Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Nightfall at Old Tucson
2026-10-08 17:00 - 23:00, 2026-10-04 17:00 - 23:00, 2026-10-03 17:00 - 23:00, 2026-10-02 17:00 - 23:00, 2026-10-01 17:00 - 23:00 (America/Phoenix) | Old Tucson, 201 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85735-9321, United States
The darkness returns. Evil never stays buried for long, and Nightfall at Old Tucson rises again for its 34th year, running from October 1st through October 31st. Darker haunted mazes, more sinister scare zones, and live entertainment await across 22 acres of pure Halloween terror. Judge Blackwood presides and the verdict is in. Your time has come. Get your tickets now at oldtucson.com

Plant Propagation at Borderlands Restoration Network
2026-10-08 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-06 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-29 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-22 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
2026-10-08 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
2026-10-08 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.

Boat Tours at Patagonia Lake State Park
2026-10-04 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-10-03 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-09-27 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-09-20 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.

Healing Herb Walk
2026-10-03 09:00 - 10:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden’s Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.

ASARCO Discovery Center & Mine Tours
2026-09-30 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-26 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-25 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-24 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-23 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-19 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.

A Star is Born at the Loft Cinema Presented by the Empire Ranch
2026-09-27 14:00 - 17:00
Join us in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Historic Empire Ranch at the Loft Cinema in Tucson with a special screening commemorating the 50th Anniversary of A Star is Born, starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
Over 52 movies and television shows were filmed on or around the Empire Ranch between 1946 to 1996, including A Star is Born in 1976. The Desert Honeymoon House from the movie was located just south of the headquarters off Highway 82, and many scenes were shot in the Sonita/Elgin area.
Come just for the movie or join us for a special VIP Reception before the movie!
VIP tickets include:

Movie Ticket
One beer/wine/soft drink
Small Bites
Movie Memorabilia Raffle
A behind-the-scenes Making of the Movie presentation by Actor/Stuntman Steve “Bunker” de France, who was Kris Kristofferson’s stand-in, and Author and Film Historian Gene Freese.

Sunday, September 27, 2026
2:00pm – 2:45pm VIP Reception and Making of the Movie Presentation
3:00pm – 5:00pm A Star is Born
Tickets are on sale now through The Loft Cinema:
$15 General Admission (movie only)
$30 VIP Reception
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85716
This event is made possible in part by a grant from the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area
All proceeds go toward preserving and protecting the Historic Empire Ranch.

Docent Led Tour
2026-09-26 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.

Fall Plant Sale
2026-09-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Borderlands Nursery & Seed, 42 San Antonio Road, Patagonia, 85624, United States
Join us at Borderlands Nursery & Seed on Saturday, September 26, from 9 AM to 2 PM, to shop our selection of native plants, organically grown from locally sourced seed, with vendors and music.
Enjoy a 10% discount on all plants and seeds, and a 20% discount for Restoration Partners & Founders Circle members.

Archaeology Day
2026-09-26 08:00 - 11:00 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
At our monthly (fourth Saturday) Archaeology Day, representatives of Tucson’s archaeology community come to Mission Garden to teach practical hands-on skills. Archaeology Southwest will be doing their Hands-on Archaeology program. It allows kids of all ages to try out fascinating ancient technologies. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center is represented at these events, also presenting interactive programs about things like pinch pots, pendants, and cordage. John Palacio speaks about and demonstrates making replicas of petroglyphs. Come join in any time between 8am and 11am.

National Public Lands Day 2026
2026-09-26
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, held each year on the fourth Saturday in September. NPLD is a day of service as well as an opportunity to give back, build community, and enjoy the public lands that support our health, environment, and well-being.
For more than three decades, NPLD has helped make public lands more accessible to communities nationwide through service and celebration. Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, NPLD brings together thousands of volunteers—individuals, families, organizations, and agencies—to care for and celebrate America’s public lands through volunteer and community events.
Public lands include national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and state, county, and city parks—spaces managed by public agencies or nonprofits and open to all.
Find National Public Lands Day (NPLD) opportunitIes HERE
