It was One Hundred Thirteen Degrees (yes, 113 degrees) here in Scottsdale today. Blech.

But, I am so super excited for fall to arrive this year – even more than usual – because there are some really cool new 2009 autumn festivities happening around the state of Arizona.  Well, they may not be new to everyone, but they’re new to me and since they weren’t part of our hugely popular Fall 2006 post, I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’d like to hear about them, too.

There’s so much going on around the state that I’m planning this as a multi-parter, starting in the city of Prescott.  Look for future posts for information on what to do in Sedona, Flagstaff and Scottsdale this fall, as well.  And if you have some terrific insight, please oh please feel free to leave a comment here so I can include your contribution in my next post!

Fall 2009 Events in Prescott, Arizona

Freeman Farms Pumpkin Festival – Chino Valley: September 26 & 27 and every weekend in October

photo credit: Freeman Farms - azpumpkins.com

THIS is where you must go for the Real Farm Experience.  Freeman Farms touts itself as Northern Arizona’s REAL Pumpkin Patch, and I mean, seriously – they have everything you could expect from a pumpkin patch: farm fresh pumpkins (grown on Freeman Farms); farm fresh produce; horse, animal and wildlife presentations; educational presentations; corn maze; hay rides; horseback riding lessons; petting zoo; entertainment and activities; attractions and concessions; and of course, fun for the whole family!

In case you aren’t familiar with the Prescott tri-city area, Chino Valley is located just 15 minutes north of Prescott.

• When to go: Weekends beginning September 26 & 27 and continuing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October from 9 am to 4 pm
• What to expect: While some pre-cut pumpkins will probably be available, the U-Pick aspect is a big part of the fun! Bring your own cutting utensil.  If you pick it, (or break a stem,) you pay for it. No dogs allowed. Average temperatures in Chino Valley for October are a high of 74.6 degrees F and a low of 56.8… ‘pertinear’ darn perfect.
• Prices: Parking is FREE. Admission: $3 per adult;  $2 per child 2-18 years old;  infants in diapers FREE
• For more information: www.azpumpkins.com for directions or call 928-636-5714.

Old West Oktoberfest – Saturday, October 17

photo credit: scottb211 on flickr.com

Amber fall foliage is perfect when paired with a locally-crafted beer. In it’s ninth year, the Old West Oktoberfest promises to be bigger and better than ever! With more microbreweries participating, expanded events and more areas for whole-family fun, the downtown section of Gurley Street gets closed off so participants can wander the booths, tasting and testing ales, ambers, stouts and lagers.

• When to go:Saturday, October 17 from 1 pm to 6 pm
• What to expect:Large crowds. Be prepared to show valid ID proving you are age 21 or over. You’ll get a souvenir tasting glass and tickets good for five beer samples. Expect ideal fall weather in the mid -70s during the day and light layers needed as the festival comes to a close.
• Prices: $15 per person.
• Don’t drink and drive: Visit hotels.prescott.com to browse, compare and book a hotel room within walking distance or a short, cheap cab ride from downtown Prescott.

Lynx Lake Restaurant – Prescott National Forest: Open Tuesday through Sunday

photo credit: walkingprescott.blogspot.com

A local favorite, this German restaurant overlooks Lynx Lake and shares its space with the Lynx Lake store and boat rentals.  Watch kayakers, paddle boats and trout-anglers as you enjoy a killer breakfast (served 8 am – 2pm) or dinner (served 4 pm – 8 pm) and a great German beer.  Authentic Bavarian fare, great views, and the thrill of being in on a best-kept secret are reasons enough to plan your own personal Oktoberfest and check out the Lynx Lake Cafe.

• When to go: Not Mondays. You’ll get super slow service since they’re not open. Better go Tuesday through Sunday and you’ll get great service.
• How to get there: Take Highway 69 to Walker Road (Look for Costco between Prescott and Prescott Valley) and turn south onto Walker Road. Go 7.6 miles on Walker Road. Right on Eagle Road. Left on Eureka Lane. 4505 E Forest Service Rd (928) 778-0720.

Trick o’ Treating on Mt. Vernon – Halloween: Saturday, October 31

photo credit: giometriks on flickr.com

Mt. Vernon street in Prescott is lined with stately and cute-as-a-button Victorian homes that get all decked out for Halloween. Each year, about 5,000 trick o’ treaters of all ages descend upon Mt. Vernon and line up at the spookily-transformed Painted Ladies to garner ghoulish goodies and marvel at the lawns-turned-graveyards and creepy decor.

• Where to go: Mt. Vernon Street is four blocks east of Courthouse Square, and south of Gurley Street.View Map
• When to show up: Twilight if you have little kids; later if you have older kids or you are an overgrown Power Ranger pandering for candy you could not only afford yourself but also by a sixer to go along with it.
• What to expect: Large crowds, off-site FREE parking in the Granite Street Parking Garage at Gurley and Granite, one block west of Montezuma…and thus an easy five-block walk to Mt. Vernon Street.

Prescott is totally happening during October and November, so be sure to check out this calendar of events in Prescott to stay up-to-date on all the sweet raves and flashmobs… woops, I mean, festivals and art shows going on in town this fall in Prescott.

Got an event to add? Leave your comment here or add it to the Prescott.com community calendar – it’s Free!

Okay, okay… bad puns aside, this is a bit of sad news for Arizona locals and return visitors alike.  Sedona Jazz on the Rocks – after 27 seasons of this annual September event – has decided not to hold a festival in the fall of 2009.

The key drivers of the decision to cancel this year, as reported on their website, were…

“…lower-than-projected revenues from the 2008 Festival, donations and sponsors — and the current economic environment that is challenging all of us.”

“But,” they promise, “we’re not going away.”

Sedona Jazz on the Rocks reports that they have “already taken significant steps to weather the financial storm, including reducing our administrative costs by nearly 80%.”

“We plan to hold a series of smaller events during the year to build our financial base. We will strategically use this time to rethink, regroup and reinvent Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, with plans to bring the Festival back in 2010.”

Source: prescottjazz.com Photo by Jim Haas

Prescott Jazz Summit is Covering the Basses

So what will local and visiting Jazz and music-lovers do in the absence of this legacy event?

Good news! The 2009 Prescott Arizona Jazz Summit is happening August 28 – 30.  In its 9th season, the Prescott Area Jazz Summit is being headlined by Grammy Award-winning Toni Tennille of the 70s sensation Captain & Tennille, performing on Saturday night, with more than a dozen other renowned musicians filling a variety of downtown Prescott venues with music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including Master of Ceremonies Blaize Lantana, Jazz Director and host of nightly jazz programming on Phoenix’s NPR station, KJZZ 91.5 FM,

Musicians scheduled to perform include Judy Roberts, Reggie Thomas, Carl Saunders, Mike Vax, Scott Whitfield, Gary Hobbs, Greg Fishman, Blaise Lantana, Ginger Berglund, Joel Robin, Tony Vacca, Jack Petersen, Steve Annibale, Ted Sistrunk, Cleve Huff, Denny Garr, Les Czimber, Tom Winker, Larry Kantor and several youth acts, including the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Band.

Come to Prescott where summer temperatures are mild; afternoon temperatures about 80 degrees and evening temps in the 60s. Perfect for kicking back on Courthouse Square, grabbing dinner and drinks in one of the happenin’ downtown Prescott restaurants and bars along “Whiskey Row” and beyond, and shopping in local boutique retail shops and art galleries that frame the downtown epicenter.

Tickets are affordable, with the best deal being the All Concert Pass for just $70. Individual concerts priced around $25 per person and specialty tickets like Meet the Musicians and a Sunday Jazz Brunch are also available.

Buy tickets online at www.prescottjazz.com or order by phone at 925-218-2336.

Tickets also on sale at the Hassayampa Inn and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
Call 928-771-1268 or 925-872-1942

Download PDF

photo credit: kathycsus on flickr.com

The Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society announced that tickets are
now available for films and concerts during its first annual Festival of Native American
Culture to be held from June 5 through 13, 2009, at the Red Rock District Visitor Center, south
of the Village of Oak Creek and at the Sedona Visitor Center in Uptown.

In association with the Sedona International Film Festival, activities begin with a Native
American Film Festival featuring documentaries, fiction and music videos by Native
American filmmakers.

Here’s the line-up of events:

Friday, June 5: two Navajo films entitled Turquoise Rose and A Gift From Talking God: The Story
of the Navajo Churro.  At the Clarkdale Memorial Clubhouse. 7:00 pm.

Saturday, June 6: The Radisson Poco Diablo Resort will host a Dinner Theatre, with special guest Michael Blake, the Academy Award® winning screenwriter and author of Dances With Wolves, who will show and discuss his film The
American West: On The Road With Michael Blake. 6:00 pm.

Film Festival at the Harkins Theatre in Sedona
Sunday, June 7:

• 6:30 pm show – the Canadian Inuit film Before Tomorrow, which will be preceded by Sandpainting Healing with Walking Thunder.
• 9:00 pm show – brings back two highly popular films from the Sedona International Film Festival earlier this year, American Outrage and CHE AH CHI: The History of Boynton Canyon.

Film Festival at the Canyon Moon Theatre in The Village of Oak Creek (VOC) Two unique events never before held in Arizona.

Monday, June 8: Films by indigenous filmmakers from Latin America.

• 3:00 pm matinee – Films from Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.
• 7:00 pm show – Films from Guatemala and Bolivia.

Tuesday, June 9 – The Film Festival concludes on  with a series of short
subjects by members of the Native American Producers Alliance. 7:00 pm.

The Festival ends with a Celebration of Native American Music and Dance.

Friday, June 12: Canyon Records recording artist Gabriel Ayala will perform in concert at St. John Vianney Church, Sedona, of Classical, Tango, Flamenco and Contemporary guitar. 7:00 pm.

Saturday, June 13: An Evening of Native Dance will close the Festival  in the Sedona
Hilton Tequa Ballroom. The Halau Hula Napuaokalei’ilima troupe will perform Hawaiian
dances as performed for the Heard Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. They will be
followed by the internationally-known Dancing Earth, a collective of performance artists
representing the First Nations who create experimental yet elemental dances that reflect their
rich cultural heritage to explore their identity as contemporary Native peoples.  7:00 pm

Tickets can also be purchased online. Other ticket outlets are being added. Details of the Festival events are available at www.festivalofnativeamericanculture.org, or by
calling 928-284-4764.