It’s almost three years since the very first 2nd Saturday Downtown kicked off on May 8, 2010 (click here for the first photo gallery), and the fun & excitement has continued every month since then (except for a few nights with a bit of inclement rainy weather, and also on January 8, 2011 after that mass shooting in Tucson).

I’ve been blogging about this monthly event every month before the 2nd Saturday of the month. There’s been free outdoor movies to see hosted by Cinema La Placita and even often free films (or live performances) at The Screening Room (127 E. Congress St.). This Saturday the Cinema La Placita showing is at a new location: the Old Pueblo parking lot, 43 E. Congress St. between Scott & Stone Ave.

There’s been live music bands on the streets of E. Congress and close by, on the large Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway), and at both the Fox and Rialto Theaters.

Performing along E. Congress are usually the 7 Pipers Band (Scottish bagpipes), and sometimes the mute or singing/dancing living statues from the Parasol Project. Tucson Circus Artists on stilts are usually entertaining downtown.

Food vendors and art & craft merchants are often selling their wares somewhere near the Scott Avenue Stage (there’s been some changes due to the modern streetcar construction). And eclectic art receptions have been held at Sacred Machine (245 E. Congress), The Drawing Studio (33 S. 6th Ave.), Dragonfly Gallery (146 E. Broadway), and Etherton Gallery (135 S. 6th Ave.)

Check out the event schedule every month at www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

There’s even entertainment now (or so I hear) on the top of the somewhat new green Pennington Street Garage (110. E. Pennington). This venue is being abbreviated as T.O.P. (Top Of Pennington) with jazz, rock & roll music, etc. Check it out.

And if you’re new to Tucson, or rarely go downtown, here’s your chance to enjoy downtown Tucson, mostly for free at this urban street fest. Just find Congress Street and roam around that area between the Hotel Congress & Rialto Theater on the east end, to the Fox Theater on the west end.

From 2nd Saturdays Downtown website for February 11 – nine museums free unless otherwise noted. Just remember their respective hours of operation:

La Pilita Museum 420 S. Main Ave., 11am-2pm, also offering Barrio walking guide books

Presidio San Agustin del Tucson 133 W. Washington, 10am-4pm

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum 414 N. Toole, 10am-5pm

Tucson Museum of Art 140 N. Main Ave., 10am-6pm

Science Downtown: “Mars & Beyond” 300 E. Congress St., 9am-9pm

Sacred Machine 245 E. Congress St., 4pm-11pm

Jewish History Museum 564 S. Stone Ave., 1pm-5pm

Children’s Museum Tucson 200 S. Sixth Ave., 10am-5pm

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) 265 S. Church Ave., 12pm-5pm

Great way to see these art, history, science exhibits for free. Thanks to all the sponsors that made this happen for families and adults in Tucson, as I know there are normally fees at some of these museums (i.e. Science Downtown, Museum of Art, Children’s Museum Tucson, MOCA).

And read my other blog about all the rest of the events happening downtown on Feb. 10, 11, and 12 for the Arizona Centennial birthday celebrations (http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2012/02/08/3-days-of-celebration-for-arizonas-100th-birthday-feb-10-11-12/).