• No charge to enter
  • Original writing and artwork
  • Winners receive $100 in gift certificates and will be recognized at the 14th Annual Tucson Festival of Books on March 9, 2024.
  • Deadline is December 21, 2023 by 4:30 p.m.
  • Author entries may be submitted by mail or e-mail. Poetry will be judged separately.
  • Artist entries can only be mailed, or can be hand-delivered with special permission.
Date: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 7:30am to 4:30pm
Share this story on Twitter.

The fun begins at 6 p.m., with a costume contest and family activities prior to the start of the movie.  Movie begins at 7 p.m.

Date: 
Saturday, October 7, 2023 - 6:00pm
Share this story on Twitter.

On the first Thursday of the month the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block offers extended hours and pay-what-you-wish admission from 5–8 p.m.. On October’s First Thursday check out the recently reinstalled gallery of the Art of the American Southwest and explore how the borderlands influence art on view.

Date: 
Thursday, October 5, 2023 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Share this story on Twitter.

Share this story on Twitter.

No heroes allowed!

It’s time to get together the most heinous and evil people throughout all of pop culture to celebrate Halloween this October 31st at 10am-11am. Mingle with other villainous cosplayers and enjoy some coffee and snacks on Bookmans!

Date: 
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Share this story on Twitter.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, but doesn't completely cover the sun from our perspective. This casts a shadow on the Earth's surface, and people in the full shadow will see the sun as a bright ring or "annulus" around the moon.

8:12 a.m. Partial Annular Solar Eclipse Begins
9:33 a.m. Max view (time when the maximum amount of the Sun's disk is covered)
11:05 a.m.

Partial Annular Solar Eclipse Ends

Date: 
Saturday, October 14, 2023 - 8:00am to 11:00am
Share this story on Twitter.

Water means life to all of us desert dwellers. This precious natural resource is essential to our impressive diversity of plants and to our wildlife. And for thousands of years, generation after generation of people have settled where they could find water.

About 7.3 million people call Arizona home. And where you live in the state usually determines what water sources you use at home, at school and when you’re out having fun splashing around!

...Read more

Share this story on Twitter.
Young Reporters Program Facts: • Kids started reporting for Bear Essential in 1980.  • Any kid in grades 3 thru 8   can be a Young Reporter.  • YR’s have nabbed several  • amazing interviews.
Share this story on Twitter.

Students from all over Arizona write for Bear Essential News, and you can, too!

The Young Reporters Program is FREE and teaches you the basics of journalism, sharpens your writing and gives you real-world experience.

From classmates to Presidents, our Young Reporters have obtained... Read more

Share this story on Twitter.

Photo credit: shutterstock.com

A new study shows being exposed to different smells could help improve learning and memory in older adults—by more than 200 percent!

This is not the first study to show... Read more

Pages