4th Avenue Street Fair

Twice a year Tucson hosts a spring and winter street fair called the 4th Avenue Street Fair and for the last six years we have enjoyed attending and buying one of their artist commissioned posters that highlights the southwest landscape or the multi-cultural aspects of the region. This year, they have chosen the Tucson Trolley, which runs along Arizona University Blvd to 4th Avenue.

Riding the Streetcars in Tucson.
Electric streetcars began operating in Tucson in 1906 as a replacement of the horse and mule drawn streetcars already in service. By 1930 the growth of Tucson outpaced the ability of the streetcars to provide adequate service and in December of that year rail streetcar operation in Tucson was ended. Then, in 1983, a group was founded to bring back the trolley as part of the University of Arizona’s 1985 Centennial. Old Pueblo Trolley, a nonprofit, all volunteer museum was formed. Trolley restoration began in the spring of 1985 and track construction began in 1987. Major support has been received from all parts of the community (FAMA is a big contributor), including members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1116, who, with the support of Tucson Electric Power Company, built and continue to maintain the overhead power.Old Pueblo Trolley operates through some of the most historic and diverse areas of Tucson. Beginning in the heart of The Fourth Avenue Business District, the trolley passes the length of the Avenue, turns onto University Boulevard where it passes beautifully restored homes (and the Arizona Historical Society) and terminates near the main gate of the University of Arizona.

Southern Arizona’s Largest Festival
Free to the public, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair brings together 400+ arts and crafts booths, oodles of food vendors, 2 stages, street musicians, jugglers, street performers, the Free SPIKE kids hands-on-art Pavilion, face painting, balloons, and tons of other fun activities, and then packs them into a three day celebration.And when you no longer have a use for your saxaphone or trumpet, you can turn it into a lamp or end table. How clever!

Two delectable characters accompanying us to the fair; Lena & Steve