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Celebrate Tucson’s 235th Birthday at The Big Kahuna!

July 21, 2010 (2:46 pm) | Permanent Link

Tropical Bash for Tucson’s 235th Birthday
Aug. 21, 5-9 pm
Downtown • 4th Avenue • Main Gate Square

Tucson is celebrating its 235th birthday! And there’s no better way to mark this milestone than by embracing our legendary “All Sand, No Water” existence with a lively tropical bash.

The Big Kahuna Tropical Bash features activities for all ages as well as prizes, giveaways and merchant discounts. The Downtown Tucson Partnership, Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, Main Gate Square and Entertainment District businesses are collaborating for the event to showcase the diversity of performing arts venues, restaurants, shops and other establishments that make up the district. Many events are free; some have admission.

Eat/Drink/Shop: Merchants will be offering “235” specials in honor of Tucson’s birthday. Look for the “235” signs for items that are $2.35 or $23.50 or discounted 23.50 percent.

Look for this sign in shop windows to find the merchant specials

Play: Think Tucson can’t throw a great beach party? You may be surprised to find an enormous sandcastle birthday cake, Gilligan lookalike contest, Tiki party, hot coconut toss, hula hoop revue, chalk art, dunking booth, giant water slide and live island music among the many offerings.

Plus, Tucson Hawaiian music legend Ernie Menehune will play a special Downtown show.

Ride: Leave your surfboard at home. The Old Pueblo Trolley will be free! Ride free during the event, courtesy of The Hut.

Here’s the schedule. Check back for updates!

Downtown

5-9 pm: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.

• 22-foot Water Slide
• Live Island Music
• Tropical Party Boat with Margaritas (21 and older)

5-9 pm: RiverPark Inn, 350 S. Freeway

• Gilligan Lookalike Contest (sign-up starts at 8 pm; contest to follow)
• Water Safety Demonstration with Tucson Fire Department
• Fitness activities and contests with Gold’s Gym trainers

5-8 pm: Tucson Children’s Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. (Admission: $2.35)

• 7-8 pm: Live Caribbean music performance by Richard Noel of Sticks & Fingers
• Make Your Own Paper Flower Leis
• Aloha Sack Races
• Hula Hoop Games
• Hot Coconut Toss
• Make Your Own Hula Girl Paper Doll

Activities presented by Pima County Public Library:

• Make Sand Sculptures
• Bubble Magic
• Birthday Hats
• Beach Books

6 pm: Maynards Market & Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave.

• Giant Sandcastle Birthday Cake cutting (real cake, no sand)

5-9 pm: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.

• 5-5:30 pm: Free Screening of Rio Nuevo film Finding Tucson’s Origins
• 5:30-6 pm: Free live music with Ted Ramirez of the Santa Cruz River Band
• 7:30 pm: Road to Rio, starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope ($2.35 admission charge)

7-8 pm: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Ave.

• Ernie Menehune live Hawaiian music show with Polynesian dancers (Admission: $2.35 donation requested)

4th Avenue

5-9 pm, Fourth Avenue (between University and the Underpass).

• Live music at Chocolate Iguana, 500 N. Fourth Ave.
• Live music at Magpies Gourmet Pizza, 605 N. Fourth Ave.
• Live music at Spencer Park, NW corner of 4th Avenue Underpass
• Live entertainment at Winsett Stage, 316 N. 4th Ave., featuring Leila Lopez, Strata and Orbital Evolution (Tucson’s Hula Hoop Troupe)
• Tiki Party at The Hut, 305 N. Fourth Ave.: Celebrate the one-year anniversary of the giant Tiki head’s arrival!

Also: Dunk Tank, Winsett Stage. Dunk city leaders and others! Ticket sales benefit Ben’s Bells.
Wheel of 4ortune prize wheel, Winsett stage.

Main Gate Square

5-9 pm, University Boulevard (between Park and Euclid)

• 5 pm: A Big Kahuna 235th Birthday Cake at Fuku Sushi, 940 E University Blvd.
• 5-8 pm: Face Painting & Balloon Artist
• 5-9 pm: Tropical Jumping Castle
• 5-9 pm: Pitaya Sidewalk Sale, 943 E. University Blvd.
• 5-9 pm: Giant Sand Box
• 5-9 pm: Public Participation Mural
• 5-9 pm: Chalk Art
• 5-9 pm: Ben’s Bells Open Studio, 816 E. University Blvd.
• 5-9 pm: Prize Wheel & Balloon Pop at Tan D Sol, 943 E. University Blvd.
• 5-9 pm: Hula Photo Backdrop
• 5-9 pm: DJ at Swindlers Boutique
• 5-9 pm: Pong Game to win $5 coupons at Campus Athletic, 936 E. University Blvd.
• 5-9 pm: Water Games at Johnny Rockets, 825 E. University Blvd.
• 5-9 pm: Scratch Ticket for prizes and Raffle for $235 Gift Card at The Reserve and NorthPointe Student Apartments
• 5-9 pm: Voter Registration
• 5-9 pm: Shuffleboard at Auld Dubliner, 800 E. University Blvd.
• 6-8 pm: Live Music by Retro Rockets
• 7-9 pm: Live Music by de Vie
• 7-9 pm: Live Music at Caffe Luce and Frog & Firkin
• 7-9 pm: Beach Fashions locally designed by Valenzmoda

Also: Urban Outfitters Tent Sale, Big Kahuna Look-alike Contest at Malibu Yogurt