Desert Magic
About this Event
Desert Magic is a one-night-only celebration of the unique spirit of our beautiful Sonoran Desert: A sunset gathering to honor and enjoy its diverse culinary and medicinal gifts through food, herbalism, music, and journeys of healing.
Join us Saturday, August 29 at Tohono Chul to wander down lit pathways through the Gardens featuring chef-prepared plates; plant, elemental, and vibrational healing experiences; live music, and a deep connection to the expansive energy found only here in the Sonoran Desert.
Desert Magic is proudly produced by Tucson Foodie.
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What to Expect:
Stations wind through the gardens, where nine of Tucson's most celebrated chefs each serve a 3–4 oz plate built around native desert ingredients — chiltepin, mesquite, prickly pear, native corn, squash
Chefs + Restaurants (A-Z):
The featured chefs include a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist, a two-time Tucson Iron Chef winner, two Tucson City of Gastronomy chef ambassadors, and the founder of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson.
- Christian Padilla — independent private chef
- David Marks — Tohono Chul Garden Bistro
- Devon Sanner — Ventana Canyon Club & Lodge
- Gracie Soto — Anita's Street Market
- José Contreras — Amelia's Mexican Kitchen
- Ken Foy — Two-time Tucson Iron Chef winner
- Obie Hindman — Mountain Oyster Club
- Pablo Valencia — Scratching the Plate
- more to be announced!
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Your ticket also includes a botanical welcome cocktail, with additional alcoholic and N/A drinks available for purchase.
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Alongside the food stations, wellness practitioners and herbalists will offer present moment experiences and sacred ceremonies using native Sonoran plants and the health giving energy present here.
Wellness Practioners + Experiences (A-Z):
- Alicen Grey — Symbolism - *Available for additional purchase: SymbolSpeak Guidance Sessions ($50 for 30 minutes)
- Awakened Wombs — Dr. Charity Lenhoff: Somatic therapy · Chiropractic alignment. *Awakened Wombs' will also feature an optional $40 womb care session.
- Common Sense Astrology, LLC — Beth W. — Astrology readings
- CuraVida Bodywork — Angel Valencia: Massage therapy · Sound healing · Herbal energy cleansing
- Dharma Wellness Center — Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Astrology readings · Breathwork · Ayurveda
- Dr. Kori’s Dispensary — Reiki · Herbal energy cleansing
- Ease Bodywork and Coaching — Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Spinal Flow
- Emma Vasseur Wellbeing — Emma Vasseur: Astrology readings
- Healing Spirit Soaks — Massage therapy · Sound healing · Herbal energy cleansing · Guided tea meditation
- Heart Nectar — Marie Gonzalez: Reiki · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Cacao ceremony · Breathwork
- Inner Bliss Energetics — Jamie Nelson: Reiki · Sound healing · Human design readings
- Jessi Kyte Bodywork — Jessi Kyte: Massage therapy
- Medicine Within — Angela Wojtowicz: Herbal energy cleansing
- Monsoon Mystics — Aura photography *AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE
- Moroso Medical Center — a variety of hands-on wellness experiences designed to introduce participants to natural health practices in an approachable and engaging way.
- Readings by Zev — Zev Rubin: Clairvoyant reading and healing
- Sugar Me Love Aesthetics & Wellness — Naturopathic medicine and Bowen Therapy
- Tantric Heart — Rachel Rumi: Intimacy and embodiment coaching
- The Gathering Point Community Acupuncture — Michele Smith: Acupuncture · Auriculotherapy
- The Healing Hub — Janette Carino: Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Crystals and jewelry
- The Somatic Sound — Ava Adams: Massage therapy · Somatic therapy · Sound healing · 13 Moon Calendar readings
- Toe-Rific Touch Reflexology — Frank Ramos: Reflexology
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The evening also includes live music, sound healing, and guided somatic experiences to help you slow down, ground, and connect.
Music and sound experiences:
- Tucson Modern Jazz Quartet (Live Jazz)
- Rosa Dragona (DJ)
- LaDev (DJ)
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Retail Expereinces (A-Z) *More to be annoucned :
- An Herb + Love Story — Jessica Goss: Small-batch botanical products for hair, scalp and skin, inspired by the Sonoran Desert.
- Aquamarine Daydream — Minerals, jewelry, fossils, tarot, books, home décor and self-care items.
- David Craig Designs — Fine Art
- Glass Art by Tracey — Fused Glass Art
- Harvested Creations — Somatic therapy · Sound healing · Crystals and jewelry
- Mama Bear AZ — Cactus garden candles, desert scene soaps and retro Tucson art
- PARCH — N/A agave cocktails powered by adaptogens
- Sandra Parker Watercolor Art — Watercolor Painting
- The Scented Leaf — Tea Beverages and Loose Leaf Teas
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Early Bird Tickets start at $55 and include all food and experiences, and a welcome cocktail. Additional beverages, products.
Awakened Wombs' optional $40 womb care session will be available for purchase at the event.
Space is limited and we expect to sell out in advance.
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We hope you’ll join us for an evening of food, plants, music, and connection — a celebration of the wild magic of the Sonoran Desert.
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This is a rain-or-shine event. All ticket sales are final. No refunds, exchanges, or transfers will be issued for inclement weather or other circumstances beyond our control (force majeure).
Thank you to our friends and supporters at:
- Tohono Chul
Art
Artwork: “Gates Pass” by local artist Lauri Kaye
Where is it happening?
USD 55.00 to USD 75.00
