Get Ready for Spring at 5 Phoenix Festivals

I just can’t say it enough … this time of year features our best weather and the Valley rejoices with great festivals from Chandler to Carefree.  Here are my top five!

1.  Great Arizona Beer Festival
Tempe Beach Park (map) is the place to be to sample more than 100 micro-brewed and specialty craft beers at this annual event that raises money for Sun Sounds of Arizona which provides audio access to print media for the visually impaired. Visitors 21-and-over receive a souvenir mini-mug, tickets for 24 samples, and can enjoy live entertainment, food booths and games. Designated drivers have their own entertainment area and can get a massage or sample specialty sodas from The Pop Shop.

Great Arizona Beer Festival
March 6-7, 2010
2-6 p.m.

Tempe Beach Park
80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe
$40 in advance, $50 at the door for general admission and $20 designated driver ticket. 480-774-8300

Jan Taylor, artist

2.  Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival
In downtown Carefree they host more than 160 artists, feature local wineries, live entertainment and gourmet food for art lovers and anyone interested in spending the day strolling the quaint streets in search of the perfect piece.  This unique town is the perfect backdrop for small, medium and monumental life-sized bronze sculptures, metal, clay, wood, stone, glass and mixed media sculptures. There is an array of pottery, photography, hand crafted jewelry, batiks and select fine crafts. There is also spectacular oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, watercolors, pastels, charcoals, etchings and mixed media paintings. Styles range from Southwest and traditional to contemporary and abstract, including floral, wildlife, European, African and Native American art.

Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival
March 5-7, 2010
10am – 5pm
Free parking
Admission $3
Downtown Carefree – Easy and Ho Hum Streets

3. Chandler Ostrich Festival
Once a prominent part of life in Chandler, both the town and Maricopa County led the nation in raising ostriches for their stylish and expensive plumes.  Today, the 22^nd annual Ostrich Festival celebrates this tradition with a variety of activities including ostrich races, two stages for live concerts, a kids zone with a petting zoo and pony rides and a host of entertainers to include jugglers, comedians and other attractions.  Of course your experience is not complete until you try one of their specialties; ostrich burger, ostrich jerky or fresh emu eggs.

Chandler Ostrich Festival
March 12- 14, 2010

Tumbleweed Park (map)
2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler
Admission:  $7-$9, $5 parking
480-963-4571

4. Devoured
An interesting name for the Valley’s premier culinary festival, Devoured, showcases our best local eateries. Originally named West of Western, this festival features more than 40 native favorites, including Quiessence, Kai and Cibo.  They all provide samples of the best of local fine dining at this two-day event at the Phoenix Art Museums’ Dorrance Sculpture Garden. Wine tastings and educational classes take place inside the Great Hall, and live musicians perform both inside and outside.

Devoured
March 13 and 14, 2010
11 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix (map)
480-657-7333

$65 advance single day
$90 advance two day ticket
$75 single day at the door

Ming Tsai of "Simply Ming"

5.  Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Saving the best for last, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is the longest running festival of its kind in the United States, drawing more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities (not to mention idyllic weather!).

As always, cooking demonstrations by some of the nation’s top chefs take center stage and a one of a kind James Beard out of the house dinner will most likely be a crowd favorite.  Events are hosted at various restaurants and resorts throughout Scottsdale.

And this year, the Scottsdale League for the Arts recently planted an organic vegetable garden on the grounds of the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.

The garden will provide fresh herbs and produce to be used at the festival.  Vegetables harvested through the winter and spring will be donated to the Vista del Camino community center in Scottsdale.

If you’re looking for an urban vibe, visit “On the Rocks” at the Mondrian Scottsdale for sizzling hors d’oeuvres and cocktails created by innovative mixologists.

Scottsdale Culinary Festival
April 13-18, 2010
Listing of events and ticket information

No matter what kind of festival you crave, the Valley has something to make your taste buds happy, your wallet lighter and your tummy full.

Photos courtesy of flickr – beer festival, culinary festival and Thunderbird artists association, artist Jan Taylor