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Chilis, Chocolate, and Day of the Dead Celebration, Tohona Chul Botanical Gardens, Tucson, AZ


  • Tohono Chul 7366 North Paseo Del Norte Tucson, AZ, 85704 United States (map)

"One of the world's greatest botanical gardens." Our 2017 homage to the cult of the fiery chile—and decadent chocolate—also celebrates another enduring tradition of the borderlands, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time we remember and honor those who have gone before. Throughout the grounds, vendors feature chile and Day of the Dead inspired crafts and chile and chocolate culinary delights. Enjoy culinary demonstrations, chile roasters, musical entertainment, local artists, sales of ornamental and edible chile plants, free Day of the Dead-themed face painting and children’s activities.

Stop by and fire up your taste buds for our all natural honey caramels and organic chocolate confections! Honey is our only sweetener!  And before you come, adopt your very own bee!

Tohono Chul Celebrates the Nature of the Sonoran Desert

A visit to the gardens of Tohono Chul can last half an hour or become an all day experience. Our gardens demonstrate our goal of creating spaces of beauty that attract wildlife, utilizing native and adapted plants. The Park’s plantings have been designed especially to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, which will be seen throughout our gardens.

The gardens also reflect the wide range of habitats in the Sonoran Desert, including riparian areas and the elusive desert palm canyons. The Sonoran Desert is much more than saguaros and prickly pears.

Our greenhouse propagates native, arid-adapted and cold-hardy plants to be used throughout the Tucson landscape. It’s just one of the many things we do to help the nature of the Sonoran Desert.

Earlier Event: October 21
Willcox Wine Festival, Willcox AZ
Later Event: November 3
Tubac Fall Art Festival, Tubac, AZ