Green Scenes – August 2026
August 26
INTERWOVEN: Where Design, Fashion & Sustainability Meet
Join Green Living for a one-of-a-kind experience in which innovators from the design and construction, fashion, and lifestyle industries celebrate creativity, sustainability, and beauty and redefine the way we create and consume. Engage with leaders in architecture and interior design, enjoy a curated presentation of upcycled and vintage fashions, and explore a thoughtfully selected marketplace showcasing locally made and sustainable lifestyle products. Handcrafted cocktails and light bites included. Early bird tickets $75; general admission $125. 5:30-8:30 p.m. DLR Group, 6225 N. 24th St., Suite 250, Phoenix.
Event Details
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
August 5-8
Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival
Celebrating 35 years in 2026, Arizona’s oldest birding festival delights in our feathered friends of The Sky Islands. Bring your binoculars because upwards of 200 species can be spotted during the four-day event. In addition to morning bird walks, the free festival includes educational talks, workshops, kids’ programming, exhibitors, live music, and much more. See the program schedule for exact times and locations of events. Sierra Vista.
August 8
Photovoice Exhibition: Greenspaces & Health
Join the University of Arizona’s Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate & Health for a Photovoice exhibition showcasing community-driven research on how green spaces impact health in Southern Arizona. Photographs and insights from local participants examine the benefits and trade-offs of these spaces in our region. Enjoy a brief presentation at 11 a.m., followed by discussions on green infrastructure. Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Ave., Tucson.
Event Details
August 12-16
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Now in its 15th year, this five-day event, sponsored by the Tucson Bird Alliance, includes expert-guided birding, wildlife and cultural field trips, photography workshops, nature and live animal presentations, a vendor expo, children’s activities, and more. Featured guests include award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick, singer/songwriter Bonner Black, and author and illustrator Rosemary Mosco. Times and events vary. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson-Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson.
August 16
Prickly Pear Harvest
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover the many species of prickly pear cactus that grow in Arizona and Mexico. Learn how to harvest and clean the fruit, render juice, and make jelly, as well as select, clean, grill, and pickle the tender green pads, called nopalitos. Member $65, nonmember $72. 7:30-11:30 a.m. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson.
August 29
Prickly Pear Festival
The 15th annual Prickly Pear Festival celebrates the diversity of the Sonoran Desert’s edible wonder. Sample prickly pear food and drinks; attend talks on foraging, homeopathic medicine, and sustainability; browse vendors and local businesses offering prickly pear-themed art and decor; and enjoy live music and entertainment. Main Street, Superior.
Event Details
CENTRAL ARIZONA
August 5
Water: Rising to the Challenge
Join leaders from across government, water management, conservation, and infrastructure for a breakfast conversation focused on the policies, partnerships, and innovations shaping Arizona’s water future. Presented by Arizona Forward, the program will feature opening remarks from U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton, followed by a moderated panel discussion. Member $75, nonmember $85. 7:30-9:30 a.m. Phoenix Zoo Stone House Pavilion, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.
Event Details
August 8
Infinity Day: Explore the Infinite Universe at Flashlight Nights
Part of the nationwide Math in Bloom and Simons Foundation Infinite Sums initiative, this evening event explores endless patterns, cycles, and mathematical concepts woven into nature. Discover the garden by flashlight, enjoy a scavenger hunt, and meet Garden conservation specialists who are working to protect desert plants for future generations. Price included in Garden admission. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.
August 16-21
National Tribal Health Conference 2026
This week-long National Indian Health Board event showcases the interconnectedness of policy, advocacy, and Indian health best practices. Programming includes tribal listening and consultation sessions, hands-on training opportunities, and workshops that cover timely topics such as funding for Indian Health, tribal public health, behavioral health, culture, environmental health, and climate change. General registration $1,100. Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler.
NORTHERN ARIZONA
August 13
Innovating for Resilience
Arizona Forward welcomes leaders in local government, business, education, utilities, planning, transportation, environmental stewardship, and community development to this half-day workshop that looks at some of Northern Arizona’s most pressing issues, including housing and affordability, climate and energy resilience, forest health and fire adaptation, and transportation. Member $40, nonmember $55. 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. High Country Conference Center, 201 W. Butler Ave., Flagstaff.
August 26-27
2026 Summer Policy Summit
Hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Arizona Manufacturers Council, this summit brings together experts in manufacturing, business, and government to discuss key environmental sustainability and economic development policy issues impacting the state. Presentations focus on topics such as the energy ecosystem, water security, education choices for Arizona families, and growing Arizona’s talent economy. Arizona Chamber members $300, general $450. Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff.
August 21
Pronghorns: Spirit of the Grasslands
Help Central Arizona Wildlife Alliance celebrate pronghorns and the grasslands they call home. The film festival includes a screening of short documentaries about pronghorns, the presentation of the Spirit of the Grasslands Award, a raffle of pronghorn-themed items, and more. Don’t miss CAWA’s “Protecting Pronghorns” exhibit on display in the Natural History Institute lobby through Sept. 24. $12. 6-8 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. Natural History Institute, 126 Marina St., Prescott.
August 31- September 4
Green Transportation Week
Northern Arizona University students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to ditch the car and use alternative forms of transportation for the week. Powered by Green NAU, this week of fun, sustainability, and community building includes daily events, ranging from a green transportation expo to bike maintenance clinics and helmet decorating classes to a forum on sustainable transportation. Visit the website for event times and locations.
