News Releases

World Baseball Classic exhibition game at TEP - Days before making its debut at the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Scottsdale, the Mexico national team will stop in Tucson for an exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Team Mexico will play the D’Backs Saturday, March 4 at Tucson Electric Park at 5:35 p.m. (following a noon game between the D’Backs and the White Sox.) Afterward, spectators will be treated to a fireworks extravaganza sponsored by WB TV 58. The 2006 WBC, called “baseball’s greatest international competition,” includes 16 teams and 400 superstars from around the world, playing in the U.S., Japan and Puerto Rico, March 3-20. Starring on Team Mexico are faces familiar to Tucson spring training fans, including former D’Backs players, Oscar Villarreal and Elmer Dessens, and former Rockies player Vinny Castilla. For details, visit www.worldbaseballclassic.com.

First Arizona visitor center opens in Mexico – As of April 2006, Mexico residents planning trips to Tucson and Southern Arizona can collect free travel literature and advice before leaving home. The MTCVB ¡Vamos a Tucson! (Let’s go to Tucson!) program is breaking new ground by opening the first Tucson Visitor Center in Hermosillo, Sonora; the official grand-opening ceremony is Thursday, March 30 at 5 p.m. This visitor center is the first of its kind operated in Mexico by an Arizona CVB; it will offer information, in both English and Spanish, on Tucson-area hotels, attractions, events, restaurants, and group-tour planning, Monday–Friday. Miguel Partida, a tourism promoter in Mexico, is the on-site MTCVB representative. For details, contact ¡Vamos a Tucson! (520) 624-1817 ext. 171 or visit www.vamosatucson.com.

Vine blessing and wine tasting festival – The rolling grasslands of Southern Arizona wine country welcome visitors for the annual “Blessing of Sonoita Vineyards” festival, in Elgin, Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event begins with a blessing presented by ministers and priests of new and aged plants in the scenic vineyards. Following the formal vine-blessing ceremony, guests enjoy wine tastings and winery tours, along with live music, and gourmet lunch (for an additional cost). Sonoita Vineyards, known for its full-bodied, dry red wines, is gaining popularity for lighter, fruity wines, like Arizona Sunset and Cochise County Columbard. For more information, log on to www.SonoitaVineyards.com or phone (520) 455-5893.

Tombstone has a softer side – Everyone knows that Tombstone is the town too tough to die. In April the town celebrates the 118-year old rose tree that shares its town’s claim to fame. Locals and visitors alike are invited to join an “old-time” tribute to and celebration of the Tombstone Rose tree April 7-9, 2006. The event includes a picnic-basket auction, cake contest, and the traditional Rose Parade. For more information, contact the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce, (888) 457-3929 or www.Tombstone.org.

World Famous Miraval provides golf conditioning – Deb Tobias, GMP Fitness Golf Conditioning Specialist offers 50-minute sessions to Miraval guests incorporating a mind, body, spirit approach to improving balance, strength, flexibility, and posture crucial to golfing smarter and better. Tobias’ theory is that a well-balanced golf-conditioning program is essential in one’s quest for the “perfect” round of golf. For more information, log on to www.miravalresort.com.

Enchanted music and stargazing parties – Kitt Peak National Observatory hosts a series of public stargazing-and-music parties, on the road to the observatory, May through September. Each evening of celestial sights and sounds begins at sunset, at the mile-marker-10 picnic area on Arizona Highway 386, and features one hour of live music, followed by one hour of viewing with astronomers. The program includes JazzWerx (May 6), Tucson Girls Chorus (June 3), TBA (July 1), and Tucson Jr. Strings Quartet (Sept. 2). Non-alcoholic picnics are welcome. Cost is $10/$8. For reservations or more information, contact Kitt Peak Visitor Center, (520) 318-8726 or www.noao.edu.

Vintage postcards recall elegant era – Art and history come together in a charming exhibit of hand-colored, linen postcards depicting Tucson’s downtown-area circa 1930s-1940s. Now showing in the Historic Hotel Congress lobby, the exhibit consists of vintage postcards enlarged and mounted on canvas by the innovative Etherton Gallery. Featured landmarks, such as the Santa Rita Hotel and Historic Train Depot, display elegant, manicured landscapes and classic Packard automobiles. For more information, call the hotel at (800) 722-8848 or the gallery (520) 624-7370.

Tucson Rodeo poster – A limited edition, black-and-white poster for the 2006 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (Tucson Rodeo and Parade) shows a barrel-racing cowgirl created by Western artist, Vic Donahue. The poster is available online at www.tucsonrodeo.com for $15/unsigned and $50/signed.

Mariachi madness returns in April – The 2006 Tucson International Mariachi Conference is April 24-29 at Tucson Convention Center (TCC) Arena, TCC Music Hall, and DeMeester Outdoor Perfomance Center at Reid Park. For information, visit www.tucsonmariachi.org or phone (520) 838-3908.