10 Things to Do in Sedona in March

Sedona is an Arizona city with a series of towering rock formations that rise out of an unparalleled arid landscape. During the month of March, this desert is reborn and offers a stunning visual spectacle of vibrant vegetation.

Among the best things to do in Sedona in March are many outdoor activities and annual celebrations. For example, you can take a hiking trail, enjoy a vineyard tour and even take to the skies in a hot air balloon. You'll also have the opportunity to attend the city's St Patrick's Day parade, Yoga Festival and Film Festival, among other things.

Attending the Film Festival & Workshop is another great thing to do in Sedona during the month of March. It's an annual event with over 20 years of tradition, where you'll see a range of independent film productions from around the world.

This festival runs from late February in Sedona through early March, specifically on weekends. Head to the city's Harkins Theatres to enjoy more than 160 screenings of feature films, short films, documentaries, animations, etc.

You'll also have the opportunity to attend a number of complementary activities such as lectures, film workshops, Q&A discussions, and more. All this, led by experienced filmmakers and held in the conference room of some of Sedona's resorts and restaurants.

After travelling the world thanks to the magic of the film productions exhibited at the festival, you can continue to get to know the city. Perhaps join a bus tour of Sedona, visit the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village and experience the cultural diversity it has to offer, and more.

March marks the beginning of spring in Sedona and the rebirth of nature on the city' s desert trails. It's the perfect time to take an ATV adventure through the region and see the vibrant vegetation dotting the red cliff landscape.

This off-road adventure will take you to a number of scenic wilderness destinations, including the following:

• The Walk Devil's Bridge, which is an impressive sandstone arch.
• The Airport Mesa; this is a trail that circles Table Top Mountain and offers good panoramic views.
• The Chapel of the Holy Cross, built in 1956 on a hill in Sedona and surrounded by monumental rock buttresses.

Along the route of this Sedona Canyon ATV tour, you'll see cacti in bloom and some wildflowers, contrasting with the distinctive red colour of the rock formations. You'll also have the opportunity to spot wildlife such as elk, snakes, javelinas, coyotes and more.

Sedona's dark skies are a perfect setting for stargazing, especially during the new moon phase. Take advantage of this natural phenomenon in March and marvel at the dozens of celestial bodies in the sky. And, if you're lucky, you might even spot a UFO.

For this astronomical experience you can go to the base of Cathedral Rock. This is a privileged destination for stargazing. During the week of the new moon, the sky in this part of the city is illuminated by a slight glow from the Milky Way. Added to this is the dark tone of the firmament due to the absence of cloud cover.

You will be able to see the stars and constellations with your naked eyes. However, you have the option to enhance this experience by joining a stargazing and UFO viewing tour in Sedona. This way, you will be accompanied by a guide and special equipment such as military night vision goggles, etc.

If you are a yoga enthusiast and your trip coincides with the first half of March, then you must attend the Sedona International Yoga Festival. You will enjoy lectures, more than 200 classes and other activities that will allow you to live a unique experience.

In this festival you will have several activities led by experts in the field, some of them being the following:

• The guided yoga and meditation class, where you can find your energy flow.
• A hike through the canyons and rock formations, where you will get in touch with nature and learn about the power of the energy vertices while doing a yoga practice.
• Some lectures, usually on yoga philosophy and metaphysics, as well as looking at aspects of human nature.

Without a doubt, this is a not-to-be-missed experience in March, which you can incorporate into your itinerary along with other outdoor activities. Such as a trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend from Sedona, a hike through the city's trails, a visit to the Grand Canyon, and more.

Another celebration that takes place in March in Sedona that you won't want to miss is St. Patrick's Day. Dress in green and head to this lively parade route on the streets of downtown Sed ona to celebrate cultural heritage and have fun.

The parade usually takes place around 10:30 a.m. and runs along Jordan Road from Jordan Historical Park to Mesquite Avenue. Along the route, you'll see colourful floats and dozens of people in traditional Irish costume.

You'll also enjoy a number of parade troupes who, with their bagpipes, harps and piccolos, liven up the parade year after year. You can't help but dance to the traditional Celtic music of Western Europe.

Afterwards, you can continue the St. Patrick's Day celebrations with a beer at a local pub and enjoy Sedona by night. For example, Mooney's Irish Pub & Burger Bar is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, offering themed parties during the holiday.

Watching the first rays of the sun rise behind the red stone hills that surround Sedona is a beautiful natural spectacle. And what better way to enjoy this view than from a bird's eye view. Take advantage of the moderate wind speed (3 Bft) in March and enjoy a leisurely, turbulence-free hot air balloon flight over the region.

You should board the balloon at least 15 minutes before sunrise, which in March is usually around 7.10am. This way, you'll be taking to the skies at the exact moment when the sun makes its appearance on the horizon. You'll see Sedona's canyons and hills gradually light up, revealing a vibrant natural scene.

You'll be able to see the city's major rock formations. For example, Cathedral Rock, Red Rock State Park, Oak Creek Canyon with its colourful walls, among others. Also, the vegetation reborn in this month that marks the beginning of spring, stands out in the panorama.

Your itinerary of at least 3 days in Sedona in March won't be complete without a hike. During this month the weather is transitioning from winter to spring, so the environment will be quite cool and the vegetation will have begun to bloom, bringing a particular colour to the landscape scene.

There are many destinations in the city of Sedona for a hiking tour. You could visit Boynton Canyon, which is a popular spot because it is home to one of the famous energy vortexes. There are also several wooded areas with trails of varying levels of difficulty.

Other destinations to visit include Oak Creek Canyon, which in March is noted for its scenic nature and trails. Also, the famous sandstone arch, Devil's Bridge, located within the Coconino National Forest.

With each change of season comes a renewal of energy in the environment. So, if you plan to spend 1-2 days in Sedona or more during the month of March, you'll want to take the opportunity to visit the city's famous energy vortexes. These are places with great energetic power where you can connect with your spirituality.

To discover Sedona's most famous vortexes, you should visit four important natural monuments in the city. These include Cathedral Rock, a towering sandstone hill; the Airport Vortex, located just off the Airport Loop; the box-shaped Boyton Canyon; and Bell Rock, a hill located in the northern region of the Village of Oak Creek.

When you reach the vortexes, you'll connect with nature through meditation to heal your body and soul. You will experience the magic of Sedona and enjoy the stunning cliff scenery dotted with beautiful nature, which is in full bloom in March. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the history and geology of this region.

Spring days in March are a good time to visit Sedona's vineyards as they are just beginning to awaken, meaning the buds and leaves are in the process of blooming. This is the most beautiful time in the vineyards. Enjoy this privileged landscape while tasting some wines.

Throughout this activity, considered one of the best day tours and excursions in Sedona, you will be able to visit wineries and vineyards of great historical importance for these lands.

Some unmissable destinations when embarking on a wine tour in Sedona tend to be:

• Page Springs Winery, located about 20 minutes' drive from town. This family-run winery offers a picturesque vineyard, tastings and even yoga sessions.
• Oak Creek Vineyard; a family-run boutique winery with a variety of balanced wines for your palate. It's a 20-minute drive from the city.
• Alcantara Vineyard. This is a winery approximately 40 minutes from Sedona by car. You'll find a beautiful landscape with bald eagles flying overhead and over 20,000 vines.

With the rebirth of vegetation in March following the end of the winter season in Sedona, some birds make their presence known as they forage for food for their young. So it's the perfect time for you to explore the city's nature and go birding .

Some of the most popular places for birdwatchers include the Broken Arrow OHV, Airport View trail, Red Rock State Park and more. All offer moderate routes for easy exploration.

Throughout this adventure, you'll have the opportunity to see over 200 species of birds in Sedona. You'll just have to keep an eye on your surroundings. As you enter the respective wilderness areas, it will only be a matter of time before you begin to enjoy the diversity of birds.

March bids farewell to winter and welcomes spring, so the weather is more pleasant, offering a warm but cool atmosphere. Temperatures reach an average high of 14ºC, rising daily by 3ºC. They rarely drop below 10ºC or exceed 20ºC.

The minimum temperature in Sedona increases by 3ºC daily, with an average of 3ºC to 6ºC. And, with respect to rainfall, 3 to 8 rainy days are usually recorded in this month, corresponding to a maximum of 48 millimetres of water. In addition, the wind force is 3 Bft and the average UV index does not exceed level 3.

Although winter is behind us, March is still a bit chilly, especially at night. It's best to pack some basics such as long trousers and a light coat.

You should also pack shorts, short-sleeved shirts and comfortable, closed-toe shoes that will keep your feet protected during long walks. This will be appropriate during outdoor excursions and tours. For example, if you take an Antelope Canyon adventure from Sedona.