I’m throwing a party to celebrate monsoon and you’re invited

Monsoon is one of my favorite things about Tucson. It’s the smell of creosote floating through the air, the cool relief in the middle of a hot day, the rainbows that fill the sky.

I’m ready to celebrate our beloved rainy season — which is why I’m hosting Monswoon! ☔️🌈 Join me 5-9 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at the lovely Coalition Space, home of the Coalition Community at 311 E. 7th St., for a party.

Expect 20 artists and bakers with monsoon-themed items including jewelry, candles, soap, prints, treats and more. They’ll also bring their regular lineup of items that we’ve come to know and love.

Beyond the art vendors, expect food, coffee, a photo booth, aura photography, FREE monsoon-themed crafts, a FREE interactive STEM activity and a FREE custom bookmark bar.

There will be a donation drive benefitting Gator-Aid Tucson, a mutual-aid group that delivers essentials to people in need. Gator-Aid is seeking donations of reusable water bottles, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, electrolyte packets and backpacks.

Here are the vendors you’ll meet and the monsoon-themed items they’re bringing:

• 1989 Bake House — Baked goods including my favorite brownies in town and a cookie inspired by the first rain.
• Aall Forms of Life — Wildlife-inspired artwork, from stickers to prints, including a scientific illustration of creosote.
• Ārya Tārā — Clean-burning candles in desert-inspired scents, including monsoon.
• Beads Over Diamonds — Beaded jewelry, including pieces with lightning bolts and rainbows.
• Brushes & Boots — Paintings of the desert’s flora and fauna, including a monsoon scene.
• Confia Coffee — Beverage cart with coffee, matcha and lavender lemonade, including a possible monsoon-inspired special.
• Coy Creative — Whimsical earrings, including statement pieces of monsoon clouds in several colors.
• Ducky’s Pineapple Banana Bread — Air-fried pineapple banana bread in different flavors, including a dark loaf reminiscent of storm clouds.
• Goodness Glass — Stained glass artwork such as potted glass cacti and hanging decor in addition to rainy-themed pieces.
• June’s Booth — A Polaroid photo booth paired with scrapbook pieces, some monsoon-themed, so you can make a custom photo collage on the spot.
• Juvelarto Designs — Metal jewelry, including earrings shaped as lightning bolts and hoops with a hand-stamped monsoon scene.
• Larrea Skincare — Botanical skincare including body oil and soap inspired by monsoon scents, in addition to a soap dish with a creosote design.
• Lumbre Pizza — Pizza inspired by Sonoran flavors with toppings like elote and carne asada.
• MadeItMikayla — Stationery inspired by plants and positivity, plus a brand-new monsoon-themed sticker.
• Mehgan on the Moon — Embroidery and ceramic trinkets with designs of saguaros, mushrooms, colorful patterns and rain clouds.
• Monsoon Mystics — Ritual tools, an herb bar, aura photography and witchy skincare items, many of which are monsoon-inspired.
• Nice Dreams Ice Cream — Vegan ice cream, popsicles and ice cream floats.
• Planet Gabu — One-of-a-kind apparel that blends existentialism and punk, including monsoon-themed hoodies.
• SARSEF — Nonprofit with a mission to teach kids about STEM, giving them tools and support through workshops, competitions and outreach. SARSEF will have a STEM activity to teach you about rain.
• Scented Leaf — Teas for the hot day, plus a portion of the proceeds during the event will be donated to Tucson Love Letter!
• Sonoran Rosie — Botanical scents, skincare and haircare made with hand-foraged plants, including creosote.
• Stubborn Worn — Apparel with hand-stamped designs, plus a custom bookmark bar with monsoon-themed stamps.
• The Pink Saguaro — Colorful paintings illustrating the Sonoran Desert, including monsoon scenes.
• Toad Knot Studio — Prism suncatchers with designs of saguaros and monsoon clouds.
• Tough Kitty Designs — Collage art prints, jewelry and ceramic dishes, including ones with monsoon designs.
• YellowBird Farm — Plants and seeds that thrive during monsoon, plus home decor items.

Thank you to the sponsors of Monswoon: Scented Leaf, Tohono Chul and Sonoran House. <3