Updated 10/2/23 – Cooler weather brings us outside again. There are plenty of events to keep us busy this month.
Scroll down to find out what’s become of our quiet little town. There are so many events now offered on a weekly basis. We are presenting you with but a SMATTERING here. Southern Arizona Guide seeks out under-served events and community projects and brings deserved notice to them here. You are welcome to submit your own events for consideration here. We focus on benefits, free events, and events of interest to the general public as well as our supporters. If you wish to support our efforts to bring Southern Arizona to a growing number of interested people by advertising and supplying event to our calendar, please contact us.
Check here or FIND an EVENT on our full calendar.
If you don’t find it here, you can visit our page on websites that publish their events. We have organized them by type of activity for ease of use. Choose the ones that look interesting to you.
OUR PICK(S) THIS WEEK
September 2 – October 8, 2023
If you can’t find it here, look at our new list of websites that have Special Events here.
Tucson Meet Yourself if family-friendly fun.
OCTOBER 2023
• Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show and Sale – September 30 – October 1, 2023
• Butterfly Magic at TBG, October 1 – May 31, 2023
• Rex Allen Days Willcox – September 29 – October 2, 2022
• Graham County Fair – October 5 – 8, 2023
• Annual Sonoita Quarter Horse Show – October 5-8, 2023
• SAHBA Fall Home & Garden Show – October 6-8 2023
• Sky Island Tour – Bicycle event. Sierra Vista, October 7, 2023
• Annual Evening of Play at the Children’s Museum, October 7, 2023
• Annual Art in the Park – Sierra Vista, October 7 – 8, 2023
• Annual Fall Plant Sale at Tohono Chul, October 11 (Members), October 13-14 general public, 2023
• Loft Film Festival, October 11 – 19, 2023
• Country Thunder, October 11-14, 2024 Note the Year.
• Tucson Meet Yourself – October 13 – 15, 2023
• Sky Islands Fall Festival – October 14 & 15, 2023
• Butterfield Stage Days and Rodeo – October 14 – 15, 2023, Benson
• Marana Fall Festival, October 15, 2023
• Helldorado Days Tombstone – October 20-22, 2023
• Boo at the Zoo, October 20 – 29, 2023
• Oro Valley Fall Artisan’s Market, October 21&22, 2023
• Annual Classic Car Show – October 21, 2023
• Arts in the Plaza – St. Philips Plaza, 2023? Don’t see it yet.
• Willcox Wine Festival – October 20 – 22, 2023
• Annual Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb – October 23, 2023
• Annual Membrillo Festival, October 15, 2022 TBA 2023
• Bordertown, Tombstone, October 24-29, 2023
• Fall Ikebana Festival, October 26- November 5, 2023
• Chiles, Chocolate and Day of the Dead, October 27 – 28, 2023
• Bisbee Go Cart Races, October 28, 2023
• Nightfall Returns to Old Tucson, September 29 – October 29, 2023. Get your tickets now.
HALLOWEEN FUN
• Nightfall Returns to Old Tucson, September 29 – October 29, 2023. Get your tickets now.
• Glowing Pumpkins at Tohono Chul Park, throughout October. Find out more here.
• The Slaughterhouse is Now open in Tucson. Through October. Find out more about this haunted house and get tickets.
• Candlelight Concerts in Tucson, A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics. Pick a date in October here. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Sounds like Great fun.
• For the Candlelight Halloween Concerts in Phoenix, find out more here.
Check out our Performing Arts page, listing venues, and websites. Season Tickets for many venues are now on sale.
As always, please verify with the event organizer that the event is taking place.
Visiting Southern Arizona and looking for what will be happening while you are here?
Our Annual Events Page will help you plan your visit!
We are members of the Tucson Attraction Alliance. And if you have not purchased your Book of Fun yet, do so now.
It is full of discounts for over 100 venues we recommend.
To assist you, Newly Posted Events this week on this page may be highlighted.
SAVE THESE DATES!
Please consider a Membership or Donation to your favorite Venue.
Check out our Performing Arts Page. All the great venues for Tucson and Southern Arizona.
• The Loft Cinema is having its Fall Membership Drive. Free Passes! the Loft Film Fest is October 11 -19.
Sign up early. Tickets sell out fast.
• Mission Garden Tour to Oaxaca, October 10 -17.
• The FOX Theatre Family Series has some great shows for kids this summer. Check it out here.
• Save this Date for the 65 Roses Gala Benefit for Cystic Fibrosis at the Lodge on the Desert in Tucson and the Scottsdale McCormick. Saturday, October 28.
• Who Murdered Tim Burton. A Mystery Dinner and more. October 13, 2023
• Broadway in Tucson has announced the 2023 – 2024 season.
• Register for Tucson Parks and Recreation’s new Classes and Programs. Check them out. Class sizes are limited. Classes are for ALL AGES.
Festivals, Arts & Entertainment
Check out our Performing Arts Page. All the great venues for Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Please consider a membership or donation to your favorite venue. It’s worth keeping our community going.
Be sure you know what each venue’s protocols are before purchasing a ticket.
This Week
• Marana Fall Festival and Octoberfest at the Pumpkin Patch, October 7 – 29
• The Van Gogh Immersive Experience has been held over through December. Get your tickets for Van Gogh here.
• Nightfall at Old Tucson, Weekends, through October 29
• Tombstone Wine Celebration, October 7 – 8
• Apple Annies Fall Pumpkin Celebration. Willcox, This weekend.
• The Arizona Folklore Preserve is back. Take a drive out to beautiful Ramsey Canyon this weekend. Enjoy the fall weather.
ONGOING
• Congress Cookout on the Plaza, 5 pm – 8 pm Sundays.
• There is always something going on at the Oro Valley Music Hall.
• Club Congress always has something going on and from time to time there will be an event on the plaza.
• The Fred Fox School of Music has some wonderful musical events all season long. They are either free or very inexpensive. So if you are on a budget and love music, this is the place.
• Cave Tours for Photographers at Kartchner Caverns State Park. 3rd Saturdays.
• Check out our Annual Events Page.
• The Loft Cinema is open. Tickets may be purchased online or at the box office. Please read, and Sign up for a membership. The Loft is a Tucson Tradition.
See more on our Calendar of Events this week.
MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS
• The Van Gogh Immersive Experience has been held over through December. Get your tickets for Van Gogh here.
• Plein Arts Exhibit at the Tubac Center of the Arts, Through November 12, 2023
• Degrazia in Black and White continues in October.
• 2nd Sundays at the Tucson Museum of Art. Pay what you wish. Family Activities – 11 am to 2 pm.
• Tubac Center of the Arts offers Workshops and Classes. See the schedule for 2023.
• Second Sundaze – FREE Family Day at the Tucson Museum of Art, Every Second Sunday.
• Tucson Museum of Art is now open Thursday – Sunday. 10am – 5pm. You must reserve your 2-hour slot.
• Biosphere 2 is OPEN! Take a tour with the TOUR APP. Make a reservation!
COMMUNITY
• Friday’s BICAS ARTS CORNER. Come make Art from Salvaged Bike Parts.
• The Last Friday of the month at the MSA Annex is the Summer Night Market. Come hang out from 6 – 10 pm through September.
• Sign up for Free and Almost Free Assorted Classes from Pima County. Painting, Line Dancing, Birding, and Skeet Shooting are some. Check it out.
• 2nd Saturdays at the Garden Kitchen, 10 – 11:30 am
Benefits & Volunteering
• Save this Date for the 65 Roses Gala Benefit for Cystic Fibrosis at the Lodge on the Desert in Tucson and the Scottsdale McCormick. Saturday, October 28.
• Who Murdered Tim Burton. A Mystery Dinner and more. October 13, 2023
Food Pantries & Markets
• The Last Friday of the month at the MSA Annex is the Summer Night Market. Come hang out from 6 – 10 pm through September.
• The Mercado Flea Market starts up again in October on the Second Second Sunday of the month through May.
• St. Philip’s Farmers Market is back, Saturdays.
• Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market at the Mercado, brought to you by the Community Food Bank is from 4 pm – 7 pm Thursday evenings.
• Second Saturdays at Steam Pump Ranch are full of Music as well as your favorite shopping. And visit the historic Steam Pump Ranch.
• 2nd Saturdays at the Garden Kitchen
• The Community Food Bank is distributing emergency food boxes at its headquarters, 8 am – 1 pm, Wednesday – Fridays.
• The Merchants Garden has fresh Farm-to-table, Lettuce, Basil, and Tilapia with drive-through convenience. Discounts for military members, health professionals, TUSD, U Arizona and Pima students and teachers, and individuals on food stamps. Thursday – Saturdays.
• You can find other Farmer’s Markets on our page here.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
• For you Eastside dwellers: If you love wildlife and animals, please consider volunteering at the Tucson Wildlife Center. They really need your help and donations.
• Empire Ranch Restoration Work 1st Saturdays most months 8-12 pm. Help preserve our heritage.
• On the Westside you can Volunteer at PACC, Pima Animal Care Center. They desperately need your help. And if you are a hiker you can get your exercise walking dogs! Please help. It means a world of difference to the animals. They also have a foster program.
• Did you know that the Arizona State Museum has Docent Training Programs?
• The Mission Garden always needs Gardeners, Greeters, and Go-Getters!
• Reid Park Zoo has many volunteer positions available.
and so much more volunteer help is needed. IF you have a need for volunteers, send us a note.
History, Culture, Education & Tours
THIS WEEK
• Mansions of Main Avenue, Saturday, October 7. A walking tour.
• Mainly Murals Walking Tour, Saturday, October 7.
Ongoing
• Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake State Park. Saturdays
• Take a look around the Presidio del Tucson on a Virtual Tour.
• Visit Casa Grande National Monument. The Visitor’s Center and the compound with the Big House and ruins, and picnic area are open Tuesdays – Saturdays. It’s FREE!
• The Pima County Library is a great resource for everyone. Take a look at this page at the Pima County Library• It’s Archaeology Day at the Mission Gardens, every 4th Saturday through Spring 2023.
• The new Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is a must-see. Great Shows coming up.
Classes / Lectures / Talks
• Sign up for Tucson Parks and Rec’s classes and workshops. Sign up early. Pima County offers free and low-cost classes to all.
• Tubac Center of the Arts offers Workshops and Classes for budding artists. See the schedule for 2022 – 23.
GARDENS & NATURE!
WEEKLY
• Marana Fall Festival and Octoberfest at the Pumpkin Patch, October 7 – 29
• Apple Annies Fall Pumpkin Celebration, through October 29.
• Bird Walks at the Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park, Wednesday’s
• Support Tohono Chul and the Monarch Milkweed Project today!
• How about a Guided Bird Walk at Patagonia Lake State Park. Saturdays.
• Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake State Park. Saturdays at 9 am
• Go Birding with the Audubon. Check it out. Class sizes are limited.
MONTHLY
• Music in the Park, Catalina State Park, First Saturdays.
• San Pedro River Interpretive Walks, First and Third Saturdays at 9 am
• Saturdays at the Garden Kitchen, every second Saturday, 10 – 11:30 am.
• Mission Garden Archaeology Day, 4th Saturdays. 8 am – 12pm
• Tohono O’odham Gardening at the Mission Garden, every Third Saturday from 8 – 12 pm
Kids & Families
THIS WEEK
• Marana Fall Festival and Octoberfest at the Pumpkin Patch, October 7 – 29
• Glowing Pumpkins at Tohono Chul Park, throughout October. Find out more here.
• The Oro Valley Children’s Museum is open at Tohono Chul Park. Check it out.
• The Gadsden Toy Train Museum is open for the season. Come visit any Sunday, but please check first.
• Children’s Entrepreneur’s Market, on 4th Avenue. Saturday, October 7 from 10 am – 1pm
MONTHLY
• 2nd Saturdays – Art After Dark, at the Children’s Museum. 5:30 – 7:30 pm FREE.
• The 3rd Saturday of every month is Make N Take Model Airplane Day at the Pima Air N Space Museum.
VIRTUAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE KIDS
• The Arizona Historical Society has many educational fun ideas for kids and families. A wealth of ideas here.
• The Children’s Museum has stepped up with a great group of activities for Children in the Playology Playbook!
• Take a look at this page at the Pima County Library. They have some great free videos for kids here.