Southern Arizona’s Saguaro National Park will honor the state tree and flower with two full days of festivities scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 10-11.
The Saguaro and Palo Verde Blossom Festival, set in the park’s Rincon Mountain District on the eastern outskirts of Tucson, promises an array of activities running from 7 a.m. until late into the evening on both days.
Blossom Festival itinerary
Each day kicks off at 7 a.m. with a 90-minute Saguaro Blossom Wake-Up Walk starting from the Broadway Trailhead. Participants will traverse a roughly 1.5-mile paved, accessible trail while receiving hands-on guidance in measuring and capturing the blooming patterns of saguaros.
Between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on both days, festival attendees can visit the visitor center to create their own saguaro blossoms and partake in various flower-themed crafts and activities outdoors in a shaded area.
At 1 p.m. on both days, park rangers will deliver one-hour Focus on the Saguaro talks at the visitor center. Friday’s discussion will delve into the traditional Tohono O’odham saguaro fruit harvest, while Saturday’s talk will explore current research on the flowering habits of the giant saguaro.
From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days, the park will offer Follow the Yellow-Green Road, a guided driving tour along the Cactus Forest Loop with brief stops to learn about saguaro and palo verde flowers, as well as the creatures that pollinate them.
Friday night activities
Notable attractions include the Saguaro Park Star Party, taking place from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday. This event, commencing at the visitor center, will feature volunteers and telescopes courtesy of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.
The Star Party is followed by a ranger-led excursion from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., also departing from the visitor center. This unique opportunity will offer the opportunity to view the blossoming of saguaro buds.
Describing it as the park’s “last big event before the heat of the summer descends upon us,” Saguaro spokesperson Perri Spreiser expressed excitement about the festivities.
Saturday night closing event
The festival will conclude on Saturday night with a Twilight Owl Walk from 8 to 10 p.m. Participants will gather at the visitor center before embarking on a 1-mile trek through prime owl habitat amid the towering cacti along an unpaved, rocky trail with approximately 100 stairs.
All festival events are free of charge, though visitors will be required to pay the standard park entrance fee and are encouraged to bring their own water and flashlights for nighttime activities.
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