Jobs •  Cars •  Real Estate •  Apartments •  Shopping •  Classifieds •  Obituaries •  Dating
AzStarNet

Customer Service: Subscribe now | Pay Bill | Place an Ad | Contact

Caliente

»Events and Attractions

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.30.2004
Friday
15th Annual Indian America New Year's Competition Powwow - Rillito Raceway Park, at the northeast corner of First Avenue and River Road. More than 50 tribes will help celebrate the new year with the Friendship dance, arts and crafts, children's activities, gourd dancing and singing competition. 4 p.m. Dec. 31-12:05 a.m. Jan. 1; noon-10 p.m. Jan. 1; noon-6 p.m. Jan. 2. $7; free age 6 and younger. (Related story, Page 40.) 622-4900.
Saturday
Psychic Fair - Stairway of Light Church, 337 E. Grant Road. Various mediums available. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 1. $15 suggested donation for 20-minute reading. 622-6163.
Monday
Chess Knights - Borders, 5870 E. Broadway. A chess challenge for players at any skill level. Boards and pieces provided. 6 p.m. Mondays. Free. 584-0111.
Tuesday
Stories in the Garden - Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. Traditional and original stories for children about the desert and its creatures. 10 a.m. Tuesdays. $5 adults; discounts available; free for park members. 742-6455.
Wednesday
Storytime - Borders Books and Music, 4235 N. Oracle Road. Stories and activities for kids 5 and younger. 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Free. 292-1331.
Main Attractions
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - 2021 N. Kinney Road. Take West Speedway from Interstate 10 or West Ajo Way from Interstate 19. World-class zoo, arboretum and natural history museum dedicated to the Sonoran Desert. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $12; $4 kids 6-12; free age 5 and younger. 883-2702.
ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center - 1421 W. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita, south of Tucson and west of Interstate 19. Working, open-pit copper mine features mining exhibits, theater presentations and bus tours. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Last tour departs at 3:30 p.m. Closed New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Free admission to exhibits and theater. Tour tickets: $6; $5 seniors 62 and older; $4 kids 5-12; free age 4 and younger. 1-520-625-7513.
Biosphere 2 - 32540 S. Biosphere Road, Oracle. Take Oracle Road (Arizona 77) north through Oracle Junction to Milepost 96.5 in Oracle. The 3.15-acre, man-made complex houses a rain forest, savannah, desert and saltwater ocean with an underwater viewing gallery. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Admission (includes tours): $19.95; $12.95 children ages 6-12; free for children younger than 5; discounts available. 838-6200.
Mission San Xavier del Bac - 1950 W. San Xavier Road. Take Interstate 19 south to West San Xavier Road; go west a mile and turn north on South Little Nogales Drive and then west on West San Xavier Road. The mission founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino is a fully functioning parish church primarily serving the Tohono O'odham but open to all. Visitors can take a self-guided tour. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. every day; gift shop open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free; donations appreciated. 294-2624.
Old Tucson Studios - 201 S. Kinney Road. Take West Speedway west from Interstate 10 and follow signs to Old Tucson Studios. The Western movie location features stunt shows, Wild West gunfights, musical revues, guided studio tours, rides, games and Western-themed restaurants. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 30; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 31; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 1. $14.95; $9.45 children Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 1. $12.95; $7.95 children 4-11; free for children under 4. 883-0100.
Reid Park Zoo - 1100 S. Randolph Way. Enter off East 22nd Street between South Country Club Road and South Alvernon Way. Home to more than 400 animals, including rhinos, elephants, anteaters, polar bears and lions. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. $5; $4 seniors age 62 and older; $2 ages 2-14; free for children younger than 2. 791-4022.
Museums
Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum Ltd. - 3975 N. Miller Ave. An interactive museum of operating toy train layouts and displays. Open 12:30-4:30 p.m. every second and fourth Sunday through June. Free. 888-2222.
International Wildlife Museum - 4800 W. Gates Pass Road, five miles west of Interstate 10 on Speedway. Interactive natural history museum with more than 400 species, many mounted in their natural habitats. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $7; $5.50 seniors 62 and older, students and military; $2.50 children 4-12; free for children under 4. 629-0100. EVENTS: Safari Sundays - Kids 12 and younger can receive a free wildlife craft kit with admission, plus a scavenger hunt, wildlife movies, interactive computers and "hands-on" exhibits. Duck Stamp Art Exhibit - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Duck Stamp Original Art Exhibit. Artwork for next year's Duck Stamp and the Junior Duck Stamp entries from each state will be on display through Jan. 16.
Locomotive No. 1673 - 400 E. Toole Ave., Southern Pacific Depot, with the locomotive ramada located at the trackside. Volunteers provide historical information and answer questions about the locomotive. 9-10:30 a.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month through April. Free. 881-2050.
Pima Air & Space Museum - 6000 E. Valencia Road. From Interstate 10, take the Valencia Road exit, go east two miles to the museum entrance. The world's largest privately-funded aerospace museum features more than 250 planes displayed both indoors and outdoors. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with last admittance at 4 p.m. $11.75; $9.75 seniors and military; $8 children 7-12; free for children 6 and younger. Group rates available. 574-0462. Tram Tours: This is a narrated tour of the outdoor aircraft exhibits and takes about one hour. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Tickets are available in Hangar 1 for an additional $4. Walking Tours: Docent-led tour covers the exhibits in Hangars 1, 3 and 4 and takes about 1 1/2 hours. The tour starts in Hangar 1 and is included in your admission price. 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Dec. 1-April 30. AMARC (Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Center) tours: Tours of the AMARC facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base last approximately one hour. Reservations are strongly recommended, and people should check in at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. Noon and 2 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through April 30 (excluding holidays). The schedule is subject to change. $6; discounts and group rates available. 618-4800 for reservations.
Pima County Sports Hall of Fame - 110 S. Church Ave., Suite 4198, in La Placita Village, Downtown. Displays of historical sports memorabilia. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. $2; $1 seniors; free for age 12 and younger. 296-3788.
Postal History Foundation - 920 N. First Ave., at East Second St. Primarily a research facility in addition to a library and philatelic museum with stamp and post office exhibits. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Free. 623-6652.
T-Rex Museum - 1202 N. Main Ave., Downtown. Dinosaur museum features dino and reptile exhibits, fossil digs and the make-believe world of Dracopolis. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. $5. 792-2884. EXHIBIT: Tony's Creepy Crawly Zoo, sponsored by UNICO Spray Products Corp.
Titan Missile Museum - 1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Sahuarita. Take Interstate 19 south to the Duval Mine Road exit and travel west past La Cañada Drive. Walking tours of the Titan II missile site are conducted every half-hour and last one hour. Walking shoes are required, and there are 55 steps to walk down to the control center. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Last walking tour begins at 4 p.m. $8.50; $7.50 seniors and military; $5 ages 7-12; free age 6 and younger. Reservations recommended. 625-7736.
Tucson Children's Museum - 200 S. Sixth Ave., Downtown. Museum houses eight permanent interactive exhibits, including Dinosaur Canyon, the TCM Bakery and Farmer's Market, the Temple of Art Gallery and the Ocean Discovery Center. New activities weekly. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. $5.50; $4.50 seniors; $3.50 children ages 2-16. 792-9985. EXHIBITS: Destination: Mars - The exhibit is 600 square feet and comprises five interactive stations that allow a virtual Mars experience. Available during regular museum hours through Jan. 2. Zoomzone - Based on a children's TV series, the exhibit offers hands-on science activities for kids in a television- studio setting. The permanent exhibit is sponsored by Raytheon Missile Systems. Open during regular museum hours. EVENTS: Create Decorative Star Streamers - Kids can make colorful Japanese star streamers during "Star Streamers Week." 2:30 p.m. Dec. 30- Dec. 31. Tony's Creepy Crawly Zoo - A traveling live insect zoo, which allows children to touch and play with nonharmful bugs. 11:30 a.m. Jan. 1. New Year Festival: Japanese Traditions - Features sword-cutting demonstrations, classical Japanese dance, taiko drumming and martial arts exhibitions. 1-4 p.m. Jan. 2. Create an Illusion for the Eye - Kids can make an optical illusion toy, modeled after a thaumatrope, during "Optical Illusions Week." 2:30 p.m. Jan. 4-8; 1:30 p.m. Jan. 9.
Out of Town
Amerind Foundation - 2100 N. Amerind Road, in the Dragoon Mountains. Take Interstate 10 to Dragoon Road exit and go east one mile to Amerind Foundation turnoff. Aracheological research facility and museum of Native American cultures. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily October-May; closed Jan. 1. $5; $4 seniors 60 and older; $3 ages 12-18; free age 11 and younger. 1-520-586-3666.
Arizona Folklore Preserve - 56 Folklore Trail, Hereford. Six miles south of Sierra Vista, on Highway 92 take the Ramsey Canyon Road exit. Travel 3.5 miles and turn left on Folklore Trail (watch for AFP sign). Features shows about Arizona history, culture, people and scenic attractions. Also home to Dolan Ellis, Arizona's official state balladeer. Shows are 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $12; $6 for children 12 and younger. Call for reservations 1-520-378-6165.
Coronado National Memorial - 4101 E. Montezuma Canyon Road, Hereford. Take Interstate 10 east and exit south on Arizona 90 to Sierra Vista. Travel south on Highway 92 to South Coronado Memorial Drive. Visitors can drive to the scenic overlook, walk to Coronado Peak, visit Coronado Cave, or hike to Montezuma Pass. Park open dawn-dusk daily. Visitors center open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free. 1-520-366-5515.
Fort Bowie National Historical Site - Located 116 miles east of Tucson. Take Interstate 10 to the Fort Bowie turnoff and follow the unpaved road to the Fort Bowie Trailhead. From the trailhead, it is a 3-mile, round-trip walk to the ruins. At the Visitor Center, there are exhibits on the Butterfield mail route and Apache history. Ruins Trail open sunrise-sunset daily. Visitor Center open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Peak season is March-May. Free. 847-2500.
Fort Huachuca - Go east on Interstate 10 and follow the signs. Located just west of Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca is an operational U.S. Army post and home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center. The "Old Post" museum located on the post depicts a typical frontier military post and houses a ceremonial cavalry unit. Free. 1-520-458-6940.
Tombstone - Take Interstate 10 south to Exit 303 and take the ramp onto Arizona 80 and follow the signs. This mining town is known as a living testament to the Old West. Tombstone is also home to the Crystal Place Saloon, the O.K. Corral, and the Six Gun City Wild West Show. 1-888-457-3929.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park - 1 Burruel St., Tubac. Located 45 miles south of Tucson on Interstate 19. Features a museum, underground archaeology display and picnic area. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $3; $1 ages 7-14; free age 6 and younger. 398-2252.
Tumacacori National Historical Park - Located 50 miles south of Tucson. Take Interstate 19 to Exit 29. Features the abandoned ruins of three ancient Spanish colonial missions. Self-guided tours through the garden, church and museum. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $3; free for children 16 and younger. 398-2341.
Gambling
Casino del Sol - 5655 W. Valencia Road, south of West Ajo Highway. Open 24 hours, every day of the year. 883-1700.
Casino of the Sun - 7406 S. Camino de Oeste, south of West Valencia Road. Open 24 hours, every day of the year. 883-1700.
Desert Diamond Casino - 7350 S. Nogales Highway, Tucson: open 9 a.m.-4 a.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 24 hours a day Fridays and Saturdays; 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, at Interstate 19, Sahuarita: open 24 hours, every day of the year. 294-7777.
Tucson Greyhound Park - 2601 S. Third Ave., South Tucson. Live greyhound racing starting at 7:40 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Visit online at www.tucsongreyhoundpark.com for race schedules. Simulcast horse racing daily. 884-7576.
Compiled by Erin Hefley. Find more calendar listings online at dailystarcalendar.com