EXPERIENCE ARIZONA

experience. arizona Festivals, powwows and get-togethers / by CARRIE M. MINER

FALL COLOR AND THE OLD WEST Join Richard Maack, the photo editor of Arizona Highways magazine, as he leads a Friends of Arizona Highways Photo Workshop, November 3-7, 2001 through southern Arizona. Explore the picturesque mining towns, missions, abandoned military forts and homesteads found throughout this historic region. Journey across the Chiricahua Mountains where photo opportunities abound among the craggy-barked alligator juniper, golden cottonwood, oak and sycamore trees. Photograph the glorious bursts of red maple trees that accent the forest near Portal. For more information about this workshop and a schedule of the Friends of Arizona Highways Photo Workshops, contact them at (602) 712-2004, tollfree at (888) 790-7042 or visit their Web site: www.friendsofazhighways.com.

OCTOBER WORKSHOPS

Oct. 2-6 High Country Adventure with J. Peter Mortimer Oct. 3-7 Monument Valley/Canyon de Chelly with Jeff Kida

Oct. 15-19 Best of the West with J. Peter Mortimer

Oct. 18-22 Navajoland with Jay Dusard

Oct. 31-Nov. 4 Navajo Country with LeRoy DeJolie

Arizona Highways Photography Exhibits CELEBRATING NATIVE CULTURES

Photographs by Jerry Jacka Through October 5 Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff (928) 774-5213

CELEBRATING OUR LAND, OUR PEOPLE

Photographs by Arizona Highways contributors November 4-January 3, 2002 Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon (520) 638-2489 CLOWNING AROUND August 4; Scottsdale Humor is the tool used by buffoons, clowns and jesters. Most clowns fall into one of four basic categories — the whiteface of the 18th century; the auguste, who wear oversized shoes, a bulbous red nose, rainbow-colored wigs and baggy clothes; the character clown, who exaggerates human features; and the new vaudeville, lone performers who have turned away from traditional clowning. The auguste clown, most familiar to American audiences, came about in 1864, when American performer Tom Belling was goofing around with a new comic identity backstage. The circus owner pushed him into the ring by mistake and Belling tripped over his coattails, and fell flat on his face. The audience reacted by shouting, “August!” German slang for a bumbling fool, and a new style was born. Clowns of every category celebrate National Clown Week at Rawhide's 8th annual Bring in the Clowns festival of skits, face-painting, balloon-sculpting and a parade. Information: (480) 502-1880.

HOME ON THE RANGE August 16-18; Prescott The American cowboy, the most popular symbol of the Old West, has been idealized on canvas, glamorized on the silver screen and immortalized in dime novels. But the working cowboy knows the true tales. Told in the tradition of ballads and poems, the stories of cowboys address the gritty realities of trail drives and the range. The 14th annual Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering at the Sharlot Hall Museum features traditional and contemporary cowboy poetry, old-time storytelling and cowboy yodeling composed and performed by working cowboys from the Western states. Information: (928) 445-3122.

LOCAL LIBATIONS August 4-5; Elgin In 1979 Dr. Gordon R. Dutt, a science professor from the University of Arizona, planted an experimental crop of vinifera grapes near Sonoita in the southern part of the state as part of the Arizona Winery and Research Program. The soil, climate and precipitation proved perfect for abundant crops, and in 1983 Dutt established Sonoita Vineyards, one of nine wineries operating in Arizona today.

At Sonoita Vineyards' August Fest, oenophiles can sample the vineyard's varietal and proprietary wines, enjoy gourmet fare, take tours of the vineyard, chat with winemasters and even take a turn stomping the grapes. Information: (520) 455-5893.

FEATHERED FANCY August 8-11; Sierra Vista The lush riparian canyons and grasslands of southeastern Arizona host more than 350 species of birds, making the area a worldrenowned hot spot for bird-watching. Some of the species, migrating north from Mexico, can't be found anywhere else in the United States, including the violet-crowned hummingbird, Mexican chickadee and the elegant trogonan exotic tropical bird sporti a scarlet belly, emerald-green crown and flared copper tail. Sierra Vista, known as the Hummingbird Capital of the United States, sees 17 different species of hummingbirds each year, more than anywhere else in the country. At the 10th annual Southwest Wings Birding Festival birders can take field trips, attend lectures and peruse educational exhibits. Information: (520) 378-0233; toll-free (800) 946-4777.

Other Events

16th Annual Eagar Daze; August 3-4; Eagar; (928) 3331639. Live entertainment, arts and crafts and games.

Flagstaff Summerfest; August 3-5; Flagstaff; (928) 9685353. Juried artwork, live entertainment, and arts and crafts.

1950s-60s Night; August 4; Yarnell; (928) 427-6582. Bubble gum-blowing, and hula hoop contests, car show and dance.

Peach Mania Festival; August 4-5, 11-12; Willcox; (520) 3842084. U-pick peaches, pancake breakfast, hayride and crafts.

Vigilante Days; August 10-12; Tombstone; (520) 457-9317. Gunfight re-enactments, 10K run and chili cook-off.

White Mountain Bluegrass Music Festival; August 11-12; Pinetop-Lakeside; (928) 367-4290. Bluegrass bands, jam sessions and arts and crafts.

Norteño Music Festival and Street Fair; August 24-25; Tucson; (520) 622-2801. Arts and crafts, food and music featuring the button accordion and bajo sexto.

Native American Arts Auction; August 25; Ganado; (928) 755-3475. Baskets, kachina dolls, pottery and jewelry at the Hubbell Trading Post.