Overlanders, Deadheads, and Art Nerds: Flagstaff's May Is Stacked

May in Flagstaff is when the town flips the switch. Winter's done, the trails are clear, and suddenly every weekend has something going on that's worth rearranging your schedule for. This month brings the world's biggest overlanding event, a three-day jam band campout in the pines, a city-wide art takeover, and a bunch of free stuff at Heritage Square. Here are six reasons to get up here.

1. Overland Expo West at Fort Tuthill

Crowds walking through vendor booths at Overland Expo West in Fort Tuthill — 400+ exhibitors, 175+ classes, and enough gear to empty your wallet twice (Photo: Overland Expo)

Rivian R1T with rooftop tent and topo wrap at Overland Expo West — This kitted-out Rivian R1T was one of many show-stopping builds on display (Photo: Steve Sasman)

If you've ever looked at your rig and thought "I should take that thing somewhere ridiculous," this is your weekend. Overland Expo West (May 15–17) is the world's premier overlanding and adventure travel event, and it happens right here at Fort Tuthill County Park. We're talking 400+ exhibitors, 175+ classes, 4WD training, adventure motorcycle courses, the Overland Film Festival, and enough gear demos to empty your wallet twice over.

Custom military 6x6 overland build with rooftop tent at Overland Expo West — The rigs at Overland Expo range from mild to absolutely unhinged (Photo: Steve Sasman)

Kids 14 and under get in free, and there's on-site camping for 1,000 units plus overflow dry camping in the adjacent national forest. Free shuttles run to local hotels if you're not the camping type.

When: May 15–17, 2026 (Fri–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 9 AM–3 PM)
Where: Fort Tuthill County Park
Cost: Day passes available; kids 14 & under free
Get tickets →

2. Grateful Festival — Memorial Day Weekend

Musicians performing outdoors at the Grateful Festival in Flagstaff — Three days of jam bands in the pines at Fort Tuthill's Pepsi Amphitheater (Photo: Grateful Festival)

Memorial Day weekend brings the Grateful Festival to Fort Tuthill's Pepsi Amphitheater — a three-day campout music festival surrounded by ponderosa pines at 7,000 feet. Two stages feature Grateful Dead tribute bands and jam acts from afternoon into night. It's the kind of weekend where you set up camp, crack a beer, and let the music handle the rest.

Kids 12 and under are free, parking is free, and you get free daytime re-entry — so you can hit the trails in the morning and be back in time for the evening sets.

When: May 23–25, 2026 (Memorial Day weekend)
Where: Pepsi Amphitheater, Fort Tuthill County Park
Cost: Tickets vary; kids 12 & under free
Festival details →

3. ARTx Festival & First Friday ArtWalk

ARTx Festival scenes from downtown Flagstaff with galleries and live art — ARTx takes over downtown for three days — kicking off with the May First Friday ArtWalk (Photo: Downtown Flagstaff)

May kicks off with a bang. ARTx: Art + Ideas (May 1–3) is a multi-day, multi-disciplinary arts festival featuring performances, exhibitions, installations, and conversations across downtown. It's a biennial event backed by $125K in city funding, and 2026 is the year. The whole thing launches on First Friday ArtWalk (May 1, 5–9 PM), so you get the galleries, live music, and street vibe all in one shot.

Even if you miss opening weekend, First Friday happens every month — but the May edition with ARTx layered on top is something special.

When: May 1–3, 2026 (ArtWalk: May 1, 5–9 PM)
Where: Downtown Flagstaff
Cost: Free
ARTx details →

4. Science Scavenger Hunt

Family examining specimens at Flagstaff Science in the Park — Science in the Park brings hands-on discovery to Wheeler Park (Photo: Steve Smith / Flagstaff Festival of Science)

On May 2, the Flagstaff Festival of Science puts on a city-wide scavenger hunt that sends teams across Flagstaff following creatively designed clues to discover scientific wonders hidden in plain sight. It's family-friendly, free, and a great excuse to explore parts of town you'd normally blow right past. Teams can be any size, and the clues are designed so kids and adults both stay engaged.

Flagstaff is home to Lowell Observatory, the USGS, and NAU's research labs — so the science cred here is real. This is one of those under-the-radar events that locals love.

When: May 2, 2026
Where: City-wide (check-in location TBA)
Cost: Free
Event details →

5. Movies on the Square

Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff where Movies on the Square is held — Heritage Square turns into an outdoor movie theater every Saturday evening, May through July (Photo: Downtown Flagstaff)

Movies on the Square kicks off in May and runs every Saturday evening through July at Heritage Square. Festivities start at 5 PM with music and family activities, and once the sun drops behind the peaks, the movie rolls. Bring a blanket, grab food from one of the downtown spots, and park it on the grass. It's free, it's chill, and it's one of those Flagstaff traditions that makes you wonder why every town doesn't do this.

When: Every Saturday, May – July (movie starts after dark)
Where: Heritage Square, downtown Flagstaff
Cost: Free
Schedule →

6. Farmers Market Opens for the Season

Vendors with fresh produce at the Flagstaff Community Farmers Market — The Sunday market returns to City Hall with fresh produce, baked goods, and local vendors (Photo: Flagstaff Community Market)

The Flagstaff Community Farmers Market kicks off its 2026 season the first Sunday in May and runs every Sunday through mid-October, 8 AM to 1 PM at the City Hall parking lot downtown. Expect fresh regional produce, prepared foods, local honey, breads, flowers, and handmade goods from Northern Arizona vendors.

Pro tip: get there by 9 if you want the good stuff. The baked goods and specialty items go fast. And leave the dog at home — no pets allowed.

When: Every Sunday, May 3 – October 18, 8 AM – 1 PM
Where: City Hall Parking Lot, downtown Flagstaff
Cost: Free to browse
Market info →

Your Flagstaff Home Base

Six reasons, one home base. Our Flagstaff cabins and vacation rentals put you minutes from downtown, the trails, and Fort Tuthill — with the Overland Expo, Grateful Festival, and all the weekend action within easy reach. Check availability and lock in your May dates before the summer rush hits.