The Annual Patagonia Fall Festival
The Best Not-So-Little Art and Music Festival in SE Arizona – Oct. 10, 11, 12
Experience the 26th Annual Patagonia Fall Festival This Weekend!
Get ready for three great days of live music, entertainment and over 100 fine arts, crafts and diverse food booths in Patagonia as this quaint, historic Arizona town heralds the arrival of autumn with a celebration of music and art.
Now in its 26th year, this free festival now attracts more than 15,000 visitors to the spacious tree-shaded park in the center of town for relaxed and cheerful browsing and shopping along the art-studded esplanade in what is, traditionally, near perfect weather.
The Festival’s exhibitors are invited by juried vote to present the most unique and exceptionally high quality art and crafts, produced with the utmost care, creativity and craftsmanship.
Beneath the white canopies you’ll find exquisite custom and mixed media jewelry, stoneware, pottery, tin cut luminaries, unique bird feeders, folk and contemporary collectibles, metal sculpture, Native American jewelry, blown glass, stained glass, Western hats and neon tie-dyes, stunning photography and floral design, beads and fetishes, custom furniture and furnishings, one-of-a-kind chimes, musical instruments and much, much more.
Entertainment includes:
• the Sugar Beats from Bisbee (Friday, 11:30-1 pm), a dynamic group of women whose vocal artistry covers many different genres and eras of music;
• the 62nd Army Band from Fort Huachuca (Friday, 1:30-4 pm), whose musical styles include jazz and fusion, New Orleans revival, rock, pop and classical;
• Lulu LaFever (Saturday, 10 am-noon) sings soulful roadhouse. Award-winning songwriter and Grammy member, Lulu, has opened for Willie Nelson and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy over the course of 20 years of fun, fabulous touring;
• Trio Perla Negra with Julio Figueroa (Saturday, 12:30-1:30 pm) features traditional Mexican music with guitar, bass and requinto, performed by musicians from Sonora Norte and Cananea;
• Baba Marimba (Saturday, 2-4 pm) is a world music band based in Tucson that plays African, Middle Eastern, Cuban, Brazilian, World Beat and originals that get people jumping out of their seats to dance along to their musical rhythm and harmonic magic;
• Buffelgrass (Sunday, 11 am-noon) brings together an exciting blend of 3-part vocal harmonies with outstanding instrumental players who present a unique blend of traditional and progressive acoustic music;
• Gertie ‘N the T.O. Boyz (Sunday, 12:30-2:30 pm) are a waila band from the Tohono O’odham Reservation. Gertie is the only female of the T.O. Nation to lead a waila band and she leads her Boyz through European and Mexican tunes in styles that include the polka, schottische and mazurka;
• The Improbables (Sunday, 3-4 pm) are five guys from diverse backgrounds who, as improbable as it may seem, found each other’s musical talent so compatible, they’ve been playing top-40 hits and lesser-known treasures of hard and classic rock for years now.
Additionally, a silent auction of art donated by the exhibitors is held during the festival with auction items prominently displayed for bidding at the information center. Silent auction proceeds benefit the Patagonia Park Preservation Fund.
Patagonia Fall Festival visitors are sure to satisfy their food hankerings with Zuni Indian tacos, roasted corn, Apache burgers, Texas Twisters, Thai BBQ, Zoë’s gyros and pitas, Hungary’s Polish sausage, Cold Stone ice cream, Sam’s fry bread, Kountry Kitchen Kettle Korn, Dragoon’s specialty sandwiches and desserts, Bing’s baked goods, Mutt’s dogs, AZ Pump & Well’s ribs, Patagonia Volunteer Fire Department’s burger grill, and fresh veggie fare from Sparky’s Cantina. The Beer & Wine Garden features wines from Arizona Stronghold and Page Springs Cellars and Budweiser beer at the KPUP radio stand.
Festival hours are 11am – 5 pm Friday, Oct. 10th, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday, Oct. 11th and 10 am – 4 pm Sunday, October 12th.
Admission, parking and entertainment are free to the public and the park is wheelchair accessible.
Patagonia Town Park is located on Arizona’s Scenic Route 82 between Sonoita and Nogales, approximately one hour from Tucson and three hours from Phoenix.
For more information and full list of exhibitors and booth locations, visit the festival website at www.patagoniafallfestival.com.
And don’t miss our NEW Mountain Empire page, featuring Patagonia, Elgin and Sonoita!