Chillin’ at the Chul
First Friday Paint & Sip
aug. 1
With a drink in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, join Paint the Town in the Sonoran Seasons garden for a guided painting session with a featured subject.
Also that night, the Nico Barberan Congo Trio brings its Latin sounds to the Chul from 6 to 9 p.m., free. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., $42, pay in advance or at the door, tohonochul.org/event/chillin-at-the-chul/2025-08-01/
Fly a Drone Day
AUG. 2
Fly your own drone indoors at Pima Air and Space Museum. Learn the basics of drone flight and an obstacle course will test your drone piloting skills. A visit to the museum’s Aerospace Gallery is included as part of this activity. General admission to the museum is not included in the price of the activity and admission is not required to participate in the activity.
Beginners ages 6 to 10 or anyone who has never flown a drone before will build their own drone. Each family will receive one drone kit and learn the basics of drone flight. Additional drone kits are available for $70 each. From 10 a.m. to noon.
People ages 11 and older or anyone with some drone experience will connect their drones to their smart phones, enabling them to take photos. A smart phone is recommended, but not required. The drone has a remote that participants can also fly with, they just won’t be able to take and view pictures during the class.
Find registration information on the website.
Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road, $90/family/members, $100/family/non-members, pimaair.org/fly-a-drone-day/
Mescal Movie Set’s
Sunset Historical Film Tour
AUG. 2
Right now no filming is taking place at Mescal Movie Set and that means just one thing: We get to see it. They tell us that the “Mescal Movie Set is one of the most recognizable western cinematic towns on the big screen.” You’ve seen it in movies like “Tombstone,” “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and “The Quick and the Dead.” Reservations are needed and can be made on the website.
Mescal Movie Set, 1538 N. Mescal Road, Benson, 6 and 6:30 p.m., $20, info@mescalmovieset.com, mescalmovieset.com/book-online
Meet Your Lake: Lake
Mead National Recreation Area
AUG. 6
Learn about America’s first and largest national recreation area, filled with Joshua trees, slot canyons, rocks as red as fire, beautiful purple mountains and starry skies at a free screening of “Lake Mead National Recreation Area.” The movie was produced by the National Park Service in 2013. Runtime is 22 minutes.
Western National Parks Store, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive, Oro Valley, 11 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 1:30 p.m., free, no reservations, wnpa.org/things-to-do/events/film-meet-your-park-lake-mead-national-recreation-area
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
AUG. 6-10
Go birding in Madera Canyon, band some birds at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds and/or learn how to take photos of birds at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, brought to you by the Tucson Bird Alliance. If you love birds or are even curious about them, this is the place to be. There will be field trips, events and presentations and a nature expo. Times and costs to attend these vary so check the website.
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Tucson – Reid Park, locations, times and costs vary, lsafford@tucsonbirds.org, tucsonbirds.org/festival/
Marty Stuart and
His Fabulous Superlatives
AUG. 7
Find out what real style and flair mean when Marty Stuart, his guitar and his band take the stage. The audience will be treated to the music Stuart made for his new album, “Altitude.” He performs as part of the Fox’s Country and Americana Listening Room Series.
Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, 7:30 p.m., from $44, foxtucson.com/event/marty-stuart-2025/
Kitty’s Rave@Rialto Theatre
AUG. 8
It’s a dance party with house techno! Only those 18 and older will be allowed. Standing on the main floor and reserved seating in the balcony. The theater has a clear-bag policy. Check the website for specifics.
The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, doors open at 9 p.m. tickets from $22, rialtotheatre.com/calendar/#tw-event-dialog-12108
Tucson 250+: Trivia Night at
the Presidio with Dave Fitzsimmons
AUG. 16
Think you know the Old Pueblo? Match wits with other Tucsonans at the Presidio’s trivia night hosted by local celebrity Dave Fitzsimmons. The museum promises “an evening of droll humor, random Tucson tidbits and a celebration of community in honor of the 250+ anniversary of our fair city.”
Presidio San Augustin Museum, 196 N. Court Street, reservations required, 7 to 10 p.m., $10, tucsonpresidio.com/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=936
This article appears in Jul 24-31, 2025.