The Presidio Museum will host the celebration of Tucson’s 241st birthday this Friday, Aug. 19. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m. The celebration is presented by the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission and the Presidio Museum, and is sponsored by Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment. The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson is the interpretive center on the site of Tucson’s original adobe-walled presidio.
Additionally, the free event will celebrate Tucson’s recent designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and feature samples of cuisine representing 4,000 years of food in the Sonoran Desert, including pozole, hand-made tortillas, prickly pear jelly, membrillo, teppary bean hummus, 3 bean soup, johnny cakes, and more.
Celebratory events include a cannon firing by the Presidio Garrison, the raffle of a Kino Heritage tree benefitting Mission Gardens, live music from Los Changuitos Feos, Tucson’s historic flags posted by the Presidio Garrison and friends, free birthday cake sponsored by Long Realty, and The Sonoran Mexican Cuisine Food Truck will be onsite.
Partners in this year’s event include the City of Tucson, El Presidio Neighborhood Association, Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace (Mission Gardens), La Cocina Restaurant, Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson, Pima County, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Tucson Mormon Battalion Monument Foundation.
Admission to the Presidio Museum also will be free all day on Aug. 20, Tucson’s official birthday.
- Date: Friday, August 19, 2016
- Time: 5:30 p.m. – Gates open and music by Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson
- 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Ceremony
- 6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Serving birthday cake, tastes of traditional foods, raffle
- Place: Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Courtyard (SW corner of Church Avenue and Washington Street)
For information, call Ana Juarez, City Clerk’s Office, at (520) 791-4213, or Marty McCune, Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission, (520) 437-5355. For questions on ADA accommodations and accessibility for this event, call Ana Juarez, City Clerk’s Office, at (520) 791-4213. Additional information: Parking is available at various locations (fees may apply). For additional parking information, go online to https://www.tucsonaz.gov/park-tucson.