SAVE OUR MOUNTAINS FOUNDATION – FESTIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS

October 17, 18 and 19, 2025

Save Our Mountains Foundation (SOMF) is planning a fun filled three-day Festival in the Mountains at the North Mountain Visitor Center (NMVC) to help raise money in support of our North Mountains Preserve.  There will be live music, local hikes, a silent action and drawings, activities for kids, dog costume event, demos, displays, exhibits and more.  Phoenix Mountains Preserve Council and Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association will be represented.

Plus, our Market in the Mountains featuring local artists, authors, and community vendors.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

HIKE – RUSTY SPIDER – 8 A.M – 10:00 A.M.

Meet at the NMVC to start on Trail 100 heading East through the 7th Street tunnel.
This is a loop trail with many interesting sights along the way. Learn the tale of the Rusty Spider with a visit to the Spider’s now vacant lair.

This hike is 4 miles, 2 hours, rocky in places with some elevation change, suggested for 10 years old and over.

Starting in October, sign-up sheets for the hikes will be available at the NMVC Front Desk. There will be a minimal suggested donation for the hikes.

MARKET IN THE MOUNTAINS – 9 A.M. – 7 P.M.

Community artists, businesses and vendors will be set up in the Education Room to meet the public, share information about their businesses, and sell their artwork, products, and services.  You will find jewelry, children’s books, ornaments, photography, paintings, and more.

SILENT AUCTION – 9:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.

Closes 6:30 P.M.

Winners for Saturday announced by 7:00 P.M. Do not need to be present to win.

DOG COSTUME VOTING & WINNER – 9 A.M. – 4 P.M.

Camp Bow Wow is sponsoring our Dog Costume Contest.  Vote at the festival, Saturday until 4 P.M. Winner announced Saturday, 6:00 P.M.

RATTLESNAKE GARAGE – 9 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Mark and Amanda showcase live desert critters and answer questions!

LAPIDARY AND SILVERSMITHING STUDIO DEMONSTRATIONS – 9 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Join us for an Open House in Doug Duffy’s Lapidary and Silversmithing Studio where he will be demonstrating chain-making, silversmithing, and lapidary work.

GEOLOGY EXHIBIT – 9 A.M. – 4 P.M.

Join us for Shirley Cote’s Rock Cycle Exhibit and Harvey Jong’s Volcano Display, plus a volcano-themed corn hole game.

MONARCH BUTTERFLY PRESENTATION – 9 – 10 A.M.

Join Gail Morris from the Southwest Monarch Study for a live monarch butterfly demonstration.

LIVE MUSIC – 9 – 11 A.M.

ODnB

There were string bands everywhere, small groups that played all kinds of music – old-time mountain stuff, gospel, swing, popular tunes of the day, what we now call Americana – on acoustic instruments…

ODnB is today’s version of these taking to the stage with multiple guitars, mandolins, banjos, Dobro, cello, fiddle, accordion, musical saw, standup and fretless electric bass, bouzouki, jug, and jaw harp…

Two people, Bea and Odie, hopelessly outnumbered by instruments. Come see who wins!

STORY TIME – 11 – 11:30 A.M., 12 – 12:30 P.M. & 3 – 3:30 P.M.

Linda Henley-Smith, accompanied by Kyle Oty, will be reading excerpts from her book, The Adventures of Kyle Oty A Study of Arizona.  The stories teach Arizona’s history, geography, and culture in a fun way, with questions, crafts, vocabulary, and activities to reinforce learning.

CHILDREN’S HIKE – NOON

This hike will be 1 to 3 miles long and will be geared to children. Depending upon the group, the decision will be made as to the length of the hike.

Sign-up sheet at North Mountain Visitor Center.

LIVE MUSIC – 1 – 3 P.M.

Thorn and The Rose – Acoustic Folk & Flute with Husband-and-Wife Duo Barbara & Doug Barnett

Doug Barnett is an award-winning indie songwriter who has produced 13 albums and played in bars, restaurants, and special events from Seattle to Route 66 to the greater Phoenix area. His wife Barbara often joins him and together they play originals and cover decades of folk, pop, Gospel, Western, and country music.

LIVE MUSIC – 4 – 6 P.M.

Nancy Elliott

“Hard to believe I have been playing music and performing for 50 years. I started playing organ with my mom. When I got my first guitar, I was off and running, playing campfires and pig roasts, weddings and backyard parties. My older friends would get me into bars so I could sit in with the bands. I played the folk houses in Dayton, resorts and lodges in Geneva, and from here to there in California and Texas. Arizona is where I fell in with the Western crowd, playing the same music, I had been writing and singing for years. I now have my own little genre called Southwestern Americana. I hope you enjoy the songs, stories and poetry.”

CLOSE – 7 P.M.

Mark your calendars for this fun filled educational event!