Celebrating 40 Years of Tohono Chul
LIVE MUSIC • FOOD & DRINK • GUIDED TOURS • $4 ADMISSION • FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Tohono Chul is turning 40! Join us for a special day filled with community, discovery, music, art, and fun. Enjoy special $4 admission, live music, guided tours, eco-stations, hands-on activities for kids, tasty food and drinks, and so much more—all surrounded by the beauty of the gardens.
Date & Time
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Admission
General Admission: $4
Members: Free
Children 3 & Under: Free
What’s in Store
40 Years of Tohono Chul
The Legacy of Founders Dick & Jean Wilson
On April 19, 1985, Richard and Jean Wilson formally dedicated Tohono Chul with a vision to preserve a natural space amidst growing development.
“We wanted to keep something natural in the middle of all the (surrounding) development so that people could come easily for a few hours and get out of the traffic and learn something at the same time. It’s probably contrary to what most people would do, but we feel it’s really important for people to have something like this.”
Over the years, Tohono Chul has grown to 49 acres, expanding in 1995 with an additional 11-acre parcel and again in 1997 with the final acre from the Haunted Bookshop (now closed).
40 years later, Tohono Chul remains a vibrant community oasis where nature, art, and culture come together.
At Tohono Chul’s dedication ceremony, Richard and Jean Wilson expressed their vision:
“We dedicate this place to those who come here, who, we hope, will not only admire and find comfort in the natural beauty of the area, but will achieve greater appreciation of the ways of conserving all our precious desert region and obtain a greater understanding of the people native to these areas.“
Schedule of Events
Live Musical Performances
11 AM – 3 PM | Performance Garden
- 11 AM – 1 PM | Chris Arpad
Steel Drums
- 1 PM – 2 PM | Mariachi Innovación
Large Mariachi Ensemble
- 2 PM – 3 PM | Las Azaleas
Mariachi-inspired Latina Musical Group
Live performances are sponsored by the Town of Oro Valley in partnership with SAACA.
Guided Tours & Demonstrations
9 AM – 2 PM | Sami’s Courtyard
- 9 AM | Tree Planting Demonstration with Garden Staff, Jack Dash & Drew Kibler
- 9 – 10 AM | Walk in the Gardens Tour
- 11 AM – 12 PM | Connecting Plants and People Tour
- 12 PM – 1 PM | Poetry & Plant Walk Tour
- 1 PM – 2 PM | Gallery Buzz Tour
Eco-Stations & Nature Activities
9 AM – 3 PM | Sami’s Courtyard & Overlook
- 9 – 11 AM | Plants + People Eco-Station (Overlook)
- 11 AM – 1 PM | Winged Things Eco-Station (Overlook)
- 11 AM – 1 PM | Bug Guy (Sami’s Courtyard)
- 11 AM – 3 PM | Reptile Ramble (Sami’s Courtyard)
Children’s Activities & Crafts
9 AM – 2 PM | Children’s Garden & Children’s Museum Oro Valley
- 9 AM, 10 AM, and 11 AM | Desert Pathfinders Scavenger Hunt
- An educational scavenger hunt focused on urban bobcats!
- 9 AM – 2 PM | Storytime & Craft Activities at Children’s Museum Oro Valley
- Three storytime sessions throughout the day (9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm) and Sonoran Desert-themed craft activities
- 9 AM – 2 PM | Desert Discovery Days Nature Activities + Craft Station
- 11 AM – 1 PM | Desert Divas Face Painting
Special Remarks & Founders’ Toast
10 – 10:30 AM | Performance Garden
- Spoken Remarks with Tohono Chul Board President, Koren Manning
- Founders’ Toast to Richard & Jean Wilson with Tohono Chul President/CEO, Jamie Maslyn Larson
- Proclamation Declaring April 19th “Tohono Chul Day” by Oro Valley Mayor, Joe Winfield
Art Exhibitions
8 AM – 3 PM | Exhibit House Galleries
- 40 for 40 Exhibition
- A special invitational exhibition featuring 40 artists with deep ties to Tohono Chul, celebrating 40 years of art, nature, and culture.
- A special invitational exhibition featuring 40 artists with deep ties to Tohono Chul, celebrating 40 years of art, nature, and culture.
- 10 x 10 Fundraiser
- Small works (no larger than 10 inches) from various artists, each priced at $100 and available for immediate purchase.
- Permanent Collection: Beginnings – The Wilson Gift
- A special display honoring the Wilson family’s donations that helped establish Tohono Chul’s permanent collection.
Food & Beverage
8 AM – 3 PM | Garden Pavilion & Children’s Ramada
Garden Bistro Menu
- Breakfast Items | 8 AM – 10 AM
- Coffee
- House Made Scones & Assorted Pastries
- Lunch Items | 11 AM – 3 PM
- Pork Sliders
- Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Beet Salad
- Quesadilla (vegan options available)
Local Vendors
- Jose’s Kettle Corn
- Churros Inzunza
- Sabor de Abuela Tamales
- Patricia’s Cuban Kitchen
Shop Discounts & Membership Specials
8 AM – 3 PM | All Shops – La Fuente, La Galeria, & Desert Corner Nursery
- Gift Shops & Nursery Discounts:
- Members | 20% off all purchases
- Non-members | 10% off all purchases
- Membership Discounts:
- Enjoy 10% off all memberships—whether you’re joining for the first time, renewing, or gifting a membership!
Support in Style
Commemorate 40 years of our gardens with our exclusive limited edition tee, available in various styles through our Bonfire campaign. Grab yours before the sale ends on April 10th and help our gardens flourish for generations to come!
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!
Make a positive impact with your business today. Click here to learn more about our Corporate Memberships!