Celebrate Tucson’s 237th birthday on August 20 at the El Presidio Grounds, 133 W. Washington (between Church Ave. and Court Ave. downtown). There will be usual flag raising, birthday cake eating, plus tamales too this year. Troubadour Ted Ramirez will be entertaining.

Funding ran out to continue the Tucson’s Birthday website & the numerous listings from prior years, so District 5 Supervisor Richard Elias’ office took over to post events via his website (click here) & use the link on the top for “Birthday”.

And if you want earlier birthday cake, here’s an event for Saturday August 18:

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum Birthday Party at The Depot
When: Sat, August 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 414 North Toole Ave., Tucson, AZ.
Description: We are proud participants in the Arizona Centennial Celebration. Celebrate at the Depot with cake, the Mayor, and engine 1673. The mayor will be speaking at 11:00, and cutting the Birthday cake !

Happy Birthday Tucson!

A day before the 10th anniversary of 9/11/11 is this month’s 2nd Saturday Downtown, Tucson’s large urban street fest downtown on E. Congress Street. September is Hispanic Heritage Month so 2nd Saturdays will be featuring Teodoro “Ted” Ramirez, A Son y Sol, and then Suerte on the Scott Avenue Stage, starting at 6:30 p.m. And Latin jazz Descarga performs (for free!) over at the Fox Tucson Theatre at 7 p.m.

A Son y Sol, courtesy of Chris Zukowski and 2nd Saturdays Downtown

This urban event started off on May 8, 2010 and has been continuing every 2nd Saturday since then (despite some inclement weather and despite the tragic shooting on January 8, 2011). And lots of us have been regularly attending, enjoying the street vendors or restaurant food, the lively music at the Rialto, Fox, or Scott Avenue Stage, the wandering minstrels, the arts & crafts, car shows, free movies by Cinema La Placita, etc. etc. The movie this Saturday is the 2006 animated “Cars”, featuring voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Bonnie Hunt.

movie poster

Each month I encourage our readers to check it out downtown…and enjoy this family friendly monthly fest.

For the event schedule, log onto www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.