2025
Event Schedule
VVPF events
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First Pick Friday
November 14, 2025
4:00 - 6:00 PM
$25.00
Exclusive access to see and purchase the work of 14 amazing potters prior to the general public. -
Saturday
November 15, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
FREE
The Verde Valley Pottery Festival will feature fourteen ceramic artists for a weekend of demonstrations, artist talks, and handmade ceramic objects. -
Sunday
November 16, 2025
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
FREE
Join us for day two of the Verde Valley Pottery Festival, and enjoy more live demonstrations, artist talks, and handmade ceramic wares. Kids’ activities happening daily!
Saturday, November 14, 2025
10:00 AM
Festival Opens
First 35 people get a free cup!
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Demonstration - Surface Stories | Mike Upp & Tiffany Bailey - Surface Exploration
Join Mike and Tiffany as they share their favorite surface design approaches, from texture and carving to slips and layered glazes. This demo highlights playful, experimental techniques that can transform simple forms into richly expressive pieces.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CLAY FOR KIDS
Clay for Kids is a fun, hands-on opportunity for young makers to get their hands dirty and explore the possibilities of clay. Led by Kim Sammartano, the Sedona Arts Center’s kids instructor, children can squish, roll, flatten, and decorate clay while creating something new and exciting to take home.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Demonstration - Clay Creatures & Beyond | Heidi Kreitchet & Magda Gluszek - Animal Sculpture & Hand-building Techniques
Heidi and Magda will walk through the process of sculpting in clay using hand-building methods. Learn how to capture personality and movement through form while exploring approachable techniques you can use at home.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
CLAY FOR KIDS
Clay for Kids is a fun, hands-on opportunity for young makers to get their hands dirty and explore the possibilities of clay. Led by Kim Sammartano, the Sedona Arts Center’s kids instructor, children can squish, roll, flatten, and decorate clay while creating something new and exciting to take home.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Demonstration - Handle with Care | Heather Spontak & Jamie Parrish - Wheel Thrown Mugs & Decoration
Heather and Jamie team up on the wheel to throw mugs and demonstrate a range of finishing techniques. From pulling handles to decorating surfaces, this session covers everything that makes a mug both functional and full of character.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Demonstration - Lidded Legends | Rena Hamilton & Don Ridley - Unique Jars
Rena and Don will demonstrate their approaches to creating jars that balance function with artistry. Watch how form, lid design, and surface details come together to make one-of-a-kind vessels.
5:00 PM
Festival Closes - Reopens Sunday, Nov. 19 @ 10:00 AM
D.A.Ranch Tasting room remains open until 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 19, 2023
10:00 AM
Festival Opens
First 35 people get a free cup!
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Demonstration - Slabs and Sustenance | Russell DeHaven & Bettina Chow - Geometric Slab Construction & Kitchen Essentials
Russel and Bettina explore slab-built pottery with a focus on clean geometry and useful forms for the kitchen—their demo highlights design considerations for function, durability, and aesthetic impact.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CLAY FOR KIDS
Clay for Kids is a fun, hands-on opportunity for young makers to get their hands dirty and explore the possibilities of clay. Led by Kim Sammartano, the Sedona Arts Center’s kids instructor, children can squish, roll, flatten, and decorate clay while creating something new and exciting to take home.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Demonstration - Thrown Together | Jeff Heeg & Ben Roti - Composite Throwing Techniques
Jeff and Ben demonstrate how to throw and combine multiple wheel-thrown parts into larger or more complex pieces. This collaborative session emphasizes timing, precision, and creativity in building composite forms.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
CLAY FOR KIDS
Clay for Kids is a fun, hands-on opportunity for young makers to get their hands dirty and explore the possibilities of clay. Led by Kim Sammartano, the Sedona Arts Center’s kids instructor, children can squish, roll, flatten, and decorate clay while creating something new and exciting to take home.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Demonstration - Go Big Or Go Home | Andrew “Augusta” Smith & Dexter Woods - Large Wheel-Thrown Pots
Gus and Dex will share their methods for tackling large-scale pots, focusing on throwing, building, and managing big forms. Expect a lively discussion on scale, proportion, and how size changes both process and presence.
3:00 PM
Festival Closes - See everyone in 2026!
D.A.Ranch Tasting Room remains open until 6:00 PM
Want to Share This Event?
Help spread the word! Print our flyer and hang it up around town (heck, even if you’re not in our neck of the woods). Feel free to share on social media using #vvpotteryfestival
* links to our google drive press folder
Join Us
November 14 - 16, 2025
D.A.Ranch Vineyards
1901 Dancing Apache Rd.
Cornville, AZ 86325
Phone
(520) 400-4522