Tucson, Arizona

===Annual cultural events and fairs===
====Tucson Gem and Mineral Show====
The [[Tucson Gem & Mineral Show]] is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world and has been held for over 50 years. The show is only one part of the [[Gemstone|gem]], [[mineral]], [[fossil]] and [[bead]] gathering held across more than 45 different sites in Tucson.<ref>[http://www.tgms.org/ Tucson Gem and Mineral Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204005257/http://www.tgms.org/ |date=December 4, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 12, 2010.</ref> The shows run from late January to mid-February, with the official show lasting two weeks in February.

====Tucson Festival of Books====
Since 2009, the [[Tucson Festival of Books]] has been held annually over a two-day period in March at the [[University of Arizona]]. By 2010 it had become the fourth largest book festival in the United States, with 450 authors and 80,000 attendees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tucson Festival of Books now fourth largest book fair in U.S. |url=http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/item/show/123874 |access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418171516/http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/item/show/123874 |archive-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref> In addition to readings and lectures, it features a science fair, varied entertainment, food, and exhibitors ranging from local retailers and publishers to regional and national nonprofit organizations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tucson Festival of Books: Exhibitors |url=http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/exhibitor/list |access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313060140/http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/exhibitor/list |archive-date=March 13, 2013}}</ref>

====Tucson Folk Festival====
For the past 33 years, the Tucson Folk Festival has taken place the first Saturday and Sunday of May in downtown Tucson's El Presidio Park. In addition to nationally known headline acts each evening, the Festival highlights over 100 local and regional musicians on five stages and is one of the largest free festivals in the country. All stages are within easy walking distance. Organized by the Tucson Kitchen Musicians' Association,<ref>[http://www.tkma.org The Tucson Folk Festival homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506020553/http://tkma.org/ |date=May 6, 2018 }}. Retrieved March 12, 2010.</ref> volunteers make this festival possible. [[KXCI]] 91.3-FM, Arizona's only community radio station, is a major partner, broadcasting from the Plaza Stage throughout the weekend. There are also many workshops, events for children, sing-alongs, and a popular singer-songwriter contest. Musicians typically play 30-minute sets, supported by professional audio staff volunteers. A variety of food and crafts are available at the festival, as well as local microbrews. All proceeds help fund future festivals.

====Fourth Avenue Street Fair====
[[File:US Navy 070317-N-5324D-002 Sailors from the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Tucson (SSN 770) and Navy Operational Support Center Tucson take part in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.jpg|thumb|right|Sailors take part in the annual [[St. Patrick's Day]] parade.]]
There are two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs, in December and late March/early April, staged between 9th Street and University Boulevard, that feature arts and crafts booths, food vendors and street performers. The fairs began in 1970 when Fourth Avenue, which at the time had half a dozen thrift shops, several New Age bookshops and the Food Conspiracy Co-Op, was a gathering place for [[hippies]], and a few merchants put tables in front of their stores to attract customers before the holidays.

These days, the street fair has grown into a large corporate event, with most tables owned by outside merchants. It hosts mostly traveling craftsmen selling various arts such as pottery, paintings, wood working, metal decorations, candles, and many others.

====Tucson Rodeo (Fiesta de los Vaqueros)====
[[File:TeamRopingTucson.jpg|thumb|right|Team roping competition at Tucson's ''Fiesta de los Vaqueros'']]

Another popular event held in February, which is early spring in Tucson, is the Fiesta de los Vaqueros, or [[rodeo]] week, founded by winter visitor, Leighton Kramer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tucson.com/news/local/street-smarts-kramer-ave-named-for-winter-visitor-who-helped/article_83577fb0-db6d-5bee-a64a-e5a35dd52130.html|title=Street Smarts: Kramer Ave. named for winter visitor who helped start rodeo, parade in 1925|author=David Leighton|newspaper=Arizona Daily Star|access-date=July 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707202438/https://tucson.com/news/local/street-smarts-kramer-ave-named-for-winter-visitor-who-helped/article_83577fb0-db6d-5bee-a64a-e5a35dd52130.html|archive-date=July 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> While at its heart the Fiesta is a sporting event, it includes what is billed as "the world's largest non-mechanized parade".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tucson Rodeo Parade |url=http://www.tucsonrodeoparade.com/Pages001/Parade.htm |access-date=March 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301085026/http://tucsonrodeoparade.com/Pages001/Parade.htm |archive-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> The Rodeo Parade is a popular event as most schools give two rodeo days off instead of Presidents' Day. The exception is Presidio High (a non-public charter school), which does not get either. Western wear is seen throughout the city as corporate dress codes are cast aside during the Fiesta. The Fiesta de los Vaqueros marks the beginning of the rodeo season in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

====Tucson Meet Yourself====
Every October for the past 30 years, the Tucson Meet Yourself festival<ref>[http://www.tucsonmeetyourself.org/ Tucson Meet Yourself, Tucson Festival, Tucson Folk Arts, Tucson Entertainment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811121220/http://www.tucsonmeetyourself.org/ |date=August 11, 2007 }}. Retrieved March 12, 2010.</ref> has celebrated the city's many ethnic groups. For one weekend, the downtown area features dancing, singing, artwork, and food from more than 30 different ethnicities. The event is held at and around the Jacome Plaza,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2017 |title=Jacome Plaza |url=https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/jacomeplaza |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=www.tucsonaz.gov |language=en}}</ref> located in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library. All performers are from Tucson and the surrounding area, in keeping with the idea of "meeting yourself." The records of the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival reside at the University of Arizona Special Collections Library.<ref>{{cite web |title=Records of the Tucson Meet Yourself finding aid |url=http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/uoa/UAMS618.xml |access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>

====Tucson Modernism Week====
Since 2012, during the first two weekends of October, the [[Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation]] hosts Tucson Modernism Week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tucsonmod.com|title=Tucson Modernism Week|website=Tucsonmod.com|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910185052/https://www.tucsonmod.com/|archive-date=September 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The event includes more than 30 programs including tours, lectures, exhibits, films and parties. The events are in mid-century modern buildings and neighborhoods throughout the city and highlight the work of significant architects and designers who contributed to the development and history of southern Arizona including: architect [[Arthur Brown Jr.|Arthur Brown]], fashion designer [[Dolores Gonzales]], architect Bob Swaim, architect Anne Rysdale, textile designers [[Harwood and Sophie Steiger]], architect Nick Sakellar, architectural designer Tom Gist, furniture designer [[Max Gottschalk]], architect Ned Nelson, landscape architect Guy Green, architect Juan Worner Baz, and many others.

====All Souls Procession Weekend====
[[File:TPPL Day of Dead float, 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Day of the Dead float, Pima County Public Library, 2009 procession]]
The [[All Soul's Weekend|All Souls Procession]], held in early November, is one of Tucson's largest festivals. Modeled on the Mexican holiday [[Day of the Dead|Dia de los Muertos]] (Day of the Dead), it combines aspects of many different cultural traditions.<ref name="Westerman-2011">{{cite book|last=Westerman|first=Kim|title=Explorer's Guide Tucson: A Great Destination (Explorer's Great Destinations)|year=2011|publisher=The Countryman Press|isbn=978-1-58157-909-3|pages=38–39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZJIayduy-EC&pg=PT38|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120193902/https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZJIayduy-EC&pg=PT38|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The first All Souls Procession was organized by local artist Susan Kay Johnson in 1990 and involved 35 participants; by 2013, participation was estimated at 50,000.<ref name="MobileReference-2007">{{cite book|last=MobileReference|title=Encyclopedia of Observances, Holidays and Celebrations|year=2007|publisher=MobileReference Series|pages=198–199|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VhTa1Eiq7oC&pg=PT198|isbn=978-1-60501-177-6|access-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120030837/https://books.google.com/books?id=5VhTa1Eiq7oC&pg=PT198|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Herreras">{{cite web|last=Herreras|first=Mari|title=All Souls, All Community: Tucson's heart exposes itself every All Souls Procession|url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/all-souls-all-community/Content?oid=3902713|work=Tucson Weekly|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107025047/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/all-souls-all-community/Content?oid=3902713|archive-date=November 7, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Procession, held at sundown, consists of a non-motorized parade through downtown Tucson featuring many floats, sculptures, and memorials, in which the community is encouraged to participate. The parade is followed by performances on an outdoor stage, culminating in the burning of an urn in which written prayers have been collected from participants and spectators.<ref name="Herreras"/><ref name="Regan-2009">{{cite web|last=Regan|first=Margaret|title=To Mourn and to Honor: The All Souls Procession enters its third decade of helping Tucsonans deal with death|url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/to-mourn-and-to-honor/Content?oid=1519884|work=Tucson Weekly|access-date=November 13, 2013|date=November 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113195613/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/to-mourn-and-to-honor/Content?oid=1519884|archive-date=November 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The event is organized and funded by the non-profit arts organization Many Mouths One Stomach, with the help of volunteers and donations from the public and local businesses.<ref name="Herreras"/>