Sharing 15 of my favorite fall things to do in Tucson!
Hi friends! How is your day so far? Hope you have a wonderful morning so far. I’m going to take a dance cardio class, and then spend the rest of the day prepping for Fit Team’s September workouts. Join us here! New exercises coming out on Sunday.
Augustus is acting like he has somewhere to be. I can’t believe that next week is already September! Fall is near and Tucson is totally dreamy in the fall. The mild weather makes it a long and beautiful season for different activities, and there are also a lot of festivals and events that can make me enjoy the season more. Today, I’m sharing a report on the activities you can do to experience the beauty of fall in all its glory in Tucson. Love to hear some local friends chime in in the comments if I missed anything!
15 Things Located In Tucson
1) All Souls’ Weekend March
The All Souls Parade is one of my favorite activities throughout the year. This year, it is November 4 – November 6. You can check details and photos here. This event attracts many different types of people and they all walk the parade route together, with beautifully painted faces and costumes and carry handmade costumes to honor those who have passed. With all the divisions in the world, it is a great reminder that we are all human; It is a meaningful experience that our whole family will enjoy.
From their website:
The All Souls Parade is one of the most important and authentic public celebrations in North America today. The parade’s beginnings were in 1990 with a ceremonial performance piece created by local artist Susan Johnson. Johnson was grieving over her father’s death and, as an artist, found solace in a creative celebratory approach to his memory. Johnson says, “From the beginning, there were different ethnic groups of people and different cultures, but also all these different art forms grouped together.”
After its creation, many artists were inspired to continue, growing the procession into its modern incarnation. Today we find ourselves well organized over 150,000 participants through the streets of downtown Tucson in a human-powered two-mile procession that ends with the ceremonial “urn” burning.
The urn is filled with the public’s hopes, offerings, and desires for those who died, as altars, artists, installation artists, and creators of all kinds collaborate to prepare their performances for this amazing event. All Souls Parade Weekend is a tribute to lost grandparents and loved ones and celebrates life.
2) Cooking cowboys at the Tank Verde ranch
We love cooking cowboys at Tank Verde Ranch, and it’s one of our favorite dinner spots for out-of-town guests. It’s outdoors, so we can enjoy dreamy Tucson fall weather, they have live music, a barbecue buffet (the cobbler is to.die.for) and the best prickly pear margarita. even better? Turn it into a little staycation!
3) Sonoran Desert Museum
Our Desert Museum is a unique Tucson experience, and when the weather is nice, you can see more animals. There is a wonderful butterfly exhibit, and you have a chance to see desert foxes, spears, scorpions (AHH), and other desert creatures up close and personal. This one is a huge hit with kids. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s worth it!
4) Marana Patch Patch & Farm Festival
Marana has really upped its game in the past few years, and what was once a small pumpkin patch with a petting zoo and a couple of activities has turned into a full fall festival. They have many rides (including swings, slides, Corn-ado spinning rides, and a train), and lots of great food, games, and activities for the whole family. Definitely check it out! A little insider tip: Go early in the season rather than close to Halloween.
5) Apple products Annie and Pumpkin
Apple Annie’s is an orchard and farm located in Williams, Arizona (about an hour and 15 minutes from Tucson). You can pick your own produce, including apples and peaches, and they also have a corn maze and craft fair to look forward to in September and October. Get the pie – you won’t regret it!
6) Tucson Festival Meet Yourself
October 7,8,9 2022 in downtown Tucson. Three days of music, dance, folklore and food from Tucson’s many cultures. My family and I refer to this event as Tucson Eat Yourself, because you will go and eat all the delicious food, including elote, kettle corn, tacos, and shaved ice from the many street vendors. While you are enjoying your meal, you can watch some performances from local musicians and dancers, representing a variety of cultures.
7) Hillorado tomb days
We haven’t taken the kids to Tombstone yet, but I feel they are the perfect ages, especially since Lev is in history. Heldurado takes place every third Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October and consists of gunfight reenactments, street entertainment, fashion shows, and other entertainment.
8) Red Park Zoo
We have a small zoo here in Tucson, which makes it perfect for spending an hour or two with the kids. They usually host a Halloween event with elaborate light shows and treat stations.
9) A Trek or Tank Verde Ranch
A trail ride is the perfect way to enjoy the weather, some time outdoors, and enjoy a new experience that you might not be able to do all the time (unless you’re a professional). Both TRAK and Tanque Verde Ranch offer demo rides for different riding experience levels and time periods.
10) Mount Lemon Oktoberfest
Mount Lemon Treasure Tucson. It’s 45 minutes to an hour away, and the scenery changes dramatically. You can leave cacti and brown dirt for massive pine trees, greenery and cooler weather (20-30°C!). They have an Oktoberfest event, or you can even head out for the day for a picnic and picnic and enjoy pizza and a cookie from Cookie Cabin.
11) Bima Air and Space Museum
This is one of our other locations for receiving out-of-town guests, especially because the Pilot has a few paintings and spots on display. It’s fun to see the different planes, especially with the history of Tucson Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and the exhibits are amazing.
12) Live music in downtown Tucson at the Congress Plaza Hotel
Hotel Congress frequently offers live music on the weekends, and it’s a great place to enjoy a cocktail and some music/dance. It features local artists and small stalls of artisans, including handcrafted accessories and jewelry. Bonus: Dine at BATA and then head to the Hotel Congress for music and drinks.
13) Buckelew Farm Terror in the corn maze
Buckelew Farm is kind of a picnic (about an hour) and they have a huge pumpkin patch + haunted attractions if that’s your thing (that’s not my favorite thing lol). You are You can check the details here If you are looking for a more terrifying experience.
14) Hike Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon is my favorite hiking destination in Tucson. You can explore the many paths, or take the tram to the top and walk down. You can check out All Trails and a The complete guide to hiking Sabino Canyon is here. You can often see water and wildlife on the trail, and the views are amazing.
15) Gas light fall display- wizard of the rings
Gaslight is another treasure from Tucson! Their melodramas are almost always loosely based on popular shows and movies, and audiences are encouraged to cheer on the hero and boo the villain. They serve popcorn and a full menu from the 1950s as you enjoy the show.
What are some local fall events you look forward to each year?
xo
Jenna
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