Monsoon Market at Tohono Chul
‣ Friday, July 25 | 4 – 9 PM
(during Chillin’ at the Chul)
‣ Saturday, July 26 | 7 AM – 12 PM
‣ Free Admission
Celebrate the sights, sounds, and spirit of the summer monsoon at this two-day pop-up market filled with native plant vendors, expert talks, artisan goods, food and drinks, and monsoon-themed experiences for all ages!
Market & Vendors
Shop a unique selection of local vendors offering native plants, handmade pottery, skincare, and more.
Native Plant Vendors
Located in the Overlook & Sonoran Seasons Garden
- Starr Nursery with Greg Starr
- Borderlands Nursery & Seed with Francesca Claverie
- Native Seeds/SEARCH
- Blake Hinson
- Arid Adaptations Nursery
- Desert Natives with Marcus White
- John Gilman
- Blue Sky Plants with Mike Ellis
- Jan Emming
- Bajada Restoration with Cam Sandoval
Handmade Goods and Ceramics with SACA & Tucson Clay Co-Op
Located in the Garden Pavilion
- Larrea Skincare
- StarrShine Pottery with Linda Baker
- We R Sisters Fired Art with Denise Gullett
- Lorraine DarConte
- Mary Swallow
- Jean Scott
- Stephen Ross
- Dale Wesner
Can’t get Enough?
Bring a piece of Tohono Chul home by shopping at our Desert Corner Nursery, located right at Admissions!
- Friday | 8 AM – 2 PM & 4-9 PM
- Saturday | 7 AM – 2 PM
Lectures
Located in the Exhibit House Main Gallery
Secrets of the Sonoran Desert Toad with Robert Anthony Villa
Friday, July 25 | 5 – 6 pm | 7 – 8 pm
Discover how this iconic amphibian’s lifecycle is tied to the monsoon. Discover its ecological significance and the challenges it faces.
Why Native Plants Matter with Jack Dash
Saturday, July 26 | 9 am
Join Tohono Chul’s Garden & Facilities Manager Jack Dash for an inside look at the Living Collections Charter — the guiding vision behind what grows in the garden. Discover why native plants are vital not only for desert biodiversity but also for deepening our connection to place, especially during the life-giving monsoon season.
Food & Drink
Located in the Garden Pavilion
Friday | 4 – 9 pm
- Garden Bistro Bar & Grill
Bistro Menu
Entrees & Sides
Sonoran Hot Dog | $9
Bacon-wrapped hot dog, house charro beans, Pico de gallo, mayonnaise, mustard, jalapeño sauce, mexican style bun
Antipasto Skewers | $13
Hard Salami, country style olives, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, bell peppers, and cilantro pesto
Sonoran Garden Salad | $12
Heritage mixed greens, fresh cabbage, pico de gallo, pickled onion, cherry tomatoes, crispy tortilla strips, and pomegranate vinaigrette
*Chul Tostadito | $7
Choice of chicken, pork, or vegan charro beans, topped with cotija cheese, pickled onion, avocado crema, cilantro, green onion, and fresh cabbage
*Vegan option served without cheese & crema
Nacho Plate | $11
Tri-colored tortilla chips, topped with cheese sauce, pickled jalapeños, black olives, vegan charro beans, cilantro, and green onions
Add red chili chicken, pork carnitas, or vegan calabacitas for $4
BBQ Pulled Pork Slider | $6
Served on a Hawaiian bun with crispy cascabel chile onions and chipotle prickly pear BBQ sauce
Prickly Pear Chicken Salad Slider | $6
Served on a Hawaiian bun with house pickles, arugula, and tomato
Side of Calabacitas or House Charro Beans | $4
Kettle Chips | $3
House-made potato chips
Churro & Chocolate Sauce | $6
Kids Menu
Kids Hot Dog | $7
Hot Dog in a Mexican-Style Bun served with Ketchup
Kids Nachos | $7
Chips & Cheese Sauce
Kids Fresh Fruit | $6
Beverages
Beers
– Barrio Blonde | $7
– Modelo Especial | $7
– Barrio Hipsterville Hazy IPA | $8
– Mother Road Tower IPA | $8
Canned Cocktails
– Hard Seltzer | $8
– Absolut Vodka Cocktail | $10
– Bacardi Punch | $11
Prickly Pear Margarita or Mimosa | $13
Cazadores Margarita | $13
Plata Tequila, Agave Syrup, Lime
House Wine | $11
Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
Tonight’s Featured Wine | $13
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Assorted Sodas | $4
Bottled Water | $4
Prickly Pear Lemonade | $6
Kid’s Cactus Cooler | $5
Ginger Ale and Grenadine
Horchata | $5
Choice of 2% Milk or Plant-Based
Matcha Horchata | $6
Choice of 2% Milk or Plant-Based
Iced Matcha | $6
Choice of 2% Milk or Plant-Based
Saturday | 7 am – 12 pm
Activities
Located in Sami’s Courtyard
Friday | 4 – 9 pm
- Plant-Discovery Stations
- University of Arizona Compost Cats
- Monica King Ethical Bee Removal (plus local honey!)
Saturday | 7 am – 12 pm
- Reptile Ramble (7 am – 9 am)
- Plant-Discovery Stations
- University of Arizona Compost Cats
- Monica King Ethical Bee Removal (plus local honey!)
Facts About the Monsoon
- The official monsoon season in Tucson runs from June 15 through September 30, bringing dramatic thunderstorms, humidity, and life-giving rain to the desert.
- Many desert species, including toads and wildflowers, time their life cycles around monsoon rains.
- Buzzing cicadas, lightning storms, flash floods, and the smell of creosote after rain are iconic markers of Tucson’s monsoon season.
- Tucson averages around 6 inches of rain during the monsoon, nearly half its yearly total!
Visitor Tips for Monsoon Market
- Bring a refillable water bottle – hydration is key during summer.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen – shade is your friend!
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Bring an umbrella – the monsoon may surprise us (and it can protect you from the sun)!
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!
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