Cheap Thrills

BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS. Stella Tucker has harvested saguaro all her life and she would like to tell you about it.

Tucker, a Tohono O'odham who is in charge of the harvest program at Saguaro National Monument, will demonstrate her skills during Marking the Solstice: A Multicultural Celebration, which also features storytelling, music and hands-on activities from a variety of different cultures.

Arizona State Museum is extending its hours Saturday for a family-oriented celebration of the summer solstice.

Folks are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs and blankets for an event that's free and open to the public.

Gerard Tsonakwa, an Abenaki, will tell American Indian stories; Rabbi Sam Cohan will share Jewish stories and Yiddish songs; the Barbea Williams Dance Company will entertain with African drumming, dancing and stories; and Tucson's official Troubadour, Ted Ramirez, will perform corridos and other Hispanic songs.

Activities include making gourd rattles, decorating fans, gazing at stars through a telescope, harvesting saguaro, grinding corn, using a prehistoric pump drill and playing American Indian games.

You can look at museum objects relating to the summer solstice, prehistoric plants and animals and talk to museum curators and native experts.

The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at ASM's north building and front lawn. For more information, call 626-8381 or 621-2976 or visit www.statemuseum.arizona.edu.

FATHER'S DAY FREEBIE. Take your dad to Tucson Botanical Gardens this weekend and it won't cost you a dime.

Enjoy a picnic and hike the garden paths during a Father's Day he's sure to remember.

The gardens are a five-acre collection of 15 specialty gardens including a historical garden, an herb garden, a butterfly garden and a cactus and succulent garden.

The collection consists of more than 4,200 individual plants. Homeowners can get some great design ideas at the gardens and some good information about the variety of plants that thrive in southern Arizona.

The gardens are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2150 N. Alvernon Way. For more information, call 326-9686.

WARM UP TO THIS. Listen up as kids tell Tucson's stories.

Voices, Inc. invites you to attend the release Friday of the second issue of 110 Degrees: Tucson's Youth Tell Tucson's Stories, the city's only youth-produced magazine.

In this issue are stories about health and healing, Sudanese refugees, Old Pascua neighborhood and Norteño music.

Hear the young authors read at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 622-7458.

GET UP AND DANCE. Maybe it's time you got off the couch.

Tucson Friends of Traditional Music presents Contra and Square Dance with local callers and the driving energy of live string band music. Contra dancing is energetic social dancing in a non-drinking, non-smoking atmosphere. Bring a friend or come alone. Everyone gets to dance.

The dance takes place from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 915 E. Fourth St., between Park and Tyndall, just west of the university. Admission is $7 general, $6 TFTM members. First-time dancers receive a free ticket to the next dance. For more information, call 293-3783.