Join us for our 7th annual celebration of dragonflies on the Santa Cruz River with a Dragonfly Festival. There are many ways to learn and explore, from a community science bioblitz, to making a dragonfly craft, to joining a tour with local experts. Find a way to participate that will be fun for you!
Acompáñanos en nuestra séptima celebración anual de las libélulas en el río Santa Cruz con el Festival de las Libélulas. Hay muchas formas de aprender y explorar: desde una biobúsqueda comunitaria, hasta la creación de manualidades de libélulas o la participación en recorridos guiados por expertos locales. ¡Encuentra una manera de participar que sea divertida para ti!
ACTIVITIES (* = Actividades en Español):
Dragonfly BioBlitz – All September
Join our community science bioblitz, partnering with Dr. Michael Bogan, to learn how to spot dragonflies and contribute sightings using iNaturalist.
Details: Dragonfly BioBlitz
Landing Place – All September
View an art installation that celebrates the Santa Cruz River and the life it sustains. Four locations will display handmade windsocks to raise the visibility of plants and animals that have returned with the introduction of reclaimed water to the “Heritage Reach” through downtown Tucson in recent years.
Details: Landing Place
Dragonflies: The Early Years – September 9, 7-8 PM
Adults dragonflies and damselflies get most of our attention as they display amazing aerial prowess and brilliant colors. But most of the life cycle of these insects is spent hidden from view in ponds and streams. Attend a virtual presentation with Jeff Babson from Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources to learn about the early stages in the lives of dragons and damsels, when they are known as nymphs or larvae.
Register: Dragonflies: The Early Years
Queerd Science presents: “Sonoran Sashay” – September 12, 7 PM
Join Queerd Science, the Sonoran Institute, and Club Congress for Sonoran Sashay, a unique burlesque and drag cabaret show in Tucson! This dazzling evening spotlights the beauty and resilience of the Sonoran Desert and the storied Santa Cruz River, as seen through the lens of climate change, thriving wildlife, and ecosystem endurance. Experience the wonders of the desert, support local initiatives, and be inspired by the power of nature and community!
Get tickets: Sonoran Sashay
*Bugs & Bites – September 17, 6-9 PM
Explore the captivating world of dragonflies, and leaf hoppers with Rocio Guzman, Meredith Willmott, and Solomon Hendrix in collaboration with the Sonoran Institute. Explora el cautivador mundo de las libélulas y las chicharritas con Rocio Guzmán, Meredith Willmott y Solomon Hendrix en colaboración con el Sonoran Institute.
Information here: Dragonfly Festival Bugs & Bites
River Explorers: A Family Science + Art Workshop – September 20, 9-11 AM
Discover the wonders of water with Pima County environmental educators. Join us for a morning of family-friendly river activities – participants will explore the ecosystem, investigate aquatic insects, and create unique pieces of nature art to take home.
Register: www.explore.pima.gov
*Guided Dragonfly Tour – September 20, 9:30 am – 12 pm
Join local experts, including Michael Bogan, to search for dragonflies in Santa Cruz County. The tour will go to two different locations, including the Santa Cruz River at Tumacacori and ponds along Potrero Creek in Nogales. Family friendly and open to all, no prior knowledge required. Únete a expertos locales, incluyendo a Michael Bogan, para buscar libélulas en el condado de Santa Cruz. El recorrido visitará dos lugares diferentes: el río Santa Cruz en Tumacácori y estanques a lo largo del arroyo Potrero en Nogales. Es una actividad familiar, abierta a todo público y no se requiere experiencia previa.
Information here: Dragonfly Festival Tours
*Make Your Own Dragonfly – September 22, as supplies last
Craft a dragonfly with a family-friendly Nature-to-Go kit developed by Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources; share your creation on social media with #scrdragonflyfestival. Kits will be available for pick-up while supplies last at Pima County libraries and at Mission Garden. Elabora una libélula con un kit familiar de “Naturaleza para Llevar”, desarrollado por el Departamento de Tierras y Recursos de Conservación del Condado de Pima. Comparte tu creación en redes sociales con el hashtag #scrdragonflyfestival. Los kits estarán disponibles para recoger en las bibliotecas del Condado de Pima y en Mission Garden, hasta agotar existencias.
Order Up! Damsels and Dragons – September 22, 7-8 PM
Attend a virtual presentation to learn about the beautiful, diverse, and captivating world of dragonflies and damselflies with Jeff Babson from Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources.
Register: Order Up!: Damsels and Dragons
*Guided Dragonfly Tour – September 27, 9 AM – 12 PM
Join Sonoran Institute and local experts to search for dragonflies. Multiple locations available, including walking river tours in the Santa Cruz River channel. Family friendly and open to all, no prior knowledge required. Únase al Sonoran Institute y a expertos locales para buscar libélulas. Múltiples ubicaciones disponibles, incluyendo recorridos a pie por el cauce del río Santa Cruz. Ideal para familias y abierto a todos; no se requieren conocimientos previos.
Information here: Dragonfly Festival Tours.
*Family Dragonfly Nature Art/Arte de la naturaleza de las libélulas con la familia – September 27, 9 AM – 12 PM
Enjoy a family-friendly morning of art and nature! All materials provided, no experience needed, all ages welcome. Explore the acequias and create dragonfly art to take home. ¡Disfruta de una mañana familiar de arte y naturaleza! Todas las edades y habilidades son bienvenidas. No se necesita experiencia y se proporcionan todos los materiales. Explora las acequias y crea arte inspirado por las libélulas para llevar a casa.
Information here: Family Dragonfly Nature Art
OTHER RESOURCES:
Dragonflies of the Santa Cruz River: Pima County Brochure
Living River – Restoring Riparian Habitat along the Santa Cruz River: Pima County Brochure
Arizona Dragonflies http://azdragonfly.org/
Santa Cruz River Connections https://santacruz.arizona.edu/
The 2025 Santa Cruz River Dragonfly Festival is a series of FREE events and activities brought to you by Club Congress, COX, Desert Diamond Casino, Landing Place Art Installation, Mission Garden, Playground Rooftop, Pima County Regional Flood Control District, Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Department, Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources, Queerd Science, Sonoran Institute, Town of Marana Parks and Recreation, Tucson Electric Power, Tucson Water, and University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Special thanks to Pima County Libraries for distribution of the dragonfly kits.
El 2025 Festival de la Libélula del Río Santa Cruz es una serie de eventos y actividades GRATUITAS presentadas por Club Congress, COX, Desert Diamond Casino, Landing Place Art Installation, Mission Garden, Playground Rooftop, el Distrito Regional de Control de Inundaciones del Condado de Pima, el Departamento Regional de Reclamación de Aguas Residuales del Condado de Pima, Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources, Queerd Science, Sonoran Institute, Tucson Electric Power, Tucson Water, el Departamento de Parques y Recreación del Pueblo de Marana, y la Escuela de Recursos Naturales y el Medio Ambiente de la Universidad de Arizona. Un agradecimiento especial a las Bibliotecas del Condado de Pima por la distribución de los kits de libélulas.