Happening in October
UA President Robert C. Robbins poses for a photo with Wilma and Wilbur at the 2017 Homecoming bonfire.
The Tucson Humanities Festival returns this year with a month of lectures, panel discussions and demonstrations.
Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is offering an upated laser light show set to Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon."
The sixth annual Downtown Lecture Series will explore music's impact on society and culture on Thursday evenings in October.
Participants on the Ghosts of the UA Tour will hear about the ghosts that supposedly haunt Old Main, Maricopa Residence Hall and other sites around campus on Oct. 19, just in time for Halloween.
October at the UA features a wide variety of talks, shows and gatherings on the main campus and beyond, giving members of the Tucson and campus communities opportunities to expand their minds, hear professional musicians at their craft, and cheer on Arizona football at Homecoming.
And of course, an October events lineup wouldn't be complete without a nod to Halloween. Those in search of a scare will find the perfect tour on Oct. 19.
To find more events happening on campus, check out the Master Calendar.
Flu Shot Clinics | Weekdays, Oct. 1-12
With flu season just around the corner, you don't have to go far to get free flu shots if you work for the UA. Life & Work Connections, a unit of the Division of Human Resources, is offering flu shot clinics at various locations around campus to all benefits-eligible employees and benefits options members – those who are age 4 and older who are enrolled in the Arizona Department of Administration medical insurance plan, including retirees, spouses, and dependents.
To get your shot, be sure to fill out the flu shot consent form and bring it to the clinic, along with your insurance card. You also should have your employee identification number handy.
Clinics run Monday through Friday, Oct. 1-12. Click here for a full schedule.
Tucson Humanities Festival | 10 events between Oct. 4 and 30
The Tucson Humanities Festival, started by the College of Humanities as Humanities Week in 2011 and renamed in 2016, returns this year for another monthlong series of lectures, panel discussions and demonstrations. This year's festival, themed "Secrets," will examine how information that's withheld and obscured has impacted human cultures.
The festival's first event on Oct. 4 will feature a film about China's growing indie video game industry. On Oct. 12, veteran DJs Rockin' Rob and Tony Tone will talk about the cultural phenomenon their work sparked in the Bronx in the 1970s. And Andre Goodfriend, director of the U.S. Office of eDiplomacy and the college's Alumnus of the Year, will deliver an Oct. 26 talk about his 30-year career that's taken him to Tel Aviv, New Delhi, Moscow and elsewhere around the world.
Events will be held at venues on campus and around Tucson.
Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' New Planetarium Show | Fridays and Saturdays
Pink Floyd's 1973 landmark album, "The Dark Side of the Moon," has inspired laser light shows at planetariums for more than 40 years, and the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium's new show should please both veteran show-goers and newcomers. The new show takes advantage of the Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater's state-of-the-art fulldome projector and upgraded surround sound system to combine abstract visuals with mesmerizing sounds for an immersive experience.
Shows are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Fridays and at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the front desk. This show is intended for adult audiences.
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Downtown Lecture Series | Thursdays in October
The theme for the sixth annual College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Downtown Lecture Series is "Soundscapes: Music, Place and Identity." The series consists of four weekly talks at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., that will explore music's impact on society and culture.
The lectures are led by members of the college's faculty. On Oct. 4, Jake Harwood, acting head of the Department of Communication, will explore why music is a fundamental human activity. Tyina Steptoe, associate professor in the Department of History, will use examples like Little Richard, Selena and Beyoncé to show how and where poly-cultural music emerges and shapes the social and economic landscapes of communities of color in her Oct. 11 lecture. Maurice Rafael Magaña, assistant professor of Mexican American Studies, will give a talk on Oct. 18 titled "Hip-Hop Culture and Its Visual Impact in Mexico." And sociology professor emeritus Celestino Fernández will close the series on Oct. 25 with a look at the histories of musical genres performed in the Mexico-U.S. border region.
Confluencenter Show & Tell – 'See, Hear, Smell, Touch, Taste' | Oct. 8
Engage all of your senses at this interdisciplinary event, presented by the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry as part of its Show & Tell series at Playground Bar and Lounge, 278 E. Congress St. This presentation will incorporate virtual reality, animatronics, urban agriculture and arid lands, and three experts from across campus, who will share the latest ideas about these topics.
Presenters include:
- Sam Rodriguez, graduate student, School of Art
- Elizabeth Sparks, assistant agent for 4-H youth development, Cooperative Extension and Tucson Village Farm
- Sandra Bernal, doctoral student, Arid Lands Resource Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program
Vicki Lázaro, assistant librarian in the Office of Digital Innovation and Stewardship, and Annabelle Nuñez, associate director and associate librarian for information services at the Arizona Health Sciences Library, will emcee the presentation.
Music + Festival 2018: Debussy and Asia | Oct. 10, 12-16
Now in its 11th year, the Fred Fox School of Music's Music + Festival caters to both musicians and music lovers with concerts, a conference and a symposium. The event – which had been held over a weekend in the past – will include a week of events highlighting the work of two composers: Claude Debussy, a renowned French composer from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and UA music professor Daniel Asia. The festival will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Debussy's passing in 1918, as well as Asia's 65th birthday and 30th year on the School of Music faculty.
The program includes seven concerts, including performances of Debussy's and Asia's work by UA faculty. Other events include a conference and symposium. The festival will be held at the Fred Fox School of Music. Five of the seven performances are free.
Ghosts of the UA Tour | Oct. 19
With buildings that date back nearly 130 years, the UA campus is a prime place to learn local history – and hear some spooky stories. Participants on this walking tour will hear about the ghosts that supposedly haunt Old Main, Maricopa Residence Hall and other sites around campus, all just in time for Halloween.
The free tour begins on the east side of Old Main. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Homecoming 2018 | Oct. 21-27
The end of October brings Homecoming, a week of activities dedicated to celebrating what it means to be a Wildcat for Life. This year's lineup of events includes gatherings that regular Homecoming attendees will recognize, such as the Lighting of 'A' Mountain on Oct. 21, the bonfire on Oct. 26, and the parade on Oct. 27. Finish Homecoming week strong by attending the Wildcat for Life Tailgate Party, which takes place just before the Wildcats take on the University of Oregon on Oct. 27.
For a complete schedule of Homecoming 2018 events, visit the UA Alumni Association website.