The time is near when wildflowers blossom, crops ripen and delectable food festivals fill our calendar. Here are the details on this year's spring food and beverage festivals in Phoenix.
February Events
February 9: Taste in Tempe
Sweeping panoramic views greet guests as they enjoy an adventure in food and wine, plus musical entertainment all at Tempe Center for the Arts Amphitheater. Guests experience a variety of popular dishes from 30 restaurants, 30 wineries and 30 craft breweries. The perfect prelude to Valentine's Day, what better way to celebrate and enjoy up-close-and-personal celebrity chef demonstrations, plus romance-themed vendors offering flowers, chocolates, jewelry and more. CBS Radio delivers LIVE music to set the mood.
February 9: Devour Phoenix's Fifth Annual Bartending Competition
To celebrate Phoenix's cocktail culture, seven "Startenders" go head-to-head in the Fifth Annual Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition! Using locally distilled Arizona Distilling Company Gin and Copper City Bourbon, local favorites come together to mix their drink of choice. Judges will rate each handcrafted concoction and, after considering votes from the audience, crown the "Devour Phoenix Best Cocktail of the Valley 2014!" The event features three live acoustic music sets, two energy-infused rounds of high-stakes mixology, and seven cocktail samples per attendee--one from each contestant!
February 14-16: Chocolate Lovers' Festival
During the Verde Canyon Railroad's Chocolate Lovers' Festival a decadent platter for two is served at your seat and a chocolate fountain invites you to create your own sweet temptations. Hot, fresh specialty coffees are included as are Verde Canyon Railroad’s first-class appetizers. Private label champagne may be chilled on ice right at your seat, a perfect way to toast the end of winter in the remarkable canyon through which we travel. Regular first-class and coach seats are also available.
February 14-21: Arizona Cocktail Week
More than 30 events from whiskey seminars for professionals to cocktail-pairing dinners open to the public are scheduled during this second-annual celebration. See their website for locations and times of events.
February 15: Arizona Strong Beer Festival
Arizona Beer Week kicks off with the Arizona Strong Beer Festival, held at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. Although strong beers (those with high alcohol content) are the focus at the festival, a huge variety of craft beers, as well as specialty styles and unique, just-for-this-event brews are made available to festival-goers, who will receive a commemorative four-ounce tasting glass and 15 tasting tickets for the price of admission. VIP admission includes 20 tickets. And because food and beer just naturally go together, there will be plenty of top-notch food vendors on hand, serving up tasty eats that wash down well with frosty suds. Live music will keep the atmosphere rockin.'
February 15-22: Arizona Beer Week
Get ready for over 250 craft beer events across the state. Beer tastings, festivals, beer dinners, craft beer ice cream tastings, special releases, brewery tours and much more. The Arizona Craft Brewing scene is rapidly growing and the 4th annual Arizona Beer Week is poised to be the largest ever. Visit the festival website for a full calendar of events and locations.
February 16: The Grape Arizona Wine Event
Taste wines from more than a dozen state vineyards, or take advantage of the microbrew beer garden instead. The event also includes food, raffles and a silent auction.
February 22-23: Corks and Cactus
Sample 40 different wines each day at the Desert Botanical Garden while you visit with representatives from various wineries. Enjoy musical entertainment and try delicacies from Fabulous Food Catering and Events that will be available for purchase. Guests will also be able to buy wines from a retail store that will be priced at $35 or less.
Corks and Cactus (Photo credit: Adam Rodriguez)
February 22-23: Best Food Truck of Arizona
The first "Best Food Truck of Arizona" competition heads to Chandler. The event will feature over 50 food trucks that are all vying for your vote! Attendees will have the opportunity to cast three ballots for their favorite food trucks. Participating food trucks will offer half and full servings for guests to purchase, which include: pizza, smoothies, street tacos, gourmet hot dogs, and much more. Enjoy local bands, a kid zone play area, picnic pavilion and, of course, some amazing food!
February 23: Flavors of the West
Flavors of the West is a culinary extravaganza that celebrates the flavors of the West Valley. Area chefs will come together in Litchfield Park to show off their culinary masterpieces in a daytime event for Valley-wide foodies. The event will offer a family-friendly atmosphere with great food, wine, entertainment, and outdoor activities.
February 25: Eat Your Art Out Chandler
Eat Your Art Out Chandler is a community event that brings together Chandler restaurants and arts patrons for one day to show their support for the arts in Chandler. Funds from Eat Your Art Out Chandler support various programs at the Center including headline entertainment, the Free Summer Concert Series and the Connecting Kidz programs.
March Events
March 1-2: Devoured Culinary Festival
Devoured Food + Wine Classic is the region’s premier annual culinary event hosted by Phoenix Art Museum, Local First Arizona and Devour Phoenix. The event showcases the fine food and drink producers and purveyors of Arizona while furthering metro Phoenix as a dining destination worthy of international prestige. Each year, over 100 restaurant owners, chefs, food producers, wine makers, distillers and craft beer makers come together to create an incredibly unique culinary experience for 4,000 lucky guests. The leaders in Arizona’s culinary community present their crafts in every way imaginable. They showcase 5-star restaurants and classically trained chefs, self-made restaurateurs and food entrepreneurs, nationally acclaimed wine makers and beer crafters from Arizona, and more.
March 1-2: Polish Festival
Experience a new culture by attending the 11th Annual Polish Festival. Enjoy delicious Polish cuisine and refreshing imported Polish beer that will complement traditional folk dances, Polish music, and fun activities for the whole family.
March 8: My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge
The My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge is a culinary event featuring restaurants, businesses and individuals competing to make the best salsa in their category. Over 80 competitors prepare fresh salsa on-site in either the mild or hot category. Come taste more than 100 homemade salsas, listen to live music, enjoy margaritas, cold beers, great grilled food, and vote for your favorite salsa chef.
My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge (Photo credit: Crystal Ochoa/The Arizona Republic)
March 8-9: Arizona Aloha Festival
There are several stages of live entertainment, including music, dance, and lectures about Hawaii and Polynesia. The Island Marketplace is huge, with vendors offering traditional crafts, fresh flower leis, baskets, hats, carved bone necklaces, and tapa cloth. There are island wood products, and Hawaiian jewelry, surfer shorts, Hawaiian coffee, and Hawaiian music. The food court offers traditional American snacks, but don't miss this chance to sample some of the favorite foods of the people of Hawaii and the South Pacific, like kahlua pig, manapua, haupia, Vilo Vilo chicken, or Spam musubi.
March 15: St. Partick's Day Parade and Faire
The 31st annual St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. March 15 at Third and Sheridan Streets (south of Thomas Road) and moves south to McDowell Road. The event features Irish dancers, bagpipers, green beer, and traditional Irish food. The Irish Faire, a family event with Irish music, dancers, food, and crafters, starts at 10 a.m. in Margaret Hance Park.
March 22: The Great American Barbeque and Beer Festival
The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival has been titled Arizona’s largest BBQ event. With back to back awards for Arizona’s “Event of the Year”, the Great American BBQ & Beer Festival features the ultimate BBQ experience. With over 60 nationally recognized BBQ Pit Masters, multiple craft beer gardens, national recognized entertainment, Harley Davidson bike zone, March Madness lounge, kid zone farmers market, tailgater’s lawn with much, much more! The event is family friendly and sure to be a finger lickin’ good time!
March 30: Check, Please! Arizona Festival
Channel Eight’s Check, Please! Arizona Festival returns to CityScape in Phoenix for its second year. CityScape will be transformed into an exploration of Arizona’s independent restaurant scene, from five-star dining establishments to tucked away cafes. James Beard award-winning chef Robert McGrath hosts the TV show, which is the festival’s inspiration. McGrath, among other celebrity chefs, meet and greet guests and share culinary insight. Eight’s Check, Please! Arizona Festival features a compelling culinary and beverage lineup with seminars, demonstrations and celebrity chef participants to inform and entertain.
March 30: Bon Vivant
The 28th Annual Toyota Financial Services' Bon Vivant, A Celebration of Fine Food and Drink will take place on March 30. Guests will once again enjoy incredible food and wine selections from some of the Valley's hottest restaurants, resorts and caterers and more than 700 great wines, beers, liquors and non-alcoholic drinks from presenting sponsor Bashas', in addition to live music and dancing.
April Events
April 3: Arizona Wine and Dine
Arizona Wine & Dine will showcase Arizona’s premier chefs, restaurants, resorts, fine wines and craft beer. The hip Scottsdale Quarter location sets the perfect tone for a magical evening of food and wine. The top chefs from renowned restaurants and resorts will offer culinary delights while rocking jazz beats fill the Arizona night sky. Boutique wines and craft beers will be paired with each dish to ensure a palate-pleasing experience in a fun, festive atmosphere. This event is designed to raise the awareness of the quality of life benefits that Arizona’s tourism industry provides its residents.
April 8-13: Scottsdale Culinary Festival
As the longest running festival of its kind in the United States, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities. This year's festival will feature a host of events from cooking demonstrations by some of the nation's top chefs to a one-of-a-kind James Beard out-of-the-house dinner. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival has something for everyone! There will be a variety of events including the Chocolate and Wine Experience, the Great Arizona Picnic, the Eat, Drink and Be Pretty party and more. Please check their website for specific times, days, locations, and ticket prices.
April 19: Wingstock: Where Music and Chicken Meat
Wingstock brings together restaurants, live music, contests, beer and more! Valley restaurants have the opportunity to showcase their best chicken wing recipes and compete for the title "Wingstock King of Wings"!
May Events
May 17-26: Spring Arizona Restaurant Week
Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to channel their inner foodie and make reservations at Arizona's premiere restaurants. It's the perfect opportunity to grab a bite, plan a romantic evening out, schedule a long over-due get together, or finally try that restaurant you've had on your wish list. Participating restaurants are not only known for their exceptional cuisine, they also spare no expense to give diners an extraordinary atmosphere for a special night on the town.
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