10 Spectacular Summer & Fall Festivals in Flagstaff, Arizona

Festival Season – something I look forward to every year.

Crowd watching live music at the blues and brews music festival Flagstaff, AZ

Admittedly, I live here in Flagstaff, so it’s not because of the desperate need to escape the sweltering heat of the desert. There is, however, a need after being cooped up all winter, to head out and enjoy as many festivals as I can fit in. Looking at the big picture, Flagstaff’s festival offerings began to more than double about 8 years ago.

Before 2008, there were four outdoor festivals to choose from: Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival which will celebrate its 24th event this year, Pride in the Pines celebrating its 20th, the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival hitting 19 years, and Pickin’ in the Pines celebrating year 11. 

Since 2008, we have seen the addition of the Flagstaff Oktoberfest, Hullabaloo, Flagstaff Blues and Brews and Cornucopia Fall Festival. Suffice to say – Flagstaff is so much more than hiking and mountain biking. We’ve become Arizona’s summer and fall playground with a festival for everyone. Here are descriptions of our top 10 favorite summer and fall festivals in Flagstaff. 

Crowd watching live music at the hullabaloo music festival Flagstaff, AZ

June Flagstaff Festivals

1. Hullabaloo

The Flagstaff festival season kicks off with Hullabaloo held the first weekend in June to celebrate all things Flagstaff. This is a two day festival starting with a signature bike parade around downtown Flagstaff. It is an extremely family friendly festival located in Wheeler Park and crazy costume wearing is encouraged. 

2. Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival

The following weekend if you’re ready for a 21+ festival, come on up for Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival. Held at the Pepsi Amphitheater at Ft. Tuthill Coconino County Fairgrounds, you probably can’t taste all 100 brewery’s offerings in a single festival, but you’ll quickly find out how fun it is to try.

Crowd enjoying event on lawn at blues and brews music festival Flagstaff AZ
Flagstaff Blues & Brews is a summer highlight in Flagstaff!

3. Flagstaff Blues & Brews

In June, enjoy Arizona's largest blues festival! Flagstaff Blues and Brews has been named one of the ten most beautiful Blues festivals in the world. Family-friendly and a good time to sit on the grass, and listen to popular Blues acts while drinking an ice-cold beer – it doesn’t get much better than this. The Flagstaff Blues and Brews festival is located at the Continental Country Club Driving Range.

4. Pine Country Pro Rodeo

The Pine Country Pro Rodeo rides into Flagstaff the last weekend of June. After a 6 year hiatus, a dedicated group of rodeo fans brought the Turquoise Circuit back to the Coconino County Fairgrounds in 2014. Enjoy an exciting weekend of broncos, roping and bull riding. 

5. Pride in the Pines

Another big event filling up the June calendar is the Pride in the Pines festival at Thorpe Park. Featuring music, a kid’s area and vendor booths; this one day festival has the mission to educate, celebrate and increase acceptance and awareness of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community of Flagstaff and northern Arizona.

July Festivals

6. Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture

In early July, Flagstaff takes a short break from these outdoor festivals to celebrate the Independence Day holiday and the oldest Hopi show in the world. For the past 83 years the Museum of Northern Arizona has held the Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture on the weekend closest to July 4. 

7. Arizona Highland Celtic Festival

The second weekend after the Fourth of July ushers in the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival with everything from Guinness to highland games to Irish bands and dancing. The 2022 Arizona Highland Celtic Festival will take place at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, Arizona on July 16th and 17th. Learn about the heritage, language, traditions, art, and history of the Celtic people both ancient and modern. 

live music performance at pickin in the pines music festival in Flagstaff AZ
Pickin' in the Pines at Flagstaff's Pepsi Amphitheater

September Festivals

8. Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Festival

The monsoon rains limit the amount of festivals until September but come the third weekend it’s time for the Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Festival to the Pepsi Amphitheater. Thousands attend this festival and tickets go fast, so if you love Bluegrass, buy your tickets early. 

9. Cornucopia Fall Festival

The following weekend plan to attend the Cornucopia Fall Festival, a festival designed to celebrate the best of fall and where pumpkins are plentiful.

October: The Final Flag Festival

10. Flagstaff Oktoberfest

The last major festival of the season is the Flagstaff Oktoberfest held the first weekend in October. Tap into your inner German and enjoy a wide variety of beer and polka music beneath the beauty of the leaves changing in Wheeler Park. The Flagstaff Oktoberfest was named one of the top 10 Oktoberfests under 10,000 attendees in the nation. Put on your lederhosen, grab a cold beer and enter one of the many contests.

People in costume at Flagstaff Oktoberfest
Don your dirndl and lederhosen and head to Flagstaff Oktoberfest!

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Flagstaff Has a Festival for Everyone!

There you have it! An overview of Flagstaff’s festival season. Admittedly I only covered the major festivals, we also have many other special events happening in and around the area all year long. 

Bottom line – come to Flagstaff and enjoy not only our beautiful scenery, our unlimited outdoor recreation, our cool summer temperatures but also one of our many festivals. 

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Discover Flagstaff features travel information for visitors to Flagstaff, Arizona and regional attractions like the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Navajo Nation and Route 66.