Flashlight Nights Program | 2026

FLASHLIGHT

NIGHTS DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

Saturday, July 11 7-9:30 p.m.

Ottosen Entry Garden Cactus Cantina Swing by the new Cactus Cantina and treat yourself to a frozen cocktail, refreshing mocktail or an ice cold beer.

S’more kits sold here.

Amphitheater S’mores Gather around the fire pits to roast marshmallows and build your perfect s’more. Kits are available for purchase at the Cactus Cantina with credit or debit card only.

Desert Discovery Trail Glow Chalk Create glowing images to express the magic of the night: sunsets, stars and wildlife.

Critter Corner Get up close with the reptiles and arachnids that call deserts their home while talking to the expert, who cares for them.

Agave Unpacked Agaves have been woven into daily life for hundreds of years. Explore how this amazing desert plant has provided food and fiber—and uncover surprising its used in products you use today.

PNW Squeezed Drinks, smoothies and light food for sale. Available for purchase with credit or debit card only.

Breezy Pops Ice cold Breezy Pops for sale. Available for purchase with credit or debit card only.

Night Flyers Discover the magic of the desert’s night shift! Owls, bats and nighthawks are the ultimate superheroes of the Sonoran Desert. Explore the secret skills of these nocturnal flyers and learn how to spot them fluttering around the Garden after dark.

Sunset Plaza Telescopes The moon and stars are inspiration for songs and stories.

Observe what the night sky shares with us each evening and create stories of your own.

Webster Center Pitch Paint Medallions Create a lasting souvenir of your desert exploration! Paint on a smooth clay disk using authentic mesquite pitch paint—a vibrant, all-natural dye harvested straight from the sap of a Sonoran Desert icon.

Desert Birds Ready to meet the ultimate desert architects? Discover how our local feathered friends build nests that beat the heat, survive summer monsoon winds and keep their chicks safe.

Ice Cream Pedaler Enjoy cold treats! Available for purchase with credit or debit card only.

Quail Run Tree of Life The mesquite tree provides food for many desert animals and for people. Learn how mesquite seed pods are made into flour and sample it, too.

Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail Cactus Bones Cactus and humans may seem worlds apart, but they share something surprising: both have skeletons — though in very different forms. Discover how our bones are similar and different and you explore the bones of our desert cactus.

Pond Explorer The pond comes alive at night with toads, bullfrogs, tadpoles and more! Use your flashlight to spot the amazing creatures swimming and splashing in this watery habitat.

Marley Learning Lab Creature Feature Liberty Wildlife or Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary are on board with owls and other flying friends as well as desert reptiles. Get up close as you talk the volunteers who care for these incredible animals. Whooo is ready to learn about our desert wildlife?

Dorrance Hall Great Arizona Puppet Theater Experience the familiar tale of Goldilocks with some surprising twists as the Great Arizona Puppet Theater brings this story to life.

Today’s schedule is subject to change. This event may be photographed and recorded for promotional purposes.

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