If exploring our state over the next week is on your summer agenda, check out what鈥檚 happening in these cities:
Bisbee
The Fourth of July is always special in Bisbee for many reasons 鈥 the parade, the foot race, the mucking and hard-rock drilling. But our favorite on that day is the often-exciting Coaster Race. Helmets on their heads, their homemade coasters ready to go, kids race down Tombstone Canyon for a ride that thrills watchers as much as it does drivers. It starts at 7 a.m. on July 4. .
Flagstaff
Imagine the sounds of a banjo strumming, performers singing folk and blues, and a jam of young aspiring bluegrassers all wafting through the pines of Flagstaff. The Flagstaff Folk Fest offers just that. More than 150 acts are spread out over five stages. And it鈥檚 a bargain: $5 a person or $15 for a family. It鈥檚 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30. .
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Lakeside
The skies will be a colorful site at the White Mountains Balloon Festival Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30. In addition to the hot air balloons floating above, there will be music, a beer garden, balloon glow and free tethered balloon rides.
Prescott鈥檚 Frontier Days is a week-long event centering around what鈥檚 been dubbed the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 oldest rodeo.鈥
Prescott
If you鈥檝e ever been to this town, you know it鈥檚 cowboy friendly. And during Prescott Frontier Days, it becomes even more so. The week-long event centers around what鈥檚 dubbed 鈥渢he world鈥檚 oldest rodeo.鈥 But there鈥檚 more: a parade, music, arts and crafts, and even Cowboy Church. It鈥檚 all happening July 1-7. .
The cast of 鈥淪pamilton鈥 at Phoenix Theatre.
Phoenix
Phoenix Theatre is hosting the North American tour of 鈥淪pamilton: An American Parody,鈥 a musical spoof of, you guessed it, 鈥淗amilton.鈥 Woven into the play are more spoofs of such hits as 鈥淪weeney Todd,鈥 鈥淕ypsy鈥 and 鈥淭he Book of Mormon.鈥 Oh, and of people like Patti LuPone and Carol Channing. It continues through Aug. 11 at the theater, 1825 N. Central Ave. Tickets are $32-$82. For more information, call 602-254-2151 or visit .
Tempe
Comedian Melissa Villase帽or first impressed in 2011 when she was a semifinalist on 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Got Talent.鈥 And she鈥檚 been doing it ever since, most recently as a cast member on 鈥淪aturday Night Live.鈥 She does killer impressions, and she鈥檚 funny. Really funny. She鈥檚 doing her hilarity Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30, at Tempe鈥檚 Improv Comedy Theatre, 930 E. University Drive. It鈥檚 a 21-and-over show and tickets are $20-$22. For more information, head to or call 480-921-9877.
Tombstone salutes the Buffalo Soldiers on Saturday.
Tombstone
The town鈥檚 annual salute to the Buffalo Soldiers will take over downtown Tombstone from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 29. The parade down Allen Street starts at 11 a.m. At 2 that day, there will be a Q and A with Tuskegee Airmen 鈥 three will be attending. Wander around that day 鈥 there will be lots of street entertainment. .
Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@tucson.com or 573-4128. On Twitter: @kallenStar
Kathleen Allen
Reporter
