DeGrazia Gallery
ONGOING
DeGrazia Paints the Seri Indians and Ted DeGrazia’s “Unseen Landscapes” bring rare works out of storage and into public view for a limited time. It features paintings, watercolors and drawings from the museum’s collection. These exhibitions include pieces shown publicly for the first time as well as works unseen for decades. Visitors will wander through the ethereal adobe architecture and verdant desert garden of the historic foothills property. Hand built by DeGrazia, the 10-acre site stands as a testament to his legacy of artistic brilliance and his genuine connection to the region’s history, culture and scenery.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum, 6300 N Swan, Tucson, various prices, various times, degrazia.org
Mini Time Machine Museum
ONGOING
Explore a unique collection of 11 hand-painted die-cast model cars and miniature vehicles featured in the Arizona State Museum’s “Traditions in Motion” exhibition. Created by Native artists, the pieces showcase how Indigenous communities blend heritage and contemporary culture through customized vehicles and other forms of transportation. The exhibit highlights a dynamic artistic tradition that transforms everyday objects into expressions of identity, creativity and cultural pride.
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E Camp Lowell Drive, Tucson, museum admission, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., theminitimemachine.org
El Rio Preserve Nature Stroll
AUG.27
Attendees are invited to join a Pima County Conservation lands and Resources naturalist for a guided nature stroll along the desert and riparian habitats of El Rio Preserve. Attendees will wander along the trails as they explore the unique plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. Attendees are recommended to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
El Rio Preserve, 10190 N Coachline Boulevard, Marana, $5 admission, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m, enroll at discovermarana.org
Old Tucson ‘Summer Night Markets’
AUg. 28
Attendees are asked to join Old Tucson for its Summer Night Markets. The Summer Night Market will have an array of arts, crafts and food events for a summer evening of strolling the historic Main Street and Town Square, supporting local artists, enjoying live music, tasty food and drinks.
Old Tucson, 201 S Kinney Road, Tucson, free admission, 6:30 to 10:00 p.m., oldtucson.com
Historical Film Tours
AUG. 29
Step into Hollywood’s Old West at the historic Mescal Movie Set, featured in films including Tombstone, The Quick and the Dead and The Outlaw Josey Wales. Visitors can enjoy a 60- to 70-minute guided walking tour of the iconic set. Admission is $20 with advance reservations required. Children 17 and younger are admitted free.
Mescal Movie Set, 1538 N Mescal Road, Benson, $20, advance reservations required and Children 17 & under are free, tours run at 6:30 & 7:00 p.m., www.mescalmovieset.com
Cool Summer Nights
AUG. 29
Attendees are asked to join the Desert Museum and experience bats performing aerial acrobatics, beavers splashing around in their pond and scorpions glowing green under black lights. Attendees are asked to bring flashlights, grab water and wander through the experience of a live animal encounter. Every night will have a theme, live music, special events and a signature drink. The last weekly theme is Teacher Appreciation Night, which gives free admission for all Pre-K through 12th grade teachers and support staff with a valid school ID.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N Kinney Road, Tucson, general admission for ages 13+ is $22.95 and youth (ages 3-12) is $24.95, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., desertmuseum.org
Colors Of The Stone
sept. 3
Colors of the Stone at Casino Del Sol Resort features 300 artisan exhibits during its four-day fall event. Visitors can explore handcrafted works and participate in workshops and demonstrations covering jewelry making, beadwork, metalsmithing, fiber arts, mixed media and other techniques.
Casino del Sol Resort, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, free admission, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., register at colorsofthestone.com
Tucson Fall Gem Shows
sept. 3 – sept. 6
The Tucson Fall Gem Shows return around Labor Day weekend in 2026, continuing a longtime tradition for gem and mineral enthusiasts. Five large shows are expected to operate alongside several permanent show venues, offering visitors a chance to browse without the larger winter crowds.
Various locations, Tucson, Check website for admissions, various times, visittucson.org
17th Annual Tucson Comic-Con
sept. 4 – sept. 6
Tucson Comic-Con returns Sept. 4-6 with celebrity guests, cosplay, gaming, collectibles, panels, screenings and interactive experiences. The family-friendly pop culture convention features guests from television, movies, comics and video games. New this year, children 12 and younger receive free admission with an adult ticket holder.
Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson, various prices, various times, tucsoncomic-con.com
Sonoran Restaurant Week
sept. 4 – sept. 13
Sonoran Restaurant Week celebrates Southern Arizona’s dining scene with 10 days of specially priced breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus at participating restaurants. Sponsored by Visit Tucson and produced by Tucson Foodie, the event also highlights Tucson’s UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation.
Various restaurants, Tucson, Fixed-price menus discounted by 20%, tucsonfoodie.com
