There’s a heck of a lot of new things to do! Here are some of this month’s highlights. You can also check out our Events section on the website to see what’s going on any day of the week.
Tucson Crawfish Festival
Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3
3201 E. Presidio Rd.
Bring the whole family and join for a fun, relaxed evening full of great food, good music, and awesome company! Enjoy tasty crawfish, mussels, and shrimp with flavorful Cajun seasoning. Prefer something comforting? There will be a variety of authentic Vietnamese dishes that the whole family will love. From boba tea to cold sodas (and even a beer or two for the grown-ups), there’s drinks for everyone.
Antsy Nancy’s Summer Camp
Enroll Now for June and July Classes
5655 E. River Rd., #101
Heidi Yribar, the creative mind behind the DIY workshops, announced this year’s Summer Camps — six weeks of fun and creativity. There’s going to be cake decorating, French baking, a spa week, breakfast baking, arts and crafts, and “baking around the world” classes.
Kids and Teens Summer Cooking Camp in Tucson
Enrollment for classes from Monday, June 2 to Monday, July 28
1060 W. Magee Rd.
From Monday, June 2 to Monday, July 28, parents can enroll their kids in hands-on sessions, giving young chefs a chance to suit up in their very own chef’s hat (which they’ll get to decorate and keep). They’ll also build a recipe book throughout the week and earn a certificate at the end to show off what they’ve learned.
Each camp session is five days, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day, for kids between the ages of 11 and 18 years old.
‘May the 4th’ Events (Star Wars Day)
Sunday, May 4
Multiple Locations
This year, a few local restaurants and bars are teaming up on the holiday to bring you Star Wars deals and space-themed parties on Sunday, May 4. So, whether you’re an Ewok, a Wookiee, or just really, really hungry, you can expect to find themed environments, prizes, drink specials, and more.
Cinco de Mayo Specials
Friday, May 2 to Monday, May 5
Multiple Locations
The holiday has become widely celebrated here in the U.S., making for a fun time at bars and restaurants around Tucson. Similar to previous years, there’s plenty of food, beer, margaritas, and good old-fashioned fun happening on Monday, May 5.
HEADS UP: Cinco de Mayo is on a Monday, so many of the following events are happening during the weekend.
Screwbean Brewing’s Second Anniversary
Saturday, May 10
103 N. Park Ave.
“We’re turning up the desert heat for our Anniversary Party on May 10th! Two brand new beers dropping, live music, and drink specials all weekend long!”
Mother’s Day Brunch, Dinner, and Events
Sunday, May 11
Multiple Locations
It’s a well-known fact that the way to the heart is through her stomach (my mom may have told me that). This Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), show your mom some love with a special meal at one of Tucson’s best restaurants.
Pizza Throwdown and Dessert Duel
Saturday, May 17
3011 E. Speedway Blvd.
Throughout the event, you’ll be able to sample unlimited slices and desserts, and then vote to crown this year’s “Pizza Throwdown Champion” and “Dessert Duel Winner.” To complement the food, Barrio Brewing will be on-site, pouring a curated selection of local brews.
Haiku Hike
(now until June 1)
Downtown Tucson
The annual Haiku Hike, presented by the Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP) and the University of Arizona Poetry Center, is a literary competition showcasing 20 winning haiku poems printed on acrylic signage in planters located on Congress Street and Stone Avenue.
Cinnaholic’s First Anniversary
Monday, May 19
245 S. Wilmot Rd. Suite 135
“Monday, May 19th marks Cinnaholic Tucson’s first anniversary! Cinnaholic invites the community to celebrate on 5/19 with BOGO cinnamon rolls all day long!”
Meet the Chefs 2025
Sunday, May 18
1100 W. Pima Mine Rd.
Tucson’s finest restaurants and chefs will gather at the Diamond Center at Desert Diamond Casino – Sahuarita on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, to showcase their culinary talents, sample their dishes, and compete for a spot in the 2025 Iron Chef Tucson competition.
The evening will feature top chefs from the Tucson Metro area as they present their signature dishes to attendees and compete for the Meet the Chefs Winner title. The winner will advance to the 17th Annual Iron Chef Tucson on July 26, 2025, where they will challenge reigning Iron Chef Anthony Dromgoole of Obon Sushi & Ramen Bar.
Discover more things to do in Tucson.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
