Pima County Fairgrounds • Tucson, AZ • December 27, 2021 - January 3, 2022
This Hangout is currently sold out, but join the waiting list and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up!
Welcome the New Year in the American Southwest
Set in a valley in the Sonoran Desert, cradled by five mountain ranges and surrounded by majestic saguaro cacti, Tucson boasts fantastic weather (including an average winter temperature of 70º F), night skies with a million twinkling stars, colorful historic buildings, and great bars, restaurants and quirky shops. During this Hangout, we will explore this fun-loving and culturally invigorating city and its beautiful surroundings in the American Southwest, and welcome 2022 with an Escapees-style New Year’s Eve party!
On the first full day of the Hangout, five-person teams will compete in a scavenger hunt adventure through the heart of the city. Over a 2-mile walking route, you’ll follow clues and solve puzzles together as you explore the rich history of the buildings and city artwork. Afterward, you’ll meet up with everyone else for lunch and beverages at Ten55 Brewing Company. That evening, after a potluck dinner, we’ll announce the winning teams, followed by a showing of the 1993 film Tombstone, starring Val Kilmer, Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton. (You’ll have the option of visiting Tombstone the next day!)
We’ll visit Kartchner Caverns State Park, where we’ll explore these pristine caves on a guided walking tour. Discovered in 1974 but not made public until 1988 when they could be properly protected, Kartchner Caverns feature an extraordinary variety of colors and world-class formations, including one of the world’s longest soda straw stalactites and the 58-foot-tall Kubla Khan column.
We’ll drive the spectacular Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, regarded as one of the most scenic drives in southeast Arizona. Aside from the arresting canyon and mountain views, the nearly 60-mile round-trip offers the biological equivalent of driving from the deserts of Mexico to the high forests of Canada. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the top, weather permitting, before heading back to the fairgrounds.
New Year’s Day will begin with a late-morning potluck brunch, followed by a scenic hike in Saguaro National Park. Then that evening, we will visit Tucson’s famous Gaslight Theatre for dinner and a performance of their Christmas musical comedy melodrama Elf’d.
We’ll spend our final full day together learning about desert life at the world-class Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, and art gallery. The Museum’s two miles of walking paths, traversing 21 acres of desert landscape, focus on the interpretation of the natural history, plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. Knowledgeable docents along the way will help to enhance your understanding. And we’ll cap off the week with a Southwest-style dinner at the Sunset Cantina on the fairgrounds.
Optional activity
Historic Tombstone + Queen Mine Tour ($22/person)
You have the option of joining the group on a day trip to the historic southeastern Arizona towns of Tombstone and Bisbee.
First, we’ll drive to Tombstone, where we will witness a re-enactment of the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral where Wyatt Earp and his brothers and Doc Holliday took on the Clantons, all at the actual site where it happened. After the gunfight, you’ll have time on your own to tour the O.K. Corral Historic Complex, watch the Tombstone Historama show, visit the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper museum, and have lunch in one of the historic saloons that line the main street.
Later that afternoon, we’ll continue to the famous Western mining town of Bisbee. Here, outfitted in hard hats, miner’s headlamps and yellow slickers, we’ll descend 1,500 feet underground into the Queen Mine for a tour led by retired miners, that recounts the techniques, dangers and drama of copper mining in the early 20th century.
This optional activity includes discounted group-price admission to Tombstone and the Queen Mine tour. Transportation to Tombstone and Bisbee will be by carpool in our private vehicles. Meals are at your own expense. Tickets must be purchased in advance to take advance of the group discount.
Hangout location
Is this event right for me?
Every member is welcome at all Escapees RV Club events. With that said, the Tucson New Year’s Hangout is best suited for members who:
- enjoy hiking and walking up to 2-3 miles at a time
- can participate in activities during weekdays (traditional working/business hours)
For events designed specifically for working-age RVers, with most activities in the evenings and on weekends, try an Xscapers Convergence. Or for more of an all-inclusive, guided-tour experience, you may prefer one of our Head-Out Programs (HOPs).
COVID-19 precautions (updated August 18, 2021)
Because the safety of our members and staff is our number one priority, proof of either full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend this event.
Escapees recommends that members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before attending any club event. (“Fully vaccinated” means that at least two weeks have passed since receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson or Astra-Zeneca vaccines). Participants who are not fully vaccinated must obtain a COVID-19 test not more than 72 hours (three days) before entering this event.
- At event check-in, you will be asked to present either a valid CDC vaccination card showing that you are fully vaccinated OR the written results of a negative COVID-19 test performed within the past 72 hours.
- If you don’t have a test, have lost your vaccination card, or are outside of the 72-hour window, locations of the nearest testing facilities will be provided to you. You will be required to self-isolate until a negative test can be provided.
- Participants who test positive are not allowed to remain on site, and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.
Situations in which you may not attend this event
You may not attend this event if any of the following are true for you or anyone in your party, unless you have met CDC criteria for discontinuing self-isolation:
- Within 14 days before attending the event you have tested positive, or been exposed to someone who has tested positive, for COVID-19, or
- Within 48 hours before attending the event, you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a fever of 100 or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), whether or not you are vaccinated, unless you have obtained a negative COVID-19 test since the onset of your symptoms and within 72 hours before entering this event.
FAQs about the vaccine/testing requirement
While PCR tests are preferred because they are the most accurate, antigen tests (also referred to as rapid tests) will be accepted.
Yes, children who are not fully vaccinated will need a negative COVID-19 test result to attend.
If you are not fully vaccinated, you can get tested at any facility that offers COVID-19 testing. The websites of most state or county public health departments can help you find testing locations. Many retail pharmacies also offer testing. Your event hosts will have a list of testing locations in the area of the event.
If you test positive for COVID-19 before the event, you are unfortunately no longer eligible to attend. To receive a full refund of your registration fee, email a copy of your positive test result to us at hangouts@escapees.com.
If you test positive for COVID-19 during the event, you may not remain on-site at the event.
If you’ve had COVID-19 within 14 days before attending the event (meaning you are still within the 14-day isolation window), you are unfortunately not eligible to attend. To receive a full refund of your registration fee, email a dated copy of your positive test result to us at hangouts@escapees.com.
If you’ve lost your CDC vaccine card, you will need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before arriving at the event.
Masks recommended indoors
In accordance with current guidance from the CDC, Escapees strongly recommends that all attendees, vaccinated or not, wear a mask when participating in activities or socializing with other participants indoors. Attendees are also expected to comply with all masking requirements issued by any governmental entity or private business.
Other precautions
The COVID-19 health and safety precautions that will be in effect during the Hangout will depend on the state of the pandemic, local and state health regulations, and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and other medical professionals at the time. These precautions may include measures such as requiring wearing of masks in certain situations, requiring social distancing, avoiding indoor group activities, limiting carpooling, and/or limiting activities that include sharing of food. In addition to the above, you may be required to agree in writing that you will help provide a safe environment for everyone by complying with our health and safety rules, and to release Escapees from liability should you become ill during or after the event.
Please also be aware that the availability and content of some planned activities may change depending on local and state health regulations and the business’ own COVID-19 mitigation policies.
Schedule
Activities and schedule are subject to change. Activities marked with an *asterisk are not included in your Hangout fee.
Monday 12/27
Arrive at Pima County Fairgrounds
Evening welcome gathering & introductions; sign up for scavenger hunt teams
Tuesday 12/28
Tucson scavenger hunt
Lunch at Ten55 Brewing Company*
Potluck dinner & movie night
Wednesday 12/29
Optional day trip to Tombstone (with Gunfight at O.K. Corral Re-enactment) and Bisbee (with Queen Mine Tour)
Thursday 12/30
Kartchner Caverns tour
Evening: “lot crawl” rig tours & appetizers
Friday 12/31
Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway drive & picnic lunch
New Year’s Eve Party with hypnotist Paul Ramsay and DJ Tony G
Saturday 1/1
Potluck brunch
Hike in Saguaro National Park
Dinner* & performance of Elf’d at Gaslight Theatre
Sunday 1/2
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Farewell dinner at Sunset Cantina
Monday 1/3
GTHO breakfast
Departure
Registration includes:
- 7 nights RV camping in a full-hookup site
- Scavenger hunt app
- Kartchner Caverns admission & tour
- Gaslight Theater admission
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum admission
- Farewell dinner
- New Year’s Eve party
- Hiking
- Social activities
- GTHO departure day breakfast
- Hangout hosts
Optional activity: Historic Tombstone + Queen Mine Tour ($22/person)
Additional costs to consider: meals out, National Park admission
All activities listed for this event are subject to change.
Hangout price
You must be an Escapees RV Club member to attend this event. If you are not currently a member, you will be able to add a new membership during the registration process.
By attending this event, you are agreeing to the following:
- As an attendee, you assume all risk and danger relating to your personal property, RV and attendance at the Hangout, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event. In the event of loss or theft, no claim will be made upon Escapees, its volunteers, employees or agents.
- Volunteers may be directing and assisting you in your parking areas. However, it is the driver of the vehicle who is ultimately responsible for avoiding obstacles or dangerous situations and is solely responsible for any damage to one’s property or the property of others.
- As an attendee at this event, you are granting your permission to be filmed, videotaped, audiotaped, or photographed, and granting to Escapees RV Club the full use of any such recordings or images without compensation.
- By registering, you will also receive occasional email notifications of future Hangouts; however, you can opt-out of these notifications at any time.
- If COVID-19 protocols are still required at the time of the Hangout, you will help provide a safe environment for everyone by complying with our health and safety rules. If requested, you will sign a written agreement releasing Escapees from liability should you become ill during or after the event.
How to register
To register, click the button below and follow the instructions on your screen. (Note: registration by phone is not available for this Hangout due to staff being at Escapade. You can call the Event Registration team at 936-755-1060 with questions about the Hangout, but there may be a delay in receiving a response.)
Registration opens Wednesday, July 14, 2021
at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.
We’re sorry, but this Hangout is currently sold out. If you’d still like to attend, please join the waiting list. We’ll notify you if a spot opens up.
After you register
Watch for an email from registration@escapees.com for a confirmation of your registration. If you don’t receive it, call Escapees Event Registration at (936) 755-1060 to be sure that your registration was processed correctly.
After you register, please join the Hangout group on Facebook (a link to this group will be in your confirmation email). We will use this group to communicate with Hangout attendees before and during the event. You will also receive one or more emails before the Hangout with more information as needed.
Cancellations
If you cancel on or before Wednesday, November 24, 2021, you will receive a refund of your Hangout registration fee minus a $50 cancellation fee.
There will be no refunds or credits for cancellations received after November 24, 2021. Registrations are not transferable.
Waiting list
If this Hangout is sold out when you try to register, please join the waiting list by completing the form below. There are usually several cancellations before a Hangout…so if a spot opens up and you’re the next one on the waiting list, you’ll get another shot at registration! (Note: please don’t join the waiting list unless and until the Hangout sells out. Entries received before that time will be ignored.)
This waiting list is no longer available because the event has already occurred.
Because this event begins soon, we are no longer accepting new waiting list sign-ups.