–Santa Claus at the Downtown North Pole (120 E. Congress)
–Holiday Window Decorations Contest
–”How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Screening
–Horrible Holiday Sweater Contest (45 S. 6th Ave.,at Rockin’ Queen)
–Wintery-Weather Event
–Free Concert by Five Way Street at the Fox Tucson Theatre

I’m one of the lucky people on Earth who has NEVER received a horrible holiday sweater or sweatshirt. What a relief, so I don’t have any chance of entering this contest, unless one of my loyal readers wants to donate just one of their horrible sweaters to me, by leaving it at the Tucson Newspapers Inc. front desk. (Hint: my size is medium).*

Five Way Street will be performing a musical tribute to Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., 7 to 9 p.m.

On Scott Avenue stage:
5pm-6pm: Lunar Light Collectors
6:45pm-8pm: Jazz Telephone
7:45pm-9pm: Kristen Chandler

Along Congress Street

5pm-9pm: Critical Stilts
5pm-9pm: Living Statues presented by Parasol Project
5:30pm-7:30pm: Odyssey Story Arts Cart

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Along 6th Ave.

4pm-9pm: Old Pueblo Vintage Fire Brigade’s Vintage Fire Trucks

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Ronstadt Transit Center @ 6th Ave. & Congress St.

4pm-5pm: The Dusty Buskers
5pm-5:30pm: House of Dance
5:30pm-7pm: Les Avenge
6:30pm-8:30pm: Magician John Coppin
7pm-8pm: The Dusty Buskers
8pm-9pm: Technophobes

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Indian Village Lot – Kid’s Corner! Between Stone & Scott on Congress St.

West Wall: Cinema La Placita – “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”
East Wall: Wintery-weather event, Zero Gravity Jumping, Art activities & more

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MEB Management/North Pole 120 E. Congress St.

5:30pm-8:30pm: Santa & Elves

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Old Pueblo Garage, 27 E. Congress St.

5pm-7pm: Mitzi Cowell & Rebecca Horton

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NW Corner Congress St./Stone Ave.

5pm-7pm: 4th Street String Band

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SW Corner Congress St./Stone Ave.

7pm-10pm: Les Avenge
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Chicago Store, 130 E. Congress St.

5pm-9pm: Toby Chivers

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* Side note: Noticed an ad in Zocalo magazine (December issue, page 33) that the Tucson Thrift Shop has tons of recycled Christmas sweaters (“for your Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties”). They are at 319 N. 4th Avenue, phone 520-623-8736. Check them out today or tomorrow during the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair. You’ll have plenty of time to acquire one before the Saturday night horrible holiday sweater contest.

Two for the price of none: 2nd Saturdays Downtown and Rendezvous on 4th Avenue, both on 9/11. Read on about these two free urban street fests:

On the Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress and Broadway):

6:30pm-7:30pm: The Dusty Buskers – Performing with their latest four-man lineup, featuring award-winning banjo player Rudy Cortese and Hadji Banjovi of The Brambleberries on bucket bass. “Celtic-bluegrass tunes with a punk attitude and a subversive comedic slant.” TucsonScene.com

7:45pm-9:00pm: Sentido – Featuring guitarists Justin Fernandez and Brian Scott (formerly of Tesero) and bass player Andrew McClarron, the band showcases traditional Spanish flamenco music, while also incorporating lively danceable rhumba pieces. The style is comparable to the likes of the Gipsy Kings and Paco de Lu

9:15pm-10:30pm: Fourkiller Flats – “An alt-country combo that combines elements of post-punk rock with a decidedly country bent.” – Stephen Seigel, Tucson Weekly

And at the Fox Tucson Theatre (free concert) at 17 W. Congress St.:

7pm-9pm: Anna Warr and Giant Blue Band – “rock and blues served with brass and sass!”

Doors open at the beautiful Fox Theater at 6 p.m.

STICKSnFINGERS Caribbean group with dancers on August 14 at the Fox Theater, courtesy of Jon Scanlon

2nd Saturdays Downtown is more than the music performances, it’s an urban street fest with vendors selling all kinds of food, arts & crafts, some advertising programs. There have also been human statues, street musicians, telescope viewing, circus acts, free advice by a guy with a stand, tarot card readings at the past 2nd Saturdays– since the inaugural event on May 8, 2010. And most of the businesses on and around Congress Street are open for business, even the art galleries.

Big Skye pie makers, courtesy of Donovan Durband

I usually look for the friendly pie makers (Big Skye) at Ronstadt Transit Center, to enjoy one of their many delicious pies. And they’re inexpensive too!

So venture on downtown via car, bus, bike, motorcycle, skateboard, or walk under the 4th Avenue Underpass for another family-friendly urban street fest on Saturday September 11, the 9th anniversary of 9/11/01.

“Rendezvous on 4th Avenue” is also happening Saturday night as well, from 5 to 9 p.m. between University Blvd. and E. Ninth Street (north of that 4th Avenue Underpass). Live music, merchant sidewalk sales, fashion show at 7:30 p.m. at Winsett Outdoor Performance Center, 316 N. 4th Avenue. More info: www.fourthavenue.org

Rendezvous on 4th Avenue poster

UPDATE: Photos of this great 9/11 event, courtesy of Donovan Durband:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/09/12/photos-of-another-great-2nd-saturdays-downtown-fest/