Desert Magic at Tohono Chul: 10 chef stations, 13 wellness experiences, and live music

In the Sonoran Desert, over 80% of what grows natively is either edible or medicinal. That's always blown my mind. This place is alive with flavor and healing.

That's the spirit behind Desert Magic. We brought it to life for the first time last year at Tohono Chul Gardens, and the response blew us away. So we're doing it again, this time an hour earlier and with an even fuller lineup of food, plant medicine, and sound. Join us at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Tohono Chul Gardens, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. Tickets start at $55 and cover all food, all workshops and experiences, and one botanical welcome cocktail. Grab yours now at the event page. Space is limited and we expect to sell out in advance.

Food

You'll wander through the gardens, drink in hand, and stop at chef stations along the way. Each chef creates a tasting plate built around native plants growing here in the Sonoran Desert: chiltepin, mesquite, prickly pear, native corn, squash, and more. The focus is on the plant, but these dishes aren't entirely plant-based. Chefs cook with all sorts of ingredients, sourcing as locally as possible. Each plate runs 2-3 oz, and ten stations add up to a full dinner by the end of the night.

Participating Chefs

• Christian Padilla — Copper Ash Culinary

• David Marks — Tohono Chul Garden Bistro

• Devon Sanner — S + P Creative

• Gracie Soto — Anita Street Market

• José Contreras — Amelia's Mexican Kitchen

• Kenneth Foy

• Obie Hindman & Tucker Hartford — Tucson City of Gastronomy & Sol Pueblo Provisions

• Pablo Valencia — Scratching the Plate

Medicine

Our friends in the wellness and herbalism world bring hands-on stations and ceremonies throughout the gardens. Every experience comes with your ticket. Currently, this year's plant medicine experiences include:

• Alicen Grey — Symbolism - *NOT INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET: SymbolSpeak Guidance Sessions ($50 for 30 minutes),

• Awakened Wombs — Somatic therapy · Chiropractic alignment — Free pelvic and spine screenings throughout the event. *NOT INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET: Optional 20-minute womb care session, $40

• Common Sense Astrology, LLC — Beth W. — Astrology readings - Whole body, client-centric astrology readings

• CuraVida Bodywork — Massage therapy · Sound healing · Herbal energy cleansing - Table massage and copal limpias, rotating throughout the event with sound healing on crystal singing bowls.

• Dharma Wellness Center — Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Astrology readings · Breathwork · Ayurveda

• Dr. Kori’s Dispensary — Reiki · Herbal energy cleansing

• Ease Bodywork and Coaching — Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Spinal Flow

• Emma Vasseur Wellbeing Coach & Evolutionary Astrologer — Astrology readings

• Healing Spirit Soaks — Massage therapy · Sound healing · Herbal energy cleansing · Guided tea meditation

• Heart Nectar — Reiki · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Cacao ceremony · Breathwork

• Inner Bliss Energetics — Reiki · Sound healing · Human design readings

• Jessi Kyte Bodywork — Massage therapy

• Medicine Within — Herbal energy cleansing

• Monsoon Mystics — Aura photography *AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE

• Moroso Medical Center — a variety of hands-on wellness experiences designed to introduce participants to natural health practices in an approachable and engaging way.

• Readings by Zev — Clairvoyant reading and healing

• Sugar Me Love Aesthetics & Wellness — Naturopathic medicine and Bowen Therapy

• Tantric Heart — Intimacy and embodiment coaching

• The Gathering Point Community Acupuncture — Acupuncture · Auriculotherapy

• The Healing Hub — Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Crystals and jewelry

• The Somatic Sound — Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · 13 Moon Calendar Readings

• Toe-Rific Touch Reflexology — Reflexology

Retail

Additional handcrafted goods, including salves, tinctures, body care products, and herbal items from participating practitioners, will also be available for purchase throughout the evening.

• An Herb + Love Story — Botanical beauty products inspired by the Sonoran Desert

• Aquamarine Daydream — Minerals, jewelry, fossils, tarot, books, home décor and self-care items.

• David Craig Designs — Fine Art

• Glass Art by Tracey — Fused Glass Art

• Harvested Creations — Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Crystals and jewelry

• Mama Bear AZ — Cactus garden candles, desert scene soaps and retro Tucson art

• PARCH - N/A agave cocktails powered by adaptogens

• Sandra Parker Watercolor Art — Watercolor Painting

• The Scented Leaf — Tea Beverages and Loose Leaf Teas

Sounds

The music and sound work run all night, woven into the garden experience. Live music, sound healing, and guided somatic sessions help you slow down, tune in, and feel the desert in a different way. 

Current featured artists include:

• Tucson Modern Jazz Quartet

• Rosa Dragona (DJ)

• LaDev (DJ)

Tickets

Early bird tickets start at $55 and include entrance, all food, all workshops and experiences, and one botanical welcome cocktail. Foodie Club members get 50% off in the Tucson Foodie mobile app. Additional alcoholic and N/A drinks and products are available for purchase. Desert Magic is a rain-or-shine event. All ticket sales are final; no refunds, exchanges, or transfers.

Grab your ticket here.

Space is limited. Come spend an evening with us grounding, connecting, tasting, learning, and celebrating the wild magic of the Sonoran Desert.