June 21, 2008
4:30–9:30 p.m.
FREE admission
FREE parking
The 2009 Solstice Celebration has been cancelled due to State of Arizona budget cuts. We hope to offer this popular program again in the future. If you have comments about the event please contact Lisa Falk. Please see our Events and Programs page for other activities at the museum.
Schedule of Events | Performers & Presenters | Resources | Map & Directions
Fun for all ages!
Music, dance, stories, star gazing, saguaro harvesting demonstration, solar energy displays, solar cars, plus learn about plants, minerals, animals and cultural traditions of the Sonoran Desert. Tons of hands-on arts and science activities, and much more!
Beat the heat—more activities inside this year, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Come early for a stimulating film and discussion about astronomical achievements of the Anasazi at Chaco Canyon, visit museum exhibits, then enjoy even more curator and cultural-specialist led activities. See special museum collections on display.
Outside the fun begins with an Aztec sun blessing at 4:30 p.m.
Enjoy a FLAMING GRAND FINALE performance of Rites Ov Spring by Flam Chen and Seven Pipers Scottish Society! This mythical piece includes fire performance, stilt acrobatics and group choreography danced to thunderous Celtic pipes and drums.
Performances: Music and dance: Performances by Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc (Aztec), The Human Project (American Hip Hop), Flamenco Sonora (Spanish), Sankosa (African drumming and Caribbean stiltwalker), Molehill Orkestrah (European Gypsy combined with multiple world influences), Fushicho Daiko (Japanese drumming), Flam Chen with Seven Pipers Scottish Society (mystical fire performance with bag pipes and drums) Storytelling: Tohono O’odham Ha:san (Saguaro) Stories (Regina Siquieros), Yaqui Lifeways Stories (Frances Delgado), Children’s book readings (Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford)
Go Green: See solar, water, and recycling demonstrations, check out solar electric cars, local farming activities and games, enjoy music and food powered by solar energy (courtesy The Solar Store and GeoInnovation)
Discover Desert Resources: Make fire by friction, harvest the saguaro, create an herb bouquet, dig for fossils, and learn about plants, minerals and animals of the Sonoran Desert.
Look to the Stars: View the sun and stars through professional telescopes, draw the constellations
Arts and Literacy: Make a clay pot, make a friendship bracelet, create a poem, tell a story, color DeGrazia art, build a cartoon creature.
Celebrate Cultural Traditions: Use a crank to make ice cream, grind corn using a mano y metate and discover the history and role of maiz, make Polish solstice wreaths, Mexican paper flowers, Solstice masks, Tohono O’odham calendar stick, cordage bracelets, paint your hand with Indian henna, design a paper pot, create a pottery puzzle, dress a Frida Kahlo paper doll for the celebration, learn about early Hohokam agricultural, explore American Indian pottery and jewelry traditions, play American Indian games, take a chance at loteria, dance, listen to music and stories, and eat watermelon and other savory foods from Trader Joes, La Indita, Kababeque and Papa John’s.
Participating Organizations
Arizona State Museum, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Native Plant Society, Arizona Solar Racing Team, Arizona Wilderness Coaition, DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, First credit Union, Flandrau: University of Arizona Science Center, Food Conspiracy Co-op, GeoInnovation, International Wildlife Museum, Kitt Peak National Observatory, League of Women Voters, Old Pueblo Archaeology, Pima County Public Library, Raven’s Way Wild Journeys, Sahuaro Girl Scout Council, Sierra Club, St. Xavier Cooperative Farms, The Solar Store, Tohono Chul Park, Trader Joe’s, TRex Museum, Tucson Audubon Society, Tucson Children’s Museum, Tucson Clay Coop, Tucson Juneteenth Festival Committee, Tucson Organic Gardeners, Tucson Water, University of Arizona Poetry Center, UA’s Mexican American Studies and Research Center, Watershed Management Group plus cultural experts and museum curators!
For information: 520-626-2973
Schedule of Events | Performers & Presenters | Resources | Map & Directions
Special thanks to our sponsors
- Institute for Museum and Library Services
- Marshall Foundation
- Target
- De Grazia Gallery in the Sun
- The Solar Store
- First Credit Union
- Office of the Executive Director, International Affairs, University of Arizona
- University of Arizona Office of International Faculty and Scholars
- Diversity Resources Office, University of Arizona
- GeoInnovation
- Alphagraphics
- Many Mouths, One Stomach
- Trader Joe’s
-
Seven Pipers Scottish Society
- The Olive Garden
- Chick-fil-A at El Con
- Paradise Café and Bakery
- Arizona Student Unions, University of Arizona
- AliBaba Restauarant
- Sunflower Markets
- Shamrock Farms
- Food Conspiracy Co-op
- Pepsi
- Parties Plus
Solstice program planning and production
Lisa Falk, director of education
Aidinha Gaxiola, program coordinator
Darlene Lizarraga, marketing coordinator
Laura LePere, webmaster
Susan Alfrey, graphic artist
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