Evening Exhibit Closing
Some exhibits close before 10 p.m. so the animals can sleep. The Walk-in Aviary, Hummingbird Aviary, Parrot Exhibit, Life on the Rocks, Desert Loop Trail (coyote, javelina), Cactus Garden, Agave Garden, Bee Exhibit, People & Pollinators, and the Labyrinth Garden close at the following seasonal times:
- Jun 4 — Aug 6: 7:00 p.m.
- Aug 13 — Aug 27: 6:30 p.m.
Restaurant Hours
Gift Shop Hours
The Gallery will close at 9:00 p.m.
Photos above by Rhonda Spencer and Josh Schachter
Cool Summer Nights
2013
Summer Saturday Evenings ONLY - June, July & August
Special Programming (usually begins at 6:00 p.m.)
A nighttime visit at the Desert Museum is completely different from a daytime visit. You'll experience the Sonoran Desert in an entirely new way! Animals are more active, scorpions glow under blacks lights and nighttime pollinators abound! Each Summer Saturday Evening is unique with its own theme and a variety of special nighttime activities.
Ongoing Nightly Events on Cool Summer Nights
Look for Museum Docents and Jr. Docents interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, and/or rattlesnakes.
Check the Plan Your Visit board at the Entrance Patio for times and locations!
Weekly Themes & Activity Schedule
June 1st — Diamonds of the Desert
June 1 kicks off Diamonds of the Desert — an entirely new exhibit celebrating the Museum's 60th diamond jubilee. View rare species of diamondback rattlesnakes pared with beautiful diamond gemstones! In June, enter for a chance to win a gift certificate from Sheffield's Jewelers, the Museum's diamond partner for this extraordinary exhibit which runs through August 31st.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Live and (sort of) on the Loose
- This live animal presentation showcases many misunderstood desert animals including rattlesnakes, Mexican beaded lizards, and Gila monsters.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
June 8th — Living in Harmony with the Sun
The Skin Cancer Institute and University of Arizona Mount Lemon Sky Center, in partnership with the Desert Museum, have teamed up to create this event which focuses attention on the Sun - its magnificence in the sky as well as its potential harm. Learn about sun safety through interactive educational displays and activities for children. Try out the skin analyzer machine. Enter a free raffle to win a sun safe prize!
Scheduled Activities:
- 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free Skin Cancer Screenings
- Dermatologists will be on-hand providing free skin cancer screenings on a first come, first served basis.
- 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Children's Activity Center
- Make a UV bracelet, get a sun safe tattoo and learn about sun safety. Don't forget to pick up your sun fun facts game card at the Museum entrance!
- 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Telescopes — Day and Night
- Join staff and volunteers from the Mount Lemmon Sky Center to view the sun through a specialized telescope (weather permitting)! After sunset, also view Mars and Venus.
- 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Meet RAY
- Take your picture with RAY the Sun Safe mascot.
- 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Desert Animal Adaptations
- Join museum docents and learn how desert animals have adapted and thrive in the desert environment.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Tasting Your Community
- Your community is more than just its people - it's the whole ecological tapestry of interwoven lives in their environment. What better way to ponder local ecology than to eat of its riches? Join Desert Museum Education Specialists Jesús García to explore ethno-ecology of the Sonoran Desert region. Sample native and traditional foods and learn techniques to gather and process them. Experiment with natural fibers, pigments and medicinal plants.
June 15th - All About Bats and Family Astronomy Night
The clear desert skies of Tucson are the perfect place to study celestial wonders - stars, planets, and moons — not to mention those amazing nighttime navigators — bats!!!
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Family Astronomy Fun
- Learn about stars, asteroids, planets and gravity with a variety of hands-on activities.
- 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Viewing Telescopes
- Astronomy experts will be on-hand to show you the heavens and answer all your questions.
- 7:00 & 8:00 p.m. All About Bats!
- Learn cool facts about Sonoran Desert Bat species from ASDM Conservation Biologist Karen Krebbs. Stick around to ask questions!
- 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Bat Echolocation
- Learn about Binary Acoustic Technology as Mark Jensen, a specialist in bat acoustics, shares his expertise. With his assistance, using a bat detector and computer to record calls of wild bats, you'll "see" bat echolocation in action!
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
June 22nd — Native Animals & Music
Spend relaxing time with your family learning about desert animals and enjoying native music.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
June 29th — H2Oopla — Water Conservation
Enjoy fun activities throughout the Museum grounds focused on water conservation and how you can help. Conversations about conservation- for the whole family!
Kids ages 4 to 12: Print out and color this Desert Scene and bring it to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum after 5 p.m. on June 29th, 2013 to recieve one free admission for children ages 4 through 12. Limit of one child per paying adult.
July 6th — Native Animals & Music
Spend relaxing time with your family learning about desert animals and enjoying native music.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. Live and (sort of) on the Loose
- This live animal presentation showcases many misunderstood desert animals including rattlesnakes, Mexican beaded lizards, and Gila monsters.
- 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. Native American Flutes
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
July 13th — Family Fun: Astronomy and Desert Animals
The clear desert skies of Tucson are the perfect place to study celestial wonders. This evening is the perfect chance to experience astronomy activities as a family.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Family Astronomy Fun
- Learn about stars, asteroids, planets and gravity with a variety of hands-on activities.
- 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Viewing Telescopes
- Astronomy experts will be on-hand to show you the heavens and answer all your questions. (Weather permitting)
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
July 20th — Insect Insanity and Photography
If you're buggy for bugs, you'll love this evening featuring lectures by "the Bugman", Dr. Carl Olson, as well as a chance to get up close and personal with arthropods. This evening also offers a FREE Macro Photography Class — space is limited to 263 persons.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:00 p.m. Macro Photography with Jay Pierstorff and Rhonda Spencer
- Learn how to take extreme close-up photos of bugs, coins, stamps, flowers and more. If it is tiny, there is a way to make great images with almost any kind of camera. Jay and Rhonda show you how it's done in this 45 minute class for photography enthusiasts of all skill levels.
- 7:00 & 8:00 p.m. The Bugman!
- Learn new facts and dispel myths about Sonoran Desert insects. Join the "Bugman", University of Arizona Entomologist Dr. Carl Olson as he gives two presentations about the 6, 8, and more-legged creatures of our desert.
- 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Insect Insanity
- Get a bugs-eye view of many of the arthropods that live in the Sonoran Desert. Experts will be on-hand to answer all your arthropod questions.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
July 27th — Physics Factory & Music
Physics is fun! Experience the excitement of it through stage shows and hands-on presentations with the Physics Factory, back for another evening of fun! For a relaxing moment, pause to enjoy Native American Flute music.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Physics Factory
- The Physics Factory is a team of scientists and educators with a common goal: to share their enthusiasm for physics with students, teachers and the community. Through a combination of hands-on learning and eye-popping stage shows, The Physics Factory demonstrates that physics is an exciting process of discovery and invention, and a rewarding career.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
August 3rd — Native Animals & Music
Spend relaxing time with your family learning about misunderstood desert animals and enjoying native music.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Live and (sort of) on the Loose
- This live animal presentation showcases many misunderstood desert animals including rattlesnakes, Mexican beaded lizards, and Gila monsters.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
August 10th — Desert Safety for Companion Critters
Learn how to keep your companion animal friends safe in the Sonoran Desert when the Humane Society of Southern Arizona visits the Desert Museum! This evening will include informative presentations as well as fun activities for kids.
Scheduled Activities:
- Time TBD Humane Society Workshop
- Humane Society Educators host a presentation on how to keep yourself and your companion animals safe when you're in the desert. You'll also learn how to respectfully and safely interact with wild friends, too.
- Time TBD Activities for Kids
- Do a fun craft activity and enjoy an outdoor scavenger hunt!
August 17th — Lightning Photography and Teacher Appreciation Night
Learn about the thrilling world of lightning photography and take in some soothing Native American flute music.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Lightning Photography and Much More!
- Dr. Ralph Wetmore has chased and photographed lightning throughout southern Arizona. Hear first-hand about the challenges, dangers and unpredictability of lightning photography, delve into the science of lightning, and enjoy the beauty and power of Ralph's images of lightning coursing across the sky.
- 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Teacher Appreciation Night
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
August 24th — Cultural Celebration
Celebrate cultural diversity! Through a partnership between the Hopi Foundation, Tucson Museum of Art, the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Desert Museum, experience dance, music, and the arts on this very special night.
August 31st — Photography and Astronomy
The clear desert skies of Tucson are the perfect place to study celestial wonders. This evening is the perfect chance to experience astronomy activities as a family. If photography is your passion, plan on attending one of tonight's two photography classes taught by Jay Piersorf and Rhonda Spencer, ASDM Art Institute instructors.
Scheduled Activities:
- 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Family Astronomy Fun
- Learn about stars, asteroids, planets and gravity with a variety of hands-on activities.
- 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Viewing Telescopes
- Astronomy experts will be on-hand to show you the heavens and answer all your questions. (Weather permitting)
- 7:00 p.m. Take Photos Like a Pro!
- Professional photographers employ techniques and tricks that make their photos stand out. Now, those secrets can be yours in this 45 minute class for photography enthusiasts of all skill levels, regardless of the camera you own.
- 8:00 p.m. Night Photography
- Take exciting photos after the sun goes down! Learn about light painting, time exposures, Scorpions and black light, turning night into day, and photographing the moon and stars. No matter what kind of camera you have you can take great photos! (45 minutes) The entire class will also create a light painting photo.
- 6:30 & 8:00 p.m. Native American Flute Circle
- Members from three Tucson Native America Flute circles perform this plaintive and relaxing music in an intimate garden setting.
