Late summer monsoon rains bring the greatest number and diversity of bird species to Tucson and Southern Arizona, one of the premier bird-watching regions in the United States.
Visitors can enjoy this seasonal abundance at two festivals: Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, August 1 to 4 in Sierra Vista, offers 35 field trips throughout southeastern Arizona, including overnight trips to the Chiricahua Mountains and Madera Canyon as well as a children's program and a writer's workshop.
The Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival, from August 15 to 19 in Tucson, includes The Sky Islands Birding Cup (Big Day competition) in addition to a Nature Expo, workshops, a youth birder outing, and field trips to nearby birding hotspots.
Special events and activities recognizing 2012 as the global Year of the Bat are taking place at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum throughout summer, and information about bats living at Colossal Cave in Tucson and Kartchner Caverns in Benson is always available at both places.
Foodies will winging their way into Tucson for the 10th annual Tucson Culinary Festival in October. It kicks off with the Reserve & Grand Tasting on Saturday, October 6 at Casino Del Sol Resort followed by the World Margarita ChampionshipTM on Friday, October 26, on the plaza at the Tucson Museum of Art. A portion of the proceeds from both events will benefit Tucson Values Teachers and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber Foundation (Scholarship Fund) on behalf of Cox Charities.
For more information on Tucson click on Visit Tucson
For more information about top events in Arizona take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Arizona.