Nine cool things to do in Tucson this weekend (August 12-14)
- Updated
- Updated
All things avian will be in the spotlight — or, more appropriately, the binoculars — at the sixth annual Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Thursday through Monday, Aug. 11-15.
The festival, hosted by the Tucson Audubon Society, will include field trips to more than 20 bird-watching hotspots in the region, workshops, presentations by speakers and social gatherings.
Based at the Arizona Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St., the festival has a $15 registration fee as well as fees for field trips and other activities.
“The month of August typically brings the most species at one time due to breeding and migration periods,” said Jennie MacFarland, bird conservation biologist for the Tucson Audubon Society. “Specifically, hummingbird species reach peak numbers in August, with over 13 different species of hummingbirds that can be seen. This is more than any other place in the United States.”
Five festival field trips, a workshop and a dinner presentation all involve hummingbirds, and organizers say field trip participants have a good chance of seeing some of the colorful, fast-moving little birds.
Speakers and workshop presenters include Sheri Williamson, director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and Jeffrey Gordon, president of the American Birding Association.
Go online to tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/festival.html for more information.
- Updated
Los Angeles comedian Felipe Esparza returns to Tucson on Friday, August 12, courtesy of the Latin Comedy Jam series.
Esparza has a national following, thanks in part to that time in 2010 when he won the comedy talent competition, "Last Comic Standing" on NBC.
These days, you are more likely to hear Esparza on his popular podcast, "What's Up Fool?"
The show at the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave., begins at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25 through Ticketmaster.
- Updated
This weekend is all about the open ocean in Southern Arizona.
On Saturday, the annual Return of the Mermaids gathering will takes place at points downtown and along North Fourth Avenue.
Rumor has it that the monsoons bring the mermaids, who can be found at The Beach downtown, 50 N. Fifth Avenue, at Haggerty Plaza, 316 N. Fourth Ave. and helping out at shops and restaurants up and down Fourth and East Congress Street.
There is a parade and costume contests, with the family friendly atmosphere dropping off to a more adult-themed affair in the evening.
Get the full schedule on the Return of the Mermaids Facebook page.
If you'd prefer to party on the high seas sans flippers, try the Pirates of the High Desert weekend down in Bisbee.
Like the mermaids, the Bisbee pirates can be found all over Old Bisbee with costume parties, pub crawls and even a reggae fest (pirates dig reggae, right?)
Unlike the mermaids, Pirates of the High Desert appears to lean more toward adult activities (read: drinking). Leave the kids at home with grandma.
The weekend fun runs from Friday to Sunday.
More info on the Pirates Facebook page.
- Updated
The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St., is getting all Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Tucson with its regular Peanut Gallery screening this Saturday.
Each month, the theater picks a classic (or terrible) B film for audience members to heckle for the low, low price of $3.
Constant Con, the comic book convention activity center downtown, will be in the lobby with related merch for purchase.
Need more info? Click here.
- Updated
A full day (and night) of live music, food and drinking will be had this Saturday at Arizona Hops and Vines in Sonoita as part of the winery's 2016 Bad Decisions camp out.
The event will feature breweries, distilleries, food trucks and local restaurants offering eats and libations. The wines photographed above in 2011 may or may not still be available.
Among the bands performing will be The Jons, The Senators and Santa Pachita.
Added bonus: A meteor shower is slated to occur the night of the big event, for all of the overnight guests.
Admission is $35, which includes a drinking wristband, a souvenir wine glass and ten tasting tickets from open until 6 p.m. It's $80 if you plan to spend the night.
- Updated
Thunder Canyon Brewery’s downtown location, at 220 E. Broadway, will play host to an art exhibit dubbed “Cult of Nostalgia” starting Saturday.
The show will feature works by local artists paying homage to ’80s and ’90s pop culture, including the video games, television shows and movies of the era.
Think “Reservoir Dogs” and “Edward Scissorhands” with a little “Super Mario Bros.” thrown into the mix.
The show will benefit the Sculpture Resource Center. Thunder Canyon will hold a launch of the exhibition Saturday night running from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Visit facebook.com/thundercanyonbrewery for more information.
- Updated
Catch a John Wayne classic on the big screen at the Fox Theatre this Saturday.
'Rio Bravo' follows a Texas sheriff who has to fight off a local rancher's gang after the sheriff arrests the rancher's brother.
The movie was filmed at Old Tucson and had a cast that included Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson.
"Rio Bravo" starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $7 through the Fox.
- Updated
Dragoon Brewing, Hamilton Distillers and 1912 Brewing hope for a repeat of their inaugural Westside Brew House District tour held last month, as they host their second district tour on Saturday, Aug. 13.
One $15 tickets gets you a drink at each of the three locations. Dragoon, 1859 W. Grant Road, will host Mr. Cookman’s for eats; Hamilton Distillers, 2106 N. Forbes Blvd., will offer desserts and 1912, 2045 N. Forbes Blvd, will feature music from the Bryan Dean Trio.
Info: facebook.com/1912brewing
- Updated
Work up a sweat dancing to the electronic music creations of Flux Pavilion, the English producer and DJ who has worked with and on tracks by the likes of Childish Gambino, Steve Aoki, Skrillex, MIA and Jamiroquai.
Real name Joshua Steele, Flux Pavilion will perform at the Rialto Theatre on Sunday with JayCeeOh opening, starting at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30-$55 through the Rialto box office.
All things avian will be in the spotlight — or, more appropriately, the binoculars — at the sixth annual Southeast Arizona Birding Festival Thursday through Monday, Aug. 11-15.
The festival, hosted by the Tucson Audubon Society, will include field trips to more than 20 bird-watching hotspots in the region, workshops, presentations by speakers and social gatherings.
Based at the Arizona Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St., the festival has a $15 registration fee as well as fees for field trips and other activities.
“The month of August typically brings the most species at one time due to breeding and migration periods,” said Jennie MacFarland, bird conservation biologist for the Tucson Audubon Society. “Specifically, hummingbird species reach peak numbers in August, with over 13 different species of hummingbirds that can be seen. This is more than any other place in the United States.”
Five festival field trips, a workshop and a dinner presentation all involve hummingbirds, and organizers say field trip participants have a good chance of seeing some of the colorful, fast-moving little birds.
Speakers and workshop presenters include Sheri Williamson, director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and Jeffrey Gordon, president of the American Birding Association.
Go online to tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/festival.html for more information.
Los Angeles comedian Felipe Esparza returns to Tucson on Friday, August 12, courtesy of the Latin Comedy Jam series.
Esparza has a national following, thanks in part to that time in 2010 when he won the comedy talent competition, "Last Comic Standing" on NBC.
These days, you are more likely to hear Esparza on his popular podcast, "What's Up Fool?"
The show at the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave., begins at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25 through Ticketmaster.
This weekend is all about the open ocean in Southern Arizona.
On Saturday, the annual Return of the Mermaids gathering will takes place at points downtown and along North Fourth Avenue.
Rumor has it that the monsoons bring the mermaids, who can be found at The Beach downtown, 50 N. Fifth Avenue, at Haggerty Plaza, 316 N. Fourth Ave. and helping out at shops and restaurants up and down Fourth and East Congress Street.
There is a parade and costume contests, with the family friendly atmosphere dropping off to a more adult-themed affair in the evening.
Get the full schedule on the Return of the Mermaids Facebook page.
If you'd prefer to party on the high seas sans flippers, try the Pirates of the High Desert weekend down in Bisbee.
Like the mermaids, the Bisbee pirates can be found all over Old Bisbee with costume parties, pub crawls and even a reggae fest (pirates dig reggae, right?)
Unlike the mermaids, Pirates of the High Desert appears to lean more toward adult activities (read: drinking). Leave the kids at home with grandma.
The weekend fun runs from Friday to Sunday.
More info on the Pirates Facebook page.
The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St., is getting all Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Tucson with its regular Peanut Gallery screening this Saturday.
Each month, the theater picks a classic (or terrible) B film for audience members to heckle for the low, low price of $3.
Constant Con, the comic book convention activity center downtown, will be in the lobby with related merch for purchase.
Need more info? Click here.
A full day (and night) of live music, food and drinking will be had this Saturday at Arizona Hops and Vines in Sonoita as part of the winery's 2016 Bad Decisions camp out.
The event will feature breweries, distilleries, food trucks and local restaurants offering eats and libations. The wines photographed above in 2011 may or may not still be available.
Among the bands performing will be The Jons, The Senators and Santa Pachita.
Added bonus: A meteor shower is slated to occur the night of the big event, for all of the overnight guests.
Admission is $35, which includes a drinking wristband, a souvenir wine glass and ten tasting tickets from open until 6 p.m. It's $80 if you plan to spend the night.
Thunder Canyon Brewery’s downtown location, at 220 E. Broadway, will play host to an art exhibit dubbed “Cult of Nostalgia” starting Saturday.
The show will feature works by local artists paying homage to ’80s and ’90s pop culture, including the video games, television shows and movies of the era.
Think “Reservoir Dogs” and “Edward Scissorhands” with a little “Super Mario Bros.” thrown into the mix.
The show will benefit the Sculpture Resource Center. Thunder Canyon will hold a launch of the exhibition Saturday night running from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Visit facebook.com/thundercanyonbrewery for more information.
Catch a John Wayne classic on the big screen at the Fox Theatre this Saturday.
'Rio Bravo' follows a Texas sheriff who has to fight off a local rancher's gang after the sheriff arrests the rancher's brother.
The movie was filmed at Old Tucson and had a cast that included Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson.
"Rio Bravo" starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $7 through the Fox.
Dragoon Brewing, Hamilton Distillers and 1912 Brewing hope for a repeat of their inaugural Westside Brew House District tour held last month, as they host their second district tour on Saturday, Aug. 13.
One $15 tickets gets you a drink at each of the three locations. Dragoon, 1859 W. Grant Road, will host Mr. Cookman’s for eats; Hamilton Distillers, 2106 N. Forbes Blvd., will offer desserts and 1912, 2045 N. Forbes Blvd, will feature music from the Bryan Dean Trio.
Info: facebook.com/1912brewing
Work up a sweat dancing to the electronic music creations of Flux Pavilion, the English producer and DJ who has worked with and on tracks by the likes of Childish Gambino, Steve Aoki, Skrillex, MIA and Jamiroquai.
Real name Joshua Steele, Flux Pavilion will perform at the Rialto Theatre on Sunday with JayCeeOh opening, starting at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30-$55 through the Rialto box office.
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Pima County Fair returns with all new rides, big name concerts and fun foods 🎡
-
$25 challenge: Inside Warm Shape’s treasure trove of Tucson-made goods
-
44 things to do in Tucson this weekend, April 10-12
-
New Eats! 20 new restaurants that opened up in Tucson this winter 🍽️
-
Over 70 fun events happening in Tucson in April 🎡🐰
-
Vintage band tees take center stage at Tucson’s new shop Almandel
-
Taste 'Mexico in a bottle' at Tucson agave fest this weekend
-
Your Tucson weekend guide: Nearly 50 events happening April 17-19
-
Bloomfest celebrates palo verde blooms and Tucson culture