Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

ASARCO Discovery Center & Mine Tours
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, 2026-09-18 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-09-17 09:30 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | 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.

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, 2026-09-19 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.

Dragonfly BioBlitz
2026-09-26, 2026-09-25, 2026-09-24, 2026-09-23, 2026-09-22, 2026-09-21, 2026-09-20, 2026-09-19 and 2 more dates | 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!

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

Plant Propagation at Borderlands Restoration Network
2026-09-24 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-22 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-17 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.

Santa Cruz County Guided Dragonfly Tour/Recorrido Guiado de Libélulas en el condado de Santa Cruz
2026-09-20 09:30 - 12:00 | Santa Cruz River
Join local experts to learn about the dragonflies living along the Santa Cruz River near Tumacacori National Historical Park and Nogales. This tour will ideally go to two locations and require walking on sloped and uneven ground. Plan for having feet that can get wet to get the most from your experience. Transportation is not provided but carpooling will be an option from the tour meeting location.
Únete expertos locales para conocer las libélulas que habitan a lo largo del río Santa Cruz cerca del Parque Histórico Nacional Tumacacori y Nogales. Este recorrido idealmente irá a dos lugares y requerirá caminar por terrenos inclinados y desiguales. Prepárate para mojarte los pies y así aprovechar al máximo la experiencia. No se proporcionará transporte, pero existirá la opción de compartir vehículo desde el lugar de encuentro del recorrido
REGISTER HERE

Sonoran Sashay ~~ Dragonfly Festival
2026-09-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Club Congress, 311 E Congress St #1811, Tucson, 85701, United States
Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm | 21+

General Admission: $15 + Dice Fees
Rail Seating: $25 + Dice Fees
High Top Table Seating (2 Seat Minimum): $25 + Dice Fees

A desert cabaret spectacular at Club Congress highlighting the wild wonders of the Sonoran Desert and Santa Cruz River as our performers bring the region’s vibrant ecology and groundbreaking community science to center stage.
PERFORMERS:
Pray the Trey Away
Posie D’Lish
Lady La La
Kitty Catatonic
Lorna Mae Foxx
Taryn Garter
Mantis
Bobbie Hart
Itza Dryheat
Sofia Bordeaux
Tommy Tease
Lady Ellie Fury

This is a 21+ event.

Family Nature Exploration: The Santa Cruz River / Exploradores del Río: Taller Familiar de Ciencia más Arte
2026-09-19 09:00 - 10:30 | Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, 7548 North Silverbell Road, Marana, 85743, United States
Join us at the Santa Cruz River for a family-friendly morning of nature exploration, science, and art! Discover the wonders of water at a very special place in our desert – the flowing Santa Cruz River. Bring the whole family as we explore the ecosystem, observe critters that live in and around the water (like dragonflies!), and create your own nature art to take home. DIRECTIONS: Meet at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, 7548 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743 Enter the park from Silverbell Rd., just South of Leman Academy. Drive straight until you reach the parking lot. Meet in front of the restrooms that are near the basketball courts and playground/splashpad. map: https://bit.ly/RiverExplorers
REGISTER HERE

111th Santa Cruz County Fair - Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association
2026-09-18 09:00 - 2026-09-20 17:00 | Sonoita Fairgrounds, 3142 AZ-83, Sonoita, 85637, United States
General Admission FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH
School Day: 15 and Under FREE entry until NOON
Admission $5, Children 5 & Under FREE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Admission $5, Children 5 & Under FREE
2:00 PM – CLOSE
Admission $15, Children 5 & Under FREE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH
Admission $5, Children 5 & Under FREE
