The Tucson Museum of Art’s Holiday Artisans Market fills the museum’s courtyards, lobby and plaza 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Nov. 20-22.
It’s a fall favorite and here’s why:
The art for sale: There will be more than 100 juried artisans of finely crafted pottery, glass, jewelry, textiles, fine art and gift items.
The art on exhibit: The museum is free all three days. (It has a nifty gift shop, too.)
The setting: The museum’s downtown setting and historic buildings on a lovely autumn day is Tucson at its finest.
El Nacimiento: The opening of El Nacimiento at the Tucson Museum of Art’s historic Casa Cordova is a fall tradition that you will find only in Tucson.
The intricate nativity scene was created by folk artist Maria Luisa Tena. It’s well worth a trip to see this lovingly built exhibit of scenes that tell the Christmas story, as well as other Bible stories.
Housed in a separate room since 2009, according to Star archives, the elaborate 800-piece Nativity installation has been presented in Tucson from November to March since 1978.
The food: Café a la C’Art, on the property, will be open during the art market. There also will be food trucks and El Charro Café, 311 N. Court Ave., is only a few minutes away.
The music: Tucson’s Mariachi Sonido de Mexico will perform at 11 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the reopening of El Nacimiento. Tucson Kitchen Musicians perform Saturday and Sunday.
The books: The museum library will hold its annual book sale in the museum’s education center.
The buy-local campaign kickoff: Tucson’s Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will kick off Local First Arizona’s Buy Local Month at 11:45 a.m. Saturday.
