Family Weekend is upon us yet again. For those looking for some fun ways to spend time with family in Tucson, here’s a list of five things to do over the weekend.
Visit Gates Pass
From the majestic mountain ranges surrounding the city to the vast expanses of desert peppered with cacti of all shapes and sizes, Tucson has a handful of incredible scenic wonders. One of the best places this natural beauty shows off is Gates Pass. Just a 25-minute drive west of campus, Gates Pass is the perfect place to bring family who isn’t familiar with the beauty of the desert, and it also features hiking trails for those who enjoy staying active — just remember to pack sunscreen.
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Cheer on the Wildcats sports teams
It wouldn’t be Family Weekend without a home football game. This year the Arizona Wildcats play the UCLA Bruins Saturday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. There are a handful of other sporting events happening throughout the weekend too. UA Volleyball plays the University of Utah at 6 p.m. Friday and the University of Colorado Sunday at 1 p.m. Men’s swimming will hold an intrasquad meet throughout Saturday. The women’s tennis invitational also runs all weekend long. Students who have a ZonaZoo pass can get into any of these events for free with their CatCard.
Enjoy some good food
Tucson has the unique distinction of being the first city in the U.S. to earn the Capital of Gastronomy title from UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network list. The sheer number of restaurants in the city representing cultures from around the world is extensive, but there’s much more contributing to the city’s food scene. The community supports local farmers at numerous regular farmer’s markets, and many restaurants use locally farmed goods in their dishes. With such food diversity city wide — the only difficult part will be deciding where to go.
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Check out the UA art scene
Artists have flocked to Tucson as the city’s art scene has grown, and today the university is an art hub. For starters, consider the ever-changing UA Museum of Art. One of the many collections featured now is “La Frontera: Selected Works of Erin Currier,” an exhibit about the dream of freedom and equality shared by our ancestors of all backgrounds. Across the courtyard from UAMA is Marroney Theatre where the Arizona Repertory Theatre will preview “The Addams Family — A New Musical” Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Parents, siblings and students alike are sure to love the quirky musical showcasing some of the program’s talented students.
Get into the Halloween spirit
Now that spooky season is upon us, why not get the whole family in the spirit? The Slaughterhouse haunted house is open for the season and ready to scare the pants off of everyone who walks through the doors. Different ticket types allow access to various rooms and start at $23 for a trip through the four main areas. Old Tucson Studios has also turned its western town spooky for Nightfall, its annual Halloween event. Featuring numerous attractions and shows with a variety of fright rankings, there’s something spooky for the whole family beginning at $28 with discounts available for groups. For those who are a bit more faint of heart, there is StorySLAM: Jeepers Creepers, a public storytelling event hosted by Damascus Road Tucson at the Park Student Union stage. Listen to participants share their 5-minute scary stories or tell one of your own on Friday night at 7 p.m. Everyone will compete for a spot as one of the top three storytellers and to earn an Amazon gift card as a prize. There are plenty of ways to get your spook on this Family Weekend.
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