Cool Summer Nights

Cool Summer Nights
Open till 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays
June 8 - August 24, 2024

The Desert Museum is lovely during the day, but it’s even cooler after dark! Join us every Saturday night throughout the summer to beat the heat while learning something neat! The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Bats perform aerial acrobatics in pursuit of dinner, beavers splash around in their pond, and scorpions glow green under black light. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, or participate in special nightly activities. See the schedule below for weekly themes.

Buy Tickets Now

Exhibit Closing Times

Some exhibits close early for safety reasons or so that the animals can get some shut eye! The gardens will close at 6:45 p.m., and the aviaries and the Desert Loop Trail will close at 7:00 p.m.

Shopping and Dining Closing Times

The Mountain House Gift Shop (near the entrance) is open until 9:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. on July 29)
The Ironwood Gift Shop (near the restaurant complex) is open until 9:00 p.m (10:00 p.m. on July 29).

The Ocotillo Café is open from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. on July 29)
The Ironwood Terraces Restaurant is open throughout the day until 8:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. on July 29)
Phoebé’s Coffee Bar is open throughout the day until 9:00 p.m (10:00 p.m. on July 29).

A few menu items from the Ocotillo Café


(gf) Birria — Slow cooked beef on corn tortillas with pepperjack cheese, served with cilantro, onion, radish and consume for dipping	Southwest Bbq Burger — prime rib steak burger, pineapple braised pork, pepperjack cheese, red onion, and house made chipotle Dr. Pepper barbeque sauce, served on grilled bun with roasted jalapeno	Chef’s Sonoran Dawg — All beef frank wrapped with applewood smoked bacon, topped with pinto beans, blended cheese, fresh salsa fresca, mustard, and charred jalapeno aioli on a fresh house baked bolillo roll	(gf) Sopes — Lightly fried masa shells, with refried beans, shredded chicken, cotija cheese, cilantro, radish, and topped with salsa verde

PRO TIP

Please remember: rattlesnakes are more active as it gets dark. They are important members of our natural environment but if you spot one, please alert any volunteer or staff member and maintain your distance. Make sure to be alert of where you place your hands & feet. Thank you!

Weekly Themes

Activity schedules subject to additions and changes — check back often for the latest updates!

(See previous Saturday schedules)

July 27 — The Magic of Monsoons

Incredible lightning storms and the intoxicating aroma of creosote after the first rain are two of our favorite things about Monsoon! Meet experienced storm chasers and photographers and learn about this summertime season. Pima County Flood Control District will also be on hand with information on staying safe. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, and feel the touch of a stingray.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Electric Lemonade Cocktail
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Parch Spirits & Cocktails: Local drinks company Parch will be giving out samples of their non-alcoholic agave spirits and cocktails.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Flood Demonstration: Representatives from Pima County Flood Control District will have their flood demonstration table at Taylor Plaza to show how running water from storms can flow in unexpected ways.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Meet Monsoon Storm Chasers: Members of the Official Tucson Storm Chasers Group will be on hand to discuss storm forecasting, and photography techniques for capturing Monsoon scenes. You can also watch a slideshow of their amazing storm photos over the years!
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Dear Body of Water: Dear Body of Water is a community-based project to cultivate care for watersheds. Community members are invited to write postcard-sized love letters to bodies of water to grow awareness of water issues and stewardship for this global, poetic, water-harvesting project. Dear Body of Water is the brain-child of professor and author, Dr. Gretchen Henderson, in partnership with the University of Arizona Poetry Center and the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University.
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Monsoon Storytime!: Celebrate the culture, nature and magic of monsoons with Tata, Nana, and their whole family. Award-winning author Roni Rivera-Ashford will be reading from her book Hip Hip Hooray, It’s Monsoon Day — ¡Ajúa, Ya Llegó el Chubasco! in the Warden Oasis Theater.
Throughout the Night: Look for Museum Docents around the grounds interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and more!
6:00 - 8:45 p.m. Stingray Touch Exhibit: Summertime isn’t complete without a trip to the pool! Dip your hands in the water and experience the touch of a stingray. $3.00/person, $2.00/Museum members.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Packrat Playhouse: This indoor play space allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of a packrat! Packrat Playhouse may reach capacity. 30-minute reserved play times are available at the Packrat Playhouse entrance.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Art Exhibits: Make sure to check out 'Seeds, Saguaros & Skeletons' in the Ironwood Gallery!

August 3 — Singing with Saguaros

Howl and boogie with the Desert Museum Family Band! Join education specialists Michelle Miner and Kyleigh Sacco — plus special guests like Mr. Nature, Syndenn Sweet, and Eli Beren — in a desert style Singalong at the Warden Oasis Theater. Get your paws on our nature inspired music album! Bring your flashlight and explore, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, and feel the touch of a stingray.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Cactus Cosmo
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. & 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Singalongs at the Warden Oasis Theater: Join the Desert Museum Family Band for a singalong program, or two!
Throughout the Night: Look for Museum Docents around the grounds interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and more!
6:00 - 8:45 p.m. Stingray Touch Exhibit: Summertime isn’t complete without a trip to the pool! Dip your hands in the water and experience the touch of a stingray. $3.00/person, $2.00/Museum members.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Packrat Playhouse: This indoor play space allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of a packrat! Packrat Playhouse may reach capacity. 30-minute reserved play times are available at the Packrat Playhouse entrance.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Art Exhibits: Make sure to check out 'Seeds, Saguaros & Skeletons' in the Ironwood Gallery!

August 10 — Insectopia

Let’s celebrate incredible insects and amazing arthropods! The Sonoran Desert is a hot spot of insect diversity and this is your chance to meet them. Get a bugs-eye view of many of the million species of arthropods that make the Sonoran Desert their home. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, and feel the touch of a stingray.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — June bug Punch
Throughout the Night: Look for Museum Docents around the grounds interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and more!
6:00 - 8:45 p.m. Stingray Touch Exhibit: Summertime isn’t complete without a trip to the pool! Dip your hands in the water and experience the touch of a stingray. $3.00/person, $2.00/Museum members.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Packrat Playhouse: This indoor play space allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of a packrat! Packrat Playhouse may reach capacity. 30-minute reserved play times are available at the Packrat Playhouse entrance.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Art Exhibits: Make sure to check out 'Seeds, Saguaros & Skeletons' in the Ironwood Gallery!

August 17 — Bat Night

Are you feeling batty? Come celebrate the only flying mammals — bats! The evening will be filled with fun, educational activities, talks, and crafts designed to help you better appreciate these amazing aerial acrobats! Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, and feel the touch of a stingray.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Bat Bite
Throughout the Night: Look for Museum Docents around the grounds interpreting live animals, celestial desert skies, fluorescent minerals, bats, kissing bugs, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and more!
6:00 - 8:45 p.m. Stingray Touch Exhibit: Summertime isn’t complete without a trip to the pool! Dip your hands in the water and experience the touch of a stingray. $3.00/person, $2.00/Museum members.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Packrat Playhouse: This indoor play space allows children to discover the desert through the eyes of a packrat! Packrat Playhouse may reach capacity. 30-minute reserved play times are available at the Packrat Playhouse entrance.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Art Exhibits: Make sure to check out our new exhibit in the Ironwood Gallery and 'Forces of Nature' in the Baldwin Education Building!