Marana's Top Annual Events
Will you be attending some of Marana's top events this year?
Planning a trip to Southern Arizona? Located in between Phoenix and Tucson, Marana is nestled at the foot of the Tortolita Mountains in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Well-known for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and golf, which can be enjoyed year-round in the amazing climate, Marana is also home to the Forbes Five-star and multiple award-winning Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
In addition to these gems, Marana offers a calendar full of exciting festivals and events. Plan your visit to Marana around one of the top events, shown below by season:
Fall Events
Film Fest Tucson
Filmmakers and audiences travel from all over to experience Film Fest Tucson each year. This event is for those who are truly passionate about movies and the impact they have on our culture. Both emerging and established filmmakers attend the festival, providing an opportunity for intriguing Q & A sessions and movie screenings. This is a great way to watch quality films as well as experience the heritage of Tucson.
Fall Festival
This October festival is the perfect way to experience Southern Arizona’s gorgeous fall weather and indulge in local food and activities. The Fall Festival takes place in Heritage Park and celebrates Marana’s history and present as a producer of cotton, wheat, barley, alfalfa, and pecans. Kids will enjoy interacting with farm animals and watching demonstrations from the Marana Youth Rodeo. Youngsters can even get a taste for the rodeo by participating in Mutton Busting, which involves riding on a sheep! There’s something for everyone at this uniquely Marana event. Shop fresh local goods at the farm stand, listen to music, choose from a variety of food trucks, or sip a cold one in the beer garden.
El Tour de Tucson
Test your mettle to earn a medal in the largest perimeter bicycling event in America! Held annually for more than 30 years, El Tour De Tucson takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving and attracts more than 9,000 cyclists from around the world. The El Tour de Tucson course features 28, 40, 55, 75, and 104-mile options and weaves through Marana with gorgeous Sonoran Desert and plenty of mountain views.
Black Friday Shopping
If shopping on Black Friday is a holiday tradition in your family, then you’ll want to check out the 360,000 square feet of shopping bliss at Tucson Premium Outlets. The outlets at Marana Town Center bring designer brands and deep savings to Marana. Start your holiday shopping off at the Tucson Premium Outlets and enjoy the outdoor areas featuring a fireplace for cool evenings, plenty of seating, a kids play area, nursing lounges, device charging stations, and a media lounge.
Marana Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival
October means it’s time to celebrate pumpkin flavors and fall spice, so get your pumpkin on at the annual Marana Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival! Throughout October, Post Farms hosts the ultimate family fall festival. Have fun navigating through two corn mazes and visit the pumpkin patch to take home the perfect Halloween decoration. Kids will love the more than 50 acres of activities, plus a petting zoo, and delicious food!
Winter Events
Holiday Events & Christmas Tree Lighting
Marana has plenty of holiday events every winter. On the first Saturday in December, Marana kicks-off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting along Main Street. Sip from a cup of hot cocoa as you enjoy the performances from local choral and dance troupes. Then grab a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks. Rumor has it that Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be dropping by to meet with children and learn about their holiday wish lists. The highlight of the event is Marana’s out-of-this-world Christmas Tree, complete with dancing lights!
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
Each winter, the largest and most prestigious gem and mineral show in the world takes place right in our backyard! Thousands of people from around the globe converge on Marana and Tucson for this event, which runs from late January through mid February. The Gem & Mineral Show features sprawling exhibitions of minerals, fossils, jewelry, crafts, and artistic wares. There are more than 40 shows to explore and a majority of shows are open to the public. The entire family will love browsing all of the amazing artifacts and finding new treasures! The main show takes place at the Tucson Convention Center and offers seminars and educational opportunities for kids. With mild winter weather and so much to see, this is a great time of year to visit Marana.
Tucson Festival of Books
Another reason that visitors come here from all over the world is to see and celebrate their favorite authors in the first week of March. That Southern Arizona is a huge hang out and gathering place for nationally-renowned authors is no longer a best kept secret, with the Tucson Festival of Books being one of the top book festivals in the U.S.!
Spring Events
Wings of Freedom
Each spring, the Wings of Freedom airplane exhibition returns to Marana Regional Airport with the roar of vintage aircraft engines! All ages can enjoy this weekend event.
Marana Bluegrass Festival
This annual bluegrass bonanza takes place in early spring and features local music, food, and art. Showcasing the bluegrass talent in Arizona, the festival is perfect for music lovers and families alike. Band performances are scheduled throughout the day. The flat picking contest is an annual highlight, where talented guitar players with crazy-fast picking skills compete for cash prizes! There will also be workshops for guitar, fiddle, and banjo. While you’re in town, get out and enjoy a mountain hike in the perfect spring weather.
Summer Events
July 4th Celebration
Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular is a big old birthday celebration for the USA. This family-friendly event draws more than 10,000 visitors for food, live music, kids activities, and more than 800 fireworks. The fireworks display rivals any other in Southern Arizona. Why not turn your Independence Day celebrations into a mini-getaway and enjoy all the nearby things to do? Many hotels and resorts will offer great summer rates for an affordable staycation.
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
Discover Southern Arizona's spectacular birding during its magical monsoon season in August. Tucson Audubon’s Southeast Arizona Birding Festival features professional field trip leaders and an extensive Nature Expo.
If you are traveling to Marana, Arizona, then check out our website for ideas on where to stay and things to do. Stay in touch! Subscribe to the Discover Marana newsletter to get travel inspiration, news, events, and travel deals sent right to your inbox.
