Where Art and History Meet

With its start back in 1959, the Tubac (Arizona) Festival of the Arts is the longest running event of its kind in the Southwest.

As we approached the entrance to one of the many parking lots around town, we wondered how many times the town's
population of 1,200 would be multiplied over the course of the four-day event in early February.

The town of Tubac features over 100 eclectic shops and world class galleries situated along meandering streets punctuated by hidden courtyards and sparkling fountains. Two of the local shops are shown below.




Complementing the local artisan shops are nearly 200 booths of visiting artists.



This is the major event of the year for Tubac and showcases the work of hundreds of visiting artists, craft persons and musicians from around the country and Canada. While the show is juried for quality, it is not pretentious. Serious works, (such as these two photos of framed pieces featuring painted scenes on glass with natural flowers and twigs sealed between the two pieces of glass)


























share the street with whimsical sculptures (such as these metal flowers

and roadrunners made from scraps).


Booths selling homemade sauces and dressings (below)

and others selling salsas, preserves, and soaps were interspersed among the booths of photograpers, craftsmen, and artists.

Various colored "taxis" provide the means for quick access to areas of the town.


A juried show, the Tubac Festival of the Arts features artists from around the country. The festival features a range of artwork from fine painting and sculpture to fun and functional ceramics, skillfully crafted wood and leatherworks and shimmering glass. Visitors will also see photography, unique jewelry, artful clothing and mixed media works.





There were more booths to visit--but there were also restaurants to check out.