The UA's Mexican-American Studies students will be hosting this year’s Day of the Dead altar set up and showing on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

The date Nov. 2 is traditionally recognized to give tribute and honor the lives of the deceased. In Mexican Indigenous tradition, death is seen as natural part of life and not something to be feared. As a memorial to the deceased, altars are set up as offerings that display images, favorite foods, and other tokens that were personal to the deceased. Marigolds, candles, pan de muertos, and sweets are also offerings set on altars.

This all day affair will begin on 8 a.m. with the altar viewings open to the public. This years student altars are dedicated to both national and local figures in social justice struggle and popular culture and to the lives of migrants crossing the desert.

Display images, favorite foods, marigolds, candles, pan de muertos, and sweets as offerings on the altar to the Cesar E. Chavez building (1110 James E. Rogers Way) in room 205 at this free event.

Get more information about the event on the UA's website.

In a weekend filled with sustainability initiatives, UNESCO will hold a conference in the UA North Ballroom (1303 E. University Blvd.) to address water scarcity and management as well as desert food systems on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 until 5 p.m.

Sustainability scholars from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Mexico will meet with UA researchers and Tucson community members to talk about climate change and the earth's environment.

According to UANews, conference organizers are expecting 230 community members to attend the conference including international dignitaries, students and faculty. This is a free, all-ages event and space is limited. Online registration is now closed but attendees are encourages to register in-person the day of the conference.

For more information click here. 

The All Souls Procession is inviting everyone to join them for the last of their All Souls Workshops.

Create a mask, lantern, float, altar, or other object to carry at the processon—with no artistic experience required and no age limit. If you have something in mind for the procession and would like to make that idea a reality, the workshops is the place to do that.

The organizers said it best when it came to why people come out to the procession:

The Procession is a sanctuary for community members from all walks of life to express their grief and loss in a celebration of creative energy and rejoicing of life.

    
The workshops will continue on Wednesday Nov. 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Funeraria Del Angel (7 E. University Blvd.).

For more information, visit the All Souls Procession Workshops Facebook page.

It's the end of October which, in my house, means diving head first into vats of chile and chocolate—and, of course, paying homage to those we've lost with Día de los Muertos.

To that end, Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte, is the place to be this Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29. Buy some chile plants and walk through the gardens enjoying Day of the Dead-inspired artwork, chile roasting, food and wine tastings, live entertainment and free Día de los Muertos-themed face painting, plus activities for the kids.  

Tickets are $15 ($5 for members, free for kids under 12), but we're giving away four pairs of tickets, good for either day. 

Want to win? Enter below. We'll get in touch with winners throughout the day.

Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.

Pick of the Week: Halloween & Día de los Muertos 

Nightmare on Congress - Halloweekend: Halloween is quickly approaching and Hotel Congress is hosting a different Halloween parties every night starting Frida through Monday, Oct. 31st with live music, alcohol and costume contests. There are a ton of events to attend over the four nights, so be sure to check the Hotel Congress website to view prices, times, age restrictions and activities for each event. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street. 

Night of Fright: The Pima Air and Space Museum is hosting a family Halloween event as Flight Central Hangar takes on a look of its own with spider webs and ghosts taking to the Hangar skies. The event includes "Ghoulish" games, pony rides, fishing for prizes and much more for all ages to enjoy. The Flight Grill restaurant will transform into Fright Grill for the night and will serve many delicious halloween dishes. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Flight Grill, 6000 E. Valencia Road. $10 for adults, 12 and under free, free for members.

Feast With The Dearly Departed: It's tradition to celebrate the passing of a loved one with a feast—and the Botanical Gardens brings the community together to make that happen. This weekend, attend the fifth annual Feast With the Dearly Departed and enjoy music, pan de muerto and, of course, sugar skulls. Don't miss out. 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. General admission $13.

Chiles, Chocolate & Day of the Dead: Tohono Chul is celebrating Día de los Muertos Friday and Saturday, honoring those who have passed away with chile, chocolate and culinary delights. There will be food trucks, chile roasters, live music, chile plant sales, free face painting and plenty of activities for children at this family-friendly event. Tickets are available at the door and online. 9am-5pm Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte. $5 members, $15 public, 12 under free. 

Nightfall at Old Tucson: As October comes to a close we dawn upon the last weekend of the year that Nightfall will be at Old Tucson. Immerse yourself in a night full of scares as you make your way through the haunted town. It is the perfect way to get into the spirt of Halloween and have a boo-tiful night while your at it! Thursday and Sunday 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 to Sunday, October 30 Old Tucson, 201 S Kinney Rd. General admission $28, with discounts for kids.  

Rocky Horror Halloween Bash: Get ready for the late-night, double-feature Halloween party at The Loft Cinema. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a monthly tradition at the Loft but this time, it comes with a twist: it's the 38th annual Halloween Bash. Come dressed up as your favorite Rocky Horror character for your chance to win the $100 grand prize. The Loft will also ring in the Halloween season with pre-show games and more prize giveaways. 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Loft members: $5 General Admission: $6.

It's almost that time of the year again: A time where it's appropriate for adults to play dress-up and scare kids.

Halloween is in our midst and you don't to be the one person with nothing to do on the scariest day of the year—or worse, be the only person out without a costume. If you're still trying to figure out what you're up to on Oct. 31 and the days leading up, fear not (actually, be very afraid), because Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., has got your back with a Hallo-weekend of things to do. 

This weekend of spooks starts on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the historic hotel with Nightmare on Congress St. This 21 and over event will feature music from seven bands, a DJ and, of course, a costume contest with the chance to win some serious swag. The cover charge is $6 in advance or $8 the day of.  

On Oct. 29, get groovy with Yeasayer at Club Congress starting at 7 p.m. Anyone 16 and over is welcome to rock out with this Brooklyn-based band. This event will cost you $26 but if you want to go to free a CD release, Belinda Esquer will be doing just that in the Congress plaza at 7 p.m.

Congress will still be going strong on the Sunday before Halloween. Celebrate Hallow's Eve at Congress's Devil's Night Concert with the Supersuckers, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and Jesse Dayton to get you spooked up for Monday night's frights. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for this 21+ event and tickets range from $8 to $10.

On the night that everyone has been waiting for, Congress has got a rad dance party planned for your night out. Come in costume on Halloween night to be entered into a drawing to win $500 among other rad swag. This spooky evening is 21 and up and will kick off at 8 p.m. Make sure to register for $8 or pay $10 at the door.

For more information on Halloweekend at Hotel Congress, check out this here link.

Celebrate life, love and good fortune in Casa Grande on Friday, Nov. 11 at the annual Lantern Fest, where thousands of people join together to release lanterns into the night sky.

The event kickstarts just before sundown. Friends and families huddle around campfires in the middle of the desert to keep warm and enjoy food, live music, a stage show, face painting, s'mores, balloon artists and more.

Historically, lanterns have been used to symbolize good fortune, request favorable weather, or to celebrate the life of a loved one—just to name a few. The creators of the festival, Sack Lunch Productions, refer to the release of these lanterns as a metaphor for "our highest hopes, deepest regrets and fondest dreams."

The atmosphere is unlike anything else. Everyone at is smiling, hugging, talking and truly taking in every moment. When the sky is completely dark, you'll watch everyone release their beautiful, yellow lanterns up into the sky and soak in the experience together. As the lights float on into the darkness, they begin to look like tiny stars. Then, everyone sits in silence and soaks up the beauty before them.

It might be 90 degrees outside, but it is fall and with fall comes a series of delicious and refreshing Oktoberfest-ivals. This weekend, the fest to not miss is 4thtoberfest.

This Saturday, Oct. 22 from 1 to 7 p.m., enjoy bands, brats and so many local beers on 4th Avenue. 

Now, you can get into the bars and see the bands without purchasing a $15 ticket, but it does sound like a good deal (and a portion of sales will be donated to KXCI): A ticket gets you eight tasting tickets redeemable for 1 nickel pour each, a 5 ounce logo glass and a discount on your brat plates (plan to spend $5 on those) plus exclusive access to some specialty beers—but we'll get to those in a second. 

First, lets get you in! Five lucky people are getting a pair of tickets from us. Fill out our entry form here and we'll get in touch with winners today (Thursday, Oct. 20) and tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 21).

Now that we've got all the logistics out of the way, let's go over what you'll be putting in your mouth:

Your Weekly guide to keeping busy in the Old Pueblo.

Pick of the Week

Dusk Music Festival: Music festival season has officially hit Tucson! Dusk is an all-ages music festival held featuring greats Calexico, Danny Brown, Matt and Kim, RL Grime, A-Trak, DJ Mustard, Wild Belle, Gaby Moreno and Luna Aura. Fill out the day enjoying local food and beer, taking in the art installations and letting loose with carnival games and rides. Rumor has it the festival has big plans to expand into a two day event next year, so that must mean this  year's event is gong to be pretty spectacular. See for yourself: Noon, Saturday, Oct. 22. Rilito Regional Park, 600 E Bromley Street. $49 general admission. 

Food & Booze 

4thtober Fest: The fall brings a change of weather, a change in the color of the leaves and also many delicious and refreshing Oktoberfest festivals. But the only one to have beer, bands and enjoy the deliciousness of a brat plate contest on 4th is the 4thtoberfest. Enjoy 10 brews from local brewers, 18 live performances and food throughout bars in Tucson’s 4th Ave. For more info and tickets visit 4thtoberfest.com. 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. It's free to attend, but a $15 ticket grants exclusive access to special beers, a logo sample glass, and 8 five-ounce pours for a nickel each.

Tucson Firefighters Chili Cook Off: Warm your belly and your heart this weekend and spend a day with your local firefighters as they compete in the 21st annual Chili Cook Off. All proceeds made from the event will go to the Local 479 Adopt-A-Family program. 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 The Bandshell at Reid Park, 998 S. Concert Place. Free.

Southwest Craft Beer & Sports Festival: The name pretty much says it all: This festival is about sampling (more than 40!) craft beers, eating great local food and competing in target golf, beer pong, bean bag, toss and a putting contest for prizes. Brin the kids, dance near the DJ, and see what you can score at the silent auction. 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Tickets range from $35 to $75—but designated drivers can get in for $20.
 

Art is a universal language that has the ability to transcend barriers put up by societal differences. The ability to enjoy art, both in its creation and appreciation, is granted to every person regardless of who they are. 

For the seventeenth year in a row, Community Partners Inc. is here to celebrate the importance of art and its benefit to a specific group of people. The 17th Annual Community Mental Health art show is an exhibition that focuses on the artistic work of people who are connected to the public behavioral health system. 


The exhibit is free and will be open from Oct. 26-28 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a public reception held from 5- 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Plaza Arboleda Conference Center, 2502 N. Dodge Blvd.

The show will highlight five different categories of art, each with the purpose to shed light on how art has and will continue to positively affect individuals with mental health effects. 

If you would like to submit art visit http://www.communitypartnersinc.org/arts-show. In order to submit art you must be receiving behavioral health services, but in terms of attendance, all are welcome!