Attention metal heads, rock enthusiasts, or anyone else interested in free things: The Weekly has free tickets to this year's KFMADay music festival, and they're up for grabs!

This year's KFMADay lineup is: multi-platinum hard rockers Shinedown, nu-metal legends Papa Roach, metalcore group Asking Alexandria and rap metal group Fever 333. The event will be opened up by KFMA Battle of the Bands winners Pyrotechnica, a local alternative metal band.






Winners must be able to come to the Tucson Local Media office located at 7225 N. Mona Lisa Road to collect their tickets.

KFMADay takes place from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E. Ajo Way. For more information, visit kfma.com/event/kfmaday-2019

Spring Break Movie Marathon at Bookman's. For those of you who have the week off and haven’t fled Tucson, Bookman's East location is screening a kids movie every evening of the week. From March 18 to 23 they will be screening one movie every night: Trolls, The Lego Movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Shrek, The Lion King and Coco, respectively. 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 18 to Saturday, March 23. 6230 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Chained Heat . In this 80's prison flick, Linda Blair finds herself behind bars and then she finds that life behind bars is no good! Fascinating stuff right there. The Loft Cinema, 3233 East Speedway Boulevard. 8 p.m. Admission $4. Details here.
Return to Woodstock! Watch iconic Woodstock songs being performed with the help of Allan Bartlett, Fred Coy, Walker Foard, Joe Murphy, Mike Serres and Mindy Rondstadt. Dress for the theme because the artists sure will be! The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway Boulevard. 6 p.m. Tickets are $22.95. Discounts are available for students, children, seniors, and military members. Details here.

TMA Spring Art Market & Flower Festival. Home is where the art is, right? And this weekend, the art is definitely down at TMA, where more than 100 unique and local artists will be showcasing their pottery, jewelry, fine art, glass, textiles and gift items. Florists and nurseries will be offering up living art as well, while local food vendors and bands round out the experience with some good eats and good beats. A special “Garden in the Galleries” event with floral arrangements by more than a dozen local nurseries and florists will be on display starting Thursday, March 14. The market is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 15, through Sunday, March 17. Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. Admission to the galleries is free during the market and festival! Details here.

Mahler Symphony No. 5. Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, particularly its horn bits, might sound familiar to you from the 1971 film Death in Venice. At this Tucson Symphony Orchestra event, you’ll also hear the Van Cliburn silver medalist, pianist Joyce Yang, team up with former TSO principal trumpet Conrad Jones to perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Rounding it out is Giuseppe Martucci’s Notturno, composed as part of his mission to get 19th century Italians interested in anything besides opera. (It worked—they loved it. And you will too!) 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $15 to $86+. Details here.
Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival. Bill Monroe, often called the “father of bluegrass,” said this of the twangy, foot tappin’ genre: “It’s Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It’s blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound.” Get your fill of lonesome sounds this weekend by heading up to Marana, where bands from the local region will be playing original tunes. See bands like the Dusty River Band, Brokedown Palace, Out of the Blue and others that not only have a quintessential bluegrass sound, but those names are quintessentially bluegrass. And hey, they’ll throw in some blues as well. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 15, 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Gladden Farms Community Park, 12205 N. Tangerine Farms Road, Marana. $20 per day or $30 for a weekend pass. Details here.

The People Electric. Hawkinsdance is presenting this hour long show, with nine dancers and music by local artists, for their first self-produced contemporary dance concert. The title work of the evening, The People Electric, features six dancers, vocals by Katie Heavenly and Jillian Bassett, and fashion to represent feminism’s second wave in the 1970s. The evening’s other featured work, The Crystal Cave, presents a trio of male dancers dancing to music by Neo-classical pianist Anton Faynberg, and imagines a world uncorrupted by the effects of humanity. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16. 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $20 or $12 for youth (22 and under!) Details here.

Matilda (Free Screening). A young girl uses her telekinesis to make the world a more fun place. What more do you need? Based off the beloved Roald Dahl book, this film is a Danny Devito extravaganza! Not only does he play Matilda’s father, but he’s the narrator and director as well. So if you’re looking for a classic ’90s film with a heaping helping of the Veet, this is the show for you. This screening will take place outdoors on “Hippie Hill” at Himmel Park, please bring your own seating. Presented by The Loft Jr. 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Friday, March 15. 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. Details here.

El Patrón. The Screening Room presents the public premiere of a locally made crime drama. Not only do you get to see the movie, plus a few local short films, but you get to meet the cast and crew as well. This is an all-around great networking opportunity for Arizona filmmakers. 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 15. 127 E. Congress St. $5. Details here. 

Margarita & Sangria Festival. There’s only two ways to enjoy fruit: floating in your alcohol, or pinned on the rim of the glass. Either way, this festival is sure to entertain. The Oasis at Wild Horse Ranch is hosting a Margarita & Sangria Festival where you get to sample over 25 different drinks, dance to music and feast from local food trucks. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. 6801 N. Camino Verde. $25 regular admission, $40 VIP. Details here.
All One Voice. “This is the sound of all of us, singing with love and the will to trust. Leave the rest behind; it will turn to dust. This is the sound of all of us.” These are the lyrics to “One Voice,” a song by Australian-born singer-songwriter and member of The Wailin’ Jenny’s Ruth Moody. On this night, 12 Tucson choruses will come together as one voice to perform this song together. We’re talking everyone from the Tucson Girls Chorus to Reveille to Tucson Desert Harmony. All the choruses will perform individually before joining together for the big finale. Couldn’t you use a heaping helping of unity? 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Ascension Lutheran Church, 7650 N. Paseo del Norte. $15. Details here.

Raffi. Is there a more wholesome figure on this Earth than the children’s entertainer Raffi? Raffi, who has never made any commercial endorsements aimed at kids because he wants to treat his young fans with respect? Raffi, who sings tunes like “Baby Beluga” and “Bananaphone?” Raffi, who founded the Centre for Child Honouring, a nonprofit whose motto is “Respecting Earth & Child”? If there is a more wholesome figure (which we figure is pretty unlikely), he or she probably isn’t coming to Tucson this week, and Raffi is! It’s been 40 years since he released Singable Songs for the Very Young, and he’s celebrating with this tour, at which Beluga Grads (his child fans back in the ’70s and ’80s who are now grown up) and everyone else are welcome. 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $35.50 to $83.50. Details here.

37th Annual Wa:k Pow Wow. Every month in Tucson is a pretty good month. But in March, it’s neither snowing nor unbearably hot. AND it’s the month that features Tucson’s largest gathering of Native American arts, crafts, culture, food and dancing! Everyone is welcome (but note that video cameras, drugs and alcohol are most definitely not) to enjoy watching team dancing, hoop dancing, owl dancing and inter-tribal dancing. On the non-dancing front, be sure to catch the drum contest. Ryan Rumley is the master of ceremonies, and Eldred Matt is the arena director. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17. San Xavier Mission del Bac church, $7 adults, $5 kids, free for kids 6 and under. $3 per vehicle to park. Details here.
Climate Change in Arizona: What Can and Should We Do? Sometimes issues like climate change seem so enormous that you’re left feeling powerless. This program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson is designed to help mitigate this feeling. You’ll hear from three scientific experts: Diana Liverman, Regents professor of geography and development and former co-director of the UA Institute of the Environment; Kathy Jacobs, director of the UA Center for Climate Adaptation, Science and Solutions; and Edward Beshore, a member of the local chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. 9:30 a.m. to noon. Saturday, March 16. Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave. Free. Details here.

Silver Spike Festival. On March 20, 1880, the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Tucson, with long-lasting effects including vastly expanding the city’s economy and causing people nearly 140 years into the future to have to sit in excruciating traffic while they wait for the damn thing to go by. Seriously though, the arrival of the train in Tucson was hugely important and definitely worth celebrating. Just see what Charles D. Poston, who some people call “The Father of Arizona,” said this in the Arizona Daily Star the day before the arrival: “And now the railroad comes along, like a giant anaconda, embracing the continent in its coil, and its ponderous machinery breathes the vitality of civilization in sonorous respirations, breaking the silence of the desert and awakening the reverberations of the mountains for the first time since the planet commenced its revolutions in the universe.” The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum is having a vintage vehicle display, a re-enactement of the arrival and live music to celebrate. 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, 414 N. Toole Ave. Free. Details here.

Tour of Tumamoc Hill. Tu-mamoc? Or not tu-mamoc? That is the question. You’ve probably seen Tumamoc Hill, and you’ve likely even hiked it. But have you ever had emeritus curators of the UA School of Anthropology and a research associate from the Arizona State Museum give you a guided tour of all the ceramics, rock art and pit remains on the hill? What about the village site? This is your chance. Paul and Suzanne Fish, the emeritus curators, and Gayle Hartmann, the research associate, are offering this guided tour of the hill as a fundraiser for the Tucson Presidio. Why not support a local cause while learning a little bit more about local history yourself? Tu-mamoc, indeed. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16. Tumamoc Hill. $30, or $25 for Presidio members. Details here.

Heart Medicine: Honey, Tonics and Tisanes. You’ve probably had honey before, are familiar with the idea of a tonic, and are not totally sure what a tisane is. It’s a medicinal herbal tea, originally made with barley. That’s just the sort of information you’re going to gain at this workshop hosted by Patrisia Gonzales, in partnership with the Dunbar African American Cultural Center, about how to identify desert plants that can calm the spirit, feed the heart and relax the system. You’ll be making herbal infused honeys, teas and floral waters, and you’ll be feeling so, so calm. We dare you to tell us that doesn’t sound appealing. 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday, March 16. UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 200 W. Douglass. $55. Details here.

Shop Women-Owned Tucson. It’s Women’s History Month in the U.S.! Hooray! Celebrate by supporting some of Tucson’s local businesses owned by women. Here’s how it works: Stop by Pop Cycle to pick up a stamp card, and throughout March, get a stamp for every $10 you spend at participating establishments (ranging from Tiny Town Surplus to the MOCA Tucson museum shop to Crooked Tooth Brewing Co. See the Facebook event page for a full list!). When your card is full, go back to Pop Cycle to get a free sticker and a coupon for a free blizzard at the Fourth Ave. Dairy Queen, AND to be entered into a raffle. Raffle prizes include a $100 Pop Cycle Gift Card and other assorted Fourth Avenue swag. All month at participating locations! Pick up your card at Pop Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave. Details here.

Free Family Fun Day! Wonder World Jumping Castles, a family-based, veteran-owned bounce house business here in the Old Pueblo, has been around for five years now. To celebrate, and to thank the community for its support, they’re hosting this fun fest with about a dozen different kinds of enormous inflatables, free popcorn and cotton candy, and dozens of vendors selling goods. What, are you going to NOT take your kid to experience this child’s paradise? For that matter, are you yourself not going to take advantage of the chance to enjoy this free paradise for your inner child? 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16. 1825 N. Alvernon Way. Free. Details here.

How Rednecks Saved Hollywood. The Loft Cinema presents a talk by author Joe Bob Briggs on the identity of “rednecks” in American film. The “drive-in movie critic” will use more than 200 clips and stills from movies to examine both grindhouse and mainstream movies. Beyond recounting the history, you will also learn about the most sacred redneck cinematic moments and why the redneck is the scariest monster in all of film history. For real! 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $18. Details here.

Civano Park Food Truck Roundup. Come one, come all, come hungry! All the best food trucks in Tucson are getting together so can have a little bit (or a lotta bit) of great food. Participating food trucks include: Stacey’s Irresistible Cheesecakes, Los Locos Tacos, TacoQueta, Meatball Madness, Fiesta Filipina, You Sly Dog, The Curry Pot Sri Lankan Fusion and more. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17. At Civano Park, 5241 Richard Ashley Way. Details here.

Downtown History and Libation Tour. Southern Arizona Guide is hosting a tour where you get to explore the history of Tucson, and taste it too. This walking tour allows you to see Tucson “with the eyes of George Hand, saloonkeeper.” Beyond the history, you will get to enjoy libations at the old Presidio and Maynards for lunch. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Meet at Mercado San Agustin at Congress and Convento. $69. Details here.
De Kooning Revealed. Speaking of the UA Museum of Art, you might know that back in 1985, the Willem de Kooning’s “Woman-Ochre” painting was stolen from the museum, and that thanks to a series of fortunate events and a bunch of kind people, the priceless painting was recovered and returned in 2017. Now, the museum’s leadership council is hosting an exclusive, pre-conservation viewing of the painting, giving you a chance to become a part of history (or at least to have a cool story to brag about at your next family gathering). Enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and entertainment by the Fred Fox Jazz Ensemble and the UA School of Dance. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17. UA Museum of Art, 1031 N. Olive Road. $95 for museum members, $125 for non-members. Details here.

The Emperor! These free concerts put on by the Civic Orchestra of Tucson will feature Rimsky’ Kosakov’s Le Coq d’or (The Golden Cockerel) Suite, Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, “Emperor.” This last one was Beethoven’s last completed piano concerto, and will feature piano soloist Rex Woods, who has been teaching at the UA since 1988 and who presented his first public solo recital more than 50 years ago. 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Journey Church, 4700 N. Swan Road. 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, at Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. Free. Details here.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. What are your St. Patrick’s Day plans? Tossing back a few pints at the pub? Tossing back a few more pints at the pub after that? Well, of course. But what about all day before it becomes socially acceptable to head to the pub and throw back a few pints? Why not go to the Tucson St. Patrick’s Day parade? Last year, more than 10,000 Southern Arizonans were there, so it must at least be worth checking out. There will be traditional Irish dancing, a performance by Nancy McCallion and friends, and plenty of other traditional Irish cultural events. St. Patrick’s Day Committee president John Murphy and guest emcee David Fitzsimmons lead the opening ceremony. 10 a.m. Sunday, March 17. Armory Park south of Sixth Ave. Free. Details here.

Steele Blue at Tohono Chul. Tohono Chul’s Sundays in the Garden spring concert series features music on Sundays throughout March and April, just before it gets too hot to endure any outdoor music. This week, vocalist Sheal Kimball and guitarist Mike Zimmerman will perform their covers and arrangements of everything from classic rock to jazz standards. Sheal studied jazz and classical voice in college, and cites Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Pat Benatar among her main vocal influences. Mike is a Guitar Institute of Technology graduate and guitar instructor largely influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen. Don’t miss them playing among the prickly pears. 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Tohono Chul Performance Garden, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. Fee with admission: $13 adults, $10 senior/military/student, $3 kids 5 to 12 and free for members and kids under 5. Details here.

Witness to Democracy: The Journey of a Mother and a Photographer. Part of the Loft’s “Journalism on Screen” series, this documentary tells the story of three people brought together by the tragic killing of college student Lee Han-yeol, whose death propelled the South Korean Democracy Movement in June 1987. Followed by UA professors and filmmakers. 2 to 3:45 p.m. Sunday, March 17. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.

St. Patrick’s Day Roundup. What, you thought Tucson was going to let an excuse to have fun just slip by unnoticed? Here’s a list of only some of the many events happening when the Old Pueblo embraces the Old World on Sunday, March 17.

• Arizona Beer House is hosting a free, family-friendly event along with Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games. This features a jumping castle, live music, food trucks, face painting, bagpipers, balloon twisting, Irish Whisky, and more. Noon to midnight. 150 S. Kolb Road. Details here.

• 1912 Brewing Co. is hosting an employee cook-off of corned beef and cabbage (what else?) and you get to eat it! They will also be releasing three beers in celebration of this event: the Shenanigans Pale Ale, the Irish Sobriety Imperial Red Ale, and a new Irish Creme Stout. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2045 N Forbes Blvd, Ste. 105. Details here.

• Ten55 Brewing and Sausage House is releasing a new Irish Red Ale and maybe even tapping a special keg just for the occasion. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 110 E. Congress Street. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Son of Phoenix Makes Good

Phoenician-gone-good Michael Longfellow heads a bill that includes frequent local headliners at the next Brew Ha Ha Showcase at Borderlands Brewing Company at 8 p.m. Monday, March 18.

Raised in Phoenix, Longfellow formerly appeared regularly at Tempe Improv standup shows. Now he lives the comedy life in L.A, where he’s been chosen as one of TBS’ Comics To Watch, done a standup set on CONAN and can now be seen on Hidden America with Jonah Ray. 

Matt Ziemak and Rory Monserrat host. Mo Urban, Josiah Osego and Tony Chavira round out the bill. Urban teaches standup comedy at the Tucson Improv Movement (TIM) and produces the popular local comedy shows The Dating Game and C*nts Being C*nts Talking about C*nts. Tickets are $5 at the door or in advance via squareup.com. Food is available from Blacktop Grill. 

Wish we had more room to talk about…

Every time we see The Belle of Tombstone is a delight. It’s a throwback to the forgotten era in which the Gaslight and Pinnacle Peak have their roots, when westerns dominated screens large and small, the bad guys wore black hats and the heroes rode white horses. The Belle of Tombstone is all that, covered in music and amazing puns. Visit gaslighttheatre.com for reservations and more information. It closes March 31.

Another perennial favorite, amazon drag queen Tempest du Jour, holds forth with her ever hilarious, inter-active Retro Game Show at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 16, at Club Congress. This month’s send up is The Wheel of Missfortune. Admission is $10, but we recommend reserving for the splash zone, $12 via hotelcongress.com

There’s so much comedy coming up we need this head start.

We love discovering new comedy, but never more than when it’s an underground favorite that’s been packing alternative halls for years. It made our day when we discovered Matt Kearney’s ongoing comedy series at the Viscount Suites Hotel, 4855 E Broadway Blvd. Apparently, we are the last to know.  

At 9 p.m., Friday, March 29, Kearney and his crew invite you to LOL Comedy Jam, with headliner A.G. White and host Rob Rodriguez. White hails from East New York—that place Brooklyn folks warn others about. He says his was “that one white family that will never move out of the ’hood.” Fellow Brooklyn comic Barry Ribs, Tucsonan Pablo Pugh and Phoenician Tommy Black round out the bill. ν

Tickets are $15 in advance via grownsexy.ticketleap.com/lol-comedy-jam, or $20 at the door. VIP and group rates are available. 

Fiesta Sonora Show. Did you know there’s a Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild? Now that you do, can you think of anything lovelier? If you’ve tried watercolor, you know how difficult and unforgiving it can be, but if you’re good at it, or you know someone who is, you know how stunning the results are when it goes well. Come check out some depictions of the Sonoran Desert, and soak up the beauty just like a paper soaking up watercolor paint. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays throughout March. A reception is 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. SAWG Gallery, 5420 E. Broadway, #240. Free. Details here.

Morocco. As 1930 rolled around, and Hollywood embraced the advent of sound, they took every chance they had at heightening drama. Director Josef von Sternberg’s romantic melodrama was certainly no exception. Morocco follows the career of a cabaret singer fleeing her former life, and performing in North Africa. While entertaining, she meets a strapping young legionnaire. Is romance soon to ensue? Of course it is. You knew that. 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. Thursday, March 14. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Regular admission prices. Details here.

Walk a Mile in a Refugee’s Shoes. Even with more than 68 million people displaced around the world, sometimes it’s still easy to forget how fortunate we are to have luxuries like running water, places to call home, and united families. We Are All America, the Tucson International Rescue Committee and the UA are teaming up to host this second annual simulation event, which will provide participants with a small window into the hardships and pain refugees endure. It also features guest speakers, performances and refugee stories of resilience. It’s a valuable way to spend an afternoon. Noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 14. UA Mall, 1303 E. University Blvd. Free. Details here.

We want to take you out to the ballgame for free! Here is your chance to win tickets to Arizona's next three games on us.

On Friday the Wildcats take on Utah with a follow-up game on Sunday. On Tuesday, New Mexico State is in town. Enter for your chance to win a free pair of tickets or take your whole family with the Family Four Pack!

Choose your options wisely and see if we choose you!

Winners must come to the Tucson Local Media office located at 7225 N. Mona Lisa Road to collect their tickets.

Good Luck!

Art Talks. Art Talks at the Tucson Museum of Art takes place every Wednesday and is a free addition to museum admission. Come join in on the talk. This week's talk is all about the painting  "Ellie Eigen – The Kiss: Before and After – Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele." The talk takes place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. 140 North Main Avenue. Art Talks take place in the Margaret E. Mooney Hall. Details here.

Master Gardeners: Cactus and Succulents. Have you always admired the desert plants but not been able to grow them for yourself? Well this is the class for you! Join master gardeners as they show you how to care and grow for these popular plants. Learn all the tricks for growing them like an expert, from an expert! The class takes place at Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Ave from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Details here.
Karaoke Roundup. Apparently Wednesday is a good night for singing in the Old Pueblo, so get your vocal chords ready for some karaoke! You really have no excuse not to get up on stage as there are so many options around town. Sing your heart out at High 5 Grill, Shooters, The Living Room, The Station and The Surly Wench Pub! Grab some friends, grab a drink and then grab that microphone!

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Richard III. Ah, Richard III. Shakespeare’s second-longest play, after Hamlet. The one where the line “the winter of our discontent” came from. The one with Shakespeare’s most notorious villain! The Duke of York, who is just about as ugly on the inside as he is on the outside, conspires and kills his way to the throne. But will the skeletons in his closet/ghosts from his past/fallen enemies/whatever you want to call ’em let him keep the throne? There are lots of ways to find out the ending to this show, but the best way is to go see it live at the Arizona Repertory Theatre. Tuesday, March 12, through Monday, April 1, with shows at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Preview shows are 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 12. Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. $28 GA, $26 senior/military/UA employee, $15 students. Details here.

Make a Soul Box. Gun Violence Prevention Arizona is leading the Soul Box Project, a creative and non-confrontational approach to reducing gun deaths. Attend this event and learn how to make a Soul Box, which will represent and honor people killed by guns in the United States, and join a community of people all over the nation working to do the same thing. The goal is to represent the scale by creating thousands of boxes to represent all the deaths. Instructions and materials will be provided, and once they’re made, boxes will be sent off to GVPA’s founder in Portland, Oregon. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. Creative Tribe Craft Workshop, La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Drive. Free. Details here.
Lunafest 2019. Just what the heck is Lunafest? It’s a combination of films, feminism and fun, of course. This nationally touring film festival features award-winning short films by, for, and about women. Whether they’re live action, animation or documentary, they’ll all cover topics relating to women. A full 100 percent of the event proceeds benefit Women’s Studies Advocacy Council and Chicken & Egg Pictures. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. At the Loft Cinema. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $15. Details here.


Armchair Adventures. So you’re thinking about traveling to the Nubian Desert, but just aren’t quite convinced yet. Well, head over to Murphy-Wilmot Library’s latest addition of their “Armchair Adventures” series, where world travelers share slides, videos, and stories of their adventures. Presenter Pat Dwyer will be discussing trips to the Nubian Desert of Sudan. 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. 530 N. Wilmot Road. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Richard III. Ah, Richard III. Shakespeare’s second-longest play, after Hamlet. The one where the line “the winter of our discontent” came from. The one with Shakespeare’s most notorious villain! The Duke of York, who is just about as ugly on the inside as he is on the outside, conspires and kills his way to the throne. But will the skeletons in his closet/ghosts from his past/fallen enemies/whatever you want to call ’em let him keep the throne? There are lots of ways to find out the ending to this show, but the best way is to go see it live at the Arizona Repertory Theatre. Tuesday, March 12, through Monday, April 1, with shows at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Preview shows are 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 12. Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. $28 GA, $26 senior/military/UA employee, $15 students. Details here.

Reptaliens. They describe themselves as “low-fi chameleon dreamscapes of abstract expressionism and surrealism.” But what does that mean for the non-Martians among us? Glossy indie pop influenced by the optimism and futurism of the Space Age, synthesizers and jazzy drumming included, of course. Perfect for listening while sitting on your cyan, vinyl hassock and contemplating all the wonders this “technology” thing will bring to our modern lives. Ahead of their set at SXSW, these dreamy Portland weirdos docked in Tucson and let us know which albums send them into outer space. Catch Reptaliens at Club Congress. 7 p.m. Monday, March 11. 311 East Congress Street. $5-8. Details here.
Roller Boogie. The Loft Cinema is hosting Mondo Mondays and in this installment, they are playing Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair. True love is in the air under the California sun during this 70s roller-disco flick. Get ready to let the good times roll! Tickets are $4 general admission. 8 p.m. The Loft Cinema, 3233 East Speedway Boulevard.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Chili & Chocolate Festival. The age old question: Is chili chocolate spicy and sweet, or sweet and spicy? Maybe it doesn’t matter when you’re 10 handfuls deep and can’t taste anything anymore. The Christ Community Church is hosting their fundraiser, with multiple chili and chocolate items where you get to taste samples and vote for the winner. The event also features a jumping castle, face painting, and every ticket includes a punch card that offers a variety of chili and chocolate samples, and drinks. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 8. 530 S. Pantano Road. $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. Details here.

The Willie Green Project. Willie Green just graduated from Loyola University in 2015, but considering he’s been playing the drums since his early childhood, perhaps it’s not surprising that he’s already played at jazz festivals all over the world, and is now on tour with his jazz group for their debut album, Love Will Find A Way. Green drums and composes, while Taylor Mroski plays bass, Andrew McGowan plays piano and Trevarri Huff-Boone is on sax. Together, they make up some of New Orleans’ most promising young talent. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8. Sea of Glass–Center for the Arts, 330 E. Seventh St. $13 advance/$18 day of show for ages 16 and up. $10 advance/$15 day of show for ages 12 to 15. $4 for ages 4 to 11. Details here.
Tucson Hip Hop Festival. Did you know the four fundamental pillars of hip hop culture are DJing, MCing, breakdancing (or b-boying) and writing? If you know, you know, and if you didn’t, now you do. Everyone involved with the Tucson Hip Hop Festival is passionate about hip hop and about representing and showcasing these four pillars. At this weekend full of movie screenings, panel talks, fundraising, local vendors & food, photography, and beat production, you’ll find yourself right at the intersection of learning and partying. And really, what more could you ask for? 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at La Pilita, 420 S. Main Ave.; 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at Monsoon Collective, 127 S. Fifth Ave.; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, at Hotel Congress, 311 Congress St.; noon to midnight Saturday, March 9, at 191 Toole. $10 to $100, depending on which events you attend. Details here.

Gomez Plays Mozart. Maestro José Luis Gomez seems to like Tucson—after all, he just signed an extension to his original four-year contract with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, so he’ll be here until at least 2024. He said in a press release, “In these first two seasons we have made such great music together, why would we want to stop?” Don’t miss his Tucson performing debut as first violin in Mozart’s Serenade for Strings. The night also feature’s Mozart’s “Nacht Musique,” and Haydn’s “Drumroll,” the second movement of which was so popular at its premiere in the 18th century that it was performed twice. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. $27 to $64+. Details here.

Tucson Roadrunners vs. Ontario Reign. This week, the Tucson Roadrunners are at an admitted disadvantage: The rival team’s mascot is a snow leopard, and snow leopards are much more in their element in icy environments than roadrunners. But realistically, our home team has more wins under their belt than Ontario Reign. So come take your pick of when to watch the Roadrunners strut their stuff on the ice: Friday is Arizona Daily Star Community Night, where the first 2,000 fans buying individual tickets get ’em for 10 bucks, and Saturday is Shane Doan Bobblehead Night, where everyone gets a Shane Doan Bobblehead, and they’re running a Roadrunners Party Pack special (two center ice tickets + two beers for $59). 7:05 p.m. on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $7 to $61. Details here.

Dance & Dessert 2019. You’re bound to like at least one of those two things. And, with a troupe of dancers as talented as the men and women over at Ballet Tucson, you’re bound to like both. At their spring concert, see the premiere of La Dame aux Camélias, a show that brings Alexandre Dumas’ 1848 novel to life on stage. The Tucson premiere of Donizetti Variations, with music from the opera Don Sebastian and choreography by George Balanchine, the father of modern ballet, is another part of the night to look forward to. The dancers will also perform other selections from their repertoire, and the audience can enjoy gourmet dessert tastings at the conclusion of each performance. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8. 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. $45 GA or $40 for seniors/students/military. Details here.

Marana Laughs. Lookin’ for a night of clean comedy, and the chance to step outside (but not too far outside) Tucson? Look no farther than the Marana Laughs comedy showcase. We’ve got Mike James, who’s appeared on Comedy Central and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, who likes to make audiences laugh about family, faith, work and aging. Then, Brian Kohatsu, who spent 20 years as a film director before starting his comedy career, and has now been teaching improv for more than a decade, will take the stage. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8 (doors open at 6:30). Coyote Trail Stage, 8000 N. Silverbell Road. $10 individual, $20 VIP, $30 family package, $97 for 13 people. Details here.

Willow. So how, exactly, did Hollywood release a fantasy movie where a bunch of people with actual medical dwarfism played magical dwarves? Well, it was the ’80s, for one. And the film’s producer/writer George Lucas had recently finished the ewok-filled Return of the Jedi, so he had more money imaginable to throw at literally whatever he wanted, even if it turned out to be one of the most ridiculous sword-and-sorcery-and-slapstick-early-computer-graphics-mishmash ever set to film. It turned out to be a pretty fun film, too. Casa Video invites you in on the wonder. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 8. 2905 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Spring Vegetable Start Sale. These days, it can seem like people forget that you can grow your own food, literally right out of the dirt. Tucson Village Farm is helping you to start your own vegetable garden, just in time for winter’s end! They’ll be selling varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil. 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9. 4210 N. Campbell Ave. Details here.

Vida. Hosted by Tucson Foodie, this boutique festival celebrates female culinary artists and makers all throughout Southern Arizona. Here, you get to enjoy our region’s greatest female chefs and mixologists. Food vendors include BOCA Tacos, Nook, Ghini’s French Caffe, Chef Chic, HUB and more. All profits generated from ticket sales will be donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s programs training and supporting women in the culinary arts. 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9. At the Tucson Historic Train Depot. 400 N. Toole Ave. $25. Details here.

SAAF STARZ MARCH 2019. The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and Corbett Brewery are teaming up for a fundraiser that puts SAAF staff in drag “under the tutelage of established drag queens from our local community.” All money raised at SAAF STARZ goes directly to the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. And at the same time, you get to enjoy the craft beers of Corbett Brewery. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 9. 309 E. Seventh St. Details here.

Free Mead Tasting at Caps & Corks. Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, but you might know it better as that stuff Vikings were always drinking. If you’ve always wanted to try it, now’s your chance! Superstition Meadery is coming to Caps & Corks, offering up complimentary samplings of a variety of meads. 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9. 3830 W. River Road. Details here.
The Art and Life of E.A. Smith. It’s easy to love the colors of the desert, but difficult to describe them. It is harder still to capture their beauty in a piece of art. Mrs. E.A. Smith, Arizona’s first nationally known impressionist landscape painter, spent more than five and a half decades living in and painting the desert and mountain vistas of Cochise County. This year would have been her 150th birthday, and to celebrate, the Tucson Desert Art Museum is displaying some of her paintings, including many that have not been shown publicly in Tucson since the 1930s. The exhibition, “Effie! Plein Air Pioneer” is on display through April 28, but this Saturday, enjoy a talk by columnist Jan Cleere and EA Smith Archive curator Steve Carlson. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Tucson Desert Art Museum, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. Included with admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students, $4 youth, free for members. Details here.

Children’s Day Festival. Japan has been celebrating the strengths and personalities of children, as well as wishing for their good health, with this holiday since 1948. Though it actually falls on May 5, Yume Japanese Gardens is holding it early to beat the Tucson heat. So bring the children in your life for a day full of enjoying nature; traditional Japanese decorations and dress, game and activities; and plenty of savory Japanese snacks. Why wouldn’t you want to celebrate the innocence, brightness and sense of wonder that come with childhood? 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. $15 adults, $5 for kids ages 3 to 15. Details here.

Silent Night. This Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, with music by Kevin Puts and a libretto by Mark Campbell, takes place during World War I. And not just any ol’ day during World War I:
It takes place on Christmas Eve, 1914, the date of the Christmas truce, during which 100,000 soldiers briefly put aside their weapons in no-man’s land. This exploration of the human cost of war is worth singing about—in five different languages, no less. Don’t miss the Arizona Opera’s production of the show! 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $25 to $120. Details here.

American Mariachi. In this play by José Cruz González, Lucha is looking for a way to break free from the monotony of caring for her sick mother. And what’s less monotonous than starting your own mariachi band? The only problem? It’s the 1970s, and girls can’t be mariachis. Instead of dropping the idea, Lucha and her cousin face disapproving relatives, the struggle to find other bandmates, and practices and performances when they decide to start an all-girl mariachi band anyway. Heartwarming, hilarious and full of kick-ass live mariachi music, this show is a must-see at Arizona Theatre Company. Runs Saturday, March 9, through Saturday, March 30, with shows at either 2, 7 or 7:30 p.m. throughout the week. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $41 to $66. (Or $25 to $50 for preview shows). Details here.

Laugh About It. There are some people who tell you to laugh at life’s problems instead of cry over them, and there are some people who say that who make you want to punch them in the face. What do they know? Well, Josh Novey is an Iraq war veteran, so he has good standing to talk about facing hardship and laughing in spite of it. He’s performed his clean comedy act all over the United States, and now it’s yours and your family’s turn to see him live. Paul Loh hosts and comedian Ali Musa is also featured. 7 to 9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 and lobby opens at 6) Saturday, March 9. The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. $20. Details here.

Shared Territory. This latest documentary series by Mixed Media Machine aims at connecting “people and their lands through shared understanding and exploration.” The screening highlights Iceland, and a pre-Medieval Trans-Icelandic route. Hosted by Trans Cycles, this also helps raise funds for World Bicycle Relief and Iceland Search and Rescue. While you might not be able to bicycle through Iceland right now, you can live vicariously through those who do. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 9. At the MSA Annex. $10. Details here.

Captain Marvel. Here’s your opportunity to be a hero as well! The Tucson Atheist Community Outreach Team is hosting an event at Roadhouse Cinemas with proceeds benefiting Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse. The TACO team invites you to “see a fun movie with a bunch of heathens and help be a hero to those who need it most.” 1:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9. 4811 East Grant Road. $25. Details here.
Gran Fondo Block Party. Of course Tucson’s a great cycling city, so the more bike-centric events we have, the better! This inaugural ride, hosted by Ten55 Brewing and Sausage House and Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, concludes with a block party on Scott Avenue. Delicacies include beer, brats and live music, and a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Scott Avenue between Broadway and Congress Street. Details here.

Catalina Craft Pizza Second Anniversary Celebration. Has it been two years already? The far north side is celebrating their favorite pizza/pasta/performance place. The event features a special menu of ethnic pizzas (Portuguese Pizza, Asian Pizza, and Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza) and an hourly raffle. 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 10. 15930 North Oracle Road. Details here.

The All Artists Show. The Madaras Gallery is celebrating 20 years of art and philanthropy this year, which gives you a perfect chance to look back on the art Diana Madaras has created over the years, and to hear from her about her plans for the future. At this show, she’ll be unveiling five new Spirit Animal paintings from her 20-piece series, inspired by her passion for helping animals. This also makes for a great opportunity to finally treat yourself to a Madaras original, so you can feel like a true Tucsonan. This show will also feature small works from six guest artists. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road. Free. Details here.

Second SundAZe Family Day at TMA. Another second Sunday of the month means another chance to head over to the Tucson Museum of Art for a free admission day! This month, help the museum celebrate its 95th birthday, making it the same age as Marlon Brando would be, if he were still around. Spend the day creating birthday-themed art, and enjoy a workshop in dance, costume-making and theatrical performance from Artifact Dance Project. Head on over to the museum! It’s only going to turn 95 once. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Free. Details here.
Scholl and Karamazov: Airs and Fancies. Andreas Scholl is one of the world’s leading countertenors, and has numerous awards, including the ECHO Award for his composition for an audiobook of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “The Nightingale.” Edin Karamazov was once a classical guitarist, but now is more known for his virtuosic performances on the Baroque lute, garnering rave reviews throughout Europe and America. At this event, they team up on works by Dowland, Campion, Handel, Caccini and Bach, as well as some folk music for added variety. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. $25. Details here.

Tucson Sugar Skulls vs. Bismarck Bucks. There are only a few teams in the United States’ indoor football league, and the Tucson Sugar Skulls is the newest one of them. Named for the colorful skulls used to celebrate the lives of lost loved ones in central Mexico (and in the Old Pueblo’s All Souls Procession), the team is all about honor, celebration and tradition. This week, they face off against the Bismarck Bucks, who are also pretty new to the league, in a home game. It says this on the Bucks’ own website, so we shouldn’t be shy in announcing that the buck stops here, because the Sugar Skulls are going to stop it. 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. $17 to $99+. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.