8 Annual Arizona Food Festivals You Should Visit
Known for its hot, sunny summers, stunning desert landscapes and Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona is also home to some of the best food festivals in the country. And Arizonans know how to celebrate the bounty of their state. From taco fests to craft beer celebrations, these eight annual Arizona food festivals are well worth a visit.
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Bacon, Brews and Blues Fest
Queen City
Featuring everyone’s favorite pork product, the Bacon, Brews and Blues Fest is the perfect way to spend a November day filling up on bacon tacos, pork belly and bacon-wrapped everything. After you’ve had your fill of savory options, sample some bacon fudge, bacon peanut brittle or bacon caramel for dessert. Wash it all down with beer, cider and spirits from 21 local purveyors. Go for the VIP pass to enjoy a bacon buffet and drink tickets.
See more: 10 Farm-to-Pint Breweries You Should Visit
Southern Arizona Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge
Tucson
Presented by the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, the Southern Arizona Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge celebrates all the fresh, local flavors of a town with some of the oldest agricultural history in the country. The event takes place over Labor Day weekend and includes salsa and taco competitions with awards in 15 different categories. Taste a few of the inventive creations, then cool off with frozen tequila popsicles and snow cones.
Nearly 50 restaurants serve tasty bites at this festival that combines the culinary arts with the vibrant community arts scene. You’ll also enjoy music, dancing and live painting, and proceeds help support a local food bank and art therapy program.
See more: 6 Salsa Recipes to Celebrate National Taco Day
Brews and Brats Oktoberfest
Kingman
Brews and Brats Oktoberfest, the oldest Oktoberfest in the northwest part of the state, takes place the first weekend of October along Route 66 in Kingman. Discover a little piece of Bavaria at this fall festival that mimics the famous Munich event. Beer, bratwurst, sauerkraut and pretzels headline the menu and live music livens up the event. You’ll also enjoy dancing, vendors and an adjoining Kids Fest at this free, family-friendly festival.
Barbeque & Beer Festival
Chandler
The Barbecue & Beer Festival in Chandler offers a massive amount of delicious barbeque, thirst-quenching beer and boot-stomping country music. In addition to all the great food from dedicated and award-winning pitmasters, there’s also a carnival, a petting zoo and two stages with country acts. Both a concert and a festival, you’re sure to love the combination of delicious barbecue, cold brews and country tunes.
See more: What’s in Season? Arizona Produce Calendar
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Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival
Tucson
As the only place in the United States designated a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO, it’s no surprise that Tucson is home to one of Arizona’s tastiest food festivals. Part of that designation comes from what the city calls the “best 23 miles of Mexican food in the country.” And in late June each year, the city celebrates its diverse array of south-of-the-border creations at the Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival. During the event, dozens of decades-old, family-owned restaurants open their doors for food demos, classes, menu samplings, live music and more. It’s a casual way to experience this truly one-of-a-kind culinary culture while sampling tamales, chiles rellenos, huevos rancheros and reposado, plus so many great foods you may never have tried before.
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Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Scottsdale
Each April, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival invites more than 40 restaurants to serve up delicious eats alongside wine and beer gardens and thee live music stages in a fabulous outdoor setting. There are two culinary demonstrations areas, one inside and one outside, as well as a chocolate and wine sampling area. There’s even a Tito’s Handmade Vodka lounge and a “Liquid Arizona” area that highlights spirits, wines and craft beers from around the state. Despite the libations, this doesn’t have to be an adults-only event. There’s a family fun zone, plus plenty of nonalcoholic beverage options. Best of all, the net proceeds of this event, (exceeding $4 million since 2000), are donated to local arts programs.
Devour Phoenix
Phoenix
As the jewel of the Phoenix-area food festivals, Devour Phoenix features a full week of events highlighting all the amazing culinary talent and fresh food that the city has to offer. Enjoy the meal of a lifetime at the sit-down Seven Chefs Dinner prepared by the area’s top chefs with farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients that will blow your mind. The main event of this February festival is the Culinary Classic, a massive celebration of food featuring local chefs, demonstrations, samples, beer, wine and more.
See more: Arizona’s Top 10 Ag Products
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Rockin’ Taco Street Fest
Chandler
This fabulous Arizona food festival started small and has already outgrown itself a few times over. Now, Rockin’ Taco Street Fest is a beer and tacos bonanza that takes over a park in the center of Chandler every September. Whether you prefer the simple flavors of an al pastor taco or you’re adventurous enough to try just about anything on a tortilla, this event will have the perfect taco for you.
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Each vendor offers at least one taco variety priced at just $2, as well as Mexican grilled corn, churros, and other delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites. And beverage booths serve up margaritas, beer, and tequila and vodka cocktails. The festival also features great bands for all-day entertainment, lucha libre wrestling, a souped-up car show, and taco and street corn eating contests if you aren’t too full.
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I have clicked on several of the venues, and it states they have been postponed to further notice, can you advise when there will be an update to the venues for Tucson and Chandler