about email me at David@OnlineArizonaHomes.com or visit our Facebook page and post a comment.

May 26th –  4th Friday Art Walk  Prescott – 15 galleries stay open late and offer food, musical entertainment, artist receptions and painting demonstrations, http://www.artthe4th.com

​

May 26th – May 27th – ArtX:  Art + Ideas Experience Arizona – Flagstaff – ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona seeks to elevate Flagstaff as a sustainable and accessible community for creative practice, art-making, placemaking, and exploration. This pilot festival lays the groundwork for the inaugural 5+ day festival to be held in May 2024.  This first-ever pilot event will start small, in the downtown core; with visions of a constellation of experiences, flowing throughout our neighborhoods in years to come. Visit and experience 14 juried projects and many more collaborative efforts across historic downtown and southside Flagstaff.  Find out more at:  https://artxideas.org/  Free.

​

May 27th  through May 28th –  Annual Pine-Strawberry Arts & Crafts Festival  Pine – Pine Community Center  75+ arts & crafts booths, featuring stained glass, jewelry, wood items, pottery, baby items, artwork, cards, copper items, Fire Dept. pancake breakfast, raffle for three quilts, children’s activities, food, Free, 928-476-6537 or http://www.rimcountrychamber.com  

May 27th  through May 28th – Annual Wyatt Earp Days -Tombstone.  Celebrate the life and times of the Old West’s most famous lawman in “the town too tough to die,” with costumed entertainers, BBQ, stagecoach rides, free,  https://discovertombstone.com/event/annual-wyatt-earp-days-2023/

May 27th through May 29th – 49th Annual Phippen Museum Western Art Show and Sale  – Prescott – Located on the grounds of the historic courthouse, this annual event features some of the best Western art in the country. Saturday and Sunday 9am – 5pm, Monday 9am – 3pm.  928 778-1385. Or https://phippenartmuseum.org/49th-annual-western-online-art-show-sale-award-winners/

May 28th – The Gazillion Bubble Show  Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale – Fans of bubbles, science and family fun should prepare to have their minds blown, because The Gazillion Bubble Show is making its way to Desert Diamond Arena on May 28. Ideal for bubble and science lovers of all ages, the 75-minute show features members of the Yang family and is unscripted, meaning repeat attendees enjoy a different performance each time. Featured on many  major network programs, The Gazillion Bubble Show promises an unbubblieveable experience that will have fans of all ages feeling like kids again.  Starts at 1pm.  Ticket prices vary.  https://www.desertdiamondarena.com/events/detail/gazillionbubbles

Didn’t find anything of interest for this week – Check out the Facebook page Things to do in Arizona for even more ideas and updates.

To sign up to receive this Newsletter click here.

​

That’s it folks, however, remember to go to my page Things to do in Arizona or my group page where I will be posting more fun events as they become available.   You can comment, add your own findings, review other people’s discoveries.

 As always, if you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate  I would love to be able to help you with that.  For information on real estate in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area please visit my website where you can search for properties and find other interesting info about real estate.   Just give me a call or send me an email or text.  

Have a fun May!

Cheers!

David

P.S. If any of your friends or family would like to receive this monthly list of events please have them email me and I will be happy to sign them up.

David Thomas, Realtor®