A quick note before we get into it: the monsoons are taking the weekend off, but don’t get too comfortable. Temperatures are creeping up and we’re heading into a bit of a heatwave. The best way to beat it is to find some water, and we’re lucky to have plenty. Here’s my local’s guide to cooling off in the creek and Sedona’s best swimming holes.
On a personal note, I’ve been out playing pickleball in the evenings this week, and once the sun starts dropping the temperatures have been just about perfect. The only problem is that watching the sun set over the red rocks is so gorgeous it’s become a real distraction to my game.
Late summer in Sedona means monsoon skies, cooler theater seats, and a packed slate of events in Sedona July 31 through the following Thursday. Between Sedona International Film Festival premieres at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon theatres, sound healing sessions, Cottonwood’s Friday night line dancing, and the Sunday farmers market, there is plenty to fill a red rock week even as temperatures climb. Here is everything confirmed for Sedona and the Verde Valley this week, plus what is coming up next.
- Friday, July 31
- Saturday, August 1
- Sunday, August 2
- Monday, August 3
- Tuesday, August 4
- Wednesday, August 5
- Thursday, August 6
- Happening Every Week
- Coming Up Soon
Friday, July 31
‘Old Man Lightning’ Sedona Film Premiere | 4:00 and 7:00 PM | Mary D. Fisher Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. The Sedona International Film Festival’s one-night premiere follows bouldering legend John “Verm” Sherman attempting to reclaim Yosemite’s Midnight Lightning problem at age 57. Director Dawn Kish hosts a live Q&A after both screenings, so plan to stay a few extra minutes if you catch the 7:00 show.
‘The Floaters’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This offbeat comedy follows a struggling musician supervising camp staff at her childhood Jewish summer camp as it fights to survive. It runs nightly through August 5, so if Friday does not work there are several more chances this week.
‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ Film Premiere | 6:30 to 8:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. Zoey Deutch stars as a Kansas hairdresser chasing Jon Hamm across Los Angeles after her fiance uses his celebrity pass, in this Sedona Film Festival comedy premiere that runs through August 6. Buy tickets ahead online since festival premieres tend to sell close to capacity.
Indoor Line Dancing at Blazin’ M Ranch | 5:30 to 8:30 PM (beginner lesson 6:00 to 7:00 PM) | Blazin’ M Ranch, 1875 Mabery Ranch Rd., Cottonwood | $20 admission, includes one drink. This air-conditioned barn dance in Cottonwood is beginner-friendly with a lesson built in, no partner or experience needed. Food specials include $1 wings and $8 draft beers, so come hungry and plan to stay past the lesson for open dancing.
Sky Rock Inn Live Music | 6:00 to 9:00 PM | Sky Rock Inn, 1200 SR 89A, Sedona | Not listed. Weekend evenings at Sky Rock Inn bring live music with red rock views as the backdrop. Arrive early for patio seating since it is a popular sunset spot.
Aerial Sound Healing in Sedona | 1:00 to 2:15 PM | Down Dog Sedona, 1785 W. State Route 89A, Suite 1B, Sedona | Not listed. This session blends gentle suspension in an aerial hammock with crystal sound bowls, with mats, blankets and pillows provided. Preregistration is required and closes two hours before the event, so book your spot the day before.
Yoga Nidra and Hatha Yoga | 9:00 to 10:00 AM | Down Dog Sedona, 110 Rockridge Drive, Sedona | Not listed. This rotating Friday class alternates between deep-relaxation Yoga Nidra and beginner-friendly Hatha Yoga. Mats and blankets are provided, but preregistration through Down Dog’s calendar is required.
Saturday, August 1
Guided Red Rock Hike | 7:00 to 9:30 AM | Trailhead TBD (communicated after registering), Coconino National Forest, Sedona | Not listed. An expert guide leads this high-desert hike through Sedona’s red rock terrain, pointing out flora and geology along the way. Bring at least a liter of water, sunscreen, and hiking boots, and register at least 24 hours ahead through Down Dog Sedona.
Paint Your Pet! (on canvas) | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Lovejoy Creations, 235 Birch Blvd, Sedona | $89 per person. Paint a pop-art or realistic portrait of your pet with step-by-step guidance in this private West Sedona studio, all supplies included. Email your pet photo ahead of time so the instructor can help you plan the composition.
Sacred Resonance | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Humankind, 1730 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $11 introductory rate, free for Humankind members. This two-hour immersive sound journey blends gong resonance, guided frequency meditation, sacred geometry visualization, and collective chanting led by facilitator Sheela Rahman. No meditation experience is needed, but arrive a few minutes early since seating on the floor fills up.
Scientific Vortex Information | 3:00 to 4:30 PM | Sky Rock Inn, 1200 State Route 89A, Sedona | $15 admission. M.I.T. honors graduate Pete Sanders leads this talk on locating and using Sedona’s vortexes for meditation, healing, and creative problem-solving. Call 928-282-9425 ahead to reserve a seat since space is limited.
Sedona Pleiadian Live Event | 1:00 to 5:00 PM | Shine Sanctuary for the Soul, 162 Coffee Pot Dr., Sedona | $111 per ticket. Laarkmaa and Voices From the Light deliver channeled messages during this afternoon gathering, with organizers Pia and Cullen taking questions in the final hour. This one draws a devoted following, so buy tickets in advance.
‘The Merry Widow’ Met Opera Encore | 1:00 to 3:30 PM | Mary D. Fisher Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $15 general, $13 Film Festival members. This summer encore screens the Met’s 2014-15 production starring Renee Fleming, with direction and choreography by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman. It is a matinee, so plan lunch beforehand rather than after.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This dramedy follows 22-year-old Margarita, who has autism, as she discovers competitive hobby-horsing and works toward independence. It repeats at different times through August 6, so check the showtime before you head out each day.
In the Verde Valley: the Verde Valley Farmers Market runs 8:00 to 11:00 AM in Camp Verde every Saturday through October, a good stop for produce on the way back from Montezuma Castle.
Sunday, August 2
Sedona Community Farmers Market | 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot, 2201 W. State Route 89A, West Sedona | Free to attend. Local growers sell only what they raise themselves, from produce to honey to flowers, in this year-round Sunday market. Go early for the best selection since popular vendors sell out by mid-morning.
Flamenco Music in the Courtyard | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, in front of El Rincon Restaurante Mexicano, Sedona | Free. Master guitarist Gaetano and friends play Spanish guitar in the courtyard through the summer months, weather permitting. Grab a table at El Rincon if you want dinner with the show, or just stand at the courtyard’s edge to listen for free.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 7:00 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. Sunday’s showing of this hobby-horsing dramedy is an evening screening, a good option if you spend the day outdoors first.
‘The Floaters’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. The camp comedy continues its run with a Sunday matinee slot.
Monday, August 3
Flamenco Music in the Courtyard | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Sedona | Free. Gaetano returns for the Monday installment of this summer guitar series in front of El Rincon. It is a relaxed, come-and-go kind of evening, so no need to arrive right at 5:30.
‘The Floaters’ Film Premiere | 6:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. The film shifts to an evening showtime for its final three nights, Monday through Wednesday.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 4:00 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. Monday’s screening lands in the late afternoon, easy to pair with an early dinner reservation after.
Tuesday, August 4
Flamenco Music in the Courtyard | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Sedona | Free. The last night of the weekly flamenco run at El Rincon before it picks back up next Sunday.
‘The Floaters’ Film Premiere | 6:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This is the second-to-last screening before the film wraps its Sedona run on Wednesday.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. An afternoon slot for Tuesday, with the run continuing through Thursday.
Wednesday, August 5
‘The Floaters’ Film Premiere | 6:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This is the final screening of the film’s Sedona run, so it is your last chance to catch it this year.
‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This Zoey Deutch comedy gets an afternoon matinee slot midweek.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 4:00 PM | Mary D. Fisher Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. Wednesday’s screening moves over to the Mary D. Fisher, so double check which theatre before you go. Otherwise, Wednesday is a quieter day around town: it is a good afternoon for the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon, which stays shaded and cool even as monsoon heat builds.
Thursday, August 6
Cottonwood Farmers’ Market & Jamboree | 5:00 PM until dark | Old Town Activity Park, 187 E. Pima Street, Cottonwood | Free to attend, produce priced individually. This Verde Valley staple combines local produce, jams, and crafts with live music into the evening. It is outdoors, so bring a lawn chair and stay for the band after you shop.
‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’ Film Premiere | 3:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. This is the last day of the film’s run at the festival, so this is the final chance to catch it.
‘Horsegirls’ Film Premiere | 6:30 PM | Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre, Sedona | $12 general, $9 Film Festival members. Thursday’s evening showing closes out this film’s Sedona premiere run.
Happening Every Week
- Sedona Community Farmers Market, Sundays 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, West Sedona
- Flamenco Music in the Courtyard at El Rincon, Tlaquepaque, Sundays through Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7:30 PM
- Cottonwood Farmers’ Market & Jamboree, Thursdays 5:00 PM until dark, Old Town Activity Park, Cottonwood
- Verde Valley Farmers Market, Saturdays 8:00 to 11:00 AM, Camp Verde, through October
- Indoor Line Dancing at Blazin’ M Ranch, Fridays, lesson 6:00 to 7:00 PM, open dancing to 8:30 PM, Cottonwood
- Live Music at Sky Rock Inn, Friday and Saturday evenings, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
- Aerial Sound Healing at Down Dog Sedona, Fridays 1:00 to 2:15 PM, through October
- Guided Red Rock Hike with Down Dog Sedona, Saturdays 7:00 to 9:30 AM, through October
Coming Up Soon
1st Friday in the Galleries | Friday, August 7, 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Tlaquepaque, Hozho, Uptown Sedona, and West Sedona gallery clusters | Free, with a free trolley between locations. Monthly gallery night with openings, artist receptions, and refreshments across Sedona’s four gallery districts.
Breakdown: Tom Petty Tribute Concert | Saturday, August 8, 6:30 PM | Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona | Tickets from $58. National touring tribute band plays the Heartbreakers catalog start to finish.
Frequency Friday with Lynda Arnold | Friday, August 14, 5:45 PM | Humankind, 1730 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | Ticketed. Sound bath and vocal meditation session as part of Humankind’s weekly Frequency Friday series.
Clarkdale Concerts in the Park: Come Back Buddy | Saturday, August 15, 7:00 to 9:00 PM | Clarkdale Town Park Gazebo, 1001 Main Street, Clarkdale | Free. This 50s and 60s rock and roll act plays the gazebo as part of the free summer concert series.
Divine Alignment in Sedona | Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 16, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM | 1730 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | Ticketed. Two-day consciousness and spirituality conference with speakers including Laura Eisenhower and Dr. Sharnael.
Divasonic: Ethereal Sound Voyage | Sunday, August 16, 7:00 PM | 1730 W. State Route 89A, Sedona | Ticketed. Lynda Arnold’s immersive sound and vocal performance closes out the weekend of consciousness-focused events.
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