Over 170 tons of sand has been shooting over 5th Avenue and Toole into the empty MLK lot across from Hotel Congress this week, bringing the beach to Tucson as part of this weekend's Sun Link celebration of the Modern Streetcar Launch.The Downtown Tucson party, dubbed Summer in the City, starts Friday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m., and is one of five separately themed events each of the districts along the streetcar's route have planned. The celebrations will follow a series of ribbon cutting ceremonies, which kick off at 7:00 a.m. at Mercado San Agustin and conclude along Congress street with a procession that will feature a streetcar escort by the UA Pride of Arizona.

Starting Friday at 10:00 a.m. and running through Sunday, July 27, riders will be able to jump on the streetcar and enjoy unlimited rides at no charge. Over at the Summer Beach Party in the MLK lot on Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m., passengers can take a pit-stop for a cool one at the shaded beer garden; build sand castles; pick up a game of volleyball or ping pong; or grab a cup of Kona Berri frozen yogurt with food from a rotating cast of local food trucks.

Friday's live music at the Summer in the City party kicks off at 5:00 p.m. with Sticks & Fingers's steel drum-infused Caribbean vibes, followed by retro-psych-desert-rockers The Modeens; classic rock cover band No Reply; and Delta bluesman Tom Walbank closes out the night from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. with harmonica solos that will rival downtown's passing locomotives.

Each district will be hosting a weekend full of events and entertainment centering around a specific theme. Mercado San Agustin’s theme will be Fiesta in the City (aka “Streetcar Named Deseo”), with Latin-flavored music, food and fun. Fourth Avenue’s Soul in the City party will focus on the area’s history as a destination for a uniquely Tucson experience. Sidewalk sales from 4th Ave's eclectic merchants will dot the main strip; live music plus food and drink specials for all ages at the avenue's restaurants and bars. Main Gate Square's Jazzed in the City will fill the air with jazz music from performers of all ages, in addition to specials from all the merchants, restaurants and bars up and down the university area. The University of Arizona campus is appropriately calling its celebration Art and Culture in the City, with several museums and the Flandrau Science Center offering discounted or free admission all weekend.

The beach area will remain downtown from July 25th through Labor Day weekend, featured during public events but will also be available to rent for private parties. Here are some highlights of the three-day Summer in the City celebration downtown:

Friday

Maynards Market
7:00 AM to 8:00 PM —”Put a Scoop on It” ice cream social 6:00 pm to 8:0 pm Summer Wine Tastings

Roy Place Building (corner of Stone & Pennington)
Streetcar history presentation 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM

One East Broadway
Open house 12:00 to 5:00 PM

MOCA: Museum of Contemporary Art, 265 S Church Ave,
Free admission, 12:00 to 5:00 PM

Two East Congress
Happy hour 7:00 PM

MLK Parking Lot
60′s beach party — 4:00 PM to 11 PM?
Sand, astroturf, stage, live music, food & beer; vendors include Kona Berri and Boar’s Head

H2O Discotec
Ultra Friday 9:00 PM

Grand Opening--Flash in the Past
Come see their new studio and shop featuring 1940s 1950s 1960s Vintage Pinup Photography, located at 43 N. 6th Ave.

Champagne & Treats • FITP Gift Certificates & More Giveaway Wheel • Pinup Girl Contest & Prizes (8:30pm to 9:30pm) • Classic Hollywood Trivia & Prizes (8:00pm) • Sneak Peek: “A Photo Shoot at FITP” First 20 guests receive a Goodies Galore! Gift Bag filled with gifts from a variety of supporters: Besame Cosmetics / Bare Minerals Cosmetics / Crystal Rhinestone Boutique / La Fashionista / Nails Go Round / Black Cherry Burlesque / Russell’s Retro / A Glowing You / Don’t Blink Burlesque / and more TBA! …each also including a $50 FITP Gift Certificate!Ladies and gentlemen welcome! Vintage/retro attire is encouraged, but not required! After Party! Take the Streetcar to Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Avenue. No cover for FITP guests and retro themed beverages available.

Saturday

MLK Parking Lot
Farmer’s Market 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, hosted by Food in Root featuring fresh produce, baked goods, take & bake foods, ready to eat foods, locally grown and canned honey-jams-jellies, and local artists.

Roy Place Building
Streetcar history presentation 2:00 PM

MLK Parking Lot

“Hotel Congress: Wet Hot American Block Party” — Slobby Robby of Generation Cool & Jalph.net will be joining together to throw Tucson’s most ridiculous summer gathering. So ridiculous, we have to shut down 5th Ave. to make room for all the fun. The FREE party will serve as a kickoff for Hotel Congress’ Saturday Summer Block Party series and will be equipped with a beach installation, water slide, mechanical bull, water balloon fight, BBQ contests, live music/DJs inside and outside, vendors, USA Giveaways, a themed photo booth, bikini babes, and many more surprises. 9pm // FREE ENTRY // 21+

Sunday

Roy Place Building
Streetcar history presentation 2:00 PM

MLK Parking Lot
Urban oasis — Downtown beach experience 12:00 PM to after dark

All Weekend

Ben’s Bells Downtown
40 W. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85701 (in the historic Charles O. Brown House)

Friday, July 25th 10am — 5pm Saturday, July 26th 10am — 5pm Sunday, July 27th 10am — 2pm

Ben’s Bells has created a self-guided tour map featuring the kindness-themed mosaic murals located along the streetcar route. Stop in over the weekend to pick up one of these brand-new maps. Use the self-guided tour map to locate and visit ten mosaic murals created by Ben’s Bells in partnership with TUSD’s Community Transition Programs and a diverse group of Tucsonans: local artists, students and community members. The whimsical, brightly colored public art pieces symbolize community connection and support and serve as a reminder to all to practice intentional kindness. Each stop on the tour features a mural related question. Answer all of the questions and return your completed mosaic mural tour map to either Ben’s Bells studio and receive a kindness coin!

The Flats:
On July 25 ,26 & 27 from 2-5pm — come by the Flats at Julian Drew Block Condos for FREE bottled water & water refills. We’ll have our model units open for viewing all day (you don’t have to see the condos to get free water!).

Tucson Museum of Art
In celebration of the arrival of the Modern Streetcar, The Tucson Museum of Art offers half price admissions all weekend as well as a chance to win a Museum Sustaining membership. This membership level gets you into over 700 museums in North America. Cafe a la C’Art will also offer half price specials on wines and appetizers. Take the Congress and Church street stop and walk north to Alameda and make a left. All aboard for art!