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2008 Summer Saturday Evenings
June - August 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admissions after 5:00 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 at 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, Bird Circulars, Parrot Exhibit, Life Underground, and the Desert Loop Trail (coyote, javelina) close at the following times:
- June 7 - August 9: 7:00 p.m.
- August 16, 23 & 30: 6:30 p.m.
Nocturnal Animals
Mountain lions, cats at Cat Canyon, 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:
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Ocotillo Café Restaurant:
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - The Cottonwood (snacks):
9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Phoebe’s Coffee Bar:
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Gift Shops
-
Mountain House Gift Shop:
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
(Near the front entrance) -
Ironwood Gift Shop
9:00 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: Cat Canyon, the Cave, 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.
Special Events
June 7
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.
The Warden Oasis Theater 7:00 p.m.
June 14
Geography: How Low Can You Go?
Find out where the lowest points on the planet lie from Tucson author Jim Malusa as he reads from his new book: Into Thin Air. Join us for family games and activities related to geography and biking.
Book readings in the Warden Oasis Theater 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Family activities in the Desert Garden 6:00-9:00 p.m.
June 23
A Sustainable Seafood Evening at the Desert Museum
Taste what Tucson has to offer during a sustainable seafood celebration. Local Tucson chefs will prepare delicious dishes using sustainable seafood. Learn more about how to be a part of the sustainable seafood movement from special speakers, food tasting and videos during this evening.
The Warden Oasis Theater and the Baldwin Education Building: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
June 28
Family Astronomy Night
Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions.
The Baldwin Education Building and Museum Grounds
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Storytelling: Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.
The Warden Oasis Theater: 7:00 p.m.
July 5
All About Bats
Learn cool facts about Sonoran Desert bat species from ASDM Conservation Biologist Karen Krebbs during her two presentations in the Warden Oasis Theater.
Warden Oasis Theater 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
July 12
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.
The Warden Oasis Theater 7:00 p.m.
July 19
People and Pollinators
Learn how important pollinators are to our everyday life from Dr. Stephen Buchmann, founder of the Bee Works. Dr. Buchmanns presentations will showcase native Sonoran Desert Bees and explain about threats to bees and other pollinators. Visit the Desert Garden to learn more about pollinators and their importance to people from the Tucson Food Bank, Sonoran Kitchen Gardens, Bat Conservation International and TOCA.
Lectures in the Warden Oasis Theater: 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Desert Garden fun: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
July 26
Family Astronomy Night
Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions.
The Baldwin Education Building and Museum Grounds
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Storytelling: Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.
The Warden Oasis Theater: 7:00 p.m.
August 2
Arizona: A "brief" rundown on the past 15 million years of volcanic activity.
Join Michael Conway, Ph.D. Section Chief of Geologic Extension Service Arizona Geological Survey to learn more about the history of volcanoes in Arizona. You can also go into the Desert Garden to make and erupt your own volcano model!
Presentations at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the Warden Oasis Theater
Volcano making in Desert Garden 6:00-9:00 p.m.
August 9
BUGS! BUGS! BUGS!
This is the night to learn new facts about Sonoran Desert Insects from "the Bugman" University of Arizona Entomologist Dr. Carl Olson. The Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute (SASI) will be in the Desert Garden to give you a close-up view of some of our beautiful native arthropods and to share fun hands-on activities for kids.
Warden Oasis Theater presentations: 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
SASI in the Desert Garden 6:00-9:00 p.m.
August 16
The Year of the Frog
Learn fascinating facts about Sonoran Desert Frogs as we celebrate the Year of the Frog.
ASDM herpetologist will discuss issues facing our frog populations as well as bring a few species for you to get a closer look at.
Warden Oasis Theater: 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
August 23
Family Astronomy Night
Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions.
The Baldwin Education Building and Museum Grounds
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Teacher Appreciation Night - Sponsored by Tucson Electric Power
Education Specialist from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum join educators from the Sonoran Desert Waters Institute to host a special presentation for teachers featuring educational programs offered for the 2008/09 school year.
Warden Oasis Theater: 5:30 p.m.
August 30
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.
The Warden Oasis Theater: 6:00 p.m.
Storytelling: Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.
The Warden Oasis Theater: 7:30 p.m.



