Balloons, First Chair, and a 100th Birthday: Flagstaff's November Lineup
November is the sleeper month up here. The aspens are done, the leaf-peeper traffic is gone, and the Peaks already have their first coat of white. Then the calendar gets weird in the best way: Route 66 turns 100 on the 11th, hot air balloons fill the sky over Lake Powell, Sedona's mountain bike festival takes over Posse Grounds, and Snowbowl is counting down to opening day. Quieter town, crisp air, a fire going at night. Here's what's worth planning around.
1. Día de los Muertos at Tlaquepaque
Start the month down the hill. Tlaquepaque fills its courtyards with large-scale altars, ofrendas, papel picado, and calacas, plus live music and traditional dance all afternoon. It's a Sunday, so make it a slow Oak Creek Canyon drive down and a red rock dinner before heading back up to the pines.
When: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 11 AM to 5 PM
Where: Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, 336 SR 179, Sedona (about 45 minutes from Flagstaff)
Tlaquepaque Day of the Dead → · Visit Sedona listing →
2. Page, AZ Balloon Regatta
23rd year. Dozens of balloons launch every morning from Lake Powell National Golf Course, and you can watch from the course or any of Page's public parks. The big one is Saturday night's Balloon Glow, when tethered balloons line Lake Powell Blvd and light up the street. It's free and open to the public. The Chamber's street fair runs Friday and Saturday on Elm Street with food, vendors, a beer garden, and live music. Page is roughly 2.5 hours north, so either leave very early for a launch or make it an overnight and catch Horseshoe Bend while you're there.
When: November 5 to 8, 2026 (morning launches daily at 7:30 AM; Balloon Glow Saturday, November 7, 6:30 to 8 PM)
Where: Lake Powell National Golf Course and S. Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ
City of Page announcement → · 2026 schedule →
3. Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
Same red singletrack, new season. The festival has shifted to fall for prime riding conditions: bike demos, shuttled rides, skills clinics, 90+ vendors, food trucks, bands, and a beer garden at Posse Grounds Park. Ride Sedona all day, then come back up the hill and sleep where it's cool. Your legs will thank you.
When: November 6 to 8, 2026, 8 AM to 6 PM
Where: Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Rd, Sedona
Sedona Mountain Bike Festival → · Visit Sedona listing →
4. Route 66 turns 100
US Highway 66 was established on November 11, 1926, and Flagstaff is throwing it a birthday party right on the Mother Road. The Flagstaff Visitor Center (the old train depot downtown) brings out classic cars, local art vendors, and a free birthday treat while supplies last. Freaky Foot Tours runs special Route 66 walking tours at 11 AM and 1 PM. Same afternoon, author Roger Naylor tells the story of how Arizona saved Route 66 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
When: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM (Roger Naylor talk at MNA, 1 to 2 PM)
Where: Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E. Route 66; Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Rd
Cost: Birthday Bash is free; the MNA talk is free with museum admission
Discover Flagstaff listing → · Roger Naylor at MNA →
5. Asteroid moons at Lowell Observatory
November nights are long, cold, and crystal clear, which is exactly what Mars Hill is for. Lowell's Worlds Revealed series brings Dr. Kate Minker to talk about asteroids and their moons, and how the world's biggest telescopes can now read asteroid surfaces from the ground. It's included with general admission, so make a night of it on Mars Hill. Dress like it's winter, because at 7,000 feet it basically is.
When: Friday, November 13, 2026, 7 to 7:45 PM
Where: Lowell Universe Theater, Lowell Observatory, 1400 W. Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff
Asteroid Moons with Dr. Kate Minker →
6. Native American Heritage Month at MNA
Two good reasons to get to the Museum of Northern Arizona this month. On the 14th, artist and musician Ed Kabotie shares stories and work from his father, Hopi artist Michael Kabotie, a founder of the Artist Hopid collective, tied to the museum's Artist Hopid Unveiled exhibit. Then on Thanksgiving Saturday, the Phoenix Youth Hoop Dancers, Native youth from multiple tribal nations, perform the Indigenous hoop dance. That's a great way to get the family out of the cabin after the turkey.
When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1 to 2 PM (Michael Kabotie talk); Saturday, November 28, 2026, 1 to 2 PM (Phoenix Youth Hoop Dancers)
Where: Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff
Cost: Both free with museum admission
Michael Kabotie: An Artistic Visionary → · Phoenix Youth Hoop Dancers →
7. Snowbowl opening day
The Peaks got their first 2 inches on September 29, and Snowbowl has opening day circled for Friday, November 20. If the snow keeps coming they've said it could be earlier, so watch their site. Snowbowl is also selling $9 lift tickets on many days this season while supplies last, which is a solid excuse to make your first turns of the year in Arizona. Check road conditions on Snowbowl Road before you head up.
When: Scheduled opening Friday, November 20, 2026 (weather permitting)
Where: Arizona Snowbowl, 9300 N. Snowbowl Rd, Flagstaff
Snowbowl opening day countdown → · Hours and conditions →
Your Flagstaff Home Base
Balloons over Lake Powell, a 100th birthday on Route 66, and first chair on the Peaks. November is Flagstaff before the holiday rush, and it's a great time to grab a cabin. Our Flagstaff cabins and vacation rentals are a short drive from downtown, with Snowbowl Road, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon all in easy day-trip range. Book direct at Flagstaffrentalcabin.com and check availability for your November and Thanksgiving dates.