Festivals to feast on
Here are all the Phoenix food festivals not to miss this spring
Springtime in the Valley is a great season as food festivals fill parks nearly every weekend.
Springtime in Phoenix has got to be one of the best seasons. Aside from the paloverde flowers making everyone sneeze, Valley parks overflow with food festivals and events nearly every weekend. For boozy beverage fans, Arizona Beer Week and Arizona Cocktail Weekend both happen in February; while the Devour Culinary Classic takes over the Desert Botanical Garden and a dumpling festival heads to Chandler. With so many food and drink events happening across the Valley, here are some of the festivals you don’t want to miss.
January Arizona Wine Festival
For one January weekend, Arizona wine country comes to Phoenix. Attendees can sample Arizona wines at this gathering in downtown Phoenix. More than 25 Arizona wineries will pour upwards of 200 wines at the two-day festival. Enjoy food from local food trucks while sampling wine.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Heritage Square, 113 N. 6th St., Phoenix. $20-$55. willcoxwinecountry.org/ event/the-arizona-wine-festival.
Details: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. $25. tacolandiaphx.com.
February
Chinese Culture and Cuisine Festival
For three days, Margaret T. Hance Park will host a festival celebrating the
culture and cuisine of China. Watch dragon and lion dances and martial arts demonstrations while shopping at arts booths and sampling cuisine from local vendors. Festival attendees can also enjoy a beverage at the beer or tea gardens or watch the action at a table tennis tournament.
Details: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. Free. phoenix chineseweek.org/festival/festival-details.
Arizona Cocktail Weekend kicks off this year with a cocktail carnival on Saturday night. The carnival includes a 20-person marching band, art show, light display and a host of creative cocktails. Watch out for stilt walkers and acrobats as well. General admission tickets include 10 drink samples.
Details: 8 p.m.-midnight. Saturday, Feb. 15. The Walter Where?House Gallery, 702 N. 21st Ave., Phoenix. $25-$100. arizonacocktailweekend.com.
If beer, barbecue and country music are your idea of a good time, head to this festival at Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park this spring. The family-friendly event will feature live music all day on dueling stages, a petting zoo, carnival rides and more. Food and drinks are sold separately.
Details: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler. $15-$20. chandlerbbq.com.
April Nirvana Food & Wine
Nirvana returns for its fourth annual festival at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort with chef dinners and events throughout the weekend. Chef talent is yet to be announced.
Details: Thursday through Sunday, April 16-19. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort, 5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley. nirvanafoodand wine.com.
Fried French Fry and Music Festival
With a lineup like “pizza fries, fry tacos, pasta fries, dessert fries, poutine, chili fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese fries,” and more, you know this festival isn’t messing around. Head to Margaret T. Hance Park for a day of craft beer, live music, lawn games and, of course, fries. Ticket price does not include food, but most vendors will have $2 to $3 samples and some are cash only.
Details: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. $10-$15. eventbrite.com/e/ fried-a-french-fry-and-music-festival -tickets.
Arizona Craft Spirits and Cocktail Festival
For a refreshing afternoon in the hotter part of Arizona spring, head to Chandler for the Arizona Craft Spirits and Cocktail Festival. Local and national distilleries will be on hand to offer samples and mix cocktails while guests take in live music in the park. Explore an onsite tiki lounge and a speakeasy or purchase a bottle to take home of your favorite spirit.
Details: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $8-$28. eventbrite.com/e/ arizona-craft-spirits-and-cocktail -festival-tickets.