What's Happening in Flagstaff: September 18-20, 2026

Good news for a September weekend in Flagstaff: the calendar is genuinely full. From a three-day bluegrass festival at Fort Tuthill to live music, theater, science, and lucha libre downtown, there is something on most nights from Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026. Here is the quick, sourced rundown, with every event pointed back to the community calendars so you can verify details before you go.

Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass Festival

The headliner of the weekend: Pickin' in the Pines, a bluegrass and acoustic music festival running Friday through Sunday, September 18 to 20, at the Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill. If you want a full day of live music under the pines, this is the one.

Verify Pickin' in the Pines details on Flagstaff365

Southwest Flow Festival

A movement and music gathering at Gateway Ranch, 77 Leupp Road, on Friday and Saturday, September 18 to 19. Flow arts, workshops, and live music in an outdoor setting east of town.

Check the Southwest Flow Festival on Flagstaff365

FlagShakes (the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival)

Live Shakespeare on stage, running from Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, October 4. It is a long festival run, so you have plenty of chances to catch a performance.

Find FlagShakes performances on Flagstaff365

Festival of Science

Flagstaff's longest-running free science festival opens later in the week, September 25 through October 4, and it is worth putting on the calendar now. The downtown Geology Rocks tour is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30.

Check the Festival of Science on the Chamber calendar

Free Music on the Square

Every Thursday evening at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, free live music on the plaza. A dependable, family-friendly way to spend an evening this time of year.

Verify Free Music on the Square on Flagstaff365

Lucha Xtreme at the Orpheum

Professional wrestling takes over the historic Orpheum Theater downtown on Friday, September 18. It is exactly the kind of unexpected evening out that makes Flagstaff fun.

Check Lucha Xtreme on Flagstaff365

More from around town this weekend

Beyond the six highlights above, the local weekend flyer and the community calendars are full of smaller events worth knowing about. This section is compiled from local sources: the Flagstaff weekend flyer, Flagstaff365, and downtownflagstaff.org. Each event lists only the details confirmed here, its source is cited with it, and no times or ticket prices beyond what is shown.

Lumberyard Okto'beer'fest

Oktoberfest-style celebration with seasonal pours at Lumberyard Brewing Co., 5 S San Francisco St, on Saturday, September 19.

Source: local weekend flyer and Copper Courier.

East Flagstaff Community Market

The community market returns to the Flagstaff Mall on Saturday, September 19.

Verify the East Flagstaff Community Market on Flagstaff365

Speed Puzzling Competition and Puzzle Swap

Put your puzzling speed to the test, then swap puzzles with neighbors at the Flagstaff-Coconino County Library on Saturday, September 19.

Source: local weekend flyer.

Flagstaff Walking Mural Tour

A walking tour of downtown Flagstaff's murals, running Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20.

Source: local weekend flyer.

Moontour at the Orpheum

Moontour plays live at the historic Orpheum Theater, 15 W Aspen Ave, on Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 PM.

Moontour listing on downtownflagstaff.org

Moontour listing on Flagstaff365

Flagstaff Farmer's Market

Fresh produce and local goods at the City Hall parking lot on Sunday, September 20.

Source: local weekend flyer.

Sunday Funday Market

The Sunday Funday Market at Saeta on Sunday, September 20.

Source: local weekend flyer.

Double Canvas Paint Night: Colorful Ring of Aspens

Paint the Colorful Ring of Aspens on two canvases at Creative Spirits on Saturday, September 19.

Find the Double Canvas Paint Night on Flagstaff365

That is the full picture of the weekend: six confirmed highlights plus eight more events from around town, all compiled from local sources and cited above.

Where this roundup comes from

Every event above is cross-checked against the two community calendars that keep this page honest: Flagstaff365 and the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce events calendar. Dates can shift, so verify on the source calendar before you head out. Most events list no times or ticket prices here; where a time was confirmed it is shown, and the calendars carry the rest.

See the full weekly What's Happening in Flagstaff page

Flagstaff365 events calendar

Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce events calendar

Past events get archived, and the roundup refreshes weekly

As each week wraps up, its events get archived and the roundup refreshes with the next week's lineup. This post is a snapshot of one weekend; the What's Happening in Flagstaff page is the living version that keeps rolling forward. Bookmark it, and if you are looking for something specific, Mike will gladly point you at the right calendar.

Bookmark the What's Happening in Flagstaff page

Browse the Flagstaff neighborhood guides where this weekend happens

Read all the guide posts on the Ask Flagstaff blog

That is your honest look at the weekend. Whether you are new in town or just looking for a reason to get out, Flagstaff keeps the calendar full, and the events are a great way to feel at home fast. Have something coming up that should be on the list? Send it to Mike and it goes on the board to verify next week.

Ask Mike a Flagstaff question