I love Flagstaff in every season, but there is just something about summertime that makes our mountain town come to life. Not a day goes by where there isn’t an opportunity to get outdoors, attend a great event, and enjoy the warm days and cool nights. From Movies on the Square to the cultural festivals at the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Flagstaff summer is filled with amazing events for the whole family.
With everything that occurs during the summer, we sometimes forget to the take the extra time to enjoy ourselves and experience the many attractions in our backyard. The Arboretum at Flagstaff opened for the season this past April, and has teamed up with Arizona Game and Fish to offer wildlife programs at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday. This program features a different selection of birds, reptiles, and mammals each week, along with regularly scheduled nature walks and birding opportunities.
The Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill has a full schedule of events this summer. Flagstaff favorites such as Pickin’ in the Pines, Flagstaff Food and Wine Festival and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra are joined by Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak, Steve Martin and more. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets online, go to www.flagstaffamp.com.
With our beautiful summer weather, you re- ally can’t go wrong with any event you choose. These are just a few examples of the events that fill the calendar in Flagstaff this summer, so be sure check out the Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.flagstaffarizona.org for a complete listing. A printed version of the spring/summer calendar (April through September) is also available at the Visitor Center located in the historic train station. As the hub of activity in Northern Arizona,
Flagstaff hosts visitors from around the world who come to experience some of the West’s most beautiful landscapes. These visitors are an important component of our economic vitality, and the dollars they spend in this community benefit the quality of life for all Flagstaff residents. Nearly four million visitors come through Flagstaff every year, making tourism a $500 million industry that generates $30 million in state, county and local taxes. Many of these revenues are reinvested into our community, from creating a safe environment through fire and police services, to improving and maintain- ing our parks and open spaces.
I look forward to joining all of you in making Flagstaff a welcoming destination for visitors this summer. We are all so proud to live here and it is an honor to be able to share it with the world. If you have guests coming into town,or you just want to discover something new about Flagstaff, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center to get all the latest and greatest information. Later this summer you’ll even be able to purchase your Grand Canyon National Park entrance passes here, skipping the long lines at the park entrance.
I’ll see you out at one of our great Flagstaff events this summer! FBN
Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler was elected in 2008. Mayor Presler
teaches Constitutional Law at Coconino Community College. She writes this column as an individual and not as an official state- ment from the Flagstaff City Council.
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