Photos above by Josh Schachter

2009 Summer Saturday Evenings

June - August 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
(no entry after 9:15 p.m.)
Admissions after 4:00 p.m. ONLY $6.00
($2.25 for 6-12, FREE for 5 and under)

Suggestions for Making the Most of Your Visit

Daytime Activities

Docent Demonstrations & Tours

Times and locations for daytime animal and interpretive demonstrations are posted on the Plan-Your-Day board located on the entrance patio. Tours begin at 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 9:30 a.m.. Please meet on the Front Patio.

Live and "sort of" on the Loose

Join staff members from the Herpetology Department for a live animal presentation featuring venomous reptiles of the Sonoran Desert Region. Programs are 30-45 minutes in length and take place everyday in the Warden Oasis Theater at 12:15 p.m. Check below for special evening presentation dates and times too!

A Nighttime Reminder

Evening Exhibit Closing Times

Some of our exhibits close at sunset so the animals can sleep. The Walk-in Aviary, Hummingbird Aviary, Parrot Exhibit, Life on the Rocks, Life Underground, and the Desert Loop Trail (coyote, javelina) close at the following times:

  • June 6 - August 8: 7:00 p.m.
  • August 15, 22 & 29: 6:30 p.m.

Nocturnal Animals

Mountain lions, small cats and beavers tend to be especially active after dark. Often wild bats can be seen flying over the Riparian Corridor.

Food, Dining & Gifts

Below is a listing of special hours for various food, dining and giftshop locations at the Museum:

  • Food & Dining
    • Ironwood Terraces Restaurant:
      8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

    • Ocotillo Café Restaurant:
      5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

    • The Cottonwood (snacks):
      10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

    • Phoebe’s Coffee Bar:
      7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

  • Gift Shops
    • Mountain House Gift Shop:
      8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
      (Near the front entrance)

    • Ironwood Gift Shop
      9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
      (next to the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant)

Nightly Events

Between 6:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. you may discover Museum Docents and Jr. Docents interpreting live animals, celestial wonders, fluorescent minerals, night pollinators, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, and bat, scorpion, or rattlesnake kits. Look for them at the following locations: The Earth Sciences Center, Yucca Ramada, Ancient Arizona, Entrance Patio, Vista Ramada, Desert Tortoise Ramada, Riparian Corridor, Desert Garden, Pollination Garden, Fish and Amphibian Room, Grasslands, Orientation Ramada, and at the Amphitheater.

CHECK THE WHITE BOARD AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE FOR UPDATED NIGHTLY INFORMATION

Special Events

June 6th

Live and "sort of" on the Loose

Presentations focus on several topics, including general natural history, venoms and envenomations, bite statistics, how we work with and what it's like to work with venomous reptiles.
6:00-7:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


June 13th
Volcano/Geology Night

Volcano Making

Make and erupt your own volcano!
6:00-9:00 pm Desert Garden

Dr. Michael Conway - Presentation

Join Michael Conway, Ph.D., Section Chief of the Geologic Extension Service at the Arizona Geological Survey for a "brief" rundown on the last 15 million years of volcanic activity in Arizona.
7:00 and 8:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


June 20th
Bug Night

Presentation by Carl Olson, Entomologist, U of A

6:00-6:30 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute - Hands-on activities

7:00-9:00 pm Desert Garden

Presentation by Carl Olson, Entomologist, U of A

7:00-7:30 pm Warden Oasis Theater


June 27th
Family Astronomy Night
Sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

Hands-on Activities

6:00-9:00 pm Baldwin Education Building

Dark Skies

Telescopes on grounds
6:00-10:00 pm Overlook

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


July 4th

Live and "sort of" on the Loose

Presentations focus on several topics, including general natural history, venoms and envenomations, bite statistics, how we work with and what it's like to work with venomous reptiles.
6:00-7:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


July 11th
Bat Night

Bat Presentation

With Karen Krebbs
6:00-7:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Mark Jensen, BCI - Bat Echolocation

7:00-9:00 pm Near Coati Exhibit

Bat Presentation

With Karen Krebbs
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


July 18th

Earth Camp Celebration

5:00-7:00 p.m. Baldwin Education Building
7:00-9:00 p.m. Warden Oasis Theater

Desert Foods Night

Community Groups
6:00-9:00 pm Desert Garden

Presentation by Jesus Garcia

8:00-9:00 pm Baldwin Education Building


July 25th
Family Astronomy Night
Sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

Hands-on Activities

6:00-9:00 pm Baldwin Education Building

Dark Skies

8:00-10:00 pm Overlook

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


August 1st

Live and "sort of" on the Loose

Presentations focus on several topics, including general natural history, venoms and envenomations, bite statistics, how we work with and what it's like to work with venomous reptiles.
6:00-7:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


August 8th

Sustainable Seafood Night

6:30-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater and Baldwin Education Building

"Ghost Net" art and poetry exhibit

BEB Lobby


August 15th

Native American Storyteller Girard Tsonakwa

6:30-7:30 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


August 22nd
Family Astronomy Night
Sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory

Hands-on Activities

6:00-9:00 pm Baldwin Education Building

Dark Skies

8:00-10:00 pm Overlook

Sky Hunters

This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 35-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.
8:00-9:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater


August 29th

Teacher Appreciation Night

5:30-6:30 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Skin Cancer Awareness

Table promotions
5:00-9:00 pm Across from Ironwood Gallery

Monsoon Night

Roni Ashford - Book Reading & Signing - Monsoon Presentation
Reading, book signing and multi-sensory presentation about monsoons for kids and families
6:30-7:30 pm Baldwin Education Building

Physics Factory

The Physics Factory will present demonstrations and activities focusing on Electricity, Magnetism, and the Physics of Monsoons
7:00 & 8:00 pm Warden Oasis Theater

Dark Skies

8:00-10:00 pm Overlook