February

Sedona boasts a rich selection of outdoor festivals throughout the year. Serious runners converge the first week of February for the Sedona Marathon (800/775-7671, www.sedonamarathon.com). Unlike big-city races, the challenging run wends part of its course onto dirt roads in West Sedona, offering spectacular views and a few wildlife sightings. The full- and half-marathon runs, as well as the more manageable 5K option, are open to runners of all levels.

Around the last week of February, the Sedona International Film Festival (2081 W. Hwy. 89A, 928/282-1177, www.sedonafilmfestival.com) presents more than 100 movies from around the world, including big-budget features, documentaries, shorts, and student films. Some have even gone on to earn Academy Award nominations. The screenings are open to the public, with directors, producers, and stars frequently in attendance.

August–September

The Red Rock Music Festival (877/733-7257, www.redrocksmusicfestival.com) in late August and early September attracts classical musical lovers for a vibrant showcase of chamber and orchestral music, as well as shows by flamenco and Native American performers. Concerts and events are held at venues throughout Sedona.

For fans of bebop, swing, and soul, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks (928/282-0590, www.sedonajazz.com) in late September showcases live outdoor performances of jazz classics under the red rocks. Call or visit the website for locations and events.

October

In early October, look for the sea of white tents in West Sedona. The Sedona Arts Festival (995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd., 928/204-9456, www.sedonaartsfestival.org) assembles more than 100 artists for a showcase of contemporary paintings and sculpture, colorful jewelry, and works by Native American artists and craftspeople. Children can create their own masterpieces from paint, glitter, beads, and feathers in the Kid Zone.

Sedona’s residents know how to live the good life, and the Luxury Home & Classic Car Tour (928/284-3034, www.azopera.com) in mid-October offers a peek into some of the area’s most lavish homes. Tour the beautifully designed residences and survey the mint-condition vintage autos during the weekend-long event. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Opera League of Northern Arizona.

The Sedona Plein Air Festival (928/282-3809, www.sedonapleinairfestival.com) in late October attracts about 30 painters from around the country to create art “in the open air,” a technique made famous by the French Impressionists. The weeklong event—at trailheads, creeks, and parks throughout town—includes demonstrations and workshops for painters hoping to develop their technical abilities, as well art lovers who would like a behind-the-scenes peek.

November–December

When the weather turns chilly in late November, more than a million lights go up at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa for the Red Rock Fantasy (1090 W. Hwy. 89A, 928/282-1777, www.redrockfantasy.com). Participants compete by creating traditional and quirky nighttime displays that twinkle through the holiday season.

And to see a unique Southwestern holiday tradition, visit Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village for the Festival of Lights (336 Hwy. 179, 928/282-4838, www.tlaq.com) in mid-December. Some 6,000 glowing luminarias—small paper bags filled with sand and a single lit candle—flicker in the charming shopping complex.

© Jeff Ficker from Moon Phoenix, Scottsdale & Sedona, 1st edition