The best food and drink festivals in Arizona this summer
There’s nothing better than a cold beer on a hot summer day, which is why some of Arizona’s best beer festivals are just around the corner.
Whether you’re looking for an indoor farmers market in Phoenix or a don’tmiss wine tasting in northern Arizona, there’s plenty to eat, drink and do in around the state in June, July and August.
Here are the best food and drink festivals in Arizona this summer.
Arizona Vignerons Alliance: Summertime Wine
Join some of Arizona’s best winemakers for a tasting of white, rosé and light red wines that will be perfect to sip on during the heat of summer. Participating wineries include Caduceus Cellars, Garage-East, Dos Cabezas WineWorks, Four Eight Wineworks, LDV Winery and Merkin Vineyards.
Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 7. Duck and Decanter, 1651 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. $15. eventbrite.com/e/arizona -vignerons-alliance-summertime-wine -tickets-61840063294.
Mother Road Gets Real
Tickets to this outdoor event include 16 4-ounce samples of beer from Mother Road Brewing Company and other Arizona brewers. Expect about 20 brews to be available, all of which will be real ales in casks and firkins. If you find something you like, you’ll be able to exchange two tasting tickets for an 8-ounce pour.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 7. Mother Road Brewing Company, 1300 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. $28. brownpapertickets .com/event/4202560.
Flagstaff Blues and Brews
In addition to two days of live blues performances, this Flagstaff festival features beers from Arizona brewers such as Barrio Brewing and Mother Road Brewing Company. Other featured breweries include Deschutes, Odell and Omission.
Details: 2:30-9 p.m. Friday, June 7 and 11a.m.-8p.m. Saturday, June 8. Continental Country Club Driving Range, corner of N. Country Club and Old Walnut Canyon Road, Flagstaff. $30-$55. 928606-7600, flagstaffblues.com.
Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival
Dozens of craft brewers gather for the 27th annual Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival including Beaver Street Brewery, College Street Brewhouse, Freak’N Brewing Company, Hop Valley Brewing, Sentinel Peak Brewing Company and Wasatch Brewing. General admission tickets include 22 tastings of 3ounce pours and a souvenir sampling mug.
Details: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Pepsi Ampitheater, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff. $45-$90. 928-421-4970, azbeer.com/flagstaff.htm.
Wine in the Pines
Drive about two hours north from Phoenix for this 13th annual event, which offers wine, beer, food and more. Tickets include all tastings, food and a souvenir glass.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Sunday, June 8. Crown King Saloon, 7219 Main Street, Crown King. $35. 602-717-6363, winein thepinesaz.com.
You’re Bacon Me Crazy Brunch Crawl
Brunch your way around downtown Chandler during this self-guided tour. A ticket includes a wristband, sunglasses, parking and a small bite at each of the featured restaurants. Each spot also will offer a $7 cocktail. Participating brunch spots include Murphy’s Law, SanTan Brewery, West Alley BBQ, Bourbon Jacks, The Local Chandler, Crust, Las Palmas Cantina and Flix Brewhouse.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Multiple locations. $15. eventbrite .com/e/youre-bacon-me-crazy-brunch -crawl-tickets-55666775825.
The Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival
Enjoy food and drink samples from more than 30 Tucson Mexican restaurants at this event, which celebrates Visit Tucson’s Best 23 Miles of Mexican food in America. Participating restaurants include El Charro Cafe, Penca and Baja Mar Seafood Market & Restaurant.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 15. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson. $60. 520-797-3959, saaca.org/tucson23.html.
Bloomin’ Beerfest
If you like your beer with a side of modernist literature, then you won’t want to miss this beer- and book-focused event. Named for Leopold Bloom, the protagonist from James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses,” this festival includes craft beer tastings, live music, a costume contest and readings from the book.
Details: 7-11 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $30. 602-258-0109, azirish.org/ bloomsday.
Chefs + Farmers Market Series
Hotel Valley Ho is launching an indoor market series that will feature bites from chef Russell LaCasce along with other top local chefs. Shoppers also can stock up on local produce and enjoy spirit and wine tastings and live music.
Details: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday June 22-July 13. Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Mail Street, Scottsdale. Free. 480-3762600, hotelvalleyho.com/hotel/hotel -events/summer-market.
Downtown Chandler Brewery Crawl
This five-stop tour of downtown Chandler’s craft beer scene includes SanTan Brewing Company, FLIX Brewhouse, The Perch, Craft 64 and Quarthaus. A $30 ticket includes one beer at each spot, a burrito at SanTan and popcorn at Flix.
Details: 2-7 p.m. Saturday, June 22. SanTan Brewing Company, 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler. $30. eventbrite .com/e/downtown-chandler-brewery -crawl-tickets-62362116770.
Suds & Slides
This adults-only event is like summer camp, but better. Attendees 21 and over can enjoy cold beers and spirits while taking part in games including tug of war, a dunk tank, a three-legged race, a giant pillow fight, mini golf, beer pong, life-size foosball and a live action “hungry hippos” game. Admission includes access to giant inflatable waterslides and all games. Food and beverages are sold separately.
Details: 2-9 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Riverview Park, 2100 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa. $15. sudsandslides.com.
Harvestfest 2019
Kick off harvest season in southern Arizona at Harvestfest. At the all-day event wine lovers can take winery tours either with the Sonoita Vineyards winemaker or by wagon and participate in grape stomping starting at 1 p.m. Six wine tastings and four food and wine pairings also are included with general admission.
Details: 10 a.m.-4.m. Saturday, July 27. Sonoita Vineyards, 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, Elgin. $25-$85. 520-455-5893, sonoitavineyards.com/event-calendar/ harvestfest-2019.
Real Wild and Woody Beer Festival
Love unusual beers? Then you won’t want to miss this beer festival, which focuses on cask-conditioned and barrelaged beers, seasonal brews, beer cocktails and small batch favorites. Tickets include 20 beer sampling tickets and small bites from local restaurants and breweries.
Details: 2-6 p.m. Sunday, July 28. Phoenix Convention Center, North Building. $57. realwildandwoody.com.
Margarita Crawl Tempe
Check in at Rula Bula before setting out on a self-guided bar crawl around Tempe. Registration includes discounted drinks at five Tempe venues, as well as entry to an after-party and free takehome swag for the first 100 people who check-in.
Details: 2-8 p.m. Saturday, August 10. Rúla Búla Tempe Irish Pub and Restaurant, 401 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. $35. eventbrite.com/o/bar-crawl-unlimited -20202381636.