Upcoming Events for Kids!

Are you needing something to do? -Better yet, do your kids need something to do? Here are some ideas for you. If you have done any of these previously and would like to share comments on likes, dislikes, or what to be prepared for... please share!

September

September 19-20 (Sat 9-6 and Sun 10-4) Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show & Sale at the Tucson Expo Center (3750 E Irvington). Cost $7/adults, $3/kids 6-12 and free under 6. tucsonreptileshow.com, 405-7020.

September 23-Oct 4 Ramona Quimby play put on by Pima Community College. Fri-Sat 7pm, Sat-Sun 2pm at Proscenium Theatre. Tickets $6. School matinees available 9/23-25, 30,10/1-2 at 10am for $5. Call 206-6986 for more info.

Daily Through Sept 30, DIG: Prehistoric Gardens at Tucson Botanical Gardens (2150 N Alvernon Way), from 8:30am-4:30pm. Cost $7/adult, $3/children. Explore geology, paleontology and botany to learn about our historic past.

Every Thurs through October, La Placita Outdoor Cinema, free admission ($3/person admission suggested), at 7:30pm. Located at 110 S. Church Avenue, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Church in downtown Tucson. Ample parking is available in the La Placita parking garage, located at Stone just south of Broadway. Most films are old classics and are NR (not rated) starring old film actors. Free all-you-can-eat popcorn. See cinemalaplacita.com for details and current schedule.

October

October 30-Nov 1 Cinderella play presented by CYT (Christian Youth Theater) at Crowder Hall, U of A campus. Dec 11-13 will be A Christmas Carol at the same location. Call 751-7510 or cyttucson.org for tickets. Matinee shows also available (we went to 2 of these plays this past year) on Weds at 9:30am or 12 noon for $5/seat. Reservations required.

October 10, Musical Magic for Kids presented by So. Az. Arts Council Assoc. (formerly GOVAC). Nearly every month through April (see Ongoing section), free, 10:30am at Music and Dance Academy (SE corner of Oracle and Magee next to Trader Joe’s). See their website for a list of events http://www.saaca.org/events-magicforkids.html.

October 15-18, Disney on Ice at Tucson Arena. Tickets go on sale 9/13. Tickets range from $15-45 and be purchased online at disneyonice.com.

October 23-25, Howl-O-Ween at Reid Park Zoo. Fri-sat 6-8pm and Sun 5-7pm. Cost $5/person or $4/member.

Ongoing
Kids Night at Chick-fil-A. Two area locations at 4585 N Oracle Rd and 3605 E Broadway Blvd. on Tuesdays 5-8pm. They offer free crafts and activities and a visit from the cow mascot. Also offer FREE 4-piece chicken nugget Kids Meal with purchase of adult meal or entrée salad.

Storytimes:
Bookmans on Ina and Thornydale Rd, 10-11am every Friday. Stories and craft.

Barnes & Noble at the Foothills Mall, 10am Wednesdays and 11 am Saturdays storytime and craft

Local libraries (see library.pima.gov), family, toddler and preschool storytimes.

Tohono Chul Park ‘Stories in the Garden for Children’ every Tuesday, 10-11am. Visit the amazing grounds and museum afterward. Admission is: $7 for adults (13+), $3 for students with valid ID and
$2 for children (5-12), children under 5 are free.
Reading with a Storybook Character First Saturday each month, 10:30 a.m., free. An hour of storytelling and activities with a storybook character is featured on the first Saturday of each month. UA BookStore at Student Union Memorial Center, 1209 E. University Blvd, Tucson, 621-2426

Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s Toys (4811 E Grant Rd, Ste 151, 326-0188) storytime every Tues 11am and Thur 1pm.

Zoowinkles at Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s Toys 4811 E Grant Rd, Ste 151, 326-0188. Presented one Saturday a month at 2 pm, free (see calendar on website http://www.tiggytoysonline.com/calendar). “Live animals from Reid Park Zoo will be there along with their knowledgeable keepers. Fun activities in an imaginative toy store setting.” They offer KidzArt summer camps, $95/week.

Musical Magic for Kids presented by So. Az. Arts Council Assoc. (formerly GOVAC). Free performances at 10:30am at Music and Dance Academy (SE corner of Oracle and Magee next to Trader Joe’s). Dates: 10/10, 11/21, 1/9, 2/13, 4/3. See their website for a list of events http://www.saaca.org/events-magicforkids.html.


YMCA family swim, M-Th 6-8pm, $1/family. NW YMCA on Shannon and Magee.

Flandrau Science Center Mineral Museum open Fri and Sat 9-5 for $4 admission ages 5 and up. Also, the free Observatory is still open every Wed-Sat, 7-10pm.

Kitt Peak National Observatory has daily hour-long tours at 10am, 11:30am and 1:30pm. Cost is $4/adult, $2.50/kids ages 6-12. Located 56 miles SW of Tucson on Route 86- makes a great day trip. Call 318-8732 or www.noao.edu for more info.

Funtasticks, last Friday of each month is ‘Fellowship Night’. $10/person gets you in from 4pm-midnight to ride all rides and mini golf.

Providence Institute, ‘Yoga for Kids’ every Saturday, 2-3pm, $5/child, ages 4-10; parents welcome to stay too. 3400 E Speedway, Suite 114; 323-0203.

Tucson Children’s Museum- Let your child explore and learn about health, electricity, dinosaurs, under the sea, space, instruments, building and so much more! There are daily activities and various special events plus 1 free day per month. See website for details tucsonchildrensmuseum.org. Located at 200 S. 6th Ave. Open Tuesday-Sunday, closed Mondays except for “Monsoon Mondays” June-August; $1/person Monday nights, 5-8pm.

Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E Valencia Rd, (520) 618-4800. Open daily 10am-5pm. Jun-Oct low season rates $11.50/adults, $8 ages 7-12.

Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N Alvernon Way (at Grant), 326-9686. Open 8:30am-4:30pm daily; cost $7/adult, $3 ages 4-12, under 3 free. Costs vary by season so may have changed. See website for prices at www.tucsonbotanical.org.

Tohono Chul Park- The Park grounds are beautiful- voted top 10 Botanical Gardens in the world (Travel and Leisure magazine) and rated Best Park/Garden in Tucson for 2009. Open daily 8am-5pm. Admission $7/adults, $2 ages 5-12.
The grounds (only) will be open free of charge on New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
The "Park After Dark" and "Night-blooming Cereus" evening events are also free to everyone. Reptile Ramble Fridays Apr-Oct at 10am, $5- hands-on reptile encounter. See website for more details http://www.tohonochulpark.org.

Pump It Up- Family Night, Wednesdays 5:30-7:30pm, $8.95/child and $2.95/adult admission includes two slices of pizza and beverage each. Open mornings M,W,Th 9:30-11am, $6/child, $5 sibling, parents free; socks required to jump.
Starizona, 5757 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 103 • Tucson, Arizona 85704 • Call Us: (520) 292-5010. Free Viewing Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat nights (after dark)!
International Wildlife Museum, 1st Wednesday, 9:30-10am storytime and craft. $5 admission for child, parents free. Stay and tour museum, watch an animal movie in the theater or get some food at the snack bar. Various summer camps also available.
Tucson Mall, ‘Art with Nina’, every 2nd Saturday of each month, 11:30-1:30 next to Kid’s Play Area, free.
Trail Dust Town, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd., near the Grant Rd. intersection. Phone 296-5442, www.traildusttown.com
Enjoy Dragoon Street Wild, Wild West Stunt Shows (free but tips to actors appreciated), Sun- Thur: 7:00 & 8:00 pm Fri & Sat: 7:00, 8:00 & 9:00pm . You’ll also find the vintage Allen Herschell Fiesta del Presidio Carousel—the oldest operational carousel in the city ($1/ride, open daily 5-8pm). You’ll be able to ride the Trail Dust Town Railroad, a replica of the 1863 C. P. Huntington narrow-gauge train ($1/ride, open daily 5-8pm), visit the Museum of the Horse Soldier, pan for gold at Gabby’s Gulch ($1/person), check out the Rifle Shooting Gallery and grab a cowboy dinner at the various restaurants.

Old Pueblo Trolley Call 792-1802 or visit www.oldpueblotrolley.org for a route map and schedule. Take a step back in time with a trolley ride between University Blvd.’s Main Gate Square and the eclectic shopping district along Fourth Avenue—for just $1 a ride Fri. and Sat. and 25 cents on Sun. This is very near UA campus so maybe combine it with a visit to the Flandrau Center on UA campus or while exploring 4th Avenue.

Michaels 3749 West Ina Road, “The Knack” kids craft time, $5/child (ages 5-12), supplies included. Every Saturday 10-12am. See website for events calendar: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/events?storeid=9530

Lowe’s ‘Build and Grow Clinics’ for Kids (recommended 1st-5th grades). Marana location (off Ina Rd), 572-7300, every 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 10-11am. Make fun crafts and projects; free or small fee. Please register beforehand online at lowes.com, under Services go to Build and Grow Clinics or call to sign-up.

Rocks and Ropes, “Kids Climb” lets kids (under 12 only) climb without the adults getting in their way. Every Saturday from 9-11am. Cost is $12. Our staff will belay for the kids so all they have to do is have fun. Admission closes at 9:30am, program ends @ 11am. No drop-offs/no reservations or groups.

SASI (Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute)
4th Sat of each month (except Dec) is a FREE admission day open to the public from 9am-3pm. Gates Pass Rd, ¼ mi E of Kinney Rd (a few miles from the Desert Museum).
In the mornings they have a nature walk then lectures and classes. After lunch are kids activities- live creature encounter, craft, activities. They have a butterfly garden and live demos.
Children's Drumming Circle 17th Street Market 810 E. 17th St., Tucson, 624-8821 Ext. 145, Bonnie Brooks. Every Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each session includes a brief lesson on the music and origins of drumming. Traditional African rhythms, improvisational drumming and simple hand techniques covered. Designed to encourage creativity and instill music appreciation. Use their drums or bring your own. Free. Age Restrictions 6-12 years old.