MarchFourth Marching Band performs at Hotel Congress June 4. photo: Andy Batt
It’s on. That season which separates snowbirds from locals, college kids from desert rats. Summer is seeing your child’s kindergarten teacher at Circle K wearing flip-flops. Summer means paletas de crema and sun tea. At least it’s a dry...never mind. Here are ideas to keep you busy during the warmest months.
Things that go bump in the night: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s Summer Saturday Evenings are a blast. Seeing nocturnal animals in natural habitats is a rare opportunity. June 19 and July 17 are Family Astronomy Nights, sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. The museum stays open until 10 p.m. and admission is $6. See DesertMuseum.org for details.
March madness: Wild, fantastical circus-like ensemble MarchFourth Marching Band performs at Hotel Congress on Friday, June 4 at 9 p.m. Surrounded by swirling stilt-walkers, clowns and whirling dervishes, the big band musicians of MarchFourth are an unforgettable act.
When the sun goes down, the stars come out: Cinema La Placita, the popular long-running downtown outdoor classic film series, hosts Thursday night movies all summer long around 7:30 p.m. at 110 S. Church Ave. See CinemaLaPlacita.com for a monthly schedule of celluloid dreams.
Word to your mother: Astronomy-themed watering hole Sky Bar, 536 N. 4th Ave., presents a free Adult Spelling Bee on the second Tuesday of each month, beginning July 13. Sponsored by librarian Karen Greene, the first bee’s MC will be local cartoonist Max Cannon. Signup is at 6:30 p.m. Have a traumatic childhood spelling bee memory? “This is your chance to make it right,” says Greene.
In August, Arizona Onstage Productions will showcase the comedic side of spelling with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” performances are August 12-August 29. See ArizonaOnstage.org for times and location.
Speaking of spreading literacy, the Himmel Park branch library, 1035 N. Treat Ave., presents the surfing epic “Endless Summer” as part of their Summer Reading Program, taking place at Himmel Park’s Amphitheater Saturday July 17, 8-10 pm.
Bring the kids: The little people in your life will love the Splash Pad at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E. River Rd. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, the spray arches and water geysers tickle youths’ toes and cool their heels. It’s free! Call 877-6211 to reserve a ramada.
Crazy like a fox: Le Petit Carnaval, a mashup of local talent from Sarlot & Eyed, The Parasol Project, Turkish Delights and more, graces the stage of the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday, June 6. It’s impossible to spend too much time within these venerable walls; why not also view “From Here To Eternity” June 19 and “A Streetcar Named Desire” June 26 on the Fox’s big screen?
Not a mirage: Oasis Fruit Cones, 1002 W. St. Mary’s Rd. has the best raspados in town. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming storefront; longtime residents swear by this place. A heaping cup of their shaved ice topped with fresh fruit, ice cream and syrup will also impress any out-of-town guests.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen: Dallas-based “country-fed punkabilly” legend The Reverend Horton Heat rocks The Historic Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Wednesday, August 18. Doors open at 7 p.m., tickets are available at RialtoTheatre.com. Antsy to start dancing inside the spacious, air-conditioned venue? Try indie rock band The New Pornographers on July 21.
Things are going swimmingly: Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center, 3455 E. Zoo Court, is Tucson’s finest public pool. The covered facility’s features include a heated deck, beach entry and a walking channel with current. A 92-degree indoor therapy pool is also available. For adult lap and recreational swim hours, call 791-5643.
Summer is fun. Stick around!
