Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Guided Birding Walks at Patagonia Sonoita Creek
2026-05-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-09 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Phoenix) | Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Visitor Center, 150 Blue Haven Road, Patagonia, Arizona, 85624, United States
Join us for guided birding walks at Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve in Southern Arizona on Saturday mornings, starting November 1st, 2025!
Learn about the resident and migrating birds, ranging from gray hawks to vermilion flycatchers to thick-billed kingbirds. Tours will also touch on the environmental history of the region surrounding the preserve. Birders of all levels are welcome.
The start time of the walks will vary depending on the point in the season, so be sure to check the sign-up form to see when they will begin each week. The fee is $8 per person, or $5 for Santa Cruz/Cochise County residents and TNC members. Free to Patagonia/Sonoita/Elgin residents and children under 17. Registration is required.
Please bring comfortable clothes and footwear to walk 1-2 miles, a water bottle, sun protection and snacks. We suggest bringing your own binoculars, but the preserve has a limited number available for checkout. Read more about preserve regulations here.
For more information, contact Preserve Manager Aaron at aaron.mrotek@tnc.org.

ASARCO Ticketed Mine Tour
2026-05-15 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-14 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-13 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-09 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-08 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-07 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-06 09:30 - 10:30 | ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center, 1421 W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita, 85629, United States
The ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours’ vision has been to educate communities on the vital importance of the copper mining industry to civilization, to educate students and teachers in earth sciences, and to preserve Arizona’s mining history.’
Join the mine tour for a firsthand look at the copper transformation process. Ticketed mine tours are approximately 65 minutes long.
Tours at 9:30 am, 11:15 am
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MINE TOUR

Closed-toed shoes are required to take the tour. No Crocs, sandals, or flip-flops will be allowed.
We suggest bringing a water bottle (filtered water station is available in the Center).
Please dress comfortably.

Plant Propagation at Borderlands Restoration Network
2026-05-14 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-12 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-07 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Borderlands Nursery & Seed, 42 San Antonio Road, Patagonia, 85624, United States
Spend your morning at Borderlands Nursery & Seed with a great group of plant lovers propagating native plants that will restore the landscapes of the borderlands. Bring water and be prepared for outdoor work.

Birds of Mission Garden
2026-05-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At Mission Garden, meet at the front gate

Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden’s expert birders. We’ll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with the roadrunners. We always check the hummingbird feeder! Take the opportunity to learn about the history of Tucson’s agriculture and some of the crops that have been important here.

Monthly Bird Walk
2026-05-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
Walk around Mission Garden to look for seasonal and resident birds. Learn to identify some common calls and songs of the birds here. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. Check in with Kevin (the roadrunner) and our resident chickens. We always check the hummingbird feeder to see what hummingbirds are visiting it!
Walks usually last about one and half hours. Walking is easy in the garden and the paths, while not paved, are made of compacted material that is ADA compatible and suitable for wheelchairs and walkers. The length of this walk is 0.50 to 0.75 mile.

"A Desert Feast: Celebrating Tucson's Culinary Heritage" with Carolyn Niethammer
2026-05-13 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for the monthly Borderlands Literature and Film Circle (BLFC) on Zoom. This is a free online event, $10 suggested donation.
Carolyn Neithammer is a celebrated Tucson-based author who has spent decades documenting the intersection of food, culture, and nature in the Southwest. Her work is deeply rooted in the Sonoran Desert, earning her a reputation as a leading voice in regional culinary history.
In A Desert Feast: Celebrating Tucson’s Culinary Heritage, Niethammer takes readers on a 4,000 year journey through the Santa Cruz Valley, exploring why Tucson became the first U.S. city to be designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. This award-winning book is a vibrant “food pilgrimage” that traces the lineage of desert agriculture, from the early irrigation canals of the Hohokam and the ancient cultivation of maize to the transofrmative arrival of Spanish missionaries and the rugged traditions of ranch-style cowboy cooking.
More than just a history book, it is a celebration of the people who keep these traditions alive today. Through rich storytelling and over 100 photographs, Niethammer introduces the local farmers, indigenous growers, and innovative chefs who utilize heritage ingredients like prickly pear, mesquite, and tepary beans. It is an essential guide for anyone looking to understand the deep, multicultural roots that make the borderlands’ food scene truly unique.
REGISTER FOR ZOOM LINK

Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
2026-05-10 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-09 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-03 09:00 - 12:30 | Patagonia Lake, 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Patagonia,, AZ, 85624, United States
Every Saturday and Sunday, $7 per adult, $5 per child (13 years and under)

9 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
10:15 a.m. Avian Adventure Tour
11:30 a.m. Lake Discovery Tour
Twilight Tour on Saturdays only. Time varies.

Please call the park to make your reservation: 520-287-2791.
Boat rentals are available at the Patagonia Lake Marina.

Mothers Day Stewardship @ Danny Lopez Park
2026-05-10 07:00 - 09:00 | Danny Lopez Park, 4300 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, 85745, United States
Show Some Mother’s Day Love for Mother Earth! Join Tucson Clean and Beautiful and Friends of Danny Lopez Park from 7:00–9:00 AM as they remove invasive buffelgrass and stinknet and pick up trash around the lake at Danny Lopez Park. RSVP / Questions: FriendsOfDLPark@gmail.com What to bring/wear: Long pants and a long-sleeve shirt Sturdy, closed-toe footwear Water and a hat Work gloves (if you have them) This is a flat, easy site—perfect for beginners and all experience levels.

Living Lab & Learning Center Tour
2026-05-09 17:00 - 19:00 | Watershed Management Group, 1137 N Dodge Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85716
Our guided Living Lab Tours happen every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. You’ll be led through our demonstration site by one of our Docents to learn about our many water harvesting systems firsthand.

Docent Led Tour
2026-05-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Empire Ranch, 16655 E. Empire Ranch Rd, Sonoita, 85637, United States
Docent Led Tour of the Empire Ranch House. 11 am to noon. Reservations are required by 5 pm the day before the tour. Click here to make a reservation. Free. Meet at the Visitor Contact Station.

Tour of Historic Canoa Ranch
2026-05-09 09:00 - 10:30 | Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 I-19 Frontage Rd, Green Valley, AZ, 85614
Join a walking tour of the Canoa Ranch headquarters. Visit the historic buildings and corrals and enjoy the special exhibits of the people of Canoa. DIRECTIONS: Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 S. I-19 Frontage Rd., Green Valley 85622 From Tucson – Take 1-19 south to exit 56 – Canoa Road. Go around the traffic circle until you are heading east. Turn left (north) on the east side frontage road for about ½ mile and turn at the Hacienda de la Canoa sign on your right. Please carry water and wear sturdy walking shoes.

Sunflowers for Mother's Day
2026-05-09 07:00 - 13:00 | San Xavier Co-op Farm, 8100 Oidak Wog, Tucson, 85746, United States
Pick Your Own Sunflowers for Mother’s Day, Saturday, May 9, 7 am-1 pm, 8100 S. Oidak Wog. Prices will be $10 per group to pick as many as you would like and $5 per bouquet for prepared bouquets in the Farm Store. Please bring your own supplies and please note that their flower supply is limited, flowers are first come, first serve.

Walk the Anza Trail at Tumacácori National Historical Park
2026-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Tumacácori National Historical Park, 1891 E Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, 85640, United States
Join an Anza Trail park ranger at Tumacácori National Historical Park for a guided walk!
-Meet at the mission church at 10 am
-Walk to the Santa Cruz River along the Anza Trail
-Return around 11:30 am
We’ll be walking along the same route the Anza expedition followed 250 years ago! This is an easy trail but expect uneven and unpaved surfaces. It’s a 1- to 2-mile roundtrip journey. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, water, and an interest in natural and cultural history!

February 13, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

March 13, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

April 10, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

May 8, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30 am

1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ 85640

Birding at Agua Caliente Park
2026-05-06 07:00 - 08:30 | Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85749, United States
In southern Arizona the natural world begins to think about spring in March. This walk at Agua Caliente Park offers opportunities to view our desert denizens alongside some pond-loving riparian birds. Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome when space permits. Now free thanks to the generous support of Friends of Agua Calente Park.

Tubac Nature Center Bird Walk
2026-05-05 07:00 - 10:00 | Tubac Nature Center, 50 Bridge Road, Tubac, AZ, United States
Meet at the Nature Center, 50 Bridge Road, Tubac. Sign in at the door. the leaders will select a section of the Anza Trail for the walk. All expertise levels welcomed. Bring binoculars.

Advanced Birding Series: Breeding Bird Behavior
2026-05-03 05:30 - 08:30 | Sweet Water Wetlands, 2511 W Sweetwater Drive, Tucson, 85745, United States
Trip Difficulty: Easy. Walking distance: around 1 mile. Trip Duration: 2.5 – 3 hrs. Elevation gain: none, but with chance of slight inclines/declines. Ground condition: groomed gravel trails. Drinking water and restrooms available at park’s entrance. Benches available at periodic intervals around the Wetlands.
By May most of our breeding birds have arrived at Sweetwater Wetlands! Depending on the species they may be singing, courting, brooding, feeding nestlings, or already have fledglings. In this workshop we will focus on observing breeding bird behaviors, finding and identifying juvenile birds (including challenging recently fledged
young), practice safely viewing nests, check nest boxes, and learn how to enter breeding codes on eBird. Breeding birds we could see include: Gambel’s Quail, Anna’s Hummingbird, Common Gallinule, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Great-horned Owl, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Song Sparrow, Red-
winged Blackbird, and Lucy’s Warbler. Limited to 12 participants. The Wetlands are located at 2511 W Sweetwater Drive.
Leader: Alex Patia (apatia@tucsonbirds.org)

Death After Dark Walking Tour
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Presidio San Augstin del Tucson, 196 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85701
Escape the heat and join Mauro Trejo on an after-dark and unique and macabre tour that covers some of the most memorable deaths that have taken place in Tucson’s history. From executions to suicides, and gunfights to accidents, this 2 mile tour will take you back in time to some of Tucson’s most fascinating tragedies.
Begins and ends at the Tucson Presidio Museum, 196 N. Court Ave.
$35 general | $20 member
Contact info@TucsonPresidio.com to make a special reservation for a group of 6 or more.

Fiesta de Mayo 2026
2026-05-02 17:00 - 22:00 | Karam Park, 159 N Morley Ave, , Nogales, A, 85621, United States
Nasib Karam Park, Nogales, Arizona, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.The community is invited to celebrate Fiestas de Mayo on May 2, 2026, at Karam Park on Morley Avenue. Hosted by the City of Nogales, the Consulate General of Mexico in Nogales, and the Cultural Arts Committee of Nogales, this vibrant event will feature live music, delicious food, and the crowning of the queen. With free admission, attendees can enjoy an evening of culture, entertainment, and community celebration.
