Centennial Park dedication to commemorate Arizona’s upcoming 100 years of Statehood, along with “Mansions of Main” Home Tour, both on April 2, 2011:

Mayor Bob Walkup, Councilmember Regina Romero, Supervisor Richard Elias, and Robert Knight, Tucson Museum of Art Director are just a few of the dignitaries who will place the first bricks for the Centennial Park Memorial Brick Path. This pathway is dedicated to honoring Tucson’s pioneer families at the time Arizona was granted
statehood.

Saturday, April 2nd 10:00am – 1:30 pm

* 10 am — Presidio San Agustìn del Tucson Firing of the Historic Cannon
o living history enactment
* 12 pm — Box lunch from El Charro at Centennial Park site
o Davis School Mariachi Band
o Presidio Garrison firing of muskets
o box lunch prices are $10 each; credit cards accepted
o lunch includes soda or water
* 1 pm — Ground Breaking Event at Centennial Park
o Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and Councilwoman Regina Romero will place the first bricks for the Centennial Park Memorial Brick Path

Centennial Park is located in the El Presidio Historic District at the
Northwest corner of West Paseo Redondo and North Main Avenue downtown.

Centennial Park is an official Arizona Centennial Legacy Project
commemorating the history and culture of the El Presidio Historic District
downtown. From the Hohokam who settled here centuries ago to the Spanish
who established New Spain’s Presidio San Agustin del Tucson eight hundred
years later, the Camino Real (Main Avenue as it is know today) has been the
pathway of commerce. The Camino Real is the connecting thread along which
the pioneer families of Tucson chose to build their futures. Be a part of
building a park next to this well traveled trade route to commemorate
Arizona’s Centennial in 2012. Leave a legacy for future generations by
participate in transforming a vacant lot into an interpretive pocket park.
Purchase a brick to represent a pioneer to pave the way for Centennial
Park.

Proceeds to benefit the construction of Centennial Park.
For information, contributions, or brick orders go to
www.centennialparktucson.org.
For additional brick information call: 520.837.8054. 4″ x 8″ Brick with 3 line message
costs $100.00, 8″ x 8″ Brick with 6 line message costs $200.00.

Also on Saturday April 2nd:

El Presidio Historic District “Mansions of Main” Home Tour
Saturday, April 2, 2011 1:30 to 3:30pm
El Presidio Historic District in Downtown Tucson

The “Mansions of Main” Home tour will feature five beautifully restored
homes on Main Avenue which were in existence at the time of statehood.
Spend the afternoon exploring the history and architecture of the El
Presidio Historic District.

Take a leisurely stroll along Main Street or Calle Real (the Royal Road) as it was known in the 1800’s and let your mind take you back in time to when the Steinfelds, the Corbetts, and the Cheyneys opened their homes to entertain guests. Re-enactors dressed in period clothing will present family histories of selected homes and the home tour will allow guests to experience turn of the century Tucson.

Home tour tickets are $10.00 per person.

For more Centennial information go to www.azcentennial.gov, or www.arizona100.org.

For additional press information contact:
Annette Campbell
Campbell Design and Communications
372 West Franklin Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701
520.882.8800

More about these events on Downtown Tucson website:
http://www.downtowntucson.org/news/?p=3146

For you chocolate lovers, here’s an upcoming opportunity to sample the many tastes of chocolate (both savory and sweet) from restaurants including: El Charro, La Cocina, La Indita, El Minuto, and Real Bakery.

When? Sat. February 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where? At the Presidio de San Agustin de Tucson, 133 W. Washington (corner of N. Church St.) Tickets are $5 for 3 tastings.
(For special offer including a walking tour, continue reading).

Also happening at the Presidio will be storyteller Jean Baxter about the fate of Father Garces, at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Padre Francisco Garces

Who was Father (Padre) Garces? In 1775 Tucson’s Presidio del San Agustin was established. “Soon after, Father Francisco Garces was commanded to build a new settlement in Yuma. Although much beloved by many of the Indians, Father Garces was still seen as a representative of the detested New Spain, and the Indians soon attacked his settlement. Garces was captured while drinking his chocolate and resting at a ranch house. The warriors called to him to “stop drinking that and come outside. We are going to kill you.” To which Garces replied, “We would like to finish our chocolate first.” (from the event flyer).

And you can also take the El Presidio Historic District walking tour for $15, at 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m, 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Stroll along Main Street and see how the Corbetts, Mannings, and Steinfelds entertained in their homes. Special offer: $18 for the walking tour and the chocolate tastings.

Also during this event will be featured musical performances by El Mariachi Corazon de Tucson. Entrance to the Presidio is free all day.

For more information, log onto website for the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation whose mission is:
“To guide and aid in the interpretation of the history of the Old Pueblo at the Tucson Origins Heritage Park with special emphasis on the Spanish Colonial period through research, education and living history.” Phone number is (520) 837-8119.

Also coming up at the Presidio this month:
Saturday February 27, Living History Day. 10am – 3pm. Crafts demonstrations, soldiers drilling, and cannon fire bring the Presidio to life. Sample Spanish Colonial food and watch the reenactors bake bread in an horno (oven). Parking is free on the nearby streets.