Tucson, AZ Calendar of Events for December 2008

To request an Arizona Events Calendar visit www.ArizonaGuide.com.

Through March 31, 2009     Butterfly Magic at the Gardens Tucson Botanical Gardens hosts an indoor live tropical butterfly exhibit, with more than 100 species of colorful, farmed butterfly. www.tucsonbotanical.org

Through December 20  Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical Temple of Music and Art, Hair gave a generation of young Americans a way to express themselves through music that gloriously combined rock-and-roll with Broadway craft, contains mature language and nudity, 520-622-2823 or www.arizonatheatre.org

Dec. 3-21         Gunmetal Blues – Invisible Theatre, a musical, an homage to the art of theatrical storytelling, all the characters are played by three actors, 520-882-9721 or www.invisibletheatre.com

Dec. 4            Warren Miller’s Children of Winter – Fox Tucson Theatre, a global adventure to locations like Japan, Austria, Iceland and others, 8 pm, 520-547-3040 or www.foxtucsontheatre.org

Dec. 5-6        Expo - Hilton El Conquistador Resort, in conjunction with the Holualoa Tucson Marathon, www.tucsonmarathon.com

Dec. 5-21  Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo – twinkling lights, jingle bells, falling “snow,” Santa Claus and holiday décor, music, Th-Sat 6-8 pm, www.tucsonzoo.org

Dec. 6           4th Annual Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival – Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater, tamale competition and sale, tamales available in gourmet, green corn and traditional varieties, live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, 10 am – 6 pm, free, 520-838-6793 or www.casinodelsol.com

Dec. 6         15th Annual Jingle Bell Walk - Reid Park, jingle bells on the shoes of 100s of people walking & running a 5K, costumes, food, fun, children's activities, free T-shirt, $35 minimum pledge for Arthritis Foundation, 10 am, 520-917-7070 or www.arthritis.org 

Dec. 6          3rd Annual Reindog Parade – Tucson Botanical Gardens, pooches can prance their costumed paws through the Gardens and meet Santa, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Santa noon, 520-326-9686 or www.tucsonbotanical.org

Dec. 7            Indoor/Outdoor Antique Fair - Lew Sorensen Community Center, 100-120 antique vendors with furniture, pottery, china, glass, farm implements, art work, coins, native artifacts, Oriental rugs, free, 9 am - 3 pm, 520-232-1201 or www.pima.gov   

Dec. 7        La Fiesta de Guadalupe - De Grazia Gallery in the Sun, on the grounds of adobe gallery and chapel built by foremost Southwestern painter, the late Ted DeGrazia, spirited outdoor performances by mariachi groups, folklorico dancers, traditional Yaqui deer dances, ethnic foods, La Posada procession, arts and crafts, free, 10 am - 4 pm, 520-299-9191 or 800-545-2185 or www.degrazia.org 

Dec. 8         12th Annual “Christmas at San Xavier” – Mission San Xavier del Bac, one of Tucson’s top choirs, The Sons of Orpheus in collaboration with the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus to benefit the restoration and preservation of the Mission, www.sonsoforpheus.or. VIsit our San Xavier section.

Dec. 11-21 13th Annual A Tucson Pastorela –TCC Leo Rich Theatre, Borderlands Theater presents a uniquely Tucson nativity story, features shepherds, sheep and a dog on a magical journey to Bethlehem, led by the shining estrella (star) and accompanied by Christmas carols in Spanish and English, includes piñatas for the kids, www.borderlandstheater.org

Dec. 12   Family Astro: Race to the Planets – Kitt Peak National Observatory, $12, 6:30 pm, reservations, 520-318-8440 or www.noao.edu/outreach/kpvc/0812.html

Dec. 12-14     38th Annual Fourth Avenue Fall Street Fair - 350 arts & crafters, food, entertainers & musicians from around the US, 2 stages & street performers, a cross between a fine art show & a carnival, free, 10 am - 6 pm, 520-624-5004 or www.fourthavenue.org

Dec. 12-14       22nd Annual Luminaria Nights - Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2,000 traditional luminarias, cider & cookies, music by 30 different musical groups, from madrigal singers to classical music, 5:30-8 pm, $3-9, 520-326-9686 or www.tucsonbotanical.org

Dec. 12-31      Holiday Railroad Exhibit - Tucson Botanical Gardens, watch trains wind around a crested saguaro and velvet mesquite trees passing through a miniature town, $3-7, 520-326-9686 or www.tucsonbotanical.org

Dec. 13      14th Annual Downtown Parade of Lights – Armory Park, holiday parade with commercial, non-profit, community entries, Santa, floats, music, food and musical groups, 6 pm, 520-547-3338 or www.DowntownTucson.com

Dec. 13-27       Winterhaven Festival of Lights – walk-through nights every night, drive-through on select dates, donations for Tucson Community Food Bank, 520-881-4483 or www.winterhavenfestival.org

Dec. 14            Winterhaven Run Through the Lights - Winterhaven Square, non-competitive, 5K fun run through the lights of the Winterhaven neighborhood, flat, paved course, closed to automobiles, festive, holiday attire is encouraged, free, 6 pm, 520-326-9383 or www.azroadrunners.org

Dec. 22            Fiesta Bowl Western Classic Tip Off – Westin La Paloma, meet the coaches and players from the University of Arizona and Kansas, autograph opportunities, cocktails, dinner, games, old time dance show and charro ropers, 5:30 pm, 520-327-BOWL or www.fiestabowl.org

December 23           Tucson Fiesta Bowl Basketball Classic “Party at the Pavilion” Pre-Game Party and Classic – Hall of Champions Pavilion and McKale Center, features entertainment, games, raffle prizes, food, game is between Kansas and the Arizona Wildcats, 520-327-BOWL or www.fiestabowl.org

December 27-1/1     USTA National Winter Tennis Championships – Randolph Tennis Center, top-rated 12- and under-14-year-old tennis players compete in major, annual United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctioned event, hosted by Tucson Parks & Recreation, 520-791-4896 or www.randolphtenniscenter.com