Get your planners out, folks, because the Heirloom Farmers Markets and Living Streets Alliance have announced the dates for this year's Tucson Tandem weekends. The pair of two day events blend the Viva La Local Food Festival and Cyclovia Tucson into a weekend long celebration of two of the best things known to man: good food and bicycles.

On Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Viva La Local will take over Rillito Park to present all things Tucson food including 25 of the town's best restaurants, over 80 farmers market vendors, local brewers and vintners, and more. Samples of both food and drink for the day run at $5 a pop and entry is $6 for adults and free for children under 12. Proceeds go to benefit the Heirloom Farmers Markets. Should you bike to the event, there will be a complimentary valet and if you buy a bunch of fresh fruits and vegetables, a veggie valet will be there to watch your goods while you dine and imbibe on the park's East Field. Live music will include Tesoro, Cadillac Mountain and more.

Then on Sunday, April 19, downtown Tucsonans can celebrate a glorious five-mile stretch of carless streets from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The sixth annual festival isn't about getting anywhere quickly or going a long distance—the day is just about imagining the city with fewer cars on the road with 50,000 of your fellow Tucsonans. Whether that means walking, skating, cycling, unicycling or whatever other alternative mode of transport that you fancy, Cyclovia is just a good day to get out and see downtown and south Tucson.


Tucson Tandem has also announced the whole thing will happen again Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 for the fall festival. After all, it's never a bad idea to look ahead past the expansive wasteland of summer to the glimmer of hope known as the end of October.

For more information, visit the Viva La Local and Cyclovia Tucson websites.