• JAMES HUDSON

It’s that time of year Tucson, when the weather is about to get perfect and every events planner decides to hold their annual celebrations on the same weekend. This year, that perfect storm of fun hits Downtown Tucson on the 2nd week of October, from Friday the 10th through the Sunday the 12th, making it a great weekend for most of Tucson if you've got the day off, but those who work and live downtown may want to plan ahead before they leave the house.

Here’s a list of all of those major events and their resulting travel restrictions from the City of Tucson Department of Transportation, which wanted to remind you that all "businesses, parking garages and parking lots are open and accessible. There are over 15,000 available parking spaces in the Downtown Tucson.” Broadway Blvd will be blocked, but you can still access downtown from the north on Stone Ave, 22nd St. and Sixth Ave. from the south, and St. Mary’s Road from the west.

Tucson Meet Yourself — Beginning Thursday, October 9, 2013 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, October 12, 2014 at midnight, Church Avenue from Alameda Street to Congress Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic to accommodate exhibits and heavy pedestrian traffic attending the Tucson Meet Yourself event. Tucson Meet Yourself Festival hours are: Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about Tucson Meet Yourself, please go to www.tucsonmeetyourself.org

Bear Down Fridays — MainGate will host Bear Down Fridays on Friday, October 10, 2014. At approximately 6 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. University Boulevard between Euclid and Tyndall Avenues will be closed for Bear Down Fridays. For more information go to http://www.maingatesquare.com/events/

Tucson Gay Freedom Day Parade — Beginning Friday, October 10, 2014 at 6 p.m. Stone Avenue will be closed between Ochoa and Alameda Streets. Alameda Street will also be closed from Stone Avenue through Main Avenue. These streets are expected to be open by 7 p.m. For more information about Tucson Gay Freedom Day parade, go to https://www.facebook.com/TucsonGFDParade

University of Arizona Wildcat Football — Beginning Saturday, October 11, 2014, at 4:30 p.m. Sixth Street between Campbell Avenue and Euclid Avenue will be closed to all traffic except for football parking pass holders. Sixth Street should reopen to regular traffic by midnight. For more information go to http://www.arizonawildcats.com/

Pride on Parade — On Saturday, October 11, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fourth Avenue will host the return of the annual Pride on Parade. Fourth Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from Second Street to Eighth Street until approximately 7 p.m. Modern Streetcar service will continue via a one track operation during the parade. For more information about the Pride on Parade, please go to http://tucsonpride.org/parade.html

Second Saturdays — Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2014 until 3 a.m. Sunday, October 12, 2014, Scott Avenue between Broadway Boulevard and Congress Street will be closed for Second Saturdays activities. The Second Saturdays event runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and provides family friendly activities on all of Congress Street from Fourth Avenue to Church Avenue. For more information about Second Saturdays, please go to www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com

Tucson Aids Walk — In conjunction with Tucson Meet Yourself, the annual Tucson Aids Walk will take place beginning Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 8 a.m. at the Joel Valdez Main Library/Jacome Plaza. The walk will take place on the west side of downtown and will not have any street closures associated with the event. For more information about the Tucson Aids Walk please go to www.aidswalktucson.org