Tucson Weekly: Cheap Thrills (August 21

Cheap Thrills ROOTS RALLY: La Fiesta de San Agustín began as a religious ceremony way back in 1775, originally honoring Tucson's patron saint. The party flourished through the 1800s, drawing a bevy of locals for a week's worth of games, business and old-fashioned chitchat.
Unfortunately, time took its toll: By 1900 the fiesta had largely faded from view. Enter the Arizona Historical Society, which in 1983 revived it as a beloved cultural celebration. The event continues full-steam on Sunday, August 24, with a rich variety of arts performances both inside and outside the society museum. And the backdrop is just as savory, with a string of food booths featuring traditional Southwestern and Mexican chow, exotic little delicacies like chile en nogada, molletes and empañaditas.
The action runs from 1 to approximately 10 p.m., beginning with a performance by La Paloma Ballet Folklorico on the indoor stage. They'll be followed by the Grimaldi Strings, Bwiya-Toli and the Busted Cowboy Band, among many others.
Meanwhile, Los Aces Mariachi hits the outdoor stage at 2 p.m., followed by the Procession, and the Desert Indian Dancers. Various performances continue through the day, concluding with Polo Romero y su Conjunto at 9:15 p.m.
The 15th-annual La Fiesta de San Agustín is at the Arizona Historical Society Museum, 949 E. Second St. Admission is free. For information, call 628-5774.
FAIR DEAL: The Tucson Gay and Lesbian Community Business Association is on the move, more than doubling its membership in the past year. And on Thursday, August 21, the CBA furthers that juggernaut with its annual trade fair, complete with music by the Reveille Men's Chorus.
Representatives from countless businesses will be on hand, everyone from real estate and travel agents to your friendly neighborhood florist. Topping the action will be a raffle and no-host bar.
Fair begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Doubletree Hotel Grand Ballroom, 445 S. Alvernon Way. Admission is $3 for non-members. Call 577-8333 for information.
ARTISTIC REACH: They hail from the urban fringes, such unrecognized artistic outposts as Ajo, Green Valley, Cortaro and Catalina. But luckily, visionaries from those far-flung burgs are now getting their day in the sun with the Tucson /Pima Arts Council's Rural Artists of Pima County exhibit.
Works range from the vibrantly colored paper-cuts of Magdalena Nowacka-Jannotta and acrylic-painted woodcarvings by Ceceil R. Elwood, both of Oro Valley, to Ruby Fusion, a stunning fabric work by Rose Summers and Eric Meston of Sahuarita. Also included are tapestries, oils, acrylics and mixed-media works. "This is a traveling exhibit that we do every year," says TPAC's Maryjane Dorofachuk. "And really, it just keeps getting better and better with every year that goes by."
Free exhibit runs through September 12, with an opening reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 21, in the TPAC Community Gallery, 240 N. Stone Ave. Regular gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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