The December 2024 Roundup from Historic Canoa Ranch

December 2024

Celebrate the holiday season at
Historic Canoa Ranch

Christmas at Canoa is in full swing! Every December, Historic Canoa Ranch celebrates the holiday season with a month of seasonal festivities, designed to both highlight the wintertime beauty of our historic property and provide a fun experience for the community. 

We are hosting holiday events every Thursday through Saturday during the month of December, with the exception of Dec. 26. We invite you and your family to join us for light viewing, music, carolers, food trucks, and more! 

Here is a full schedule for the rest of the month: 

Dec. 12 
4-8 p.m. Light viewing 

Dec. 13 
4-8 p.m. Pictures with Santa 
4-7 p.m. Fiesta Filipina food truck 
6 p.m. Green Valley Concert Band Brass Choir  

Dec. 14 
4-8 p.m. Pictures with Santa 
4-7 p.m. Fiesta Filipina food truck 
6 p.m. Walden Grove High School Jazz Band  

Dec. 19 
4-8 p.m. Light viewing 

Dec. 20 
4-8 p.m. Pictures with Santa 
4-8 p.m. Little Texas food truck 
4:30 p.m. Green Valley Community Chorus  
5:30 p.m. Desert Ukes Ukulele Ensemble 
7 p.m. Carolers  

Dec. 21 
4-8 p.m. Pictures with Santa 
4-8 p.m. Quesadillas and More food truck 
7 p.m. Carolers  

Dec. 27 
4-8 p.m. Light viewing 

Dec. 28 
4-8 p.m. Light viewing

Bird of the Month: Common Yellowthroat

The Common Yellowthroat was one of the first bird species to be catalogued from the New World; a specimen from Maryland was described by the Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus in 1766.  You’ll have to look hard for these furtive, yellow-and-olive warblers, which are usually seen in the dense vegetation of the cienega at Historic Canoa Ranch. They blend in well with the fall leaves. A broad black mask covers the eyes of the male Common Yellowthroat. Females lack the mask and are much browner, though they usually show a hint of warm yellow at the throat. Remember, Historic Canoa Ranch is a wonderful spot for birding! You can see birds all year long along the scenic trails around our pond and cienega.  Photo taken at Historic Canoa Ranch by Karen Long.

A blast from the past

One of the marvelous things about visiting Historic Canoa Ranch is the opportunity it provides us to step into the past and catch a glimpse of what it was like to live in a different time. As part of the restoration of this historically important property, the buildings have been furnished with period-appropriate appliances and machines.  This vintage typewriter, on display at the Manning Jr. Residence, is one of many classic objects you'll see on display throughout the buildings of the ranch. In the days before computers, a typewriter was the fastest way to write letters. We've come a long way since then!

Want to support Historic Canoa Ranch?

If you enjoy visiting Historic Canoa Ranch and would like to help support it, please consider joining Friends of the Canoa Parks. This 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, located in Green Valley, is dedicated to supporting Pima County in promoting and preserving the Canoa Parks, including our beautiful ranch, through community outreach, education and fundraising. Visit their website to learn more! 

December Programs and Events

Next issue: January 2025