We love Tucson. Even in the summer. But let’s face it: It can be nice to get out of town every once in a while. Here are 10 things to do outside the Old Pueblo area:
Go South:
1 Bisbee After 5 happens every second Saturday. More than 30 galleries in this art-centric town keep their doors open until 8 p.m. bisbeeafter5.com
2 Bisbee Pride is one of our favorite summer celebrations. It includes a lingerie pub crawl, street dancing and wildly entertaining entertainment. July 17-19. bisbeepride.com
3 Spend the fourth of July in Bisbee and you won’t be bored: There are Coaster Races down Tombstone Canyon, the Mucking and Hard-Rock-Drilling competition in Brewery Gulch, a parade and, natch, fireworks. 1-520-432-3554.
4 Harvestfest at Sonoita Vineyards is a fine time to sample the signature wines, tour the vineyards, and test your grape-stomping skills in a competition. It’s July 30. sonoitavineyards.com
5 Bisbee Pirates of the High Desert — we aren’t sure what they do other than dress up like pirates, but it sure sounds like an arghh-good time — is Aug. 12-14; on Facebook.
Go North:
6 Cool off in the pines of the White Mountains during the 13th Annual Show Low Days, where you’ll find an arts fest, derby races, car shows, music —there’s plenty of fun in store. June 3-5. showlowdays.com
7 Made in the Shade beer-tasting festival at Flagstaff’s Pepsi Amphitheatre will feature 61 breweries offering tastes of the cool stuff. It’s June 11. On Facebook.
8 The summer solstice is celebrated with music (Taj Mahal is on the bill this year) and wine and beer tastings at Cottonwood’s Tilted Earth Festival, June 16-18. tiltedearthfestival.com
9 The blues will be wafting over the San Francisco Peaks and across town at the Flagstaff Blues and Brews on June 18. flagstaffblues.com
10 Weight lifting! Bagpipes! Tug o’ War! You’ll find all that and more at the Arizona Highland Celtic Festival in Flagstaff’s Foxglenn Park, July 16-17. nachs.info/festival.shtml
