Agave Heritage Festival. Back again, this festival is taking over downtown Tucson and exploring the “cultural, commercial, and culinary significance of the agave across borders.” There are plenty food and drink oriented events based around this spiny plant, such as Mezcal Crawl, the Marana Agave Farm Tour, the Agave Heritage Dinner, live demonstrations of agave roasting and much more. The Agave Heritage Festival runs from Wednesday, April 24, to Sunday, May 5. Details here.


Horizons–Student Spotlight. The UA has a nationally reputed dance program that teaches its students ballet, modern and jazz in equal amounts. As dancers prepare to graduate and take the stage at professional venues all over the world, the School of Dance presents this concert as a culmination of all of their work here in Tucson. The student choreography and diverse perspectives will have the whole audience looking forward to what lies on the horizon for the dancers. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 24. 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 and April 27. 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. $25 GA, $23 senior/military/UA employees, $12 students. Details here.


Tucson International Mariachi Conference. Face it: You’d be a lot cooler if you knew more about mariachi music and Baile Folklorico. Especially if you knew how to perform either. This festival, which started in 1982 is your chance! Check out a mariachi or dancing workshop, or, if watching is more your style, you can attend the El Mariachi Canta Vocal Competition on Wednesday, April 24, the Showcase Concert on Thursday, April 25 or Festival Garibaldi on Saturday, April 27. At the Espectacular Concert on Friday, April 26, watch some of the best performers in the country showcasing the culture, music and dance of mariachi. The festival runs from Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27. Casino Del Sol Resort, AVA Amphitheatre, 5655 W. Valencia Road. Event times and ticket prices vary. Details here.

History of Pharmacy Museum tour. Did you know the UA has a History of Pharmacy Museum? And seriously, what’s more interesting than learning about all of the ways people used to treat diseases that seem so outlandish to us now? The museum has thousands of artifacts, from old drug containers and bottles to photos to chewing gum that belonged to John Dillinger himself. There’s even a full-scale replica of an old fashioned drug store. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24. Skaggs Pharmaceutical Sciences Center & Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Ave. Free, but reservations required! Details here.

Art Opening: Gina Beca. The Agave Heritage Festival is going on this week, and there are all sorts of exciting events going on. A chance to see Gina Beca’s depictions of the female form and desert landscapes on display at Hotel Congress is just one of them. Her warm, pale pieces depict beauty, resilience and whimsy in equal parts. Come on down to one of the coziest hotels around for the opening reception of Beca’s work. 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.