19 Great Things To Do in Tucson This Weekend: Friday-Sunday, July 20-22

Super Summer Sale on Fourth Ave. The temperature seems to be only climbing higher, while the prices on Fourth Avenue are about to get lower. This weekend, stores and vendors along the avenue are offering discounts that range from 25 percent off storewide at Mabel’s to women’s clothing discounted 75 and 90 percent off at Off Fourth Outlet. But the sale extends to snacks, too, so you can shop ’til you drop and refuel with discounted fare. Caruso’s offers 20 percent off all wine and will hold a contest each night of the sale, and Chocolate Iguana will discount all frozen drinks 10 percent. 9 a.m. Friday, July 20 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 22. Historic Fourth Ave. Details here.

Birds of Tohono Chul Walking Tour. It’s easy these days to look up at the sky and see only a fickle force of nature, which seems like it’s trying to set you on fire until it starts unpredictably pouring down water. But when you look up at the sky, you also have a pretty good shot at seeing one of the 140 species of birds that have visited Tohono Chul Park (on any given morning, you’re pretty likely to see at least a dozen). From our state bird the cactus wren to sweet little families of quail, from woodpeckers hiding in cactus holes to one of our year-round hummingbird species, they’re everywhere! Head over to Tohono Chul and a docent will walk you through it, teaching you how to identify birds and guiding you down the easy-to walk paths. 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday through September. Tohono Chul, 7366 Paseo del Norte. $10 seniors/military/student, $13 adults, $3 kids 5 to 12, free for members and kids under 5. Details here.

Summer Safari Nights. Keep it coo’ at the zoo this week, with this week’s “Habitat Heroes” theme. With so much bad news blaring at you from social media, the television, the radio and even that pesky print media, it’s easy to forget there’s good in the world. This night could remind you, by showcasing all the work the Reid Park Zoo does to protect wild animals and wild places. Plus, you’ll get to learn about how you can do your part to help too! Enjoy special guest appearances by elephants, anteaters, tapirs, rhinos, tamanduas, armadillos and the live band Dos Suenos. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 20. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors, $6.50 children ages 2 to 14. Half off for zoo members. Details here.



Night Around the Campfire. Even in the heat of a Tucson summer, there’s nothing quite so wonderful as sitting around the campfire with your friends. Except maybe sitting around the campfire with your friends and with cupcakes. This drop-off youth program at the Mini Time Machine Museum for kids ages 5 to 12 includes campfire, cupcakes, games, crafts, flashlight tours and plenty of stories. In fact, storyteller Jordan Hill will be there especially to tell stories. Register now! Space is limited. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 20. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive. $20, or $18 for museum members. Details here.

Silent Planet. Yes, it’s Christian metal core. Named for a C.S. Lewis quote, they address war and atrocities from the perspective of the victims, with the filter of hope that God exists. This is not to say they can’t and don’t rock, even without all the fun (no sex and drugs). This Azusa, Calif. foursome have been grinding multi-layered head-bangers for a decade and their proficient enlistment of thunder drums, screamed and spoken word and furious guitars make for bloody battle scenes on venue dance floors everywhere. Like System of a Down, SP uses distinct movements within each song to churn and texture rhythms, emotions and chest-hair sweat together. Their focus is on death and pain, and a resolve, with every one-four-five chord progression, not just on the circle of fifths but on the wheel of life itself. This is smart, angry, karma-burning din, which channels chaos and unleashes the fury (not the filth!) that exists when the man upstairs has his eyes closed. With Comrades and Tigerwine. Friday, June 20. The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Doors at 6:30 p.m. $15-$18. 21+. —B.S. Eliot. Details here.

Sizzling Summer Sounds. We’re coming to the end of the Invisible Theatre’s two weeks’ worth of musical magic, but we’re going out with a bang with this week’s performance: Ann Hampton Callaway–Jazz Goes to the Movies! Callaway has performed in Tucson before, as well as a few other places you may have heard of. Carnegie Hall, for example. But she’s back, and she’s paying tribute to the silver screen with tunes like “Taking a Chance on Love” and “Just One of Those Things.” Between the ambiance of the Carriage House downtown, the 20 percent off discount if you eat at Downtown Kitchen before the show (excluding alcohol/Happy Hour) and Callaway’s voice, you’ll be on cloud nine. 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22. Janos Downtown Kitchen, 125 S. Arizona Ave. and Carriage House, 1400 N. First Ave. $35 GA. Details here.

Watermelon Weekend. ’Tis the season for a weekend trip over to Apple Annie’s, and ‘tis also the season to eat your weight in watermelon just to stay cool and refreshed. For the next two weekends, the produce farm location will be offering up free samples of some of the sweetest, juiciest goods around, and a whole garden from which you can select your own to take home. Before you head out, you’re going to want to practice weighing and lifting some melons at home, because if you can guess the exact weight of the watermelon you’re purchasing, you can have it for free! (One guess per purchase, obviously). 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 21, 22, 28 and 29. Apple Annie’s Produce Farm location, 6405 W. Williams Road. Details here.

Farmer’s Market at Steam Pump Ranch. Enjoy grocery shopping with a view at Oro Valley’s Heirloom Farmers Market at Steam Pump Ranch. The market offers goods from over 30 vendors, like local ranchers and farmers. The weekly event draws in around 700 customers, so you can get to know your neighbors while you shop. 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, July 21. 10901 N. Oracle Road.

Arte Bella Painting. Those paint-and-sip events are always so much fun, but sometimes you might find yourself doing a little more sipping than painting. At this event, that might actually work out in your favor, because you’ll be doing a lovely, colorful and—most importantly—abstract painting of the ocean. Sip away! Sure, the event starts at 8 a.m., but it’s on a Saturday. You have to start drinking early if you want to fend off the hangover you got from Friday night. There will also be breakfast burritos and coffee, though, if you’re not a morning drinker. Bottoms, burritos and brushes up! 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21. Trident II Grill, 2033 E. Speedway Blvd. $25. Details here.

Midsummer Flower Crown Workshop. Not a lot of people know this, but Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is actually inspired by a dream he had, about making bohemian flower crowns in an air-conditioned downtown studio. And now is your chance to live that dream! Creative Tribe will provide the fresh blooms and the know-how on how to combine florals and greens, as well as some snacks and orange juice. (BYOB–bring your own bubbly, and make a mimosa if you want!) You’ll leave the studio with a crown on your head and the knowledge of to make many, many more crowns inside your head. 10 a.m. to noon. Saturday, July 21. Creative Tribe Studio, 236 S. Scott Ave. $45. Details here.

Tap and Bottle North Turns 1. Food, music, beer and games. This Saturday, Tap and Bottle North celebrates its first anniversary with a whole day of just that. Staff favorites will make up the tap list, Ciao Down food truck will serve up snacks from noon to 2 p.m. and Tucson Fat Noodle food truck will offer fare from 5 to 8 p.m. Time it right, and you can be there for the cake cutting at 5 p.m. When you’re not drinking beer or chowing down, play corn hole or ping pong, or enjoy the live music, which includes acts from Mr. Nature’s Music Garden LLC to Mariachis. 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 21. 7254 N. Oracle Road. Details here.

How Things Fly. Do you believe you can fly? Well, at the end of this event, you’ll at least understand enough about air pressure, aircraft stability and the four forces of flight to understand how other things fly. And hey, maybe you’re an aerospace engineer in the making, and you’ll walk out of this event with an idea for how to give humans the ability to fly. Kids 8 and older (along with their parents) are welcome at this event, at which reservations are recommended. It’s going to be one cool afternoon, plane and simple. 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road. Program is free with museum admission, which is $16.50 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $10 for kids 5 to 12. Discounts available for seniors, large groups and Pima County residents. Details here.

A Spanish Summer Night at Flying Leap Vineyards. Experience Spain for a night without having to catch a flight. Sample wine from Flying Leap Vineyards, grown with wine grape varietals indigenous to Spain, and feast on Spanish paella cooked over an open fire and Spanish hors d’oeuvres like Manchego cheese and Spanish tortilla. Domingo DeGrazia and his band will perform live Flamenco music. $89 for admission, or $75 for Flying Leap Wine Club members. Includes drinks and souvenir wine glass. 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21. 342 Elgin Rd. Purchase tickets online. Details here.

Cool Summer Nights at the Desert Museum. We hope you’re ready to have your mind blown, and, if you’re squeamish, your skin crawl a little bit, because the theme at this week’s iteration of the Desert Museum’s “beat the heat” event is Insect Insanity! Entomologist Carl “The Bugman” Olson, an educator at UA, will tell audiences about the six-, eight-, and too many-legged creatures of the world through funny stories and awesome pictures. You’ll have the chance to touch and take pictures with a variety of arthropods, and even to try a yummy, crickety treat if you want. And commemorate the night by trying on some wings and documenting it at the selfie station. As usual, the art exhibit “Becoming Animal” will be on display, live flute music will be in the air, and the stingray touch exhibit and Packrat Playhouse are open. 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. $22 GA, $20 seniors 65 and up, $9 kids 2 to 12, $18 military, $17 Arizona/Sonora resident. Details here.

Main Gate Square Culinary Challenge. It may be a competition for the restaurants, but the real prize is for the public: Getting the chance to try out all the local eats Main Gate Square has to offer at this free event. Head over to the Main Gate Square Culinary Competition and sample food from restaurants from all around the square, and then vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award. Along the way, you can meet the chefs and staff behind your favorite dishes. If the free food isn’t enough to get you over here, there will also be prizes, games and music by the Nathaniel Burnside Trio. Free admission requires an RSVP via Eventbrite. 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 21. Tucson Marriott University Park, 880 E. 2nd St. Details here.

Lagunitas and Beer Geek Bakery at Tucson Hop Shop. Cherries and beer take center stage at this event, which spotlights the combo to celebrate Lagunita Brewing Co.’s release of Cherry Jane. The Tucson Hop Shop-hosted event will pair four brews from Lagunita—Cherry Jane, Citrusinesis, Pils and Super Cluster—with treats from Beer Geek Bakery. Grab dinner at the on-site Mr. Cookman’s barbecue food truck while you’re there. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21. 3230 N. Dodge Blvd. Details here.

Brews and Bites with Tucson Originals and Baja Brewers Guild. It’s all about the local craft beer scene at this event, which pairs homegrown brews with dishes created by Tucson restaurants. Breweries like Barrio Brewing Co., Borderlands Brewing Company, Thunder Canyon Brewstillery, Dillinger Brewing Company and Sentinel Peak Brewing Company will be there, and attendees can vote for their favorite beer. The event will be held at The Highlands at Dove Mountain with patio seating, so attendees can sip on their brews with a view. $35 per person in advance or $40 at the door, and tickets include five tasting tickets. Tickets can be purchased on EventBrite. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21. 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd. Details here.

Brunch with the Two Amigos live at Playground. Playground Bar and Lounge is launching its Summer Brunch series this month with music from local Latin music group The Two Amigos. While enjoying their tunes, you can try out Playground’s new brunch menu, which features chicken and French toast, carne asada fries and rolled breakfast tacos. Sounds like music to my ears! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 22. 278 E. Congress St. For reservations, visit playgroundtucson.com/reservations/. Details here.

Sparks Club “Pupsicle Party.” If you haven’t heard of Sparks Club, it’s a group over at the JCC that’s designed for individuals with special needs, but is open to everyone, and can make for a really rewarding—and fun—time! Especially when hanging out with the group involves a visit with the therapy dogs from Kiernan’s Kindness, which it does this week. You’ll have the chance to make special, dog-friendly popsicles and feed them to the dogs, then enjoy your own, human-friendly popsicle. What could be more refreshing? 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 22. Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. $10. Details here.

Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, Dylan Reynolds, BS Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.