The best music festivals in Arizona
Music festivals in Arizona span from country to electronic to bluegrass and mixed genres for all audiences. These are the 30 best of them all.
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The oldest, biggest and best music festivals in Arizona
Pinal County Annual Agri-Country Bluegrass Festival
Where: Casa Grande
When: January 24-26, 2020
Genre(s): Bluegrass
Official website
Casa Grande’s Pinal County Fairgrounds plays host to this annual bluegrass festival, featuring national, local and regional bluegrass bands. You can camp all weekend (or better yet, stay take advantage of RV camping) and the event includes arts and crafts, quilts, food, vendors and a car show.
Gem and Jam Festival
Where: Tucson, AZ
When: January 31 – February 2, 2020
Genre(s): Jam and electronic music
Official website
Gem and Jam Festival runs every year during Tucson’s Gem, Mineral and Fossil showcase to make it a unique weekend for visitors. The festival focuses on prominent international and national jam and electronic music artists, and adds in dance, visual arts and workshops. Car camping and RV camping is available on-site.
Crush Arizona
Where: Chandler, AZ
When: February 14, 2020
Music: Electronic
Official website
2019 was Crush Arizona’s 10th anniversary. It is an annual two-day, 18+ electronic music event held at Rawhide in Chandler.
Arizona Roots Festival
Where: Chandler, AZ
When: February 22-23, 2020
Genre(s): Reggae, rock
Official website
Arizona Roots Festival is a reggae-rock festival celebrating the reggae and roots music and culture. Arizona Roots premiered in Chandler in 2019 and quickly announced 2020 dates following a successful event. It is produced by the same producers of California Roots Music & Artist Festival (running for 10 years).
Innings Festival
Where: Tempe, AZ
When: February 29 – March 1, 2020 (will be February 27-28, 2021)
Genre(s): Rock, pop (and baseball)
Official website
Innings Festival is a beautiful convergence of music and baseball, which is why it’s perfectly suited for spring training in Arizona. There are multiple stages with headliners like Weezer and Dave Matthews Band, and baseball activities throughout the festival (batting, catching, pitching, etc.). See the 2020 Innings Festival review and photo gallery here.
Check out the detailed guide here:
McDowell Mountain Music Fest (M3F)
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: March 6-8, 2020
Official website
McDowell Mountain Music Fest (aka M3F) is a three-day event with acts from all genres and is dedicated to community, culture and charity, running in downtown Phoenix for over 15 years. It has a lineup of huge international artists, live art, yoga, drum circles, food trucks, beer by Oskar Blues and a curated market. The festival benefits local charities, including the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Bluegrass on the Beach
Where: Lake Havasu City
When: March 6-8, 2020
Music: Bluegrass
Official website
Three full days of bluegrass hit Lake Havasu City annually on the first weekend of March. The performances sit on the shoreline of the lake and continue to make the festival a must-see for bluegrass fans.
Ostrich Festival
Where: Chandler
When: March 13-15, 2020
Official website
Ostrich Festival has long been a spring staple in Arizona, with 2020 being its 32nd year. It takes place at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. This year’s line-up is headlined by 98°, the Pointer Sisters and Blues Traveler.
Tucson Folk Festival
Where: Tucson, AZ
When: April 3-5, 2020
Music: Folk
Official website
The Tucson Folk Festival has been running for 35 years. They bring in national headliners and newer performers, celebrating folk music and helping people learn what it is.
Chandler Jazz Festival
Where: Chandler, AZ
When: April 3-4, 2020
Music: Jazz
Official website
Chandler Jazz Festival is an annual two-day event celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month. It is held in downtown Chandler and features all types of jazz, from traditional and fusion rhythm to smooth jazz.
Country Thunder
Where: Florence, AZ
When: April 16-19, 2020
Music: Country
Official website
Country Thunder runs six country music festivals in the US and Canada, and is one of the largest in Arizona, running since 1996. The weekend-long event has hosted some of the biggest names in country, from Garth Brooks to Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift. The large campgrounds make for a festival that’s more than the music and most people bring an RV or camp, though there are glamping options now too!
Wet Electric
Where: Tempe, AZ
When: April 25, 2020
Official website
Wet Electric is an electronic music festival meets pool party event held at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe, Arizona. 2019’s lineup included artists RL Grime and Benny Benassi.
FORM Acrosanti
Where: Acrosanti, AZ
When: May 10-12, 2019 (not scheduled for 2020)
Genre(s): Mixed; electronic, rock
Official website
NOTE: FORM IS SKIPPING 2020 TO PLAN FOR BETTER EXECUTION IN 2021. FORM is a festival for a very specific type of music lover. Acrosanti is an “urban laboratory,” testing an urban planning concept, and FORM is a reimagination of a festival. Participation is limited to 2000 people, meaning the performances are small and no sets overlap. In addition to the music, the creative retreat infuses art, ideas, architecture, nature and wellness into the community of participants.
Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival
Where: Flagstaff, AZ
When: June 12-13, 2020
Genre(s): Blues
Official website
Flagstaff Blues and Brews is the state’s largest blues festival, held up in Flagstaff’s high altitude to cool down in the summer. In addition to blues over the multi-day festival, they have select craft brews and wine. The temperate weather allows for enjoying the park atmosphere with cornhole and other lawn games. And it’s not just beer, there are wine and food options, along with arts and crafts vendors.
White Mountain Beer & Music Festival
Where: Pinetop, AZ
When: June 13, 2020
Genre(s):
Official website
White Mountain Beer & Music Festival is another option for getting out of the Phoenix heat. This 21+, one-day event is put on by the Pinetop Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, with music all day, beer and spirits tasting and food on the grill.
Flagstaff Folk Festival
Where: Flagstaff, AZ
When: June 20-21, 2020
Genre(s): Folk and acoustic
Official website
The Flagstaff Folk Festival features over 150 acts across five stages, plus workshops and jams, and has been running since 2002. It’s a super-affordable event at just $5 per person per day! There is a small amount of camping spaces allotted (none for RVs).
HOCO Fest
Where: Tucson, AZ
When: September 4-6, 2020
Genre(s): Mixed
Official website
HOCO Fest is an annual festival at the historic Hotel Congress in Tucson. Beyond the music at the festival, HOCO has art installations, workshops, pool parties, lectures, experimental after-parties and tastings (Tucson is the US’s first city named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy). Hotel Congress is the hub of the festival’s activities, but it is sprinkled across multiple venues in the city.
Goldrush Music Festival
Where: Chandler, AZ
When: September 27-28, 2019 (2020 TBA)
Genre(s): Electronic music
Official website
Goldrush is Arizona’s fall electronic festival, held in Chandler at Rawhide. Check out photos from previous events here. They have a diverse lineup and even offer public meet-and-greets with artists.
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Prescott Folk Music Festival
Where: Prescott, AZ
When: October 3-4, 2020
Genre(s): Folk
Official website
Prescott’s annual Folk Music Festival is the longest-running folk music festival in the state (it has been running for over 40 years!). There are 100+ performers on four stages over two days, plus workshops for attendees who are also musicians.
Oro Valley Music Festival (canceled 2019)
Where: Tucson, AZ
When: October 13-14, 2018 (canceled for 2019)
Genre(s): Mixed
Official website
Oro Valley Music Festival has run for four years as the largest music festival in Southern Arizona. The organizers canceled the 2019 event to “regroup” to put on a better event in 2020 (dates TBA).
Arizona State Fair
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: October 2-25, 2020
Official website
The Arizona State Fair is the near month-long fair for the state, held annually at Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. While it’s primarily the fair, it pulls in some great acts throughout the month.
Dusk Music Festival
Where: Tucson, AZ
When: November 14-15, 2020
Genre(s): Electronic and dance
Official website
The festival also includes experience areas of Tucson FEASTS (supported by Tucson’s strong food scene), Tucson ARTS (art, sculptures, digital arts), Tucson PLAYS (game area) and Tucson SHOPS (local, regional and national artisans).
Bluegrass Festival and Fiddle Championship
Where: Wickenburg, AZ
When: November 13-15, 2020
Genre(s): Bluegrass
Official website
Wickenburg has played host to its annual Bluegrass Festival for 40 years, one of the oldest bluegrass festivals in the country. In addition to the scheduled performances, the event has a fiddle championship, arts and crafts vendors, and more to do over the three-day program. Camping and RV camping is available on-site.
Decadence Arizona
Where: Chandler, AZ
When: December 30-31, 2020
Genre(s): Electronic
Official website
Decadence is the music festival to end the year on (literally, it’s on New Year’s Eve).
Other music festivals and events in Arizona
Fountain Hills Music Festival is an annual music and community celebration in Fountain Hills, to have an evening of music and fun before the summer heats up (April 4, 2020 Fountain Hills, AZ). Official website.
High Mountain Music Festival is an open-air music and tasting event in Pinetop (and a good way to escape the heat in Phoenix). It is put on by the chamber of commerce and features a musical lineup, craft beer garden, food and vendors and local AZ breweries and distilleries (June 17, 2019; Pinetop, AZ). Official website.
Kingman has started a new country festival with Route 66 Country Music Street Fair. This fair is a two-day event with country music, crafts, retail vendors, food and drinks (September 21-22, 2019; Kingman, AZ). Official website.
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Founder of How Dare She, Jessica is on a mission to visit every country in the world, and bring you along with through photos, video and stories. 6 continents and 104 countries in. She has a BA in journalism and Master's in innovation and change, but her real skill is plugging in a USB in 2 or less tries (most of the time). She believes daring isn't about being fearless, but choosing to opt in, in spite of fear. She dares to see, taste, experience and meet the world as she goes.
