Monsoon Market at Tohono Chul
- Fri, July 17 & Sat, July 18
- 5–9 pm during Chillin’ at the Chul
- Free Admission
Celebrate the sights, sounds, and spirit of the summer monsoon at this two-day pop-up market filled with native plants for sale, expert talks, live music, art exhibits, artisan goods, food and drinks, and monsoon-themed fun for all ages.
Fri, July 17 & Sat, July 18 | 5–9 pm
Plant Sale
Shop Native & Desert Adapted Plants
Located in the Sonoran Seasons Garden & Overlook
Explore a thoughtfully curated collection of native and desert-adapted plants selected for their beauty, resilience, and ability to thrive in Southern Arizona landscapes.
- Cacti
- Succulents
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Perennials
- Vines
- Agaves
- Garden Accessories & More!
Chillin’ at the Chul
Live Music, Food & Drinks
Monsoon Market takes place during Chillin’ at the Chul, Tohono Chul’s summer evening series featuring live music, food, drinks, shopping, and after-hours access to the Gardens. Take a break from browsing plants and vendors to enjoy a meal from Garden Bistro, sip a refreshing beverage, and explore the Gardens in the cooler evening hours.
Fri, July 17 | 6–9 pm
Performer: Ruta Verbena
Genre: Latin, South American
Sat, July 18 | 6–9 pm
Performer: Vinyl Grooves
Genre: ‘60s–‘80s Rock
PLUS! Children’s Museum Oro Valley pop-up in the Children’s Garden and Bitty and Beau’s Coffee
Vendor participation varies by day
Vendors
Shop Local Handmade Goods
Located in the Garden Pavilion
- The What Knot Shop — Upcycled wood creations, including toys, kitchenware, earrings, and home goods
- True Candles — Artisan candles
- Rincon Valley Artisans — Stained glass artwork and ceramics
- Fawn Designs Fine Art — Ceramics, paintings, and fine art
- Jenni Price Art — Original paintings
- Gigglestar Soaps — Handmade soaps and natural self-care products
- Lazybrook Flower Farm — Organic flower arrangements
- Desert Design Jewelry — Handmade jewelry
- Random AZ Pots — Ceramics, pottery, and plant containers
- Lorraine DarConte — Fine art photography
- Kelley Frink — Ceramics
- Shane Knigge — Cedar wood planters and outdoor décor
Check back soon for more vendor details!
Partner participation varies by day
Community Partners
Meet local organizations working to educate, conserve, and celebrate the Sonoran Desert
Located in the Sundial Plaza
Lectures
Gain practical insights from two of Tucson’s most respected plant experts
Located in the Exhibit House Main Gallery
Fri, July 17 | 6:30–7:30 pm
Agaves & Yuccas for Tucson Landscapes with Greg Starr of Starr Nursery
Join renowned horticulturist, author, and plant explorer Greg Starr for an evening discussion on desert plants and gardening in the Southwest. A longtime expert in agaves and other desert-adapted species, Greg has spent decades studying, growing, and introducing unique plants from the southwestern United States and Mexico. He is the owner of Starr Nursery and author of several books on desert gardening, including Cool Plants for Hot Gardens and Agaves: Living Sculptures for Landscapes and Containers.
Sat, July 18 | 6:30–7:30 pm
Gardening with Native Plants in the Desert Southwest with Jack Dash
Join Tohono Chul’s Garden & Facilities Manager and author Jack Dash for a discussion on the beauty, resilience, and ecological importance of native plants in the Desert Southwest. Drawing from his book, The Southwest Native Plant Primer, Jack will explore how native and water-wise gardening practices can support biodiversity, conserve precious resources, and create thriving landscapes that are deeply connected to place.
Activities
Get your hands dirty and learn something new with these engaging and educational activities!
Located in Sami’s Courtyard
Fri, July 17 & Sat, July 18 | 5–9 pm | Free
Make Your Own Native Seed Balls
Join Tohono Chul Propagation Coordinator Tracey Till for a hands-on seed ball-making activity and create your own native wildflower seed balls to take home. Perfect for nature lovers of all ages, this free activity highlights simple ways to support pollinators and bring more native plants into the landscape.
Sat, July 18 | 6:30–8 pm | $65
Plant & Sip: Create a Desert Dish Garden
Plant, sip, and unwind as you build your own take-home desert dish garden! Enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or a margarita while our nursery team guides you through selecting, arranging, and planting three unique desert cacti in a decorative planter, complete with accent rocks and care instructions to take home.
Garden Bistro Menu
Bistro Grill
El Grande Sonoran Hot Dog | $9
Bacon-wrapped hot dog with house charro beans, pico de gallo, mayonnaise, mustard, jalapeño sauce, served on a Mexican-style bun
Watermelon & Cucumber Gazpacho | $6
Oaxaca chile laced with cilantro, green onion, and roasted tomato crema
Chul Bratwurst | $9
Beer-steamed brat in a warm bun with house purple kraut and whole grain mustard
Sonoran Specialties
Grilled Quesadilla | $13
Flour tortilla, choice of protein, authentic Mexican cheeses, green onions, cilantro, and Chul arbol salsa. Includes choice of one protein: red chile chicken, pork carnitas, or vegan calabacitas
Tohono Taco | $6
Corn tortilla, choice of protein, avocado crema, house salsa, pickled onions, shaved cabbage, and cotija cheese. Includes choice of one protein: red chile chicken, pork carnitas, or vegan calabacitas
Nacho Supreme | $14
Tricolor tortilla chips, choice of protein, cheese sauce, black olives, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, cilantro, and green onions. Includes choice of one protein: red chile chicken, pork carnitas, or vegan calabacitas
Sides & Sweets
Side of Vegan Charro Beans | $4
Cinnamon Churro | $6
Cinnamon sugar dusted with chocolate sauce
Soft Pretzel | $5
Served with chocolate sauce or mustard
Kids Menu
Kids Hot Dog | $6
Hot Dog in a Mexican-Style Bun served with Ketchup
Kids Nachos | $8
Chips & Cheese Sauce
Kids Quesadilla | $8
Melted cheese in a flour tortilla
Beverages
Beers
– Barrio Blonde | $7
– Modelo Especial | $7
– Barrio Hipsterville Hazy IPA | $8
– Mother Road Tower IPA | $8
Canned Cocktails
– Hard Seltzer | $7
– Bacardi Punch | $11
– Cazadores Margarita | $13
Cocktails
– Prickly Pear Margarita | $15
– Jalapeño Prickly Pear Margarita | $15
– Prickly Pear Mimosa | $12
– Rum Pineapple Fizz | $15
House Wine | $11
Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
Tonight’s Featured Wine | $15
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Assorted Sodas | $4
Bottled Water | $4
Prickly Pear Lemonade | $6
Kids Cactus Cooler | $5
Ginger Ale and Grenadine
Horchata | $5
Choice of 2% or plant-based milk
Matcha Horchata | $6
Choice of 2% or plant-based milk
Iced Matcha | $6
Choice of 2% or plant-based milk
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!
