EXPERIENCE ARIZONA

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

NEW YEAR, NEW LOCATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHING ARIZONA IN 2003

Every year Friends of Arizona Highways offers numerous photography workshops in Arizona and bordering states. Led by Arizona Highways magazine photographers such as Jack Dykinga, David Muench, Gary Ladd, Marc Muench and more, workshop participants receive special instruction while surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth.

Back on the schedule in 2003 will be favorite workshop locales such as Hunt's Mesa, Monument Valley/Canyon de Chelly and the slot canyons. Next year also boasts several new workshops that shouldn't be missed, including trips to the waterfalls of Havasupai, Sedona and the Chiricahua Mountains, and a digital photography workshop at the Grand Canyon.

For more information and a free workshop brochure, please contact the Friends of Arizona Highways at (602) 712-2004 or toll-free at (888) 790-7042. You can also visit our Web site at www.friendsofazhighways.com.

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

January 18 Arizona School of Photography

February 7-11 Portraits of the Southwest

March 10-16 Death Valley

CELTIC CELEBRATION

November 1-2; Tucson Although bagpipes remind us of the craggy Scottish highlands, the instrument's ancient predecessors droned across Europe and western Asia as early as the first century B.C. The oldest surviving Scottish bagpipes date from A.D. 1409.

Enjoy bagpiping at its best at the 16th Annual Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games. Other festival favorites include dancing and traditional food from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as athletic competitions, military re-enactments and sheepdog demonstrations. Information: (520) 888-1058.

IMAGES OF DEVOTION

November 2-December 30; Prescott In the 19th-century Hispanic Southwest, the religious imagery of saints and other holy personages showed up in small, vivid oil paintings on tin. Thousands of the anonymous paintings, called retablos, were created and collected in rural areas, primarily in central Mexico. Retablos fell out of fashion with the advent of color lithography at the beginning of the 20th century. Today they exist primarily in private and museum collections.

Visit the Phippen Museum to view stunning works in the traveling exhibit Mexican Folk Retablos: Images of Devotion, sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Information: (928) 778-1385. November 23; Florence Rodeos began as informal competitions among working cowboys to demonstrate their skills. In 1884, the mountain town of Payson held its first formal rodeo, considered the world's oldest continuous rodeo. Not until 1932 did Arizona kids get to compete when Florence started what would be the world's oldest continuous junior rodeo.

JUNIOR RODEO

Get an eyeful of cowboys and cowgirls, ages 5 to 18, at the 70th Annual Florence Junior Parada at the Charles Whitlow Rodeo Arena. Events include barrel and pole racing, bull-doggin' and calf roping. Information: (520) 868-9433.

EVERGREEN TRADITIONS

November 29-December 8; Winslow Freshly cut pine trees and bright baubleswhatever it's dressed with, the Christmas tree delights young and old. But it wasn't always like that. Starting with evergreen trees trimmed with decorations and lights to represent Eden's Tree of Paradise in German mystery plays, Christmas trees first made their way into homes in early 17th-century France. In 1841, a Christmas tree made its first appearance in Great Britain's royal court. From there, the tradition spread across the ocean to America. View dozens of decorated Christmas trees at the 5th Annual Festival of Trees at the La Posada Hotel. On the last day of display, live holiday music and refreshments spice up a silent charity auction of the trees and holiday crafts. Information: (928) 289-4366.

Other Events Harvest Festival; November 1-3; Tucson; toll-free (800) 321-1213. Arts and crafts, food and live entertainment. Thunderbird Balloon Classic; November 1-3; Scottsdale; (602) 978-7797. Evening balloon glow, live entertainment, arts and crafts, children's activities. Miniature Exhibition and Silent Auction; November 6-15; Sedona; (928) 282-3809. A show of miniatures concluding with a silent auction. Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts; November 8-10; Fountain Hills; (480) 837-1654. Arts and crafts, food. Bluegrass Festival and Fiddle Championship; November 8-10; Wickenburg; (928) 684-5479. Concerts, arts and crafts, children's activities. Arboretum Folk Festival; November 9; Superior; (520) 689-2811 or (520) 689-2723. Featuring Arizona musicians. Holiday Craft Market; November 22-24; Tucson; (520) 624-2333. Juried artworks of all kinds. Historic Home Tour; November 30-December 1; Bisbee; (520) 432-5421 or toll-free (888) 2BISBEE. An up-close look at Bisbee's historic district.