Music · Flagstaff

Pickin' in the Pines

Pickin' in the Pines is Flagstaff's beloved bluegrass and acoustic music festival, held each September at the Pepsi Amphitheater under the tall ponderosa pines at Fort Tuthill. It is a weekend built for lovers of banjos, fiddles, and close harmony, drawing respected touring acts to a genuinely gorgeous mountain setting.

Beyond the main-stage sets, the festival has a warm, participatory spirit — workshops, band contests, and impromptu jam sessions in the campground that run late into the cool evenings. The elevation and the pines make for a comfortable, atmospheric alternative to a hot summer festival.

It is an easy trip from a Flagstaff rental, and one of the best weekends of the year to be in town if you love acoustic music. Bring a low chair and a warm layer for the evening — nights up here get crisp even in September.