MELISSA HALTERMAN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Miguel Sanchez, from Phoenix, works on the restoration project for the Fox Theatre in downtown Tucson. The Fox Theatre dates from 1929 and was originally designed to be a vaudeville and movie house.

The Fox Tucson Theatre has been a part of downtown Tucson lore since its grand opening on April 11, 1930.The grand opening was so big, Congress St. was waxed and turned into a giant dance floor for celebrity locals.

This Saturday, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., attendees at the 4th Annual Open House and Block Party will get the chance to relive some of the old charm of the opening night as Congress Street will be closed and the event will feature entertainment, food vendors and a beer garden. There will also be attractions for children including an obstacle course and jumping castle.

The Block Party is the work of the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, a group that owns the Theatre and is nearing the end of a six year, eight and a half million dollar project to restore the Theatre.

"This annual event is our way of letting the public see the progress of the Theatre's restoration," said Herb Stratford, Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation executive director.

The best opportunity for guests may be the chance to tour the theatre itself. Originally designed in 1929 as a movie house/vaudeville theatre that would be the crown jewel in a chain of Lyric Theatres across Southern Arizona, The Fox was always a magnificent structure.

The theatre covers 20,000 square feet and seats 1,300 people. Tours will be available at the Block Party and visitors should take special notice of the beautiful chandelier in the lobby and also the balcony, since Saturday will be the first time it has been available to the public in 26 years. The Fox served Tucson for 44 years, finally closing in June of 1974.

The restoration means great things for downtown Tucson, as it will hopefully lure families back to the area and offer more in the way of recreation. "We hope to continue to grow the Fall Open House/Block Party event into an annual downtown event which is bigger and better each year," said Stratford.

The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation hopes to use the restored space for movies, live performances, corporate and community events and also as a venue for children's programming. The Foundation will reestablish a Tucson chapter of the Mickey Mouse Club, like the one in the Theatre originally.

If all continues as planned, the Fox Theatre should reopen sometime next year. The 4th Annual Open House and Block Party happens this Saturday, September 20th from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Fox Tucson Theatre, at 17 West Congress Street, between Stone and Church. Tickets are $5 per person.