Tubac Festival of the Arts
The village of Tubac, 40 miles south of Tucson, is home to the longest-running art festival in the southwest. From the first festival in 1959, the Tubac Festival of the Arts has grown into a venue that showcases the work of hundreds artists and musicians from the United States and Canada. According to the Tubac Chamber of Commerce, while the show is juried for quality, it is unpretentious; fine art shares the street with handcrafted whimsies. The festival is always held in February, and applications are available in July with jury notifications in November. The festival is free to the public.
Tubac Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1866
Tubac, AZ 85646
520-398-2704
TubacAz.com
4th Avenue Street Fairs (Winter and Spring)
What began in 1970 with a few tables in front of stores to attract customers during the holiday season has grown into one of the "premier street fairs in the nation," according to the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association. Two juried arts and crafts fairs are held each year, in March and December, on either the weekend preceding or following the Tempe Festival of the Arts, allowing artists to participate in both events. Nearly 400 artists are invited to participate in the 4th Avenue Winter and Spring Street Fairs, which draw crowds of 200,000 to 350,000. The fairs are free to the public.
Fourth Avenue Merchants Association
434 E. Ninth St.
Tucson, AZ 85705
520-624-5004
FourthAvenue.org
Southwest Indian Art Fair
Since 1993, the Arizona State Museum in Tucson has hosted the Southwest Indian Art Fair. Held in February, this show gathers over 200 southwestern Indian artists to display and sell their art. A juried show takes place the first day of the fair. In addition to Indian arts and crafts, the fair also features performances and demonstrations to enhance the cultural experience of thousands of visitors. An admission fee is charged.
Arizona State Museum
1013 E. University Blvd.
P.O. Box 210026
Tucson, AZ 85721
520-621-6302
StateMuseum.Arizona.edu
Tempe Festival of the Arts
Held each March and December, either before or after Tucson's 4th Avenue Street Fair, the Tempe Arts Festival has been consistently ranked in the Top 20 of the nation's art festivals by "Sunshine Artist" magazine. Each Festival receives over 1,000 artist applications for the 400 artist booths that will line the Mill Avenue District. Juries choose participants from 18 artistic categories ranging from ceramics, to woodwork, photography and even wearable art. The Tempe Arts Festival attracts nearly 250,000 visitors each winter and spring and has received the Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association. Admission is free.
Downtown Tempe Community, Inc.
310 S. Mill Ave., Suite A-201
Tempe, AZ 85281
602-997-2601
TempeFestivaloftheArts.com
Arizona Fine Art EXPO
In Scottsdale, the Arizona Fine Art EXPO begins every year in mid-January and runs through March. This juried, invitational event, sponsored by Thunderbird Artists, showcases 100 nationally-acclaimed artists. Visitors have the privilege of watching artists create in their own environments. Many other events take place at the EXPO, including fine wine tasting and artist book signings. A one-time admission fee gets you a pass for the duration of the EXPO.
Arizona Fine Art EXPO
26540 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-837-7163
ArizonaFineArtEXPO.com
Sedona Arts Festival
Founded in 1989, the Sedona Arts Festival features over 150 local and national artists who are juried in. Held in early October each year at Sedona Red Rock High School, visitors also enjoy the blaze of autumn color against the backdrop of the red rocks of Sedona. The festival also offers a KidZone, where kids can create their own works of art, helped along by volunteer artists and teachers. There is an admission fee as well a fee for the KidZone.
Sedona Arts Festival
P.O. Box 2729
Sedona, AZ 86339
928-204-9456
SedonaArtsFestival.org
