Events & What’s Happening
Annual celebration coinciding with the peak of hummingbird migration season, featuring guided nature walks, banding demonstrations, and educational exhibits.
💡Kids are fascinated by the live hummingbird banding demonstrations — arrive early as space is limited.
One of Arizona's top juried art festivals held at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, featuring over 125 artists with painting, sculpture, and fine crafts.
💡Pick up a kids' activity sheet at the entrance; the fall red rock scenery makes this a beautiful family outing.
Week-long outdoor painting festival where artists create works on location throughout Sedona's landscape, with public viewing and art sales.
💡Kids enjoy watching artists paint in real time at trailheads and scenic overlooks; it's a great conversation starter about art and nature.
Community New Year's Eve gathering celebrating the new year with live music, food vendors, and fireworks near Sedona's famous vortex sites.
💡The early evening programming is ideal for families with young children before the late-night countdown.
Week-long film festival screening independent and international films against the backdrop of Sedona's red rocks, with workshops and filmmaker Q&As.
💡Check the schedule for family-friendly screenings; outdoor venues offer a memorable experience for older kids.
Scenic road race through Sedona's red rock country offering full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances.
💡The 5K is great for active older kids; spectating along the route is free and gives stunning views.
Annual community parade through uptown Sedona celebrating St. Patrick's Day with floats, local organizations, and festive entertainment.
💡Arrive 30 minutes early to grab a spot along the route; kids love the candy tossed from floats.
Weekly outdoor market at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village featuring local produce, artisan goods, baked goods, and prepared foods.
💡Get there early for the best selection; the shaded courtyard setting is comfortable and easy to navigate with strollers.
Weekly interactive story time at the Sedona Public Library featuring picture books, songs, and crafts designed for children ages 2–6.
💡Arrive a few minutes early to find a good spot on the rug; crafts afterward give kids a hands-on takeaway.
Free community yoga sessions held outdoors in Sedona parks surrounded by red rock views, open to all ages and skill levels.
💡A calming Sunday morning activity for families; kids 6 and up can usually follow along with encouragement.
Monthly Friday evening gallery walk through uptown Sedona where local galleries open their doors for free public viewing of rotating exhibits.
💡Many galleries welcome children; it's a low-pressure way to introduce kids to fine art in a relaxed setting.
Ranger-led Saturday morning programs at the Red Rock Visitor Center introducing children to the geology, wildlife, and ecology of the Sedona red rock region.
💡Kids can earn their official Junior Ranger badge by completing the activity booklet — a meaningful souvenir.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Bell Rock Pathway trailhead parking lot off SR-179 in the Village of Oak Creek fills completely by 8:30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings from March through May — arrive by 7:45am or you will be turned away and forced to use a remote lot with a shuttle.
- 💡Slide Rock State Park enforces a capacity limit and frequently closes its parking lot by 10am on summer weekends; the Sedona Chamber of Commerce website posts real-time park status, and you can check it the night before to plan an early arrival.
- 💡The Crescent Moon Picnic Site on Red Rock Loop Road (Red Rock Crossing) charges $11/vehicle and gives families direct access to the famous Cathedral Rock reflection in Oak Creek — it is significantly less crowded than Cathedral Rock trailhead and far better for kids who just want to wade in the creek.
- 💡Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village hosts a free Día de los Muertos celebration in early November with kid-friendly altars, face painting, and folklórico dancing — it is one of the few free cultural events in Sedona worth specifically timing a trip around.
- 💡The free Red Rock Pass is required for parking at most trailheads and costs $5/day or $15/week per vehicle — buy it at the Sedona Red Rock Visitor Center on SR-179 rather than at trailhead machines, which frequently run out of paper receipts and cause fines for families who assume they paid correctly.
- 💡West Fork Trail inside Call of the Canyon day-use area charges a separate $11/vehicle fee and requires creek crossings on stepping stones — bring water shoes for kids because the trail involves 13 crossings and sandals will soak through within the first quarter mile.
- 💡The Airport Mesa Loop Trail at sunrise offers the most photographed panoramic view of all four major Sedona vortex sites simultaneously and the upper parking lot on Airport Road is almost always empty before 7am even during peak spring season.
- 💡Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill on Rodeo Road requires reservations 3–4 weeks in advance for weekend dinner but walk-in lunch seating is almost always available on weekdays and the prix-fixe lunch menu is significantly cheaper while offering the same red rock view families come for.