Kon Tiki has been a staple at the UA for more than 50 years, and this weekend, is celebrating its many years of support from the Tucson community. The Polynesian and Hawaiian-themed bar, located on Broadway Boulevard, is having a big party Saturday at 4 p.m. to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
The event will have an array of exciting happenings, such as live music, vendors, limited edition mugs and a special menu with some items being priced at their original prices from 1963. Since it welcomed its first guests in 1963, Kon Tiki has undergone three changes in management, but has maintained the same décor from the original opening.
“A trip to Kon Tiki is a rite of passage for most UA students who turn 21,” said general manager Lou Lazos, “because they have to come and get try their first scorpion drink.”
The scorpion bowl is a tropical concoction of rum, brandy, gin and liqueurs, mixed with fruit juices and served in a bowl with long Kon Tiki straws. The recipe, however, is not known by anyone except the Kon Tiki mixologists. Event-goers can look forward to trying this and other delicious drinks on Saturday.
“We’re throwing an anniversary party to say thank you to Tucson and the community for supporting us for so many years,” Lazos said. “We want to give back. We are throwing the party not for us, but for you guys at UA and in the community.”
The 50th anniversary celebration will be a fun day to celebrate the hard work and support Kon Tiki has given to the community and to UA. Event-goers can look forward to a day of aloha, giving thanks and an excuse to dress up in Hawaiian shirts and dresses to show support for the institution.
“I’m excited to see everyone come out and give back to Tucson,” said Marcos Dominguez. “I’ve been working here for 13 years and I met my wife here and it has been a great place for both me and my family; it is like a second home.”
He added that even-goers “should come out and prepare to show the tiki-freaks what Tucson is all about.”
The event begins at 4 p.m. with happy hour and vendors in the parking lot, and is followed by the live entertainment of some local favorites: The Love Me Nots, Flam Chen fire theater and Shrimp Chaperone, to name a few. The event will also have a hot hula demo starting at 7 p.m. to get the audience involved and to teach them how to hula.
Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $18 at the door, and happy hour will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with other event festivities following at 7 p.m.
