Special Events

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Second Annual Festival Kino Celebration at Tumacácori NHP
Friday, May 17, 2013
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Normal entrance fee applies

In conjunction with the Festival Kino being held in the United States and Mexico, the park will join other sites in celebrating the life and missions of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino. In its second year in Arizona, the Festival Kino has been an annual event in Sonora since 1967. Beginning in Madgalena on the first anniversary of the discovery of Father Kino's remains, the event has grown to include all of northern Sonora, and now includes three sites in southern Arizona.

1:00 p.m. Concert by internationally acclaimed guitarist Francisco Bibriesca. He will perform classical music including the music of Europe during the Kino era.

2:00 p.m. Lecture - "Triumph and damage of their holy faith, the missional process in Yaqui," presented by Dr. Padilla Ramos, research professor at the Sonoran INAH Center. Dr. Ramos has published several books about the wars with and deportation of the Yaqui tribe.

The annual Festival Kino takes place this year throughout northern Sonora from May 15 through May 19. San Xavier Mission's Kino Festival will occur on May 18, and events are planned at Tubac Presidio State Park from May 17 to 19. For more information on these events, see the Kino Heritage website at padrekino.com and the Sonoran Institute of Culture website at isc.gob.mx/fetivalkino.php.

 

Costumed mass participants

NPS Photo by Jerry Ingram

Anza Day Mass
Saturday, October 19, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Free!

In conjunction with Tubac State Historic Park's
Annual Anza Day Celebration

Once each year a Catholic Mass is celebrated inside the Tumacácori Mission church as it would have been during the time that Tumacácori was an active mission community. Participants are invited, but not required, to wear Spanish style clothing like that which would have been worn around the turn of the 19th century. A reenactment ride to Tubac of Spanish-attired soldiers leaves from the church immediately following the Mass, in commemoration of Juan Bautista de Anza's historic expedition to California in 1775-1776.

 

Folklorico dancers and mariachi band at La Fiesta de Tumacácori

NPS Photo

La Fiesta de Tumacácori
Saturday, December 7, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
And Sunday, December 8
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Free!

Held every year -
First full weekend in December

In recognition and celebration of the many cultures that were historically and are presently associated with the Santa Cruz Valley, the Tumacácori Fiesta presents the traditional creations of these cultures. The fiesta features around fifty food and craft booths, continuous live entertainment on stage, and children's activities each day. On Sunday, the day begins at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Visitor Center with a procession through the Fiesta grounds to the historic church, followed by a traditional Mariachi Mass in front of the church. The mission grounds and park are open throughout the weekend and admission is free.

Scheduled Performances Change Every Year

To give you an idea of what you might expect at Fiesta, here is the program schedule from last time:

La Fiesta de Tumacácori 2012

(Schedule changes may occur due to circumstances beyond our control.)

(Updated 11/21/12 - Refresh this web page on your computer to view the latest updates.)

A TENTATIVE stage schedule for La Fiesta de Tumacácori 2012 is as follows:

SATURDAY, December 1, 2012

9:45 - 10:00 Blessing and opening of the 42^nd annual Tumacácori Fiesta

10:00 - 11:00 Raiz Latina from Rio Rico, Arizona

11:00 - 12:00 Nogales High School Mariachi Apache from Nogales, Arizona

12:00 - 1:00 Santa Rosa Traditional Singers and Dancers from Sells, Arizona

1:00 - 2:00 Theodore Roosevelt Middle School Crown Dancers from Fort Apache, Arizona

2:00 - 3:00 Mariachi Sonido de Mexico from Tucson, Arizona with La Familia Balderrama dancing horses from Rio Rico, Arizona

3:00 - 4:00 Lourdes High School Folklorico Dance Group from Nogales, Arizona

4:00 - 5:00 Gertie and the TO Boyz from Tucson, Arizona

SUNDAY, December 2, 2012

Please note that no photos or videotaping are permitted during the procession or Catholic Mass, or while sacred dances are being performed. ("NO PHOTOS" signs will be posted prominently at restricted times and locations.)

10:00 Mariachi Procession with Mass to follow (at approximately 10:30)

11:30 -12:30 Southern Arizona Old Time Fiddlers from Tucson, Arizona

12:30 - 2:00 Seguridad Social Baile Folklorico from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

2:00 - 3:00 Mariachi Luz de Luna from Tucson, Arizona

3:00 - 4:00 Dennis Lopez Waila Band and Wes Henajkam Kwaliyadam Cuadrilla dancers from Tucson, Arizona

4:00 Fiesta Closes

Booths, demonstrations and tours, Saturday and Sunday

· Traditional Food, Craft, and Information Booths - all day

· All day Papel de China paper flower making, living history enactors, rawhide braiding and horse hair twisting.

· Guided Walks to the Santa Cruz River - Saturday -12:30 & 3:00, Sunday - 12:30 & 2:30

· Hourly Guided Tours of the Mission - Saturday -10:00 to 4:00 Saturday, Sunday -12:00 to 4:00

At the Discovery Corner, Saturday and Sunday

· Touch tables, live raptors, adobe making, mano and metate mesquite bean grinding, historic costumes, crafts, and other exciting activities

· Piñata Breaking - twice each day

PLEASE NOTE:

Dogs and other pets are NOT allowed in the park or on the Fiesta grounds during the Fiesta weekend.

The Tumacácori Anza Trailhead is closed to horseback riders during the Fiesta.

 

In 2012, Tumacácori National Historical Park was proud to present two of Arizona's Official Centennial Events - the Anza Day Mass that took place in October and La Fiesta de Tumacácori that took place in December.