Public Programs at the Garden
Mission Garden offers free entry. Events and classes are free unless otherwise noted.
Tasting History: Pumpkins and Squash
This November, join Mission Garden and Iskashitaa Refugee Network as we share pumpkin and squash tastes and recipes! Try dishes from the Sonoran Desert and around the world. Try tastes from the garden and learn about O’odham Ha:l squash, which thrives in our region.
Birds of Mission Garden
Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's expert birders.
Native American Arts Fair
Mission Garden is expanding our Native American Arts Fair to include cultural sharing from groups from around the region! Support more than 40 Indigenous artists, who will share their world-class ceramics, baskets, clothing, jewelry, carvings, paintings, beadwork, gourd art, and more.
Traditional O’odham Agriculture
Mission Garden and the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture continue this tradition of talks and demonstrations about O'odham Agriculture.
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Birds of Mission Garden
Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's expert birders.
Traditional O’odham Agriculture
Mission Garden and the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture continue this tradition of talks and demonstrations about O'odham Agriculture.
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Make a Herbal Healing Salve
Come learn to make an Herbal First Aid Salve using plants you can find or grow in the Sonoran Desert. Leave with a tin of your own salve!
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Archeology Day
Archaeologists come to Mission Garden with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and rock art specialist John Palacio give people opportunities to explore many ancient technologies and techniques. (Click photo for event details)
Traditional O’odham Agriculture
Mission Garden and the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture continue this tradition of talks and demonstrations about O'odham Agriculture.
Third Thursdays at Mission Garden
You’re invited to enjoy the evening sunset glow and cooler temperatures at the garden. Bring your family and friends!
Cultivating Culture
Su:dagi, Jewed, Ñiok - Flooding the Land with Stories & Poems
Brought to you by San Xavier Co-Op Farm, TBOSC - Tucson Birthplace Open Space Coalition, and Mission Garden.
Tasting History: Corn
This October, we are sharing tastes of corn from the garden. Learn recipes for traditional Spanish cornbread and try chicos, a dried and roasted corn dish, made with Tohono O’odham 60-day corn.
Birds of Mission Garden
Walk around beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's expert birders.
Exhibit Opening: Rarámuri Rancheria
Join us to celebrate the completion of the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) Rancheria at Mission Garden!
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Dragonfly Day at Mission Garden
The Mission Garden acequia (irregation canal) runs through the garden, mirroring an ancient canal once used by Hohokam farmers. Soon after we installed the acequia, dragonflies and damselflies returned to our garden. Come celebrate these fascinating creatures with Dragonfly Day at Mission Garden, part of the larger Dragonfly Festival! Family friendly and open to all, no prior knowledge required!
Archeology Day
Archaeologists come to Mission Garden with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and rock art specialist John Palacio give people opportunities to explore many ancient technologies and techniques. (Click photo for event details)
Traditional O’odham Agriculture
FREE. Maegan Lopez from Mission Garden and the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture continue this Mission Garden tradition of talks and demonstrations about O'odham Agriculture. (Click photo for event details)
Plant Sale
Buy plants from Mission Garden and Nighthawk Natives Nursery for your own yard!
Summer Sunsets at Mission Garden
Sunsets at Mission Garden can be magical. As we enter the hot summer season, you’re invited to enjoy the evening sunset glow and cooler temperatures at the garden. Featuring games, live music, and a food truck. Bring your family and friends!
Tasting History: Pomegranate
Join us and our partner, Iskashitaa Refugee Network, to enjoy pomegranates.
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Archaeology Day
Archaeologists come to Mission Garden with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and rock art specialist John Palacio give people opportunities to explore many ancient technologies and techniques. (Click photo for event details)
Summer Sunsets at Mission Garden
Sunsets at Mission Garden can be magical. As we enter the hot summer season, you’re invited to enjoy the evening sunset glow and cooler temperatures at the garden. Featuring games, live music, and a food truck. Bring your family and friends!
CANCELED -Tasting History: Cowpeas
August’s Tasting History is canceled due to storm damage.
Birds of Mission Garden
Enjoy beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's birding guides. We'll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area.
Summer Sunsets at Mission Garden
Sunsets at Mission Garden can be magical. As we enter the hot summer season, you’re invited to enjoy the evening sunset glow and cooler temperatures at the garden. Featuring games, live music, and a food truck. Bring your family and friends!
Tasting History – Prickly Pears
FREE, Friday 8-10am, Saturday 8-10am. The July Tasting History program is about prickly pears --both nopales pads and tuna fruits--especially domesticated varieties. Come learn how to harvest, prepare, and taste the diversity: get to know more than 20 distinct, delicious, and nutritious prickly pears growing in the Garden! .
Birds of Mission Garden
Enjoy beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's birding guides. We'll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. (Click photo for event details)
Día de San Juan
Help usher in the summer rains at the Día de San Juan Festival, the traditional celebration of Saint John the Baptist. The festival has been offered annually by the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association and takes place this year at Mission Garden. There will be music, dancing, food, traditional blessings, and activities for all. (Click photo for details)
Archaeology Day
Archaeologists come to Mission Garden with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and rock art specialist John Palacio give people opportunities to explore many ancient technologies and techniques. (Click photo for event details)
Traditional O’odham Agriculture
FREE. Maegan Lopez from Mission Garden and the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture continue this Mission Garden tradition of talks and demonstrations about O'odham Agriculture. (Click photo for event details)
Birds of Mission Garden
Enjoy beautiful Mission Garden with one of the garden's birding guides. We'll look for seasonal and resident birds and learn to identify some common calls and songs. The garden is a good place for beginning and intermediate birders to learn about many of the birds common to the greater Tucson area. (Click photo for event details)
Tasting History – Garlic and Onions
FREE, Friday 9-11am, Saturday 9-11am. The June Tasting History program is about garlic and onions. We’re educating about where these crops comes from, how they grow here, and how they area used in cooking. (Click photo for event details)
Archaeology Day
Archaeologists come to Mission Garden with hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Archaeology Southwest's Hands-on Archaeology program, hosted by Allen Denoyer, folks from Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, and rock art specialist John Palacio give people opportunities to explore many ancient technologies and techniques. (Click photo for event details)
Guided tours and recorded workshops are also available.
Explore More
An ofrenda, or altar, honoring past loved ones and friends of the Garden during the annual Membrillo Fest.