Arizona Illustrated

A Winterhaven Tradition: This year marks the 72nd Winterhaven Festival of lights, which began in 1949. It’s one of Tucson's longest running events. This tradition has been observed every year except 1970 during a power shortage, and last year because of the pandemic. We meet a few of Winterhaven's residents, some new and some long-time dwellers who are making the season bright. Barbea’s Kwanzaa: Barbea Williams moved from Chicago to Tucson in the 1970s. She brought with her the annual tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, the seven-day holiday uniting families and communities to honor their African culture. She could not find other Black Tucsonans who celebrated Kwanzaa, and so, Barbea’s life calling was born. For the past 50 years she has shared the message of Kwanzaa, its principles, and festivities throughout Southern Arizona. Tamales with Josefina: When Josefina Lizárraga first moved to Tucson in the 1960s and started her family, she couldn’t make ends meet with her day job, so she started making tamales at home to sell to friends and family. This side gig flourished and eventually she was able to save enough to open her own florist business. Now retired, the 85-year-old mother, grandmother and former businesswoman joins us in the Mission Garden kitchen to talk about the popular tamale tradition in her culture. Winter Street Fair: Tucson's Fourth Avenue Steet Fair is back for the first time since 2019 after cancellations due to the pandemic. The bi-annual event which started 51 years ago now brings an average of 600,000 people downtown over its three-day run. We visited shoppers, vendors and organizers as the event returned to see what was new and let them reflect on the last two years.