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 only upcoming Saturday schedules)

June 8 — World Oceans Night

Why would a Museum focused on the desert celebrate World Oceans Day? Water is one of the most precious resources in the Sonoran Desert, which includes the Gulf of California. This body of water is a support system – not only to us – but also to the creatures that inhabit it. Help us celebrate the big blue by wearing blue in honor of World Oceans Day! Bring your flashlight and explore, experience live animal encounters, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, and more!

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Ocean Blue Cocktail
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Conservation activities and info from: Desert Dolphins, The Dive Shop, Shark Shawn, Borton School Vaquita, Tucson Botanical Gardens, University of Arizona Biosphere 2, & CEDO: Intercultural Center for the study of Deserts and Oceans.
7:00 - 7:45 p.m. Climate and the Deep Blue Sea: Enjoy the cool of the airconditioned Warden Oasis Theater while listening to our featured speaker, Dr. Joellen Russell, from the University of Arizona Department of Geosciences.
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: Admission: $2 Members / $3 Non-Members
Visitors are able to create their own moments with these captivating creatures at the Stingray Touch experience. The pool features cow nose stingrays that guests can interact with. Be touched by a ray!
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 'Wildlife Wonders' in the Ironwood Gallery!

June 15 — All About Art

Did you know the Desert Museum has its own Art Institute? Explore the world of the arts throughout grounds. Bring your flashlight and explore, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, or participate in special nightly activities.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Frida Mezcahlo
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Opening Reception of 'Seeds, Saguaros & Skeletons': An Exhibition of Works from the Art Institute Faculty
5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Live painters: Plein Aire Painters of Tucson will be creating their masterpieces throughout the grounds.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Scavenger hunt
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Coloring station tent
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Live music by Unified Field Theory
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: Admission: $2 Members / $3 Non-Members
Visitors are able to create their own moments with these captivating creatures at the Stingray Touch experience. The pool features cow nose stingrays that guests can interact with. Be touched by a ray!
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.

June 22 — Dino Night

Have you heard that the Sonorasaurus is officially Arizona's state dinosaur? Based on the fossils, it is estimated that the dino was about 50 feet long and weighed 4,000 pounds. Come see the REAL Sonorasaurus bones (only at the Desert Museum)! You can also become an amateur paleontologist in the fossil dig at our Ancient Arizona exhibit. Cool off while watching a dinosaur documentary, and chat with the filmmakers. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience live animal encounters, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, and more!

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Jurassic Punch
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Hands-on Activities: Come enjoy dino-themed activities in the Baldwin Education Building, including fossil interpretation, real dinosaur bones, kids crafts, and even a red carpet photo op!
7:00 - 8:15 p.m. "Why Dinosaurs?" Movie Screening: Cool off in the Warden Oasis Theater while watching the Arizona Premier of this information documentary about dinosaurs and the people who love them, from Pinto Productions.
8:15 - 8:45 p.m. Panel Discussion: With the film-makers James and Tony Pinto, Richard Thompson (discoverer of Sonorasaurus), and Jax Weldon (who successfully proposed a bill to make Sonorasaurus Arizona’s State Dinosaur when he was 11 years old!)
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: Admission: $2 Members / $3 Non-Members
Visitors are able to create their own moments with these captivating creatures at the Stingray Touch experience. The pool features cow nose stingrays that guests can interact with. Be touched by a ray!
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!

June 29 — Astronomy Night (extra late 10:00 p.m. end time)

Tucson is arguably the best city for stargazing in the United States. View the wonders of the night skies at one of our telescope stations and enjoy space-themed activities! 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, and learn more about star maps from our Docents.

Note: Closing times for the following areas have been extended:
Gift Shops - 10:00 p.m.
Ironwood Terraces and Ocotillo Café Restaurants - 9:00 p.m.
Phoebe's Coffee Bar - 10:00 p.m.
Aquarium - 10:00 p.m.
Ironwood Gallery - 9:30 p.m.
Packrat Playhouse - 9:30 p.m.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Lost in Space Martini
6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Stargazing: Docents and Tucson Amateur Astronomers will have telescopes at Cat Canyon, the Overlook, and Taylor Plaza, and their experts will be on hand to help guests locate various astronomical features.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Why Reclaiming the Night Sky Matters to Us ALL: Relax in the air-conditioned cool of the Warden Oasis Theater while listening to this information talk by Sam Miller of DarkSky International (Southern Arizona Chapter).
Throughout the Night: Look for Museum Docents around the grounds interpreting special dinosuar kits, 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 - 9:30 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 - 9:30 p.m. Art Exhibits: Make sure to check out 'Seeds, Saguaros & Skeletons' in the Ironwood Gallery!

July 6 — Creatures of the Night

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.

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Snake in the Grass Cocktail
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Live Animal Presentation: Enjoy an educational presentation by the staff of the Interpretive Animal Collection in the air-conditioned 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!

July 13 — Caturday Night Live

Tonight’s Activities

Signature Drink — Black Cat Cocktail
7:00 & 8:00 p.m. Comedy Show: Enjoy some fun skits with the Tucson Improv Movement in the air-conditioned cool of the Warden Oasis Theater.
7:30 - 8:00 p.m. Animal Enrichment: Keepers will be providing enrichment activities for the residents (ocelot, bobcat, coati, and gray fox) of Cat Canyon.
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!

July 20 — Radical Reptiles

All things reptilian are in the spotlight tonight! Learn about the Tortoise Adoption Program and meet some of the tortoises available for adoption. There will also be a mini Plant Sale featuring several desert-adapted plants. 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 — Howlin’ Green Iguana Cocktail
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tortoise Adoption Program: Join staff of the Herpetology, Ichthyology, and Invertebrate Zoology department at Taylor Plaza to meet tortoises (and other reptiles).
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Plant Sale: "Hot" from the Botany department, browse a selection of chiles and other plants for sale:
Aji Limon, Pequin x, Scotch Bonnet , Uba Tuba, Aji Cajamarca, 4 Milipas, Anaheim NuMex, Puya, Sinahuisa, Guajillo, Patagonia, Negro de valle, Chimayo , Tabasco, Fresno, Poblano, Chile de Arbol , Serrano, Jalapeño , Habanero, Pasilla, and possibly even more.
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Live Reptile Presentation: Enjoy an educational presentation by the staff of the Herpetology, Ichthyology, and Invertebrate Zoology department in the air-conditioned Warden Oasis Theater.
8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Think Like a Reptile: Executive Director Craig Ivanyi introduces to a very special guest, in the air-conditioned 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!

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
6:15 - 7:15 Book Reading: Lydia Millet, a Tucson author and conservationist who has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, will read from her new natural history memoir We Loved It All about being a parent in the age of extinction and climate change; Emmanuel Bernal, a horticulturist and poet, will speak about children’s relationships to the plant world. After the audience Q&A Millet will sign books.
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
6:00 - 9:00 All About Insects!: Staff from the Museum's Herpetology, Ichthyology, and Invertebrate Zoology department will join with the Arizona Monarch Collaborative to showcase Insect Touch, Amazing Arachnids, Find the Phasmids, Bee Conservation, and Preserved Specimens in the Baldwin Education Building. An Arts & Crafts table will also provide fun for all the family!
7:30 - 8:00 Predators: Where are the insects on the food chain?: Join our keepers for a 30 minute show to answer this important question, while relaxing in the air-conditioned coolness of 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! Blacklights will be available to seek out those fluorescing scorpions!
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
6:-00 - 9:00 p.m. Batty Facts: Experts from Kartchner Caverns, supported by the Children's Museum and Pima County Library, will be presenting a variety of educational bat-themed activities in the Baldwin Education Building.
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Basically Bats: Are bats flying rodents? Are they blind? Do they fly into people’s hair? If you find yourself unsure of these and other bat-related questions, come learn with Crystal Holcombe at this fun, theater presentation.
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Bat Netting: Experienced bat netters from Arizona Game & Fish will have nets deployed in Taylor Plaza.
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!