Events Dec. 2013
Fri 6
TEDX TUCSON Chuk Shon To Tucson will feature TED videos, artists, live music and seven speakers. $21. Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St. 740-0071, TedXTucson.com
TUCSON FESTIVAL OF TREES A celebration for the holiday season and benefit for the Arizona Oncology Foundation. Twelve elegantly designed holiday trees, wreaths and arrangements will be displayed. 6:15pm. $75. Savory Opera House, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 870-6060, ArizonaOncologyFoundation.org
Fri 6-Sat 7
BICAS ART AUCTION Art, music, bikes, libations, food trucks, kids activities and more. Fri, 6pm-10pm. Sat, 11am-5pm & 6pm-9pm. Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. 5th St. 628-7950, Bicas.org
Sat 7
TAMAL & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Experience the rich flavors of the tamale in a fun-filled day of art, culture and entertainment. Free. 10am-5pm. Ava Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Rd. CasinoDelSol.com
ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL Musical performances by The Tucson Junior Strings, The Tucson Boys Chorus, a magic show by Chris Wright, Story Telling and crafts by Ben’s Bells. $5. 10am-4pm. AHS Arizona History Museum, 949 E. 2nd Street. 628-5774, ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org
1ST SATURDAY ART WALK Walking tour of Central Tucson Gallery Association’s participation galleries and museums. 6pm-9pm. Downtown art galleries along 6th Street, 6th Avenue, Congress Street, Toole Avenue and 4th Avenue. FirstSaturdayArtWalks.com
ART ON TAP Craft beer festival presenting sixteen Arizona craft breweries, food trucks and musical performances by Carlos Arzate and the Kind Souls and Saint Maybe. $20-$65. Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. 624-2333, TucsonMuseumOfArt.org
Sun 8
13TH ANNUAL SUGAR PLUM TEA Features a festive holiday boutique, silent auction and a narration of the Nutcracker story with characters from the ballet. 11am and 3pm. $75 per person. Marriott Tucson University Park, 880 E. 2nd St. 745-3000, BalletTucson.org
Ballet Tucson holds its 13th annual Sugar Plum Tea on Sun, Dec 8.
Photo by Ed Flores
Tue 10
CHAMPAGNE & MISTLETOE: A VICTORIAN HOLIDAY AUCTION Annual holiday celebration featuring live and silent auctions and food to benefit the National Association of Women Business Owners. 3:30pm-6:30pm. The Historic Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Ave. 326-3926, NawboTucson.org
Fri, Dec 13-Sun, Dec 15
4TH AVENUE STREET FAIR 400 arts and crafts booths, 35 food vendors, performance stages, street musicians, food, jugglers, kids entertainment, face painting, balloons, more. 10am-6pm. Free. 624-5004, FourthAvenue.org
Sat 14
SANTA LANDING Breakfast buffet, crafts for kids, and Santa flying in by helicopter! Adults;$12.25-$15.50. Children, $9. Under 6, free. 8:30am-2pm. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Rd. 618-4850, PimaAir.org
STUFF THE HUMMERS FOR CHILDREN IN TUCSON Toy Drive and Car Show being put on by Sullivan’s Steakhouse. 9:30am-noon. Sullivan’s Steakhouse,1785 E. River Rd. StuffTheHummers.com
PRESIDIO LUMINARIA FESTIVAL A living history celebration to welcome the holiday season. Free. 5pm-9pm. Presidio San Agustín del Tucson, 133 W. Washington St. 837-8119, TucsonPresidioTrust.org
2ND SATURDAYS A monthly downtown festival with live music, performers, and vendors! 3pm-8pm. Free. Scott Avenue Stage: Payphone Mafia, Tesoro, The Long Wait. Santa at MEB Management, 120 E. Congress St., 4pm-7pm. Kids Area with Cinema La Placita & Southern AZ Transportation Museum at 414 N. Toole Ave., 4pm-8pm – interactive magic, art & train activities; 5:30pm, screening of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966). 2ndSaturdays.com
Tesoro performs at 2nd Saturdays Dec. 14, 4:15pm-5:30pm. Photo courtesy Tesoro
Sun 15
LA FIESTA DE GUADALUPE The annual family festival celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe with spirited outdoor performances by youthful mariachi and ballet folklorico groups. 10am-4pm. Free Degrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Rd. 299-9191, Degrazia.org
BOHEMIAN HOLIDAY: AN ARTISAN’S SHOWCASE Over 25 artists are selling unique items for your special gift-giving needs (and also offering raffle prizes). Includes live performances by some of Tucson’s best musicians. Noon-6pm. YWCA Tucson, 525 N. Bonita Ave. More info here or call 884-7810.
Sat 21
9TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXPRESS Write letters to the North Pole, listen to a reading of The Polar Express, watch a screening of The Polar Express, and take a photo with Santa in front of Locomotive 1673. Bring a can of food for the community food bank. Free. 2pm-4pm. 414 N. Toole Ave. 623-2223, TucsonHistoricDepot.org
19TH ANNUAL PARADE OF LIGHTS Young and old bask in the warmth of shimmering, lighted floats, vehicles and musical groups winding through Downtown, includes Santa Claus himself! Free. 6:30pm-8pm. Armory Park, 221 S. 6th Ave. 837-6504, DowntownTucson.org
Santa at the 2013 Parade of Lights.
Photo: Scott Griessel. Courtesy Downtown Tucson Partnership
Tue 31
TUCSON JAZZ SOCIETY 8TH ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE GALA Join The Tucson Jazz Orchestra, The Jim McCullum Jazz Band and George Howard’s Motown and Rhythm & Blues Show to celebrate the Tucson Jazz Society’s 8th Annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular. 6:30pm. Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr. 903-1265, TucsonJazz.org
RESOLUTION 2014: A GLAMOUR & GLITZ NEW YEARS EVE Enjoy a state of the art light and multimedia show, and participate in a champagne toast at Aloft! Hosted by Tucson Young Professionals. $75 pre-sale (available here), $85 at door. 9pm-2am. aLoft, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd. MeetUp.com/tucson-young-professionals
ONGOING
TUCSON FOOD TOURS Tucson’s only walking food tour. Combination of foods and a little history of downtown Tucson. Takes you through the historic downtown and 4th Avenue districts of Tucson. See website for dates. 477-7986, FoodToursTucson.com
WILDCAT HOCKEY Wildcats take to the ice on Fri, Dec 6 and Sat, Dec 7 against Arizona State. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. 7:30pm. Prices vary. ArizonaWildcatHockey.org
Sat, Dec 14-Sat, Dec 28
WINTERHAVEN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 63rd Annual Festival of Lights. Central Tucson neighborhood adorned with holiday decorations, using LED lights. Walk through every night. Drive-through on Dec 17, 27, 28. Free. 6pm-10pm. Winterhaven Neighborhood, in between Fort Lowell Road, Prince Road, Country Club, Tucson Boulevard. 881-4483, WinterhavenFestival.org
Mondays
MEET ME AT MAYNARDS (@Hotel Congress) Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ Monday evening, non-competitive, social 3-mile run/walk, that begins and ends downtown at Hotel Congress, rain/shine/holidays included. 311 E. Congress St. 991-0733, MeetMeAtMaynards.com
Category: Arts, Community, DOWNTOWN / UNIVERSITY / 4TH AVE, Entertainment, Events, MUSIC, RECREATION, Shopping
