Tubac Festival of the Arts 1960 through 1969

The first annual Tubac Festival of the Arts in 1960 was sponsored by the newly formed Tubac Chamber of Commerce. According to the Chamber's News Bulletin, the objective of the festival was to "provide the public the opportunity to enjoy the creative efforts of the local artists and to extend a welcome invitation to those interested in locating and working in the valley".

The 1960 Festival was held at Sid Cedargreen's gallery and studio he called "The Tubac Art Center" from February 6 - 21 with 25 artists and craftsmen from amateur to professional status.

The second annual Festival was the first to give awards, with Bing Crosby donating the $150 prize to Tubac resident El Meyer for his watercolor, "Ahead of the Storm".

After the chamber had sponsored the Festival for 3 years, the responsibility was turned over to the newly formed Santa Cruz Valley Art Association.

At the 1965 Festival, Tubac resident Will Rogers, Jr. performed rope tricks and sang original ballads of Tubac's history.

By 1968, the Festival had broken records - attendance increased from 1,000 in 1960 to 10,000 in 1969 and according to the Green Valley News, the "10th annual Festival of the Arts … put Tubac on the map."