Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village

Tlaquepaque (say it tlah-keh-PAH-keh) is Sedona's most charming place to wander: a cluster of stucco buildings, arched passageways, tiled courtyards, fountains and bougainvillea-draped walls set among old sycamore trees on SR 179, just south of the Oak Creek bridge from Uptown. Built in the 1970s and modeled on a traditional Mexican village — its name comes from the arts-and-crafts town near Guadalajara — it feels far older than it is, and its shady courtyards are a welcome escape on hot afternoons. The village holds more than 50 shops, galleries and restaurants. Art is the backbone: around a dozen and a half galleries show Southwestern painting, sculpture, glass, textiles, rugs and jewelry, many of them serious collections with prices to match, alongside specialty shops for clothing, home goods, candles and crafts. Food options run from El Rincon's long-running Mexican kitchen and Oak Creek Brewery and Grill's patio to René at Tlaquepaque for a more formal dinner, Secret Garden Cafe for breakfast and lunch under the trees, The Chai Spot, Pump House Station, and ice cream and churros for the kids. A small chapel in one courtyard is a favorite wedding venue. The village hosts events through the year, and its signature is the Festival of Lights in December, when thousands of luminarias line the walkways and courtyards for one magical evening, alongside a tree lighting and a menorah lighting earlier in the season. Entry is free; the village is open daily, generally from 10am to 5pm, with restaurants open later. Parking in the on-site lots is limited on weekends and during events, when shuttles may run.

The village was conceived by Abe Miller, a Nevada businessman who fell in love with Sedona and wanted to create a place where artists could work and sell. He bought the creekside land and insisted on preserving its sycamores, so the buildings were designed around the trees, with materials and craftsmanship inspired by colonial Mexico. Artisans moved into studios, restaurants opened in the courtyards, and Tlaquepaque became a cultural anchor for a town that had long attracted painters and sculptors. Today the village is also a hub for Sedona's events calendar, with a monthly program and seasonal celebrations.

How to enjoy it. Treat Tlaquepaque as a stroll rather than a shopping list. Wander from courtyard to courtyard, peek into the galleries — the best ones welcome browsers and are happy to talk about the artists — and stop for coffee or a margarita in a shaded patio. Photographers love the light in the late afternoon, when the arches and fountains glow. Families will find enough to keep kids happy with ice cream, fountains and a few whimsical shops, and the village is easy to navigate with a stroller, though some steps and uneven paving exist. If you are buying art, ask about shipping, which most galleries arrange.

Timing and practicalities. The village is busiest on weekends and holiday periods; weekday mornings are calm. The December Festival of Lights is a highlight of Sedona's winter, with luminarias, music and seasonal treats; arrive early or use any event shuttle, as parking fills fast. Because the village sits beside Oak Creek, it is affected by creek events: on November 1, 2026, Oak Creek flooding prompted evacuations in parts of Sedona and the village cancelled its Day of the Dead celebration for weather, so check the village's own notices around storms. Tlaquepaque pairs naturally with Uptown Sedona across the bridge, with the Chapel of the Holy Cross a few miles south, and with a Pink Jeep tour, whose operator is listed among the village's tenants. It is also an easy lunch stop after a morning hike at Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock.