Call Or Text Us Anytime 928-599-4456

What’s Happening in Sedona This Week: October 23 to October 29, 2026

Events in Sedona October 23 — Red Rock Country

Fall settles into the red rocks this week, and the calendar is packed to match. There’s a full slate of events in Sedona October 23 through 29, from the final weekend of the Plein Air Festival and a cello concert built for deep listening to Cottonwood’s Fall Festival, a burlesque show, and the Verde Valley’s harvest-season winery lineup. Whether you want art, music, sound healing, or just a good excuse to get outside, this week delivers.

Friday, October 23

Fall Festival at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (continues Saturday) | Verde Valley Fairgrounds, 800 E Cherry St, Cottonwood | Free admission. Cottonwood’s biggest free fall weekend kicks off with a barrel race, family games, a scarecrow contest, tractor pull, quilt show, and an art and craft sale. Bring cash for the vendor booths and plan to spend a few hours, there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Quetzal Guerrero with Sergio Mendoza | 7:00 PM | Old Town Center for the Arts, 5th Street at Main, Cottonwood | $25 advance, $27 at the door, $30 priority. Violinist Quetzal Guerrero teams up with percussionist Sergio Mendoza for an evening of cross-cultural, globally-inspired music in the center’s intimate black-box setting. Seating is limited, so buy advance tickets online rather than risking it at the door.

Sedona Plein Air Festival: Artist Awards | Evening | Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Rd, Sedona | Check site for ticket pricing. Special guest judge Kelly Kane hands out awards as the 22nd annual Plein Air Festival nears its close. It’s a great chance to see the week’s finished paintings before the final sale the next day.

Live Music with Lyndsay Cross | 7:00 to 9:00 PM | Arabella Sedona, courtyard gazebo (weather permitting) | Free to attend. Verde Valley local Lyndsay Cross blends classic rock influences with classically trained soprano vocals for a soulful night of live music. Grab a drink at the bar and snag a courtyard table early since seating is first-come.

Camp Verde National Night Out | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Camp Verde Schools District Office, 410 Camp Lincoln Road, Camp Verde | Free. The town’s annual community and police relations event brings hotdogs, hamburgers, and family activities to Camp Verde. It’s low-key and kid-friendly, a good option if you want something casual outside the Sedona crowds.

Frequency Friday: Meditation, BioCharger & Sound Bath | 5:45 to 7:00 PM | Humankind, 1730 W State Route 89A, Sedona | Free for members, check site for guest pricing. A guided meditation paired with BioCharger technology and a live sound bath designed to ease stress and reset your nervous system. Arrive by 5:45 for doors since the BioCharger session begins promptly at 6:00.

Saturday, October 24

Fall Festival at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds (Day 2) | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Verde Valley Fairgrounds, Cottonwood | Free. The festival wraps its second day with the same lineup of contests, craft vendors, and family activities, plus a 0.5K beer run for the 21-and-up crowd. Parking fills up by midday, so come earlier if you want an easy spot.

Sedona Plein Air Festival: Final Sale Day & Community Paint Out | Community Paint Out 9:00 AM to Noon ($15 registration), Final Public Sale 10:00 AM to Noon | Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Rd, Sedona | Free to browse. The festival closes out with a community paint-out where amateur and pro artists alike can create and sell on-site work, plus the final sale of pieces from the week’s professional plein air painters. Get there right at 10 AM if you want first pick of the best canvases.

Sedona Heritage Museum Arts & Crafts Fair | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with an Acappella Sedona performance at 11:00 AM | Sedona Heritage Museum, 735 Jordan Rd, Sedona | Free admission. An old-fashioned craft fair where the makers behind the jewelry, fiber art, baskets, and home decor are on hand to talk about their work, and museum admission is free for the day. Combine it with a stroll through the museum’s apple orchard and homestead exhibits while you’re there.

Meet & Greet with Sally Dryer, Original Voice of Lucy | 1:00 to 3:00 PM | Pop Up Market, 1685 E. Cottonwood St., Cottonwood | Check site for pricing. Sally Dryer, the original voice of Lucy Van Pelt in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” appears in person to mark the special’s 60th anniversary. A fun one for Peanuts fans and families, and a rare chance to meet a piece of animation history in the Verde Valley.

Corks and Corsets Burlesque: “Drop Dead Gorgeous” | Doors 7:30 PM, show 8:00 to 10:00 PM | The Eureka Room, 1012 North Main Street, Cottonwood | $25.31 general admission, 21+. A glamorous, sultry burlesque revue featuring performer Nikkita Von Teaza, hosts Jon and Bekah Bonner, and live music from Matteo Amaretto. Tickets tend to sell out for this venue’s shows, so buy ahead online.

VVFA Barrel Racing Series | 9:00 AM | Verde Valley Fair Arena, 421 N Willard St, Cottonwood | Check site for admission. Local and regional riders compete in the 5D barrel race series at the Fair Arena. It’s a fun, free-feeling way to see Western horsemanship up close, and bleacher seating is first-come.

Live Music with Don Whitcher & His Hellcats | 2:00 to 5:00 PM | DA Ranch, Cornville | Free, food and wine for purchase. DA Ranch’s weekend concert series continues with Don Whitcher & His Hellcats on the vineyard lawn, with the Savories food truck on site from noon to 5 PM. Bring a blanket or low chair since lawn seating is general admission.

Sunday, October 25

Sedona Community Farmers Market | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (winter hours) | Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, 2201 W State Route 89A, West Sedona | Free to attend. Local growers and makers sell produce, baked goods, and crafts at Sedona’s weekly community market, now on its cooler-season midday schedule. Arrive early for the best produce selection before vendors sell out.

Ian Maksin: “The Power of Cello” | Doors 4:30 PM, show 5:00 to 7:00 PM | Ultimate Light Mission, 2115 Mountain Road, Sedona | $33 advance, $40 once the quota fills or at the door, recommended 12+. Cellist Ian Maksin loops layered, meditative soundscapes drawing on Navajo, West African, and Tuvan musical traditions. Buy online in advance, the discounted tier is limited and sells out before the door price kicks in.

Beyond the Veil: Halloween Costume Experience | Optional workshop 4:00 to 5:00 PM, main event 6:00 to 11:00 PM | 1730 West State Route 89A, Sedona | $33 to $84 depending on ticket type. An immersive night of ecstatic dance, live music, DJ sets, and a sound bath, with costumes encouraged in mystical or Halloween themes. Wear comfortable shoes, this one is built around movement for most of the five hours.

Live Music with Thunder & Lightnin’ | 2:00 to 5:00 PM | DA Ranch, Cornville | Free, food and wine for purchase. The vineyard’s live music weekend continues with Thunder & Lightnin’ on the lawn and the Savories food truck serving through 5 PM. A relaxed way to close out the weekend with a glass of local wine in hand.

Flamenco in the Courtyard | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Patio de Las Campanas, 336 SR 179, Sedona | Free. Master guitarist Gaetano and friends perform flamenco guitar in the courtyard, with food and drink available from El Rincon’s outdoor bar. Seating is weather-dependent and fills fast at sunset, so get there by 5:15 if you want a table.

Monday, October 26

Charmed Custom Candles: Full Hunter’s Moon Pop-Up | 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (doors 10:55 AM) | Shine Sedona, Sanctuary for the Soul, 162 Coffee Pot Drive, Sedona | $70 per person. Design and pour your own 12.5 oz soy candle with a choice of fragrance, dried herbs, crystal chips, and charms, timed to coincide with October’s Full Hunter’s Moon, which peaks overnight. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited, so book ahead rather than walking in.

The Hunter’s Moon itself reaches peak illumination early Monday morning, so Sunday or Monday evening is your best window for moonrise viewing over the red rocks if you’d rather skip the workshop and just watch the sky.

Tuesday, October 27

Flamenco in the Courtyard | 5:30 to 7:30 PM | Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Patio de Las Campanas, Sedona | Free. Tlaquepaque’s flamenco run extends through Tuesday evenings, so this is your last chance in the cycle to catch Gaetano and friends before the weekend reset. Order dinner from El Rincon if you want to make a full evening of it.

Tuesday is otherwise a quieter day on the calendar. It’s a good one for a mid-week hike. Try the Soldier Pass Trail early in the morning for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, or head over to Jerome for a wander through its galleries and the Jerome State Historic Park.

Wednesday, October 28

Live Music with Alex Ogburn | 2:00 to 5:00 PM | DA Ranch, Cornville | Free, food and wine for purchase. A mid-week acoustic set on the vineyard lawn, a nice excuse for a weekday wine tasting outing in Cornville. Check the DA Ranch tasting room hours before you go since the lawn show runs alongside regular tasting service.

Sedona Drum and Healing Circle | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Posse Grounds Park, Sedona | Free. A weekly community drum circle open to all levels, bring your own drum or hand percussion, or just bring a chair and listen. It’s an easy, welcoming way to spend a Wednesday evening outdoors.

Thursday, October 29

Night of the Living Dead Poets 2 | 6:00 to 9:00 PM | 102 E Pima St, Cottonwood | Free. A Halloween-season poetry performance event in Old Town Cottonwood featuring local and visiting poets. Seating is casual and limited, so arrive a little before 6 if you want a seat rather than standing room.

Ribbon Cutting at the River Center | 4:00 to 9:00 PM | 4855 E Broken Saddle Dr, Cottonwood | Free. A community ribbon-cutting and open house celebrating the new River Center in Cottonwood. Good for anyone curious about new development and gathering spaces in the Verde Valley.

Happening Every Week

Coming Up Soon

Planning your week in Sedona? Bookmark this page: a fresh guide to the best events, festivals, live music, and things to do in Sedona and the Verde Valley publishes every Thursday.

Never Miss a Weekend in Sedona

Subscribe to our weekly events newsletter and get the best things to do in Sedona and the Verde Valley delivered to your inbox every Friday morning.

Subscribe to Our Weekly Events Newsletter →

Picture of thesedonascene

thesedonascene