Planning a Visit Hours & Rates ASDM Master Calendar Food & Refreshments Shopping Group Visits Facility Rentals Exhibits Animal Keeper Tours Raptor Free Flight Running Wild Live and (sort of) on the Loose

Photos above by Josh Schachter

2010 Summer Saturday Evenings

June - August 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
(no entry after 9:15 p.m.)
Admissions after 4:00 p.m. ONLY $7.00
($2.25 for 6-12, FREE for 5 and under)

Suggestions for Making the Most of Your Visit

Nightly Events

Between 6:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. you may discover Museum Docents and Jr. Docents interpreting live animals, celestial wonders, fluorescent minerals, night pollinators, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, and bat, scorpion, or rattlesnake kits. Look for them at the following locations: The Earth Sciences Center, Yucca Ramada, Ancient Arizona, Entrance Patio, Vista Ramada, Desert Tortoise Ramada, Riparian Corridor, Desert Garden, Pollination Garden, Fish and Amphibian Room, Grasslands, Orientation Ramada, and at the Amphitheater.

CHECK THE WHITE BOARD AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE FOR UPDATED NIGHTLY INFORMATION

A Nighttime Reminder

Evening Exhibit Closing Times

Some exhibits close at sunset so the animals can sleep. The Walk-in Aviary, Hummingbird Aviary, Parrot Exhibit, Life on the Rocks, Field Station/Tree House, Life Underground, and the Desert Loop Trail (coyote, javelina), Cactus Garden, Agave Garden, Bee Exhibit, People & Pollinators, and the Labyrinth close at the following times:

June 5 - August 7: 7:00 p.m.
August 14 - August 28: 6:30 p.m.

Nocturnal Animals

Mountain lions, small cats and beavers tend to be especially active after dark. Often wild bats can be seen flying over the Riparian Corridor.

Daytime Activities

Docent Demonstrations & Tours

Times and locations for daytime animal and interpretive demonstrations are posted on the Plan-Your-Day board located on the entrance patio. Tours begin at 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 9:30 a.m.. Please meet on the Front Patio.

Running Wild
11:00 a.m. - Warden Oasis Theater

Running Wild is an innovative live-animal demonstration that combines natural behaviors of small desert animals with projected images, music and narration. You might see a skunk, a porcupine, a lizard and some flying macaws!

Live and "sort of" on the Loose
12:15 p.m. - Warden Oasis Theater

Join staff members from the Herpetology Department for a live animal presentation featuring venomous reptiles of the Sonoran Desert Region.

Dining, Gift Shops, Gallery

Food & Dining
- Ironwood Terraces Restaurant:
  10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- The Cottonwood (snacks):
  10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Phoebe's Coffee Bar:
  7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Ocotillo Café Restaurant:
  5:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Gift Shops
- Mountain House Gift Shop:
  (Near the front entrance)
  8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Ironwood Gift Shop
  (Next to the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant)
  9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Gallery
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Special Events

June 5th

Xeriscape Awards Ceremony
Warden Oasis Theater
5:00-6:00 pm

Xeriscape Displays and Information
6:00-8:00 pm
Baldwin Education Building rooms 102 A-B&103

Live and “sort of” on the Loose
Warden Oasis Theater
6:30-7:30 and 8:30-9:30 pm
These informative presentations focus on several topics, including general natural history, venoms and envenomations, bite statistics, how we work with and what it's like to work with venomous reptiles.

Kino Fruit Trees Presentation
Baldwin Education Building Rooms 101A-B
7:30-8:30 pm
In 2002, Tumacácori National Historical Park-an important mission site in southeastern Arizona-completed the acquisition of an original 5-acre mission orchard and a significant portion of its original agricultural area. The goal of the Kino Fruit Trees Project is to locate, propagate and replant historically and horticulturally appropriate varieties of fruit trees on this land. This is an introduction of the broad outlines of the project, discuss the results of the first five years of work, and talk about new directions

June 12th

Sky Hunters
Warden Oasis Theater
5:15-6:00 pm
Visitors are requested to show up 10 minutes early as the doors close during the show for the safety of the birds
This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 30-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.

Pollinators of the Desert
Desert Garden
6:00-9:00 pm
ASDM Research Associate Dr. Steve Buchmann will host informal chats and hands on exploration about our remarkable moth pollinators, especially the giant long-tongued hawk moths. Lots of info about these amazing pollinators and their floral hosts. Various items, specimens and some surprise live critters on display this evening.

Desert Museum Art Institute Photowalk
Baldwin Education Building 102-A 103
6:00-9:00 pm
This event is for everyone with a camera and a passion to take great pictures! Meet and greet fellow photo enthusiasts! Bring your gear, meet us at 6 pm for sign up and instructions. Then head out onto the Museum grounds for some great photo opportunities! Meet back at 8 p.m. for Presentations by Art Institute Photography Instructors Jay Pierstorff, Dick Lutgen and special guest, Desert Museum Photographer Rhonda Spencer.

Running Wild
Warden Oasis Theater
7:00-7:30 and 8:30-9:00 pm
Running wild is an innovative live-animal demonstration that combines natural behaviors of small desert animals with projected images, music and narration. You might see a skunk, a porcupine, a lizard and some flying macaws!

Native American Storytelling
Outdoor Amphitheater
7:30-8:30 pm
Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.

June 19th

Family Astronomy Night-sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Baldwin Education Building: rooms 102 A-B & 103 and on the Museum Grounds

Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions .

Sky Hunters
Warden Oasis Theater
6:30-7:15 and 8:30-9:15 pm
Visitors are requested to show up 10 minutes early as the doors close during the show for the safety of the birds
This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 30-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.

Volcano Presentation
Warden Oasis Theater
7:30-8:15 pm
Join Michael Conway, PH.D. Section Chief of the Geologic Service at the Arizona Geological Survey for a “brief” rundown on the last 15 million years of volcanic activity in Arizona

Volcano Making
Desert Garden
6:00-9:00 pm
Make and erupt your own volcano right here at the Desert Museum

June 26th

Sky Hunters
Warden Oasis Theater
7:00-7:45 and 8:30-9:15 pm
Visitors are requested to show up 10 minutes early as the doors close during the show for the safety of the birds
This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 30-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.

July 3rd

July 10th

Native American Storytelling
Outdoor Amphitheater
7:30-8:30 pm
Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.

July 17th

Family Astronomy Night-sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Baldwin Education Building: rooms 102 A-B & 103 and on the Museum Grounds

Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions.

July 24th

Desert Museum Art Institute Photowalk
Baldwin Education Building 102-A 103
5:00-9:00 pm
This is a fun event for everyone with a camera and the desire to take great pictures! Join ASDM Photographer Rhonda Spencer and ASDM Art Institute Photography Instructor Jay Pierstorff at 5 p.m. for dinner at the Ironwood Terraces Restaurant (optional). A special section will be reserved for attendees. Then at 6 p.m. head out on to the Museum grounds for some great summer Saturday evening photo opportunities! Meet back at the Baldwin Education Building at 8 p.m. for more photography chat, sharing photos and a brief photography presentation. Sponsored by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, enter your best photo for a chance to win prizes. Limit 50 attendees, so sign up early! For more information and to sign up go to WorldwidePhotowalk.com

Sky Hunters
Warden Oasis Theater
6:00-6:45 and 9:00-9:45 pm
Visitors are requested to show up 10 minutes early as the doors close during the show for the safety of the birds
This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 30-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.

BUG NIGHT!
Warden Oasis Theater
7:00-7:30 and 8:00-8:30 pm
This is the night to learn new facts about Sonoran Desert Insects from “the Bugman”, University of Arizona Entomologist Dr. Carl Olson. He will be giving two presentations and will also be available to answer all your bug related questions.

July 31st

August 7th

August 14th

Family Astronomy Night-sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Baldwin Education Building: rooms 102 A-B & 103 and on the Museum Grounds

Join us for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on
astronomy activities, telescopes, and astronomy experts available to answer your questions .

Bats! Bats! Bats!
Warden Oasis Theater
7:00-7:30 and 8:00-8:30 pm
Learn cool facts about Sonoran Desert Bat species from ASDM Conservation Biologist Karen Krebbs. After her presentations she will be available answer questions and introduce you to a live bat!

Bat Echolocation
Riparian Corridor (in front of Coati exhibit)
7:00-9:00 pm
Join Mark Jensen and Janet Tyburic of Bat Conservation International as they listen in on the secret world of bat communication.

August 21st

Native American Storytelling
Outdoor Amphitheater
7:30-8:30 pm
Native American Storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa shares stories and legends of the night sky.

August 28th

Teacher Appreciation Night

Meet the Beetles! Playing Live at the Desert Museum Warden Oasis Theater
7:30-8:00 pm
Entomologist Dr. Wendy Moore will present interesting facts and research about native Sonoran Desert Beetles.

Beetle viewing
Desert Garden
7:00-9:00 pm
Join Dr. Wendy Moore and her graduate students in viewing live native Sonoran Desert Beetles.

Sky Hunters
Warden Oasis Theater
8:30-9:15 pm
Visitors are requested to show up 10 minutes early as the doors close during the show for the safety of the birds
This family-oriented presentation showcases the beauty, majesty, and awesome behaviors of winged predators. This 30-minute program features live hawks, owls, and falcons of the Sonoran Desert.

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