Cool Summer Nights Creatures of the Night

We can also do dinner as a group at one of the restaurants in the museum

Please leave comment with your plans about dinner

The Desert Museum is lovely during the day, but it’s even cooler after dark! Join us every Saturday night throughout the summer to beat the heat while learning something neat! The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Bats perform aerial acrobatics in pursuit of dinner, beavers splash around in their pond, and scorpions glow green under black light. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a local beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, or participate in special nightly activities.

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Exhibit Closing Times

Some exhibits close early for safety reasons or so that the animals can get some shut eye! The gardens will close at 6:45 p.m., and the aviaries and the Desert Loop Trail will close at 7:00 p.m.

Shopping and Dining Closing Times

The Mountain House Gift Shop (near the entrance) is open until 9:00 p.m.
The Ironwood Gift Shop (near the restaurant complex) is open until 9:00 p.m.

The Ocotillo Café is open from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The Ironwood Terraces Restaurant is open throughout the day until 8:00 p.m.
Phoebé’s Coffee Bar is open throughout the day until 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a family-friendly outing during popular Cool Summer Nights at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum every Saturday evening throughout the summer to beat the heat. Enjoy clear views of stunning sunsets, star-specked skies, night-blooming plants, and animals reappearing from their daytime naps. The Sonoran Desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Bats perform aerial acrobatics in pursuit of dinner, beavers splash around in their pond, and scorpions glow green under black light. Bring your flashlight and explore, grab a beer and wander, experience a live animal encounter, or participate in special nightly activities. See the schedule on desertmuseum.org for weekly themes and activities.

June 7 - World Oceans Night
June 14 - Astronomy Night
June 21 - Creatures of the Night
June 28 - All About Art
July 5 - The Magic of Monsoons
July 12 - Radical Reptiles
July 19 - Rocks and Stars
July 26 - Taste the Desert
August 2 - Insectopia
August 9 - Singing with Saguaros
August 16 - Bat Night
August 23 - Teacher Appreciation Night
August 30 - Desert Trails