Mogollon Highlands Festival

Mogollon Highlands Festival

A Celebration of Science, Art, and Community in Mogollon Highlands

The Mogollon Highlands Festival is a four-day event that brings together science, art, and community in Prescott, Arizona, from July 9 to 12, 2026. Hosted by the Natural History Institute, the festival highlights the extraordinary ecological significance of the Mogollon Highlands, one of the most biologically diverse and underrecognized regions in North America. Attendees can join keynote talks, research presentations, workshops, guided field trips, and a public community celebration to discover the landscapes, wildlife, geology, archaeology, and cultural history that make the region unique.

Event Schedule Details:

—Thursday, July 9th

Keynote Speaker: David Gilligan – The Mogollon Highlands: A Naturalist’s Perspective

• Thursday, July 9, 2026
• The Federal Venue, Prescott, AZ, at 7pm. Doors open at 6pm
• Cost: General Admission – $10 per person
• Admission Plus One Drink Ticket – $15 per person – Selection of wine from Page Springs Cellars

The Mogollon Highlands is one of North America’s most biologically diverse and underrecognized ecoregions. Situated between the Sonoran Desert and the Colorado Plateau, this remarkable landscape is a crossroads where species, habitats, and geologic histories converge.

Join naturalist and explorer David Gilligan for a journey through the natural history of the Mogollon Highlands. Drawing on decades of observation and exploration, David will examine the geologic forces, ecological communities, and biogeographic patterns that make this region so distinctive. From sky islands and grasslands to forests and canyons, discover the landscapes, plants, animals, and deep-time processes that define the Mogollon Highlands and reveal its place within the broader story of the American Southwest.

—Friday, July 10th

Naturalist Field Day at Granite Mountain

• Friday, July 10, 2026
• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person – SOLD OUT

Join naturalist and professor David Gilligan in the field for a half-day workshop and field experience at Granite Mountain. Grab your binoculars and your botany book and head into the field for a day of natural history exploration of the Mogollon Highlands with naturalist David Gilligan. We will begin with an overview of vegetation maps to gain an appreciation for the significance of the region, then head out into the field to focus on botanical and ecological explorations. Along the way, we will touch on such topics as pine-oak forest ecology, fire dynamics, phenology, and relevant plant families. A significant portion of this outing will be spent in breakout groups working on plant identification. Field guides and maps will be provided. The field day will take place at Granite Mountain. The exact meeting location will be shared with registered participants.

Engaging in the Practice of Natural History

• Friday, July 10th, 2026
• 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
• Cost: $30 per person

We are all born to practice natural history – simply put, to pay attention to the world we live in. But many – most? – of us have lost the habit that came naturally to us as children. Join Senior Advisor & Director Emeritus of the Natural History Institute, Tom Fleischner, for a reflective field experience that explores practices for deepening observation and strengthening your connection to the living world. This field workshop will explore simple ways to rekindle and reimagine our sense of awareness, and our innate inclination to engage in natural history practice. This workshop is appropriate for all experience levels and includes easy walking with occasional sitting. Participants will meet at the White Spar Trailhead. Please bring water, a hat, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. The exact meeting details will be shared with registered participants.

The Hydrology of History: Mining, Forests, and the Hassayampa River

• Friday, July 10, 2026
• 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person

Join ecologist and conservation consultant Joe Trudeau on an exploration of his home waterway, the (sometimes) mighty Hassayampa River, south of Prescott. On our 2-mile, on and off-trail route, we will discover the local geology and plant communities, and learn about how land uses such as historical mining and forest management have impacted the hydrology, flora, and fauna of the watershed. We will see real world examples of the intense and destructive transformation of this ecosystem over the past 150 years, while celebrating the rivers resilience in the face of contemporary demands on public lands and novel climate-driven stressors. As we proceed, we will blend natural history, law, and policy as we dig into the challenge of restoring functional ecosystems under intensifying human pressures, during periods of rapid change. The exact meeting location will be shared with registered participants.

Sculptural Arrangements: Designing Florals in Found Vessels

• Friday, July 10, 2026
• 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person

Inspired by the dramatic landscapes of the Mogollon Highlands, create your own unique sculptural floral arrangement. Join writer, artist, and owner of Toothpick Art Studio, Bella Chewning, who will guide you through the design process behind creating a sculptural arrangement, focusing on thoughtful use of color, shape, and movement. Rather than relying on an abundance of flower varieties, your sculptural arrangements will focus on carefully selected blooms that highlight form, line, and negative space. Drawing from years of experience creating 3-dimensional design, Bella will share the techniques, design principles, and mechanics used to create designs that feel contemporary and that are truly inspired by nature. You’ll learn how a more pared down approach can create greater impact, allowing each stem to contribute meaningfully to the overall composition. No prior floral experience is required and all materials and flowers will be provided. Recommended for teens and adults. All skill and ability levels are welcome. The workshop will take place at the Natural History Institute.

Research Presentation — Mapping Cultural Keystone Places: Exploring Biocultural Hotspots of the Mogollon Highlands

• Friday, July 10, 2026
• Natural History Institute, at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm
• Cost: FREE

Join geographer and ethnoecologist Laura Beebe in a presentation that recontextualizes the Mogollon Highlands not as a mere transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Colorado Plateau, but as a distinctive bioregion with a complex integrated biocultural identity. At the heart of this identity are Cultural Keystone Places: dynamic, localized landscapes of high significance that are paramount to the historical identity of highland communities. The deep cosmological dimensions of these biocultural hotspots are demonstrated by pre-contact cultivated agaves, which persist today as clonal, living archaeological relics that trace the spiritual homelands and ancient lifeways of ancestral farmers. We will examine how these botanical lineages align with ecologically specialized reptile and amphibian species, which serve as sedentary geographic historians due to their high fidelity to localized microclimates. The talk concludes by demonstrating how identifying non-random biocultural hotspots through GIS mapping can validate the Mogollon Highlands as a place rich in Cultural Keystone Places.

—Saturday, July 11th

Upper Verde River Flow Monitoring Field Trip

• Saturday, July 11, 2026
• 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person

Join Sierra Club Water Sentinels volunteer Jenny Cobb for a guided visit to the Upper Verde River near Perkinsville and Bear Siding, where participants will learn about river flow monitoring and experience one of the Mogollon Highlands’ most scenic waterways. Along the way, Gary Beverly, Sierra Club Chair, will share insights into the Verde River’s history, educational value, and current conservation projects and challenges. This adventure includes spectacular canyon views, diverse flora and fauna, a scenic swimming hole, and glimpses of local history, including the Drake–Clarkdale Railroad bridge and an old limestone quarry. Participants should be prepared for a steep, rocky hike and bring water, lunch, sun protection, and sturdy footwear suitable for both hiking and wading in the river. Detailed carpool information and a recommended packing list will be provided to registered participants prior to the trip.

Ecology and Regional Status of Pronghorns Field Trip

• Saturday, July 11, 2026
• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person

Join members of the Central Arizona Wildlife Alliance (CAWA) for a field trip to learn about the biology and conservation of that most unique of North American mammals, the American Pronghorn. We’ll carpool to parts of nearby Chino Valley and/or Prescott Valley, where we’re likely to be able to observe pronghorn behavior and learn about their history, unique characteristics, and population status in the Mogollon Highlands. We’ll also consider the challenges to conserving them in the face of development and give examples of some of the success stories from other regions in overcoming those challenges. Participants should bring water, snacks (or even lunch), sun protection, and binoculars. We don’t intend to venture far from roadsides, shoes that are more sturdy than sandals are suggested. Detailed carpool information and a recommended packing list will be provided to registered participants prior to the trip.

Behind the Scenes at the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum

• Saturday, July 11, 2026
• 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Including drive time to VVAC from Prescott)
• Cost: $30 per person – SOLD OUT

Join the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum (VVAC) for a behind-the-scenes look at archaeology and the cultural history in the Mogollon Highlands. Take a VIP tour of the VVAC in Camp Verde and explore the museum’s galleries, where you’ll find artifacts and stories from the many cultures that have lived in the Verde Valley. You’ll also get to see areas that are usually off-limits to the public, like the collection center, repository and research lab. Find out how archaeologists and curators work to preserve and study artifacts, and see how these collections help with research, education, and cultural stewardship in the region. Participants will meet in Prescott to carpool to Camp Verde, about an hour drive. Details will be sent to participants. Complimentary refreshments will be provided by VVAC.

Daisies, Leaves, and Lizards: Creating Natural History with Beads and Wire

• Saturday, July 11, 2026
• 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Cost: $30 per person

Join artist, writer, and naturalist Edie Dillon for a hands-on introduction to French beading, a centuries-old art form that uses seed beads and wire to create realistic flowers and botanical forms. Originating in Italy and France during the 1500s, French beading was traditionally used for religious decorations and elaborate ceremonial displays. In this workshop, participants will learn the basic techniques of the craft while creating their own beaded botanical artwork inspired by the flora of the Mogollon Highlands. The workshop will take place at the Natural History Institute, where participants can also explore The Rights of Nature: Expressions of Animacy, Interconnection, and Wholeness, Edie’s exhibition of mixed-media sculptures that examine the relationships between humans and the more-than-human world through themes of interdependence, reciprocity, and connection.

—Sunday, July 12th

Celebration of the Mogollon Highlands: Music, Drinks, and Community Booths

• Sunday, July 12, 2026
• 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
• The Fairweather Social Club, Prescott, AZ
• Free and open to the public!

Join us for a free community celebration of the Mogollon Highlands featuring live music, drinks, and community booths. Meet local organizations, connect with fellow nature lovers, and celebrate the landscapes that make this region so special.

Register Here:

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