As the vines at D.A. Ranch turn amber and the high desert air grows crisp, the Verde Valley Pottery Festival returns to Cornville for a weekend that blends art, land and community.
From Friday through Sunday, Nov. 14 through 16, the festival will again transform the historic vineyard into a celebration of clay and craft, bringing together more than a dozen potters, live demonstrations, food trucks and estate-grown Arizona wine.
“This festival is rooted in friendship, fire and the handmade,” ceramist and festival founder Ben Roti said. “For me, clay has always been about the connections between artists — learning from one another, supporting each other’s work and sharing that energy with the community.”
What began in 2022 as Roti’s grassroots gathering in Camp Verde has since fired into something far larger than he first imagined. In just a few short years, the Verde Valley Pottery Festival has become one of Arizona’s most anticipated arts events: A weekend where makers, collectors and curious first-timers converge under the bistro lights. After a brief rebrand in 2024, the festival now returns under its original name, renewed in spirit and sharpened in focus: To unite Arizona-connected potters with the community that sustains them.
Festival highlights include:
▪ First Pick Friday on Nov. 14 from 4 to 6 p.m., $25:
Early access to shop the full show, with first choice of ceramic work. D.A. Ranch wines, food trucks and beer from Verde Brewing Company. Live music by Ryan David Orr, setting the evening’s tone.
▪ Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16, free:
Artist Marketplace: More than a dozen potters from across Arizona and the Southwest. Handmade works ranging from sleek, functional mugs to sculptural pieces.
Live demonstrations: Wheel throwing, surface design and alternative firing techniques. Artists working in real time, revealing the alchemy of earth and fire.
Food and drink: A rotating lineup of local food trucks including wood-fired pizza, a coffee truck and beer by Verde Brewing Company. Estate-grown wines poured just steps from the vines.
Family and community activities: Hands-on clay experiences for children and families. Creative and educational demonstrations that invite everyone to learn.
General admission on Saturday, Nov. 15, and Sunday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is free, with free parking available on site on a first-come, first-served basis.
More than a festival, the weekend reflects the Verde Valley’s growing reputation as a hub for contemporary ceramics — a place where tradition and innovation fire side by side.
“The beauty of this festival is the range of artists,” said Alexis Petznick, CEO of D.A. Ranch Vineyards. “You’ll see everything from functional, yet highly decorative mugs and bowls to experimental pieces that push people’s ideas about clay. It’s innovation and heritage, hand in hand. The best part is the way the art amplifies the magic of D.A. Ranch, with more than a dozen artists, live demos, food trucks, live music and our wines poured just steps from the vines.”
“Set along Oak Creek on 100 acres of farmland shaded by cottonwoods, D.A. Ranch has long been more than a vineyard,” according to a press release. “Its stone walls, lawns and deep design legacy have made it a natural gathering place for artists and families.”
D.A. Ranch is located at 1900 Dancing Apache Road in Cornville. Visit verdevalleypotteryfestival.com for schedules, tickets, volunteer opportunities and sponsorship information.