Friday, December 22, 2017 / by Marisa Knott
This Weekend in Tucson 12/22-12/24
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
TUCSON ATTRACTIONS
SIGHTS/MUSEUMS: GOLF:
Kitt Peak Observatory Loews Ventana Canyon
Colossal Cave La Paloma Country Club
Kartchner Caverns Rancho Mañana Golf Club
Old Tucson Studios SHOPPING:
Pima Air & Space Museum Park Place Mall
Arizona Historical Society Foothills Mall
Mission San Xavier del Bac Tucson Premium Outlets
Tucson Children's Museum La Encantada Shopping Center
FRIDAY EVENTS
FARMERS’ MARKET
Fridays | 10am-2pm | Banner UMC
Bringing the freshest produce and other local food products to the faculty, staff, patients, students, and public. With over 20 vendors, there is sure to be something for everyone.
FRIDAY FOOD, FUN, AND FLIX
Friday | 4pm-9pm | Jacome Plaza Downtown | Free
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy holiday movies under the stars, dinner from popular Tucson Food Trucks including popcorn and fun pre-movie activities such as lawn games, table tennis, and human-sized board games. Free Photos with Santa - Bring your camera! Movie: A Christmas Story
98º AT CHRISTMAS TOUR
Friday | 7pm | Diamond Center | $25+
Concert goers can expect a high-energy 98° show featuring holiday songs from their new album Let It Snow, as well as their beloved hits. Pre-concert happy hour from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Plaza.
SATURDAY EVENTS
BIRD WALK
Saturday | 9am-11am | San Pedro House | Free
Observe 25-50 species on these popular two- to three-hour bird walks. Wear appropriate attire for walking and weather, and bring at least one quart of water per person.
32ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MIRACLE IN BARRIO ANITA
Saturday | 11am-3pm | Anita’s Street Market | Free
Santa will arrive to hand Deliver the Toys and Candy Bags to the Kids of Tucson! Anita's will also be giving free hot dogs and drinks, free haircuts for children, free popcorn, free ferris wheel rides, jumping castle, DJ, mariachi, face painting, free raffle to win a bike.
JEWELRY MAKE IT AND TAKE IT
Saturday | 1pm-3pm | Deco | Free
Create your own holiday gift this year! The store’s bead bar is available for you to come and create your own bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Everyone loves to receive a gift that was personally created just for them. Need some help? Deco’s bead expert, Marlies, will be there to help.
SUNDAY EVENTS
CHRISTMAS EVE EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE
Sunday | 9:30am-9:30pm | Christ Presbyterian Church | Free
Experience the church’s outdoor Bethlehem Experience and Live Pageant called Journey to Bethlehem starting at 9:30am. Live animals, food, and meaningful fun for your whole family. The Candlelight Service is also on Christmas Eve and starts with special music at 8:45PM and the service begins at 9pm.
ELVES GONE BAD: INTERACTIVE HOLIDAY THEATER
Sunday | 1pm-2:30pm | Unscrewed Theater | $5
Like so many snowbirds, Mrs. Claus has convinced Santa to retire to Tucson. All the suddenly unemployed elves are convinced by the evil Pirate Captain to become pirates and steal presents instead of delivering them! So many sobbing children everywhere – what will they do? Can Santa be convinced return to the North Pole to challenge the Pirate Captain? Children and adults are encouraged to participate onstage or from their seats in this improvisational holiday children’s play.
COOKING WITH PRICKLY PEAR TALK
Sunday | 3:15pm-3:45pm | Saguaro National Park (West) | $15/car
Learn how you can incorporate prickly pear into your diet. This program will show you how to collect and prepare prickly pear. Prepare for a sweet treat! Wheelchair accessible.
WEEKEND-LONG EVENTS
THE MIRACLE ON CONGRESS ST
Friday 4-9pm | Saturday & Sunday 11am-9pm | 260 E Congress St | Free
A winter wonderland extravaganza! Featuring arts & crafts activities, Christmas music as well as live music performances, and special gift-drive and donation events with charity sponsors. Free Santa photos for all the good little boys and girls.
BALLET TUCSON PRESENTS: THE NUTCRACKER
Friday 7:30pm | Saturday 2pm & 7:30pm | Sunday 1pm | Tucson Music Hall | $17+
Ballet Tucson's beloved production continues its tradition of filling audiences with the joy and wonder of the holiday season.
CULT CLASSICS: DIE HARD (R)
Friday-Sunday | 10pm | The Loft Cinema | $6
Deck the Halls with Bruce and Bullets, Fa-La-La-La-Argh! Celebrate the holidays with everyone’s favorite Christmas action flick – the one, the only, the original Die Hard!
OLD TIME HOLIDAYS AT OLD TUCSON
Now-Dec 31st | 10am-5pm | Old Tucson | $10.95-18.95
Join Old Tucson for the holidays! Old Time Holiday Celebration is a fun family event featuring holiday-themed Old Tucson musical and comedy shows.
ZOOLIGHTS
Now-December 23rd | 6pm-8pm | Reid Park Zoo |$6-10
This event is guaranteed to put you in the winter spirit with jingle bells, twinkling lights, lighted animal sculptures, visits with Santa, and live entertainment nightly through December 23. Cinnamon rolls, s'mores, and hot cocoa will be available for purchase. Most animals will be off exhibit for this event.
68TH ANNUAL WINTERHAVEN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Now-December 26th | 6pm-10pm | Winterhaven | Free
Tour the spectacular lights on a hayride wagon, a bus trolley, or a pedal-powered group bike! You can also see the lights on foot. The Festival is free to attend, however it is requested that everyone to bring a donation of food or money for the Community Food Bank of Southern AZ.
HOLIDAY HAYRIDE
Now-December 26th | 6pm-9pm on the hour | M White Stables | $15
Make your holiday season a special one with a Christmas decorated hayride!
Krampus Bedtime Christmas Scarol Tour
Now-January 7th | Various Times – See Website | Pinnacle Peak and Trail Dust Town | $5-10
For all the unique people out there who struggle trying to find one of Santa's helpers in the malls to take pictures with all the little ones, we have a big Christmas surprise. The RavenHearse Family has summoned a special friend: KRAMPUS. You may have heard of him; some call him the dark shadow of Santa Clause. No matter how naughty you have been this year, you don't have to worry. He won’t judge you, but he will welcome you with open arms.
SEASON OF LIGHT
Now-January 7th | Various Times – See Website | Flandrau Science Center | $12-16
The annual family favorite weaves together the astronomy of the Winter Solstice with the history of light festivals across times and cultures in celebration of the spirit of renewal. The 34-minute "Season of Light" show has been updated for the new Flandrau Full Dome projection system so the imagery covers the entire planetarium dome.
WEATHER
