Memorial Day Events and Festivals in Tucson, Arizona

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, the Tucson Pops Orchestra will be having an outdoor Memorial Day concert in honor of our fallen soldiers. The concert, John Philip Sousa in the Park, will take place in the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Reid Park starting at 7:00 P.M. They will be playing many favorite musical pieces from Sousa to Edelman's 'Gettysburg'. City Councilman, Rodney Glassman will be doing some of the vocals. Admission is free. Reid Park is located at: 1030 S. Randolph Way, at 22nd Street and Country Club Road. Reid Park can be accessed from E. Broadway Blvd. or E. 22nd Street, west of Alvernon Way. Their telephone number is: 520-722-5853.

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is offering a Memorial Weekend special from May 27-31, 2010. Stay for $500.00, get $500.00 resort credit to play with at the resort. The resort credit can be applied towards golf, the spa, dining and the other Marriott managed outlets. It is not applicable towards the room rate or tax. No credit is given for any of the unused balance. Make reservations as soon as possible because rooms are limited. The resort is located at: 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., west of I-10 and 22nd Street. Their telephone number is: 520-792-3500.

On Friday, May 28, 2010, the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance will present a classic Jazz concert featuring Julie Ann, in La Encantada as part of their Summer Concert Series. During this concert, Julie Ann will be performing songs by some of her favorites: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Julie London and Peggy Lee. There is plenty of room for dancing too. The concert starts at 7:00 P.M. in the lower level garden courtyard in La Encantada. La Encantada is located at: 2905 E. Skyline Drive, at the northwest corner of E. Skyline Drive & Campbell Avenue. Individual tickets are $10.00 in advance and $11.00 on the day of the show. You can purchase tickets online at: www.SAACA.org, or by calling: 520-797-3959, extension 9. Seasonal tickets to all their different concerts, every other Friday night, are available at 20% off: 11 concerts for $88.00. Ticket stubs can be redeemed at La Encantada restaurants for savings on dinner and drinks. All proceeds from the ticket sales go back into the community to support Arts Education programs in our local schools.

On Friday, May 28, 2010-Sunday, May 30, 2010, the Beowulf Alley Theatre will present a performance of, A Piece of My Heart. Show times are: Friday: preview at 7:30 P.M.; Saturday: opening night at 7:30 P.M.; and Sunday: with dialogues at 1:30 P.M. This live production runs through June 13, 2010. Tickets range in price from $10.00 (preview night) -$18.00 with season subscriber and military discounts (show proof of service at the box office to receive $3.00 off) available. Tickets can be bought on their website at: www.beowulfalley.org. The Beowulf Theatre is located at: 11 S. 6th Avenue, at Congress Street. Tickets can also be bought over the telephone by calling: 520-882-0555.

On Saturday, May 29, 2010, the Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant will host the Saturday Jazz Showcase, a performance of live, cool jazz from 7:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. This concert is every Saturday night. The restaurant is located at: 198 W. Cushing Street, in an 1860s adobe building in downtown Tucson, at Meyer Avenue, across the street from the Tucson Convention Center. They have indoor and outdoor seating for cocktails and dinner. They are open: Tuesday - Thursday: 4:30 P.M.-9:00 P.M.; and Friday-Saturday: 4:30 P.M.-10:00 P.M. Their telephone number is: 520-622-7984. Their website is: www.cushingstreet.com

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, the Tucson Jazz Society presents their 2010 Primavera Women in Jazz, a concert featuring Jessy J & her Band plus a mystery guest, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Jessy J plays the saxophone and she is a singer. The concert starts at 7:00 P.M. Tickets range in price from $10.00-$20.00 each. They can be bought online at: www.tucsonjazz.org. Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is located at: 7000 N. Resort Drive, at Kolb Road. Their telephone number is: 520-903-1265.

If you live in Rancho Sahuarita they will be having a Memorial Day Weekend Celebration & Triathlon from Saturday, May 29, 2010-Monday, May 31, 2010. On Saturday there will be family entertainment from 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.; on Sunday there will be Movies Under The Stars at 8:00 P.M.; and on Monday is their annual Triathlon Competition from 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. Admission is free. These events are only open to community residents. Rancho Sahuarita is located at: 15455 S. Camino Lago Azul, in Sahuarita, off of Nogales Highway. Their telephone number is: 520-207-7730. Their website is: www.ranchosahuarita.com.

Not far from Tucson:

From Saturday, May 29, 2010-Monday, May 31, 2010, the Wyatt Earp Days will be celebrated in Tombstone, Arizona starting at 10:00 A.M. each day. The event will celebrate the life and times of the Old West's most famous lawman, Wyatt Earp, with costumed entertainers, gunfights, acted out street scenes and other entertainment, a chili cook-off, stagecoach rides, contests, an 1880's fashion show and more. The event will take place at: 420 E. Allen Street, in downtown Tombstone. Admission is free. Their telephone number is: 520-457-3511. Their website is: www.tombstonechamber.com

On May 30, 2010, LAVA Music will present their 2nd annual Music on the Mountains Series in Summerhaven, on Mt. Lemmon. Many of Tucson's top bands will be performing. Admission is free - just bring a lawn chair. No outside food and drinks are allowed. The event is every Sunday from 1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. through Labor Day, September 5, 2010. The Village of Summerhaven is located at: 12901 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway. You can reach Mt. Lemmon by taking Catalina Highway in northeast Tucson. Their telephone number is: 520-647-3234.

On Saturday, May 29, 2010-Monday, May 31, 2010, Running Bear Productions is having their Art Barn 11th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Arts & Crafts Festival, in the White Mountains, in Pinetop, Arizona. The festival will feature fine arts, many vendors, food, fun and entertainment. It will be at the Pinetop Lakes Country Club located at: 4643 Buck Springs Road, near E. White Mountain Blvd. (Highway 260).The Festival's hours will be: Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.; and Monday: 10:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. The telephone number for festival information is: 928-634-6692.

From Saturday, May 29, 2010-Monday, May 31, 2010, Williams, Arizona will be having a Memorial Day Weekend Celebration in a few different areas in Williams. On Saturday & Sunday will be their Rendezvous in Williams. The event will feature activities for the children, a BBQ, craft shows, shooting ranges, teepee viewings and lots more. The Williams Shooting Range, which is located on Highway 64 just north of town, will be available for their weekend Black Powder shoots. There will be a free public shooting display on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 12:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. and club only shooting on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. The display of teepees and other crafts, along with the children's activities will be held at Buckskinner Park on 6th Street, just south of downtown Williams. The Memorial Day Parade begins at 11:00 A.M. and can be seen all along historic Route 66. In the Williams Recreation Center there will be a BBQ lunch from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. On Saturday, May 29, 2010 the Spring Craft Show will be at the Sultana Theatre from 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Many arts and crafts vendors will be at this show. Also on Saturday & Sunday, train rides pulled by authentic steam engine will start at the Grand Canyon Railway. Each historic train runs hourly and the full ride is 8 roundtrip miles. Tickets will be sold at the railway for $15.00 per adult and $10.00 per child. Grand Canyon Railway is located at: 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. Williams Arizona is about 32 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona. The towns website is: www.williamschamber.com Their telephone number is: 928-635-1418.

If I hear of any more Memorial Day events and festivals between now and Memorial Day, I will post them below as comments.