Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill

Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill is Northern Arizona’s premier outdoor music venue, hosting concerts and festivals under a canopy of ponderosa pines at 6,900 feet.

Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill, originally opened in May 2006 as the Pine Mountain Amphitheater, is Northern Arizona’s premier outdoor performance venue. Situated at an elevation of 6,900 feet within the 621-acre Fort Tuthill County Park, the venue is enveloped by the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest. The design of the facility, master-planned by RAR Architects, centers around a pre-existing concrete stage and utilizes a natural acoustic bowl that projects sound beautifully across the sloping lawn. A massive 9,500-square-foot roofed timber-and-steel structure shelters the stage, providing weather protection for performers while blending seamlessly into the surrounding alpine environment. This high-altitude setting offers a cool sanctuary from the desert heat of southern Arizona, with summer temperatures regularly running 20 to 30 degrees cooler than those in Phoenix.

The venue accommodates up to 3,000 attendees in a highly intimate festival configuration. Seating options are divided into 662 reserved seats in the center section directly in front of the stage, a premium VIP box area with access to a private bar, and a spacious general admission lawn that slopes gently upward into the pines. Managed by R Entertainment North LLC, the amphitheater hosts a diverse seasonal lineup from late spring through early autumn, spanning rock, blues, jazz, comedy, and electronic music. It serves as the long-time home of the Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival, a beloved three-day September tradition since the venue's inaugural season in 2006. Other major multi-day gatherings, such as the Coconino Campout and the electronic music festival Escape to Coconino, draw dedicated crowds who come to experience live music under Flagstaff's internationally recognized dark skies.

Concertgoers benefit from the venue's close integration with Fort Tuthill County Park's recreational infrastructure. The Fort Tuthill Campground is located just a short walk from the amphitheater gates, offering nearly 100 campsites for tents and RVs under the pine canopy. For those seeking premium accommodations, Village Camp Flagstaff serves as the official glamping partner, offering luxury cabins and modern RV sites nearby. Venue policies are designed to maintain safety and comfort: a strict clear-bag policy allows bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, and guests may bring factory-sealed water bottles up to one liter as well as low-profile beach chairs. The amphitheater is easily accessed via Interstate 17 at Exit 337, making it a straightforward two-hour drive north from Phoenix and a quick ten-minute trip from downtown Flagstaff.