Spring Trips to Lowell Observatory
Get the most out of your seasonal visit.
Spring into an Otherworldly Adventure
Spring at Lowell Observatory
Those looking to add an astronomical element to their spring itinerary should look no further than the top of Mars Hill.
Keep this page on your radar for the latest on enjoying your visit to Lowell Observatory during the spring season!
Flowers blooming in front of the Rotunda Museum. Photo Credit: Michael West
What to Wear
Not sure how to dress for the weather? Follow these tips to dress for success during your visit!
Though spring in Flagstaff brings warmer temperatures, it gets pretty windy here in our mountain town. Wind chill can make temperatures feel much colder than they are and get through even the warmest jackets, so important to have extra layers on hand!
If you want to get the most out of your visit by going on tours of our historic campus and enjoying evening stargazing, you should be prepared to do some walking! The walking paths on our campus can get fairly steep in some areas, and tours require a lot of walking and standing. If you need a break, there are benches placed throughout our campus. They’re also a great place to sit and take in the scenery!
Spring Constellations
Ursa Major
The Greater Bear
Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern sky, whose associated mythology likely dates back into prehistory. Its Latin name means “greater bear,” referring to and contrasting it with nearby Ursa Minor, the lesser bear.
Ursa Major is always above the horizon in the northern latitudes, but the best time to see it is in the spring when its high above the northeastern horizon. To find it in the sky, just look for the Big Dipper — it makes up part of the bear’s body!
Leo
The Lion
Leo is one of the constellations of the zodiac, between Cancer the crab to the west and Virgo the maiden to the east. It’s located in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
To find Leo in the night sky, look for the bright star Regulus, which will be directly above. Once you locate the star, trace out a distinctive pattern of stars shaped like a backwards question mark, known as The Sickle. This pattern represents the Lion’s mane.
Boötes
The Herdsman
Boötes (pronounced boh-OH-teez) contains the fourth-brightest star in the night sky, the orange giant Arcturus. Epsilon Boötis, or Izar, is a colorful multiple star popular with amateur astronomers. Boötes is home to many other bright stars, including eight above the fourth magnitude and an additional 21 above the fifth magnitude, making a total of 29 stars easily visible to the unaided eye.
To find Boötes, look for the Big Dipper constellation in the north. Follow the arc made by the Dipper’s handle until you see a bright star. This is Arcturus, which is located in what would be the waist of Boötes.
Hydra
The Serpent
The shape of Hydra resembles a twisting snake, and features as such in some Greek myths. One myth associates it with a water snake that a crow served Apollo in a cup when it was sent to fetch water; Apollo saw through the fraud, and angrily cast the crow, cup, and snake, into the sky. It is also associated with the monster Hydra, with its many heads, killed by Hercules, represented in another constellation.
To find Hydra, draw an imaginary line from Betelgeuse to Procyon and keep going. You will reach a bright star called Regulus, in the constellation Leo. Hydra’s head lies around halfway from Procyon to Regulus. Join head and tail and you should see a trail of stars making up Hydra.
Virgo
The Maiden
Ophiuchus
The Serpent-Bearer
Ophiuchus (pronounced OFF-ee-YOO-kuss) is a large constellation straddling the celestial equator. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek word for “serpent-bearer”, and it is commonly represented as a man grasping a snake. The serpent is represented by the constellation Serpens.
The key to finding Ophiuchus is being able to identify Scorpius. Scorpius is a fairly easy constellation to point out because of its distinctive hook-like shape. The ‘head’ of Ophiuchus is also located near the head of Hercules, so use that constellation to help guide your way.
Local Destinations
Bearizona
Bearizona Wildlife Park is located on approximately 160 acres in beautiful Williams, AZ.
As a member of the Zoological Association of America as well as the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Bearizona is dedicated to responsible wildlife management, conservation, and education.
Everyday, visitors can drive through over three miles of Ponderosa Pine Forest viewing North American animals in their natural habitats.
More animals are housed in Fort Bearizona, a beautiful 20-acre walk-thru area, which is more of a “zoo” style setting.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, located just a 1.5 hours away from Flagstaff by car, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands.
Located on ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world — unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from the rim.
The park offers accessible experiences for all visitors, from paved scenic walking trails to challenging hikes, mule rides, and camping excursions.
Meteor Crater & Barringer Space Museum
Over 50,000 years ago space and earth came together when a huge iron-nickel meteorite, approximately 150 feet wide and weighing several hundred thousand tons, impacted an area outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, with a force 150 times greater than an atomic bomb. The result of this impact was devastation for miles and the creation of the giant bowl-shaped cavity we call Meteor Crater, which measures 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide.
Nestled on its north rim, Meteor Crater Visitor Center is one of the most popular attractions in Northern Arizona. See the crater for yourself and explore interactive exhibits in the Barringer Space Museum!
Museum of Northern Arizona
The Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) is a private, non-profit, educational institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona at the base of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks. The Museum was founded in 1928 by a group of Flagstaff citizens to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of northern Arizona through research, collections, conservation, and education.
MNA’s 200 acre museum campus includes the Museum exhibit building, office space, research lab space, and collection storage for more than five million Native American artifacts, natural science specimens, and fine art pieces.
Local Spring Activities
First Friday Art Walks
Experience the vibrant arts scene at First Friday ArtWalk, one of Northern Arizona’s top cultural events. Held on the first Friday of every month in historic Downtown Flagstaff, this lively street party brings together art lovers, local businesses, and performers for an unforgettable evening.
What to Expect:
- Special art exhibitions in local galleries
- Live music and performances throughout downtown
- Delicious treats and refreshments from participating businesses
- After-hours entertainment as downtown venues stay open late
Put on your walking shoes and explore Flagstaff’s thriving arts community!
Location: Downtown Flagstaff
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (many venues stay open later)
Youth Arts 2026
Showcasing young artists (Pre-K–12) from Coconino and Navajo counties, this non-juried exhibition features work inspired by the theme Primary Expressions in all art forms. Free workshops and programming are open to the public.
Date: March 7-28, 2026
Time: 4-8 pm
Location: Coconino Center for the Arts – 2300 N Fort Valley Rd – 928-779-2300
Shamrock Shuffle Bar Crawl
Get ready to Shake your Shamrock in Downtown Flagstaff! We are celebrating St. Paddy’s Day with some of our favorite bars and restaurants!
Green beer and shamrock cheer! Join us in Downtown Flagstaff on Saturday, March 14th from 2:00pm-7:00pm for specials on green beer and St. Paddy’s themed drinks!
Your ticket includes shamrock sunglasses, a shot glass necklace, a chocolate coin, green glow stick accessories, your first Shamrock shot at Collins Irish Pub, and a lanyard that leads you to all the participating businesses and exclusive discounted drinks just for bar crawlers!
You must be 21+ to attend this event and receive any bar crawl specials.
Date & Time: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 2 pm-7 pm
Location: Downtown Flagstaff
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival celebrates 24 years of the best in outdoor adventure, cultural, social and environmental films from around the world.
The festival is one of about 50 mountain & adventure films across the world, and aims to provide an alternative cinematic experience that inspires, educates, fosters creative connections, and enriches the quality of life for Flagstaff citizens and visitors to Northern Arizona through the art of filmmaking and the stories of documentary films.
Date: April 9-12, 2026
Location: Orpheum Theater – 15 W Aspen Ave – 928-556-1580
Bushmaster Family Faire
It’s never too early to start planning for family activities for summer! Have your kids bounce on all of the bounce houses while you browse the many upcoming activities that summer in Flagstaff has for your children. Sign up for summer camps, register for summer classes, have fun connecting with your neighbors!
Come celebrate our community with us! Browse the wares from the vendors. Try your hand at the various activities and arts & crafts. Buy something tasty from the food truck!
Date: TBA Saturday, April 2026
Time: 10 am – 6pm
Location: Bushmaster Park (West side of the park)
What: Activities, Entertainment, Bounce Houses, Fun!
Cost: Many free activities! (Fee for some activities)
For more information visit: ruggednatureproductions.com
Viola's Flower Garden Pansy Party
No better way to kick off the spring season than with a unique and fun event to get us into the spring and planting season. There will be tea, lemonade, finger foods, and music. The selection of pansies during this party are going to be great so come check it out! Follow Viola’s on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date information. Come dressed in your springs finest party clothes, the floppier more colorful hats the better!
Date: TBA Saturday, April 2026
Time: 12-3pm
Location: Viola’s Flower Garden
For more info: violasflowergarden.com
Cost: Free
EVER PRESENT: Guillermo Galindo & José Luis Sotero
Coconino Center for the Arts presents two Mexican artists whose work reflects upon their journeys in search of a life in America. Guillermo Galindo (San Francisco, CA), an acclaimed Mexican-born artist and U.S. citizen, composer, and performer, shares his newest project Sonic Biogenesis, an installation commenting on genetics, mobility, and the environment. José Luis Sotero (Nogales, Sonora, MX), a self-taught Mexican painter, presents his recent paintings using pictorial surrealism to depict the stories of people who seek refuge from violence and poverty in hope of a better life. While both artists have long worked with themes of migration, their work reflects distinctly different perspectives and expressions. This exhibition is mindful of the important role of immigration at the center of the American experience, and current conversations on immigration taking place in the U.S., with increased awareness in border states such as Arizona.
Project Gallery Dates: April 18 – June 6, 2026
Location: Coconino Center for the Arts
For more information visit: coconinoarts.org
Celebrate Earth Day
The City of Flagstaff hosts an annual Earth Day Celebration to bring together all members of our community. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for local organizations to show community members ways they can get involved with protecting, conserving, and learning about our shared home. Hosted on the Saturday closest to April 22nd, this event is held in a public space where dozens of community organizations, bands, local food vendors, and local presenters come together to have fun in the sun!
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Location: Bushmaster Park
For more information visit: Earth Day Celebration | City of Flagstaff Official Website (az.gov)
International Dark Sky Week: Starlight in the Square
Celebrate International Dark Sky Week with a unique, curated tasting and stargazing experience in Flagstaff’s historic Heritage Square. The event begins at sunset with selected heavy hors d’oeuvres and specialty drinks themed to dark skies. As the twilight skies darken, Heritage Square will take on the warm, intimate glow of amber lighting as the Square’s lamps are doused and atmospheric music fills the air. Enjoy laser-guided tours of the night sky throughout the evening and close-up views of Mars, Jupiter and other celestial objects through several telescopes scattered throughout the Square. Proceeds from this event support the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition and the Downtown Flagstaff Foundation.
When: April 13-20, 2026
Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Where: Heritage Square, Downtown Flagstaff, and other city-wide stargazing opportunities
For more information visit: Home – Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition
State 48 Hour Film Project
Crew up for the ultimate filmmaking project and come make a movie in a weekend! That’s right… only 48 Hours! Challenge your creativity, collaborate with friends on a film project, and screen your film at a film festival—all in one weekend!
48 Hour Film Projects are a worldwide filmmaking competition where teams embark on the entire filmmaking journey—scripting, filming, and editing a short film within a 48 hour timeframe. At the start, teams are given a genre, character, line of dialogue, and a prop, all of which must be included in their film. At the end of the competition all films are screened.
This event is open to the public, and light refreshments will be offered at the film festival. See you at the movies!
Date: TBA April 2026
Time: 4:15pm
Location: Coconino High School, Small Auditorium – 2801 N Izabel St, Flagstaff, AZ
For more information visit: flagstaffinternationalfilmfestival.com/48hfp
Arboretum Opening
Surrounded by ponderosa forest at 7,150 feet in elevation with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks, The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a unique destination, specializing in increasing the understanding, appreciation and conservation of plants native to the Colorado Plateau. Home to 750 species of plants, the beautiful 200-acre property consists of gardens, greenhouses, and woodland trails that are family and pet friendly. The Arboretum also hosts a number of special events, plant sales, wedding and facility rentals, youth and adult classes as well as features local artist works in their gift shop.
Date: April 29, 2026
Location: The Arboretum – 4001 S Woody Mountain Rd – 928-774-1442
Ninth Planet Mountain Bike Race
Register for the Ninth Planet Mountain Race, named to pay homage to Flagstaffs rich history with space exploration, observation, and Pluto’s discovery!
There are two distances. The Mars Mission is a 40-ish mile course that is both challenging and engaging, set with the old school big loop format. This course is mostly made up of single track, and sections of technical descents with fast flowy AZT mixed in. Attendees will find this to be a very balanced course. Not unlike a mission to the red planet, very exciting for the potential, but know it’s not going to be an easy journey! The Moon Mission course is nearly 20 miles made up of some of Flagstaffs newest trails that have been added to the local network. Making this ideal for those with a little less experience. Not to worry, while the course is shorter, there hasn’t been any eliminated fun, weaving through the lower parts of the Shultz area!
Date: TBA May 2026
Details: Ninth Planet Mountain Bike Race — Sable Events
Aravaipa Cocodona 250 Race
Register for the annual Cocodona 250 race!
From Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, the Cocodona 250 links together some of the most iconic trails and towns in Arizona for one monumental undertaking of 250 consecutive miles on foot. The accomplishment of traveling the Cocodona Trail on foot will be one of the most life changing and epic journeys of an endurance athlete’s career.
Date: May 4-9, 2026
Details: Cocodona 250 | Aravaipa Running
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel 2026 Centennial Celebration
Join us in the celebration Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel as we honor one hundred years of faith, devotion, and community. Through scripture, gospel, and uplifting hymns, we celebrate the enduring love for Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe and the Chapel that has been a safe haven for generations. We remember with gratitude the founding families whose dedication built this Chapel and whose legacy continues to inspire us today. This joyful Mass celebrates a century of shared faith and the blessings that unite our community.
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 11 a.m., Fiesta immediately following the Mass
Location: 224 S. Kendrick St.
Music on the Square
Downtown Flagstaff is set to come alive this spring and summer with the return of Music on the Square for its fourth year, a FREE concert series. Presented with support from Old Town Shops, this beloved seasonal tradition invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy live performances by talented local musicians in the heart of Flagstaff!
Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket, grab coffee, lunch, or dinner from nearby downtown eateries, and relax in Heritage Square while soaking in local sounds of Flagstaff’s music scene. It’s the perfect way to unwind and celebrate community spirit all summer long.
Date: May – September 2026
Location: Heritage Square
Details: Music on the Square
Movies on the Square
Grab your blankets, lawn chairs, family and friends– it’s time for Movies on the Square!
Every Saturday from May to July, Heritage Square will be transformed into a lively outdoor movie theater. Festivities begin at 5:00pm with music and family activities, followed by a movie screening at dusk. Arrive early to find a good spot, enjoy the tunes, and explore Downtown Flagstaff before the movie begins!
Date: May – July, 2026
Location: Heritage Square
Details: Movies on the Square | Events | Downtown Flagstaff
Spin on the Square
Kickstart your Sundays with Spin on the Square, an energizing event that brings the community together! Hosted by The Box Studio, this high-energy outdoor spin class starts on Sunday, May 24th and runs until August 30th.
Head to Heritage Square at 9:00am and meet other fitness lovers for a heart-pumping workout under the open sky with great music and an energizing community. Led by experts from The Box Studio, this 45-minute spin class is sure to make your day. Be sure to book your spot to ensure you don’t miss out. Afterwards, explore Downtown Flagstaff and treat yourself to a delicious brunch at a local eatery!
Whether you’re a seasoned spinner or hopping on the bike for the first time, Spin on the Square is your Sunday morning wake-up call.
Date: May 24 – August 30, 2026
Location: Heritage Square
Details: Spin on the Square | Events | Downtown Flagstaff
Upcoming Events at Lowell
On-Site Event
May 8 @ 7:00 pm
Worlds Revealed Speaker Series | Prediction, Photographs and the search for Planet X
