Best food and drink festivals in February
Forget finding a Valentine’s Day date. February in Phoenix is all about the love ... of food and drink.
It may be a short month, but there are more than a dozen food and drink festivals taking place from Laveen to Scottsdale in February, including some of the most highly-anticipated festivals of the year. The two-day Devour Culinary Classic will draw thousands of food lovers from across the Southwest to the Desert Botanical Garden, and both beer lovers and cocktail aficionados can get excited about Arizona Beer Week and Arizona Cocktail Weekend.
Whether you want to feel the heat at a community-focused cook off or go big at one of the best beer fests in the region, here are 13 of the best food and drink festivals in Phoenix in February.
Arizona Strong Beer Festival
Arizona Beer Week includes hundreds of events all over the state, but the don’tmiss action will be at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival. More than 150 breweries from around the country will gather in central Phoenix to tap and taste specialty, unique and rare brews. Admission includes 40 tasting tickets with VIP tickets available for those interested in perks like early entry and private restrooms.
Details: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb 9. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $60. 480-3659000, arizonabeerweek.com/arizona -strong-beer-festival.
Street Eats Food Truck Festival
Fifty-five food trucks will roll into Salt River Fields in Scottsdale for this two-day fest. Every truck will serve a $2 sample menu so attendees can taste as much street food as possible. Food is not included in the general-admission ticket price. Entertainment will include bands, lawn games, eating contests, local vendors, cooking classes and more.
Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. $12. streeteatsaz.com.
Scottsdale Taco Crawl
Inhale tacos and exhale negativity at this bar crawl with a hefty side of tacos. Taco and tequila lovers will sample tacos at several Old Town Scottsdale bars, which include Casa Amigos, Goodwood Tavern, Old Town Gringos, Skylanes, El Chameleon, and Wasted Grain. Tickets include six tacos and drink specials at each location.
Details: noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Multiple locations. $20. scottsdaletaco crawl.weebly.com.
Chili Bourbon Festival
Local home cooks and chefs can compete in this downtown Chandler cook-off. A ticket includes a tasting card to sample from the competitors and the right to vote for your favorite. The event also will feature more than a dozen types of bourbon, which will be available to sample with the purchase of a drink card.
Details: Noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Dr. AJ Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $10. chilibourbon festival.com.
Laveen BBQ Festival
Hosted by the Laveen Community Council, this 6th annual event includes barbecue, cold drinks, family-friendly games, and live entertainment.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Cesar Chavez Park, 7858 S. 35th Ave., Laveen. $10. Laveenbbq.org.
The Cocktail Jam
Kick off Arizona Cocktail Week at this music and mixology party at the Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. DJ Z-Trip will perform and admission includes 10 cocktail samples.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, to 2 a.m. Sunday, Feb 17. The Van Buren, 12 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. $50. Arizonacocktailweekend.com.
Top Bars
Why travel to taste cocktails from the best bars around the country when they’ll all be in Phoenix for Top Bars? This Arizona Cocktail Week event will highlight bars such as Herbs & Rye in Las Vegas, Arnaud’s French 75 in New Orleans and Raised By Wolves in San Diego, all of which will set up pop-up bars and pour cocktails for attendees to sample.
Details: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. The Croft, 22 E. Buchanan Street, Phoenix. $50. Arizonacocktailweekend.com.
Devour the World
For the second year, Devour Week includes Devour the World, a celebration of the international flavor alive in Phoenix. Held at the Japanese Friendship Garden, the event includes multicultural cuisine from restaurants such as Good Fortune Kitchen, Satay Hut, Flavors of Louisiana, El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant & Bar and Hana Japanese.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. $75. Japanese Friendship Garden, 1125 N. Third Ave., Phoenix. $75.classic.devourphoenix.com/devour-the-world.
Scottsdale Beer Fest
Beer lovers can head to Old Town Scottsdale for this hop-filled party. Attendees can taste beer samples from multiple breweries at Wasted Grain.
Details: 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Wasted Grain, 7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. $20. scottsdalebeerfest .weebly.com.
Devour Culinary Classic
Phoenix food lovers won’t want to miss the 10th annual Devour Culinary Classic, easily the most high-profile food festival of the year. The event takes place at the Desert Botanical Garden for two days of culinary indulgence. Catch top restaurants — including Barrio Cafe, Cotton & Copper, Talavera, Gallo Blanco and Chula Seafood dishing out samples alongside local food vendors, winemakers, spirit artisans, and more.
Details: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 24. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. classic.devourphoenix.com.
Phoenix Vegan Festival
This family-friendly event at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix offers vegan food trucks, restaurants, and food purveyors. The animal-free festival also features a vegan market with veganfriendly products, chef demonstrations, live music, and kids’ activities.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 24. $25. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. $25. phxveganfest.com.
Italian Festival of Arizona
Join the Italian Association of Arizona for the sixth annual Italian Festival in Scottsdale. The two-day event includes food, wine, music, dance performances and crafts. General-admission tickets include entrance and all entertainment.
Details: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. $10. South Bridge, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. $10. Italianfestivalaz.com.