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"Growing Tradition": A story about a dazzling display of lights and community.

AZPM
Published December 19, 2024 at 10:15 AM MST
Lights in the Botanical Gardens
Sophia Hammer/AZPM
Festive luminarias light the path through the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Featured on the December 19th, 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with guest host Tony Paniagua.

lights up luminaria hero
courtesy of Tucson Botanical Gardens
The Tucson Botanical Gardens is hosting the "LightsUp!" festival through January 12th. It is open to visitors of all ages, Tuesdays through Sundays. The festival incorporated its previous luminaria lights tradition into "LightsUp!".
"Growing Tradition": A story about a dazzling display of lights and community.

  • We’ll take you behind the scenes of the annual “LightsUp!” festival of illumination at Tucson Botanical Gardens. The documentary "Growing Tradition" provides details about this dazzling display that requires more than a million sparkling lights and other decorations. The festival runs Tuesdays through Sundays until January 12th and the documentary can be found on Prime Video.
Tucson botanical garden lights hero
courtesy of Tucson Botanical Gardens
The Tucson Botanical Gardens is hosting the "LightsUp!" festival through January 12th. It is open to visitors of all ages, Tuesdays through Sundays.
Adam wortman hero
courtesy of Alan Davis
Adam Farrell-Wortman is the director of horticulture at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. He is observing the "LightsUp!" festival at the Gardens.
growing tradition unsized
courtesy of Alan Davis
"Growing Tradition" is a documentary that explores the "LightsUp!" festival at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. It is directed by Alan Davis and produced by Davis De Dios Media. The documentary is available on Prime Video.

  • Also, meet Glenda Bonin, a prolific Tucson storyteller, magician and puppeteer who tells us about storytelling’s impressive ability to transform lives for the better. Bonin also shares a memorable story about waiting for Santa Claus, and the heart-warming power of family love. Bonin has been involved at Tellers of Tales in Tucson for many years. The group welcomes new tellers and members, and so do Odyssey Storytelling and F*ST!, Female Storytellers. You can listen to additional stories from other places online or every Saturday at 6 pm during the The Moth Radio Hour on azpm, 89.1 FM radio in Tucson.
Glenda Bonin AZPM hero
Sophia Hammer/AZPM
Glenda Bonin sharing her story, "Sleigh Bells" in AZPM's studio.
Tellers of Tales Glenda Bonin
Tony Paniagua / AZPM
Glenda Bonin, seen here in November 2024, has been involved in Tellers of Tales since 1994, where people are welcomed and assisted with crafting and telling their tales.
The group meets in person the first Saturday of every month at the Unscrewed Theater in Tucson.
Tellers of Tales Glenda Bonin 2
Tony Paniagua / AZPM
Glenda Bonin, seen here in November 2024, has been involved in Tellers of Tales since 1994, where people are welcomed and assisted with crafting and telling their tales.
The group meets in person the first Saturday of every month at the Unscrewed Theater in Tucson.
Glenda Bonin childhood unsized
courtesy of Glenda Bonin
Glenda Bonin when she was three years old. Glenda shared a Christmas story from her childhood called, "Sleigh Bells".

Web page by Sophia Hammer.

Arizona Spotlight
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.