A Purim season full of family fun and festivities starts tomorrow in Tucson, with celebrations, costume parades and food for all.
JPride takes on a ’90s costume theme for its Saturday, Feb. 24 Purim party. Dress “as if” it were the ’90s and come party like it’s 1999 at the the Tucson Jewish Community Center. With a DJ, food, costume contest and open bar, tickets are $18 at the door.
“Purim Pandemonium” kicks off Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. at Congregation Anshei Israel with free fun, food and drinks. With a festive super heroes theme, guests are encouraged to come in costume. A costume parade and hamantaschen follow the 6:13 p.m. Megillah reading. Also on tap are carnival games, obstacle course, a bounce house and prizes for kids. A pasta dinner with sides will be served at 5:30 p.m.
Chabad of Oro Valley hosts comedian ventriloquist Chuck Field for a family evening of fun Thursday, March 1. The night kicks off at 5 p.m. with dinner and hamantaschen before the show, at the Oro Valley Recreation Center, 10555 N. La Cañada Drive. Tickets are $18/person, $40/family.
Congregation Chofetz Chayim celebrates “Purim in China,” Thursday, March 1, featuring kosher Chinese delicacies, demonstrations of ancient martial arts and healing techniques by members of Fong’s Wing Chun Gung-Fu academy, local Jewish musicians and plenty of wine. The family celebration begins at 5 p.m. with tickets for adults at $25, students $15 and children under age 12, $12, available at tucsontorah.org/purim-reservation or contact Rabbi Israel Becker at 747-7780.
“Little Shop of Purim” is an irreverent parody of the Broadway show, “Little Shop of Horrors.” Performed by Rabbi Educator Batsheva Appel, Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg and a cast of dozens of talented performers, it’s free at Temple Emanu-El’s Purim Extravaganza Sunday on March 4, beginning at 10 a.m. The Purim Carnival opens after the performance, with modestly priced rides, games, amusements and food for the whole family.
Congregation Or Chadash’s “Peter Piper Purim” is a fundraiser for the Noah Cohen Youth Philanthropy Fund. Print the flyer at orchadash-tuccson.org and dine at Peter Piper Pizza, 5925 E. Broadway Blvd. (across from the Park Mall) on Sunday, March 4, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fifteen percent of all food, beverage and game token sales will benefit the fund.
For more events and Megillah readings, check out the calendar on page 24 or contact the congregations listed on page 26.
