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Celebrate Tucson’s 235th
for a whole month

When you’re marking someone’s 235th birthday, it’s not enough to have one party on one night.

You might as well take the whole month to celebrate that momentous occasion. Which is exactly what Tucson residents are about to do.

Aug. 1 is the beginning of 31 days of events marking 235 years since Hugo O’Conor planted that Spanish flag and established the Tucson Presidio on Aug. 20 1775. And thank goodness he did. Otherwise we might not be able to enjoy the kick-off party at Mission Garden Gate, jam to free concert at the Fox Tucson Theatre or partake of the official Tucson Birthday Cake at Hotel Congress.

There’s even a reenactment of Spanish soldiers at the rebuilt Presidio site Downtown.

Start your celebrating on Sunday at the base of Sentinel Peak where the new gates for the Mission Garden – donated by Lloyd Construction – will be dedicated. Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace will also be serving breakfast. You can end your celebration in the same area, with a flashlight parade along the banks of the Santa Cruz River.

Tucson’s month-long birthday party is dedicated this year to its founder, Cele Peterson, who died on May 6. It was her vision that Tucsonans would connect with each other by celebrating their hometown.

So get out and have fun. Here is a list of Downtown Events for Tucson’s birthday. You can also get a complete list of events here.

Photo courtesy of Tucson Presidio Trust