I averaged my rating based on Oct 2012 (5Star) and April 2013 (3.5 Star)…read more The Arizona Jazz Festival is one of the nicest/prettiest music festivals I've attended. Normally, festivals are held in these huge fair grounds with dirty dust being kicked up everywhere. But what is so wonderful and nice about the AZ Jazz festival is that it is held on the beautiful grounds of the Historic Wigwam Resort http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-wigwam-litchfield-park#hrid:-Yra83fScX6aPuKW8hLBSQ. My review in this link tells you how I feel about the Wigwam. As for the musical selection at this "jazz" festival, it is a common tongue in cheek comment that this is not a real Jazz festival because the major draws to the event are "neo-soul" and "old school R&B/Soul" performers. A fellow Yelper, Reese J, commented that the festival should be renamed "Arizona Soul Festival". Nevertheless, the fun atmosphere and talented draws are certainly worth the money and time. So for a little FYI: This festival was previously held at the JW Marriott. This festival is put on every 6 months in October and April. I attended both the October 2012 and April 2013 events. My friends and I bought hotel packages for each event. If you live locally and you live out in Mesa, consider it. The convenience of running to the room at 4pm after sitting in the sun and heat to take a quick shower and change can't be beat. As well as not having to drive an hour to get home. As I stated, I attended Oct 2012 and April 2013. In Oct 2012, the festival set the bar extremely high. I sent them feedback and my only "needs improvement" comment was "get an after party". Litchfield park has no night life. Capitalize on that. They didn't do any better on Friday night in April 2013. The lineup in April '13 was far better than Oct '12. But less Jazzy and more Soul. So, in April 2013, all they had to do was maintain the BEAUTIFUL experience I had Oct '12, but they fell short. here's where I was unhappy. -The Will Call line AWFUL on Friday night. I missed the entire Will Downing Concert because of it. Suggestions: Have lines based on last name. A staff person in the hotel lobby during check-in hours of 3:30 - 5:30 to hand out tickets to hotel pkg people. Separate Will call for VIP. -Drink Tickets! ANOTHER unnecessary line. Suggestions: Presale drink tickets online. And/OR Use a mobile app so folks can buy the tkts at their seats and get in line to buy drinks. -OverCrowded!! Suggestion: Reduce the Max Capacity. Get a new, larger Venue. In October 2012, people danced at their seats as there was more room. Since we were packed in there, you didn't see that very much. -Entrance to Festival Area. lines were long and the VIP line was largely empty. Suggestion: Run the entrance like the TSA does the security chk points at the airport. The TSA person checking the boarding pass/ID of the 1st class passengers ALSO checks coach-class folks when there is no 1st class person is in line. Apply that concept here too! Anyone taking tickets should never be doing nothing (excuse the double negative) when you have a long line. -Guarantee Event exclusivity the resort members scheduled an event on top of this event. I can say that many people felt there was some bias there. I'll leave that comment there. My experience in Oct 2012 was extremely pleasant. I could not imagine a festival being done better. Apr 2013 was just ok for me. The AZ Jazz Fest has my support in Oct 2013. I'm hoping they use a sensible cap this time. But I'm not sure how I will support this event in Oct 2013. I'll have to evaluate the pricing and then make my decision. Update: one thing I forgot to mention: They had more vendors this time around than in Oct 2012. That may have contributed to the lack of space. You may like it. I also didn't comment that every single act was amazing. The shows almost always ran exactly on time and finished on time. I especially love that.

Great venue! You also can stay at resort without worrying about all the traffic when it's over.read more

I wasn't planing on updating my review but this year the food took a turn for the worst and I don't…read morewant my Yelp ID endorsing something in a positive way that I didn't feel positive about. I hope that maybe early in the day many of the vendors just weren't in their work rhythm and got it together later for the crowds and that is a possibility of what happened. I don't feel it's necessary to rat out on some places that didn't perform well in this environment but not all but much of the food I tried I found inedible. A few places that I enjoyed last year put out terrible and ice cold food this year. One place that put out my husband's favorite bite latter in the day watered down the food so much it was terrible and didn't make my good food list just for that. A few places put out good food. Whiskey Rose Soleil at the Renaissance Amuse Bouche Shelly's Specialty Desserts Adams Natural Meats Everyone else (that I tried) I can tell a story about but won't. I left hungry and boozed up on generous amounts of really cheap wine to get my money's worth. (the type of wine you guzzle to avoid tasting) Got my tickets half priced and I still feel this way! I don't think I'm attending next year.

The West Valley needs events like Flavors of the West. Our communities deserve a rich variety of…read moreevents that showcase the culture we enjoy in the West Valley. Flavors of the West delivers some of the best local restaurants in the area each year, in an effort to educate our neighbors about all the great options we have out West- so maybe more will hang out here to eat, drink, and play instead of driving into Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, or Chandler to have their fun. There's plenty of amazing places to enjoy out here.. But, Flavors is unique. The detail around the festival is appreciated. The music is always good. The local chefs are usually the ones behind the booth, so you can get up and close to how they prepare their food, what they use, etc.. The lines can get long, so get there early so you have a chance to try as many places as you can. The restaurants all participate free of charge, but they have some steep costs to bring out their staff, equipment, and food to provide samples to Flavors patrons. For some, this might be their very first time participating in an event like this, so it's hard to judge year to year how consistent the options will be. But, it's nice to try new places and see what's new in the West Valley. The event gives back to charity. Matter of fact, 100% of the event proceeds benefit local charities in need. The organizers are all volunteers, and choose to host this event each year to bring the community together for a celebration of food, music, and friendship. The host, The Honey Foundation, is a home-grown charity that promotes Kindness across the World. They provide Kindness Education for K-12 students here in Arizona and across the United States and have already made a significant impact in decreasing disciplinary action in schools. Information about the foundation can be found at www.honeyfoundation.org Held each year in April | Downtown Litchfield Park | www.FlavorsAZ.com

I've been to Luke Days several times over the years. This event only occurs on even years every 2…read moreyears. They canceled the 2020 Luke Days due to covid. I grew up going to air shows with my parents. I enjoy the skills and engineering that go into making and piloting these incredible flying machines. Things they could have done better in 2026 record heat Luke days. This event is held on a giant, cement, tarmac. Even on average years, it can be very hot. They should have five times the free water stations. They had plenty of bathrooms. But they should have had many, many more places to get access to free drinking water. They put way too many of the tanks near the entrance which was a fairly good walk from where the majority of the people were sitting in chairs or standing watching the air show. I see a few reviews from this year's event complaining about the long delays in VIP parking. I parked at the Dobson parking lot. I was not happy to pay $45 for a parking pass when in the past parking was free. However, the line for the parking lot I chose wasn't any worse than any large event like the Phoenix Open or concerts at Westgate. Those were definitely equivalent in parking delay time. We waited in the four-lane across queue where they verified you had paid for parking permit. I would have, however, made sure the police officers at the entrance to the parking lot or a paid employee confirmed everybody had a ticket before waiting in the queue. I saw a few that didn't know paid tickets were required being turned back after waiting in line for maybe 15 minutes. It took us less than 25 minutes to park when we arrived at 11:30am. Next, there were people who checked your real ID (either a passport or driver's license with a was required) and they verified you only brought acceptable items. Everyone was required to pass through a metal detector. This was the only checkpoint. The shuttle buses from parking to the base were top of the line and were air conditioned. They dropped you off within sight of the actual gate to the air show. I brought my DSLR camera and got great close up photos of the flying planes. Advice for 2028 attendees of Luke Days: Bring a refillable water container. Bring folding chairs. Wear sunscreen. Bring small umbrella. Bring snacks. Finally, make sure you have a Real ID Driver's License or passport.

While it was a super hot day, the air show was amazing! Next year we will definitely bring an…read moreumbrella! When you go, look for the units that are set up and support the troops by buying your waters there. Bonus...they are considerably cheaper than the vendors. Vendor prices for drinks were outrageous!

This festival is sponsored by Vermillion Productions. Vermillion hosts a number of different art…read morefestivals throughout Arizona during the winter months into early spring prior to the heat. We enjoyed the art scene with painters, sculptors, glass artists, jewelers and mixed media artists. Adult beverages may be purchased. There was live music singing Motown music. They were great. A nice day for a stroll around some fine art. Free entry and street parking.

Recently went to the Arizona Balloon Classic at Wildhorse Pass in Chandler…read moreWeather was better this time around than the previous time I attended Enjoyed seeing the balloons getting set up and glowing together after it got dark Only downfall was most of the food trucks were credit card only, but getting out of the parking lot took 25 minutes. You went in circles and there was no signs set up to help you get back to the main road. Definitely looking forward to the next event

There were no hot air balloons at the hot air balloon festival. Need I say more? Well, I may not…read moreneed to, but I want to. The gates opened late. The person who showed up to open the gates late, still had not trained the volunteers on how to scan our tickets so we had to wait for her to do that before they actually allowed us in. The vendors were open, but it took us less than 30 minutes to see them all. We ordered some (over-priced) snacks and drinks, and sat at a bench to discuss how ripped-off we all felt for about 15 mins. Not one ballon? Not one vendor offering information on balloon rides? No tethered balloons just looking pretty? We asked about the balloons on the way out and were told they would be there "maybe between 3 and 6 pm." We also found out that the tethered balloon rides would probably start at 6 pm, and only on one specific balloon. So, if I wanted to wait another 5 hours I might be able to see a ballon, and I could stand in line with who knows how many other people, who had also waited for hours, for the opportunity to pay someone an additional 30.00 for a tethered ride. We decided to just end our misery early and just leave. My family spent 100.00 to get through those gates, and there wasn't one balloon to see.

Awesome event! We…read morereally enjoyed this event, even though it was absolutely freezing. It's a bit of a drive if you live in the Gilbert area, but it's a wonderful exhibit for families, friends, and even date nights if you're into lights and scenic walks. Just be sure to wear very warm clothing and comfortable shoes because once you start walking... there's no turning back and it takes a good 1.5hrs to get through it all. lol. For me, after about 15min I was ready to go but not to discredit the event. I didn't come in warm and comfortable clothing, having arriving right after work and at the last minute deciding to go. Parking is $15, and the crew was very friendly. Kim, one of the parking attendants, was especially amazing--she deserves a raise and should definitely return next year. The ticket booth attendant with blue hair was also super polite and kind. I especially want to highlight the entry staff--Sharon, Maribel, and Andrew. They were a total hoot and truly made the entry experience fun. I even spent time chatting with them and learned a lot about what goes into this fantastic setup. I was also able to bless a family with tickets (don't worry about how ). Be a blessing to others this season Overall, this was a great way to get exercise while enjoying the view.

My 9 year old and I were all smiles the whole walk through. Between the bright dazzling lights,…read moreintricate designs, and interactive fixtures we were completely enthralled by it all. It's divided into four areas: bugs, holidays, ra8nforest, and prehistoric. Everything moves and each interactive piece had us laughing. We went through in under 90 minutes as we were a bit rushed to get somewhere after, but could have spent much longer. The installation runs until January 4th. Pro tips: arrive just before opening for closer parking. Use restrooms at the entrance (port-a-potties) as the next ones are halfway through (not port-a-potty). Parking is an additional $15, but pay for parking online ahead of time to save a few bucks. Allow for longer and take your time to enjoy every interaction and photo op.

Thank Jah for this beautiful weather. The music has started... DJ on deck... vibes are good…read more... There were several Bands throughout the day. I posted a couple pics for the bands I liked. Pick up Reggae bucks for food. I suggest pricing your food first, then getting the exact amount in Reggae bucks. The venue is an open soccer field. Ladies leave the stilettos at home. Wedges are cool. Bring an umbrella, there are no trees, there is no shade.. Bring a blanket Don't be crazy, wear and bring sunblock. This was the first annual festival. I was impressed with the way it went for the 1st time around! I was initially upset that it started 2 hrs late, but I can be forgiving for that. We sat for nearly an hr in virtual silence. 12-1; 15pm! If u came on time at 11, uhm, that's 2 hrs. People, DEE JAY - hire one next year!

This company's conduct does not align with my values or expectations. My experience was…read moredisappointing, and I would not recommend doing business with them.

We wanted to switch up our Giants game and attend a non Scottsdale game. We saw the Giants play the…read moreReds! It was quite a drive from Scottsdale and the area in Goodyear didn't seem that exciting haha. There was plenty of parking and it was on a grassy dirt area in front of the stadium. Surprisingly there were a lot of Reds fans too. The stadium did feel like a new, clean and cementy stadium. Plenty of vendors lined up for food, drinks and snacks around the park. The actual concessions were not the best at all though. It was cool seeing a little baseball field that little kids can enjoy and hangout. We sat super close to the field which made it a fun experience to enjoy. Overall the stadium didn't have any character and felt like a college stadium or something. I guess I'm bias with Giants having their own stadium.

Outstanding day for some Cactus League baseball today…read moreReds/Guardians Of course 104 ° was a bit rough but an ice cold Cerveza made things better Very family friendly day of baseball Much enjoyed