Events & Entertainment

January

Annual Tucson Quilt Show

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-547-5463

More than 300 quilts and other quilted items are featured.

Southern Arizona Dance Festival

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-885-6273

Square dancers, round dancers and cloggers from all over the USA convene to enjoy and demonstrate dancing.

Family Arts Festival

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center Plaza and El Presidio Park

520-624-0595

Annual celebration of local arts scene, with exhibits, concerts, and performances at family-friendly festival.

ARIPEX Stamp Show

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-791-4101

World-renowned international philatelic (stamp) exhibition.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase

Held in late January – mid February

Location: Multiple throughout the city

800-638-8350

One of the world’s largest marketplaces of its kind, with 37 locations around town, featuring international dealers of precious gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry, and jewelry-making materials.

February

Tubac Festival of the Arts

Held in early – mid February

Location: Historic Drive

520-398-2704

Historic village offers more than 90 galleries, boutiques, and working artists' studios, with art, history, and native crafts.

Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Held in mid February

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-322-5773

Retail and public exhibits of minerals, jewelry, gems, fossils, lapidary creations, geodes, and meteorites by dealers and exhibitors from around the world. Children can visit the junior education table organized by Society of Earth Sciences students from the University of Arizona.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo & Parade

Held mid – late February

Location: Tucson Rodeo Grounds

520-741-7273

One of the top 20 rodeos in North America, featuring a week of championship roping and riding events, one of the world's longest non-motorized parade, and country and western musical entertainment.

Chrysler Classic of Tucson

Held in late February

Location: Omni Tucson National Golf Resort

800-882-7660

Southern Arizona's official PGA Tour golf tournament, with proceeds benefiting youth athletic programs, sponsored since 1945 by Tucson Conquistadores.

Southwest Indian Art Fair

Held in late February

Location: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona

520-626-8381

High quality Indian art fair, featuring 200 artists from around the Southwest, with musical entertainment.

March

Major League Baseball Spring Training

Held the entire month

Location: Tucson Electric Park and Hi Corbett Fields

520-434-1111

Major League Baseball warms up for the regular season as the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and other pro teams play ball practically every day in March.

Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival

Held in early – mid March

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-579-3703

Nationally and internationally renowned chamber music groups perform in the intimate setting of Leo Rich Theater, Tucson Convention Center.

Wingspan FilmFest

Held in mid March

Location: The Loft Cinema

520-624-1779

Films focus on the diverse experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, which present new perspectives on issues concerning the LGBT community.

Aviation Day at Ryan Airfield

Held in mid March

Location: Ryan Airfield

520-883-9800

Dime-a-pound airplane rides, tenant displays and hangar open house, with aircraft displays and airfield tours; refreshments.

Civil War in the Southwest

Held in mid March

Location: Picacho Peak State Park

520-466-3183

History re-enacted by soldiers in period costume, with staged battles, encampments, and demonstrations, at the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona—The Battle of Picacho Pass, April 15, 1862.

Powwow

Held in mid March

Location: Masson San Xavier del Bac

520-294-5727

Annual gathering of local Tohono O'odham Indian people, along with other Native tribes, with dancing, drumming, craftworks, and food.

Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair

Held in mid March

Location: Between Ninth St. & University Boulevard on Fourth Ave.

520-624-5004

Hundreds of arts and crafts booths, food vendors, street musicians and performers, and kids' entertainment.

Ed Schieffelin's Territorial Days

Held in mid March

Location: Tucson

888-457-3929

Stagecoach rides, street performers, log sawing and spike driving contests, duck racing, and pet parade.

April

Wildflower Festival

Held in early April

Location: Tohono Chul Park

520-742-6455

Stroll among penstamens, bluebells, and salvia at their peak, savor gourmet food, and enjoy Southwestern musical favorites at benefit helping to preserve Tohono Chul's art, culture and nature. 

ASUA Spring Fling

Held in early – mid April

Location: Rilito Downs

520-621-5610

One of the nation's largest student-run carnivals features fun rides, midway games, food, and amateur and professional entertainment. 

Spring Home & Patio Show

Held in early April

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-795-3025

Building, landscaping, and home decorating ideas at Tucson Convention Center.

Tombstone Rose Festival

Held in early April

Location: Tucson

888-457-3929

Tribute to world-famous 118-year-old rose tree; picnic-basket auction, cake contest, Rose Parade.

Arizona International Film Festival

Held in mid April

Location: Multiple locations around Tucson

520-628-1737

The latest independent films representing worldwide contemporary cinematic diversity, with opportunities to meet the filmmakers at workshops, seminars and presentations at multiple locations around Tucson.

Tucson International Mariachi Conference

Held in mid April

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-838-3913

This award-winning conference is one of Tucson's largest cultural events and a model for other conferences nationwide, with mariachi music, folkloric dancing, student workshops, a concert at Tucson Convention Center, and a community fiesta at Armory Park. 

May

Cinco de Mayo

Held in early May

Location: Kennedy Park Fiesta Area

520-292-9326

This national holiday in Mexico celebrates an impossible battle won on May 5, 1862, when the French attacked two forts located in the city of Pueblo. Fiesta has dancing, music, crafts, and food.

Wyatt Earp Days

Held in late May

Location:  Tombstone

888-457-3929

Celebrate the life and times of the Old West's most famous lawman in "the town too tough to die," with costumed entertainers, a barbecue, stagecoach rides.

June

Juneteenth Festival

Held in mid June

Location: Kennedy Park Fiesta Area

520-225-2670

Festival commemorates June 19, 1865--the day Southern slaves got word of the Emancipation Proclamation. Food, fashion, crafts and live performances at Kennedy Park Fiesta Area.

July

Hassan Bak: Saguaro Harvest Celebration

Held in early July

Location: La Posta Quemada Ranch

520-647-7121

Celebrate the majestic saguaro cactus during summer harvest time, with saguaro facts, hands-on workshops and Tohono O'odham Rain Dancers.

Tucson's 4th of July Celebration

Held on July 4

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-791-4101

Music, food, and fireworks, beginning at 6 p.m. and featuring Little Anthony’s Classic Car Show; Tucson Fire Department and Southwest Ambulance vehicles for children to explore; performances by the Desert Cadillacs and Neon Prophet. Fireworks display at 9 p.m. 

August

August Festival at Sonoita Vineyards

Held in early August

Location: Sonoita Vineyards

502-455-5893

Commemorating the anticipated bountiful harvest; with grape-stomping contest, tractor-drawn guided vineyard tour and grape-tasting, live music, and local restaurants providing food to complement the wines.

La Fiesta de San Agustin

Held in early – mid August

Location: Armory Park & Saint Augustine Cathedral

520-626-4312
Celebrate Tucson's birthday, with outdoor festival honoring Tucson’s patron saint, Saint Augustine. Live entertainment, art exhibits, speakers, concessions, and mass at Saint Augustine Cathedral.

Tucson Sidewinders Baseball

Held all of August

Location: Tucson Electric Park

520-434-1021

All summer long, AAA affiliate of Arizona Diamondbacks plays baseball at Tucson Electric Park, with give-aways and special events, such as fireworks displays.

Vigilante Days

Held in mid August

Location: Tombstone

888-457-3929

Wild West history comes to life in the streets of the “town too tough to die.”

September

Oktoberfest on Mount Lemmon

Held in mid September

Location: Mount Lemmon Ski Valley

520-885-1181

In the pines and aspens, enjoy German food and beer, music, dancing, and costumes--join the dancing or relax on a blanket on the ski slopes.

Rex Allen Days

Held in late September – early October

Location: Willcox

520-384-2272

A celebration of the contributions of legendary cowboy singer and Willcox native, the late Rex Allen, professional rodeo, parade, concerts, cowboy poetry, music, and food.

October

Anza Days

Dates vary in October

Location: Tubac Presido State Historic Park

520-398-2704

A living history of the Indian, Mexican and Spanish colonial periods. Enjoy "Los Tubaquenos," military demonstrations, folklorico dancers, ethnic music and lots of children's activities.

Buckelew Farm Pumpkin Festival & Corn Maze

Held most of October

Location: 17000 West Aio Way

520-822-2277

Open the last three weekends in October. Horse-drawn wagon rides, U-Pick-It experience (Sat & Sun, days); 15-acre corn maze, haunted corn field (Fri & Sat. nights).

Butterfield Overland Stage Days

Held in mid October

Location: Benson

520-586-2842

Festival commemorates the stop along the mid-1880s stage line that linked St. Louis with San Francisco; also Pony Express reenactment, rodeo, car show, entertainment and food.

Desert Thunder Pro Rodeo

Held in mid October

Location: Tucson Rodeo Grounds

520-721-1621

Competitive professional rodeo with roping contests, bronc busting, and free pony rides for the kids.

Fall Home & Garden Show

Held in mid October

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-795-3025

The latest in building, landscaping, and home decorating products exhibited at Tucson Convention Center.

Festival of Color Hot Air Balloon Rally

Held in mid October

Location: Sierra Vista

800-288-3861

Colorful hot-air balloons fill the blue skies at festival presented by Wells Fargo.

Helldorado Days

Held in mid October

Location: Tombstone

888-457-3929

Tombstone's oldest festival celebrating the rip-roaring heyday of "the town too tough to die," with annual parade, street vignettes, music.

Nightfall: Resurrection

Held in late October

Location: Old Tucson Studios

520-883-0100

A Halloween tradition, with daring stunts, thrilling walk-through adventures, and a trick-or-treat trail, presented as only a movie studio can.

Oro Valley Jazz Festival

Held in late October

Location: Riverfront Park, Oro Valley

520-797-3959

Music, artisans market, food, with New York jazz greats and talented local musicians at Riverfront Park.

Tucson Blues Festival

Held in mid October

Location: DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park

520-791-4079

Hear live music, enjoy great food, and shop for merchandise at this Tucson Blues Society annual event.

Tucson Bluegrass Festival

Held in late October

Location: Pima County Fairgrounds

520-296-1231

Bluegrass and other old-time traditional music performed live.

November

Tucson Fall Festival Horse Show

Held in early November

Location: Pima County Fairgrounds

520-762-9100

Hunter-jumper horse show at Pima County Fairgrounds.

Tucson Celtic Festival

Held in early November

Location: Rilito Park Racetrack

520-743-9291

Annual celebration of Scottish and Irish cultures, with pipe bands, singers, dancers, magicians, and food vendors at Rillito Park Racetrack.

December

El Nacimiento (The Nativity)

Held the entire month of December

Location: Tucson Museum of Art Historic Block

520-624-2333

Traditional Mexican nativity scene showcases more than 300 earthen figurines, displayed at a restored adobe residence dating from the 1800s.

Tucson Marathon & Expo

Held in early December

Location: From Oracle to Oro Valley

520-320-0667

Scenic downhill course, ranked as one of America’s fastest, takes runners from Oracle to Oro Valley and is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Also 5-K, 1- and 2-mile fun runs and half-marathon.

Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair

Held in mid December

Location: Fourth Avenue Shopping District

520-624-5004

Artisans, food vendors, and entertainers from around the country line the streets selling their wares.

Entertainment

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Performances held at the Leo Rich Theatre

520-577-3769

Call for performance schedule

Presenting some of the world's finest chamber music groups: Evening Chamber Music Series, Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, and Sunday Matinee Series "Piano & Friends." Leo Rich Theatre in Tucson Convention Center.

Arizona Opera

3501 N. Mountain Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719

520-293-4336

Call for performance schedule

Five productions each season running Oct. - April in the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. All performances are sung in their original language with English translations projected above the stage.

Arizona Theatre Company

Temple of Music & Art

330 S. Scott Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701

520-622-2823

Call for performance schedule
One of Arizona's leading professional theater companies, performing September through May.

Ballet Arizona

3645 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018
888-322-5538

Call for performance schedule

Ballet Arizona is one of the Southwest's premier professional ballet companies.  Performances held at venues throughout the state.

Broadway in Tucson

260 S Church Ave

Tucson, AZ 85702

520-903-2929

Call for performance schedule

Broadway in Tucson brings Broadway's best to downtown Tucson with performances at the Tucson Convention Center's Music Hall and Leo Rich Theatre.

Invisible Theatre

1400 N. First Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719

520-882-9721

Season runs September - June

Call for performance schedule

One of Tucson's premier off-Broadway theatres features fine contemporary comedy, drama, and music.

Tucson Jazz

721 N Fourth Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
520-903-1265

Call for performance schedule

The source for Tucson's jazz scene. Generations of promoting, presenting and preserving America's music through concerts and educational activities.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra

2175 N. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85705

520-882-8585

Call for performance schedule

Serving Tucson and Southern Arizona with music of the highest caliber in a series of classics, pops, chamber, and family.