Scenic Drives to See Fall Foliage Around Flagstaff
Take some scenic drives to witness the golden splendor of autumn in Flagstaff, the San Francisco peaks, and surrounding areas.
Learn MoreFall Events
Golden leaves shine the spotlight on breathtaking views.
FALL IN FLAGSTAFF
Experience falls colors at their finest! Hit the hiking trails and climb to 8,000 feet in elevation, where large stands of aspen trees steal the show with their quaking leaves glowing like liquid sunshine. Flagstaff makes this easy for you; by using our leeaf-ometer tool, you will never miss the allure of cool crimson, autumn orange, and golden radiant leaves dancing overhead in a whimsical celebration of the season again.
To find out when the leaves will be changing, check the Flagstaff LEAF-ometer to see color ranges for different regions throughout Flagstaff. A scenic drive is a great way to see the fall colors, and so is a glorious autumn hike. Locations expand beyond historic downtown Flagstaff, these seasonal spectacles can be found in Oak Creek Canyon along scenic Highway 89A, walking through the prestigious Northern Arizona University campus, atop mars hill amidst stellar star searching, and more. Further immerse yourself in the golden hues with a visit to breathtaking Aspen Corner, this crisp elevated adventure will leave you in absolute awe.
Beyond outdoor adventures, local events offer a variety of experiences to top off your fall fun! Peruse unique creations at Art in the Park or during any First Friday Artwalk. Have a drink and dance at the renowned Oktoberfest with friends and family. Or tap into your inquisitive side and attend the stellar Star Party or Festival of Science.
No matter what the activity, trust that you'll be engulfed in a splendor of enchanted autumn canopy's when you choose Flagstaff for your fall festivities.
FALL EVENTS & FESTIVITIES
First Friday Artwalk
Every first Friday of the month, 5-9 PM
Heritage Square & Downtown Flagstaff
ArtWalk FLG brings Downtown Flagstaff to life every first Friday of the month. Art galleries and businesses open their doors to the community with special art exhibitions, performances, live music, treats, and more. From paintings and sculptures to live performances, such as the dancing grannies, the streets are filled with excitement as artists and art lovers mingle, listen and dance to music, and discover unique treasures. It’s a night of creativity, community, and endless inspiration—perfect for anyone looking to experience Flagstaff's artistic heart!
Art in the Park Festival
Sept. 5-7, 2026
Saturday & Sunday 9:30am-5pm, Monday 9:30am-4pm
Wheeler Park
Flagstaff Art in the Park is an arts and crafts festival that features tightly juried one-of-a-kind fine art and fine crafts designed and shown by the artists. These shows take place over the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends in Wheeler Park in Downtown Flagstaff; a beautiful tree-shaded, grassy venue across the street from City Hall and on the main thoroughfare to the Grand Canyon. These shows feature nonstop live music throughout the three days of each event. So come and join us once again for another amazing season of art and music in the heart of Northern Arizona's cool pines!
Fall Plant Sale at the Arboretum
September 2026
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Enjoy free admission to The Arboretum and take home autumnal flowers at unbeatable deals! Support the local growers in Flagstaff by purchasing different plants and flowers during the Fall Plant Sale. With the pleasantly warm days and cool nights in Flagstaff, don't miss taking home new garden plants that will thrive in the autumnal weather.
Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass Music Festival
Sept. 18-20, 2026
Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park
Experience three days of Bluegrass fun with camping, community dancing, family-friendly activities, and more. Held at the Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park, the Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass Music Festival is the ultimate outdoor music event, where guitar-jangling times meet a Flagstaff pines backdrop.
Flagstaff Festival of Science
September 25 – October 4, 2026
The Flagstaff Festival of Science proudly announces its 2026 theme, “Driven by Curiosity,” celebrating the questions, exploration, and innovation that propel discovery and shape our world. The 10-day Festival will run September 25 – October 4, 2026, bringing together scientists, educators, students, and lifelong learners for engaging programs across Flagstaff and beyond.
The Festival will open on September 25 with the W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation in NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium by technology leader Kirk Dunsavage, whose talk explores the intersection of science, engineering, and the human spirit of exploration.
Flagstaff Music Festival
Sept. 12, 2026
12pm-10pm
Heritage Square in Downtown Flagstaff
Every year, the Flagstaff Music Festival imbues an animated energy into Downtown Flagstaff, where everyone will be rockin' and rollin' the whole day away. Featuring a variety of local musicians, this festival aims to generate proceeds and awareness for the Haven Walker Music Scholarship Fund.
Flagstaff Star Party and Celebration of the Night
October 1–3, 2026
The 2026 Flagstaff Star Party and Celebration of the Night returns with activities and events celebrating Flagstaff’s wonderful night skies, building to the Flagstaff Star Party at Buffalo Park October 1-3! Celebration of the Night events include in-person and online presentations, music under the stars, and more, celebrating the beauty, wonder, and inspiration of Flagstaff’s night skies!
Flagstaff Oktoberfest
October 3, 2026
10 am-9 pm
Wheeler Park
Munich returns to downtown Flagstaff, AZ, with the annual Flagstaff Oktoberfest. Kick off the autumn season with bratwurst, pretzels and plenty of beer! Guests will enjoy many crowd favorites including polka music, brat eating contest, stein holding competition and much more. Lace up your dirndl, throw on your lederhosen and grab a stein because Flagstaff is celebrating 17 years of the Flagstaff Oktoberfest!
Visit flagstaffoktoberfest.com to purchase tickets and learn more.
Arizona Snowbowl Scenic Gondola Ride
(928) 779-1951
Arizona Snowbowl is well known as a skiing and snowboarding winter wonderland. However, every summer and autumn nature lovers can take to the skies on the Scenic Gondola. As you soar over the mountains, you will enjoy the glories of autumn’s crisp amber, with a bird’s eye view of the mixed fir and aspen tree canopy below. Located north of Flagstaff off Highway 180 on Snowbowl Road. Drive through scenic Aspen Corner to catch the leaves shimmering gold in the sun and stretch your legs on a trail along the way. Bonus: The Grand Canyon can be spotted from this panoramic spot.
Flagstaff Community Market
Sundays through October 2026
Sundays 8 am-12 pm
(928) 853-2382
The freshest in regional fruits, vegetables, honey, baked goods, fresh flowers, tamales, jams, breads and more at City Hall on Sunday mornings and across from the Orpheum on Wednesdays. The Flagstaff Community Market aims to support small and medium sized independent growers and producers by providing folks with a local alternative to corporate and globalized food production in Northern Arizona. It's definitely worth a stop to shop some fresh honey, spicy salsas and locally created crafts.
Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival
The Taming
September 17, 2026 - October 4, 2026
A beauty pageant becomes an unlikely crossroads of ambition, ideology, and identity. Amid the glitter and spectacle, Katherine isn’t just competing for a crown, she's rewriting history. Smart, driven, and unapologetically bold, she dreams of reshaping American politics as fiercely as she chases the spotlight.
By forcing two political opponents into the same room, a tightly wound aide to a powerful conservative senator and an idealistic liberal blogger, each is forced to confront what they believe, what they fear, and who they might become.
Loosely based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, this witty, three-woman comedy invites audiences to laugh, listen, and recognize themselves in the chaos of democracy.
A Room in the Castle
September 18, 2026 - October 3, 2026
Open the door to Ophelia's room! Set entirely within Ophelia’s chamber, A Room in the Castle asks a pressing question: how does a woman endure the treacherous court of Denmark? Here, Ophelia, her loyal handmaid, and Queen Gertrude face the fallout of a volatile prince’s behavior and begin to grasp just how perilous life in the castle has become.
Much Ado About Dinosaurs
October 16, 2026 - October 25, 2026
Journey to the Jurassic with Shakespeare & company in this colorful, interactive, original play for audiences of all ages and geological eras!
Created by Matthew Windham, the inventive mind behind Simply Silly Shakespeare and Shakespeare on Pluto, this dino-sized adventure promises laughter, learning, and a whole lot of Jurassic joy.
Pumpkin Walk
October 2026
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
As the Arboretum is seasonal and only open May through October, this will be their last event of 2025! Don't miss out on fall pumpkin fun! Beer, food trucks, kids' activities, music and hundreds of lit pumpkins will be waiting for you surrounded by ponderosa forest with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks.
Celebraciones de la Gente
October 2026
The Museum of Northern Arizona
Enjoy the customs and culture of Flagstaff's Mexican and Mexican-American communities at the Celebraciones de la Gente! Make your way to the Museum of Northern Arizona and witness a fall weekend that's brimming with cultural dances, sugar skull decorating, colorful art displays, and more.
Marvelous Fall Hikes
Take in the fall scenery on foot might by hiking some of Flagstaff’s most popular trails. There are many trails, ranging in difficulty, which will provide stunning views of the changing landscape. Try out the virtual Flagstaff Trails Passport to pick trails from an expertly procured list of hiking, biking, running and accessible opportunities. The passport promotes seasonal recommendations, so leaf-peepers have their research done for them when embarking on Fall adventures in Flagstaff.
Aspen Nature Loop
Another salient trail, the Aspen Nature Loop offers views of the San Francisco Peaks and Kendrick Mountain. Located near the base of Arizona Snowbowl, this scenic loop is sure to expose some of the most impeccable fall colors. At a length of 1.8 miles, this hike is rated as relatively easy. Those looking for an effortless way to witness the scenery should consider Aspen Nature Loop.
Bismarck Lake
Situated in an alpine meadow, Bismarck Lake is the perfect location to observe both the altering autumn setting and the wildlife that is attracted by the lake. This remarkable “lake” exhibits pond-like features, acquiring shallow waters enclosed by marshes. As a resource for wildlife in the surrounding forests, visitors should expect to see some wildlife activity. This is a difficult 17 mile trail and primarily used for nature trips, birding and mountain biking.
Check out the Trail Passport for more hikes!
Fall Fun
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