It has been 83 years since notorious bank robber John Dillinger was arrested in Tucson. A fire at the Hotel Congress led firefighters to Dillinger's room, and that is how police discovered "public enemy number one" was hiding in town.
Each year the Hotel Congress hosts a two-day spectacle in honor of the capture of America's most notorious outlaw. This year, the celebration returns this weekend with a lot of family fun.
The event kicks off tonight with the "Dillinger Speakeasy," an evening celebration of the 1930's with whiskey sampling, food, entertainment, a gun show and cigars. Tickets for that are $30 dollars and all the money raised will go to the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation.
Saturday is devoted to reenactments of Dillinger's bank heist and capture, as well as lots of other family-friendly activities, which begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. According to organizers, the two-day event remains one of the most famous events in Tucson's history. "It's an event that could bring people downtown to celebrate the history of Tucson, now it's grown into this relatively regional event where people come from all over the state to come down and celebrate," General Manager of Hotel Congress Todd Hanley said.
Hanley says the two-day event will go on despite the rain in the forecast, canopy tents will be setup. Those who cannot make it to the events this weekend, they will be live streamed online at hotelcongress.com.
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