Tucson summer bucket list: 30+ things to do in June

Friday, June 1

Ballet Rincon is on its toes with its performance of “Coppelia,” a romp through the intriguing life of a mysterious inventor. It’s 7 p.m. at Vail Theater of the Arts, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way on the Empire High School campus. Another chance to catch it: 7 p.m. June 2. $12-$16. 574-2804 or ballet-rincon.com

Reservations open for the season’s last moonlit rides through Sabino Canyon. Reservations must be made by June 17. See June 25 for details.

Also, Flandrau’s Eos Planetarium Theater on the University of Arizona campus will present a new laser show, “Laser Stranger Things,” to transport you into this retro realm and the spooky Upside Down, starting on Friday, June 1. 

Find more information here. 

Saturday, June 2

You’ll get a full night of Frights at The Loft Cinema’s All-Nite Scream-O-Rama. It starts at 7 p.m. with “Scream” and continues showing movies all night long. The last, “The Beyond,” starts at 5:30 a.m. The Loft is at 3233 E. Speedway. It’s $15 in advance, $17 at the door. 795-0844, loftcinema.org

Sunday, June 3

Soul singer Carla Cooke — her dad was the great Sam Cooke — performs at Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile. The concert starts at 6 p.m. $15. Montereycourtaz.com

Monday, June 4

Cool off and be amazed: Take a guided tour of Colossal Cave, where the temperature is always 70 degrees. The hourlong tour is about one-half mile long, and spelunking gear isn’t necessary — wear what you are comfortable in. They are daily with the first starting at 9 a.m. and the last at 3:30 p.m. It’s $18; half that for children 5-12. 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail Road. 647-7275, colossalcave.com

Tuesday, June 5

The Sons of the Pioneers croon cowboy music better than most. They perform at 7 p.m. at the Green Valley Recreation West Center, 111 GVR Drive in Green Valley. Tickets are $32. 625-0288 or gvrec.org.

Wednesday, June 6

Etherton Gallery is hanging works by some of the greatest photographers of the last century, including Harry Callahan, W. Eugene Smith and Robert Frank. Also on view at the gallery through Aug. 31 are Kate Breakey’s large, hand-colored photographs. The gallery is at 135 S. Sixth Ave. While on view now, the reception is 7-10 p.m. June 9. The Gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Free. 624-7370, ethertongallery.com.

Thursday, June 7

Tucson Museum of Art is free from 5-8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. Cool programs and cool art. 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, tucsonmuseumofart.org.

Lisa Otey and Doña Oxford play boogie-woogie piano tunes requested by the audience. It’s happening at 6 p.m. at the Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley. $15. 529-1000 or gaslightmusichall.com.

The Argentinean pop and rock band Enanitos Verdes and Hombres G liven up the stage at AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road. The sounds start at 8 p.m. $35. 1-855-765-7829 or casinodelsol.com/event/enanitos-verdes-hombres-g.

Friday, June 8

Larry and His Flask cruises into Club Congress for a concert with one goal: stompin’, dancin’ and clappin’. The band starts at 8 p.m. and the show is 21 and over. Tickets are $15-$17. Club Congress is at 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, hotelcongress.com.

Saturday, June 9

Ready for a trip back in time? You’ll get that with The Yardbirds, who gave us some of the greatest songs of the 1960s. They are at the Rialto Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28-$52.50. 740-1000, Rialtotheatre.com.

Sunday, June 10

Desert Voices brighten up a summer Sunday with its “Celebrating the Spectrum” concert. An eclectic music program is promised. It’s 3 p.m. at The Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 791-9662, eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-the-spectrum-2018-tickets-43957071785.

Monday, June 11

If you missed Woodstock, or want to relive it, here ya go: The Gaslight Theatre is packing those three days of peace and love and great rock ’n’ roll into a two-hour concert. It’s at 7 p.m. at the Gaslight, 7010 E. Broadway. $22.95. 886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com.

Tuesday, June 12

One person’s trash is another person’s art. Debbie Gill uses only garbage-bound items for her miniatures, from plastic lids to magazines to small appliances. Her creations are on view at the The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455  E. Camp Lowell Drive. It’s open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. The exhibit continues through Aug. 26. 881-0606, theminitimemachine.org. 

Also, the Star is hosting it's Tucson Storytellers: Food and Family event at the Mercado San Agustin. Join us as we celebrate the vibrant and diverse food culture in Tucson. From our love of tamales and tacos to family restaurateurs and growers, we’ll be sharing stories about the tastes that help bring us together.

Find more info here. 

Wednesday, June 13

The Postal History Foundation’s museum is a trip back in time. Exhibits include an 1895 Post Office that once served Naco, and another that chronicles the hazards of mail delivery in early Arizona through paintings by artist Cal Peters. The museum is open 9 a.m.-2:30 Mondays through Friday. It’s at 920 N. First Ave. Free. 623-6652, postalhistoryfoundation.org.

Thursday, June 14

Country music crooner Brantley Gilbert moseys into Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater with his “The Ones That Like Me” tour at 8 p.m. $40. 5655 W. Valencia Road. 1-855-765-7829, casinodelsol.com/event/brantley-gilbert

Celebrate artist Ted DeGrazia’s birthday (he would have been 109 this year) at the Gallery in the Sun. Cruise through the grounds, see art, and indulge in cake and ice cream. Entry into the gallery is usually $8, but in honor of Ted's birthday, today it's free admission, free ice cream and free cake. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily at 6300 N. Swan Road, 299-9191, degrazia.org

Friday, June 15

The LoBros band will liven things up with its Latin jazz at the Friday Night Live Jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. at Geronimo Plaza , 800 E. University Blvd. It’s free. maingatesquare.com.

Saturday, June 16

This one’s for the 21+ crowd: Brew at the Zoo will offer local craft beers, music, and some up-close-and-personal time with the animals (those that are awake, anyway). It’s 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court. $45, and that includes 14 tasting tickets. 881-4753 or reidparkzoo.org/event/brew-at-the-zoo-2018.

Local playwrights take center stage with “Three Lonely Plays and A Day At the Park,” four original short plays, at Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. It’s at 10:30 p.m. Too late? Catch the 7 p.m. June 17 performance. $10. Age 16 and up. 327-4242 or livetheatreworkshop.org.

It took two years for the news that slavery had been abolished to reach Texas — that happened June 19, 1865. The Juneteenth celebration (a combo of June and 19) marks the occasion. Tucson event will feature music, historical presentations and arts and crafts. It’s at the Dunbar Cultural Center, 325 W. Second St. It’s 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and it’s free. Check out the Tucson Juneteenth Celebration on Facebook.

Sunday, June 17

Robert Shaw and the Lonely Street Band will make you think Johnny Cash is in the building with their “Man in Black: The Music of Johnny Cash” show. It’s at 2 p.m. at the Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley. $30. 529-1000, gaslightmusichall.com.

Tucson playwright Monica Bauer pulls from her own experiences for her new play, “Brand New Jew, a DNA Comedy,” which she will perform at 2 p.m. at Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. The solo show is about an adoptee who takes a DNA test and finds there was much she didn’t know about herself. It’s free.

Monday, June 18

If you are up for a bit of stargazing, check this out: Oracle State Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2014. The lack of light pollution there means you can easily spot the Milky Way and other celestial delights. The American Avenue parking area is accessible after dark. The Park is at 3820 Wildlife Drive, 896-2425, azstateparks.com/oracle.

Tuesday, June 19

Looking to improve your tennis game? Try the El Conquistador Summer Tennis Adult Clinics. You’ll be learning from pros. It’s $20 a class — $18 if you are a member. Lessons are at 9 a.m. at 10555 North La Cañada Drive. 544-1780, elcongolfandtennis.com.

Wednesday, June 20

Architectural preservationist Simon Herbert will lead a walk through Canoa Ranch in Green Valley, discussing the processes and materials used to restore the historic ranch. It’s free. It’s at 5375 S. I-19 Frontage Road in Green Valley. 724-5220, webcms.pima.gov.

Thursday, June 21

The up-and-coming rock band La Luz is on tour and makes a stop at Club Congress. Opening is Summer Twins. Doors open at 7 p.m. 311 E. Congress St. Tickets are $10. 622-8848, hotelcongress.com.

Friday, June 22

The University of Arizona Museum of Art will fill its galleries this summer with works from high school students. Art teachers made the selections for the exhibit. The works are on view through Aug. 26. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. It’s in the UA’s Fine Arts Complex, near North Park Avenue and East Speedway. Admission is $8. 621-7567, artmuseum.arizona.edu/visit/hours-location.

Saturday, June 23

Tucson’s Iron Chef competition pits local chefs against each other. And just like that TV show of the same name, they will have a surprise secret ingredient they have to use. The competition starts at 5 p.m. The Culinary Experience — a showcase of products and services for foodies — is noon to 5 p.m. It’s all happening at Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Tickets to the Culinary Experience alone are $25; that and the actual competition are $40. ironcheftucson.com.

Sunday, June 24

The Dia de San Juan Procession and Fiesta celebrates water and, hopefully, brings the rains. Music, food, dancing and the traditional procession are 6-10 p.m. at Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. It’s free. 336-4654.

Monday, June 25

A moonlit ride through Sabino Canyon is a must-do, but you must do it this day or June 26 — the last time the shuttles go up the canyon until the fall. It leaves at 9 p.m. Cost is $10; $5 for 3-12 year olds. Reservations are a must — and they are taken between June 1 and 17. 749-2327, sabinocanyon.com.

Tuesday, June 26

The Sonoran desert in the summer means rattlesnakes. And dogs are so curious. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Rattlesnake Avoidance Training will teach your pup how to steer clear. Pricey — $105 — but your canine pal is priceless, right? Training is at 635 W. Roger Road and classes are 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 25. Registration is necessary. 327-6088, hssaz.org/services/education/education-for-adults/rattlesnake.

Wednesday, June 27

A full moon on a Tucson summer night is a special treat, especially if you are strolling the trails with a naturalist leading the way. It’s 7-9 p.m. at Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road. Wear good walking shoes, and bring water and a flashlight. It’s free. Register online: apm.activecommunities.com. 724-5375.

Thursday, June 28

Live Theatre Workshop takes us back to Tuna, Texas, and all the wonderfully wacky characters there in “Red, White, and Tuna.” All those characters are played by two actors. You will laugh, we promise. It’s at 7:30 p.m. at Live Theatre, 5317 E. Speedway, and it continues through July 15. Tickets are $20. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.

Friday, June 29

Arts Express stages “Big Fish,” a musical about a man who tells extravagant tales to his son, who longs to find the truth behind the stories before his father dies. Performances are at Crowder Hall, in the University of Arizona School of Music at the UA Fine Arts Complex, North Park Avenue and East Speedway. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $20. Performances run through July 8. 319-0400, arts-express.org.

Saturday, June 30

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Cool Summer Night zero in on pack rats, essential desert critters. It’s 5-10 p.m. at the museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. Admission is $16.95 for Arizona and Sonoran residents; otherwise, it’s $21.95. 883-2702, desertmuseum.org.