Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

Docent Led Tour
2026-10-10 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-26 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | 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.

Nightfall at Old Tucson
2026-10-09 17:00 - 23:00, 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 | 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 | 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.

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 | 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.

Dragonfly BioBlitz
2026-09-30, 2026-09-29, 2026-09-28, 2026-09-27, 2026-09-26 | Santa Cruz River
Let’s catch them all — help us find all the colorful dragonflies and damselflies that are returning to the Santa Cruz River! For decades, the river was dry, but now it is flowing in many sections thanks to the release of high-quality recycled water in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. Beautiful dragonflies and damselflies have come back to the river, but we need your help to find them all and show the world how successful these river restoration efforts have been. New species are still showing up on the river and you can help find them!
To participate in this community science project, you only have to have a camera, smartphone, or tablet, and an account with iNaturalist. In coordination with our annual Santa Cruz River Dragonfly Festival, we tally how many species we can find along the river each September. But don’t stop there! Continue to add observations anytime throughout the year.
Everyone is invited to participate! Just follow these easy steps:
1. Create an iNaturalist account and download the app or use the web interface
2. Visit any number of numerous locations along the Santa Cruz River and take photos of the dragonflies and damselflies you see
3. Upload your photos and observations to iNaturalist and we will include them in our tally of all the species found on the river!
Learn more about the Dragonfly BioBlitz here!

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.

Fiesta del Maiz
2026-09-26 15:00 - 21:00 | Kennedy Park Fiesta Area, 3357 South La Cholla Boulevard, Tucson, 85713, United States
We’re back at Kennedy Park! Save the date for this year’s Fiesta Del Maíz with live performances by LOS APSON and special guests.
Saturday, September 26th from 3-9PM, as always this event is free and all ages.
¡Nos vemos ahí!
FREE community event 9.26 at Kennedy Park food, live music, family friendly activities and more.
3pm-9pm / ALL AGES / FREE
FREE community event at Kennedy Park starting at 4pm with food, live music, family friendly activities and more. Free Face Painting, Arts & crafts, and fun for the entire family.
Tucson City of Gastronomy presents the annual “Pueblos del Maíz Fiesta,” a FREE community event at Kennedy Park. Kennedy Park will transform into a maíz themed fiesta with live music from Los Apson and more. The event will also feature local food and artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, and art installations, all celebrating the cultural and culinary significance of Maíz in the Sonoran Desert.

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.

Pima County Dragonfly Festival Tours
2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Pima County
Join Sonoran Institute and local experts to search for dragonflies at one of four locations. Family friendly and open to all, no prior knowledge required. See the full month’s itinerary for Santa Cruz River Dragonfly Festival here.
Únete al Sonoran Institute y a expertos locales para buscar libélulas en uno de cuatro lugares. Familiar y abierto a todos, no se requiere conocimiento previo. Consulta el itinerario completo del mes para el Festival de Libélulas del Río Santa Cruz aquí.
Los recorridos por el río del centro de Tucson estarán disponibles en español.
Tours are limited to 20 and are popular, please let us know if you need to cancel your reservation. Waitlists are available at registration.
Los tours están limitados a 20 personas y son populares, por favor avísanos si necesitas cancelar tu reservación. Hay listas de espera disponibles al registrarte.
REGISTER/REGÍSTRATE
Mission Garden Tours – Mobility-aid Accessible / Visitas a Mission Garden: accesibles para personas con movilidad reducida

Join Doug Danforth, author of Field Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Arizona and Sonora, to discover the dragonflies thriving along Mission Garden’s acequia, or replica irrigation canal. Mission Garden paths are not paved but are made of compacted material that is ADA compatible, relatively flat, and suitable for wheelchairs and walkers and thus our most accessible tour location.
In addition to a tour, explore activities for all ages! Make a dragonfly craft, check out dragonfly larvae with a microscope, and explore the rich agricultural heritage provided by the Santa Cruz River.
Acompaña a Doug Danforth, autor de la Guía de Campo de las Caballitas del Diablo y Libélulas de Arizona y Sonora, para descubrir las libélulas que prosperan a lo largo de la acequia del Mission Garden, una réplica de un canal de riego. Los senderos del Mission Garden no están pavimentados, pero están hechos de material compactado compatible con la ADA, son relativamente planos y adecuados para sillas de ruedas y andadores, por lo que este es nuestro lugar de recorrido más accesible.
¡Además del recorrido, explora actividades para todas las edades! Crea una manualidad de libélula, observa larvas de libélula con un microscopio y descubre la rica herencia agrícola que ofrece el río Santa Cruz. Tendremos actividades en Español
Downtown Tucson River Tours – Disponibles en Español

Join Rocío Guzmán of University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment to learn about the dragonflies living in the Santa Cruz Heritage Project. This walking tour will take place in the Santa Cruz River channel and will require walking a short distance from the parking area to the sandy riverbed, as well as walking on sloped and uneven ground. Plan for having feet that can get wet to get the most from your experience.
Únete a Rocío Guzmán, de la Escuela de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente de la Universidad de Arizona, para aprender sobre las libélulas que habitan en el Proyecto del Patrimonio del Santa Cruz. Este recorrido a pie se llevará a cabo en el canal del río Santa Cruz y requerirá caminar una corta distancia desde el área de estacionamiento hasta el lecho arenoso del río, así como caminar por terrenos inclinados y desiguales. Prepárate para mojarte los pies y así aprovechar al máximo la experiencia.
El Rio Preserve Tour

Join Jeff Babson of Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources to discover the dragonflies living at the El Rio Preserve. This tour will take place on the banks of the wetlands in El Rio Preserve and will require walking a short distance from the parking area, as well as walking on sloped and uneven ground. Plan for having feet that can get wet to get the most from your experience.
Únete a Jeff Babson, del Departamento de Tierras y Recursos de Conservación del Condado de Pima, para descubrir las libélulas que habitan en El Rio Preserve. Este recorrido se llevará a cabo a orillas de los humedales en El Rio Preserve y requerirá caminar una corta distancia desde el área de estacionamiento, así como caminar por terreno inclinado e irregular. Planea llevar calzado que pueda mojarse para aprovechar al máximo la experiencia.
Marana River Tours

Join Michael Bogan of University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment to learn about the dragonflies living along the Santa Cruz River near the Marana Heritage River Park. This walking tour will take place in the Santa Cruz River channel and will require walking from the parking area to the river, as well as walking on sloped and uneven ground. Plan for having feet that can get wet to get the most from your experience.
Únete a Michael Bogan, de la Escuela de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente de la Universidad de Arizona, para conocer las libélulas que habitan a lo largo del río Santa Cruz, cerca del Marana Heritage River Park. Este recorrido a pie se realizará dentro del cauce del río Santa Cruz y requerirá caminar desde el área de estacionamiento hasta el río, así como caminar por terreno inclinado e irregular. Sugerimos llevar calzado que pueda mojarse para aprovechar al máximo la experiencia.
REGISTER/REGÍSTRATE

What Has Been Stored Away
2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 North Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 85737, United States
Something exciting happened behind the scenes at the Oro Valley Historical Society! Our volunteers spent the summer diving deep into a major transformation: digitizing our entire collection—photographs, documents, artifacts, and treasures that rarely see the light of day. We’re launching our archives into the 21st century, using new technology to preserve Oro Valley’s history in ways we’ve never been able to before. As a result, the Pusch House Museum will look a little different this year—and that’s part of the adventure. While our rotating exhibits take a brief pause, you’ll get to experience pieces of our collection that have never been displayed, alongside familiar favorites that feel like old friends. Think of it as a sneak peek into the vault while we build a digital future for our past. And don’t worry—our volunteers will still be there every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, ready to share stories, answer questions, and bring history to life just steps away from the Heirloom Farmers’ Market. Cool off under the ramada misters, then stroll over to discover what’s new inside the Pusch House Museum.
We can’t wait to see you—history loves company!

Family Dragonfly Activities and Art/Arte de la Naturaleza de las Libélulas con la Familia
2026-09-26 08:30 - 10:30 | Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ, 85745
Enjoy a family-friendly morning of art and nature! Explore the acequias and create dragonfly art to take home. All materials provided, no experience needed, all ages welcome.
¡Disfruta de una mañana familiar de arte y naturaleza! Todas las edades y habilidades son bienvenidas. No se necesita experiencia y se proporcionan todos los materiales. Explora las acequias y crea arte inspirado por las libélulas para llevar a casa.
This event is part of the Santa Cruz River Dragonfly Festival. You can also join Sonoran Institute and local experts to search for dragonflies along the acequia at Mission Garden. Register for a tour

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
