From a foodie perspective, this is one of my favorite cultural festivals in AZ! The aloha festival…read moreputs on such a fun festival with SO MANY yummy food vendors We went on a Saturday and the lines were very long but the food was actually delicious and worth the price! Some of the things we ordered were malasadas, short ribs and garlic shrimp, macadamia nut waffle with coconut chicken, and pulled pork Mac and cheese! There were a ton more food options but some of the lines were just too long to wait in. I would suggest getting their earlier to have more time to visit the booths! There was also plenty of dancers and Polynesian entertainment on the main stage. Overall, I'm sad this is only once a year but glad I got to go this year!

WOW! the hawaiian/poly culture in Arizona is on fire! -thank you to the AMAZING performers who…read moreshared their talents & the hosts who introduced each performance!!! -food plates priced right w/enough food for two to share. -drinks pricey at $15 for a 32oz.

wow, Wow, WOW! I attended the 2022 Arizona Cocktail Weekend events at the Walter Where?House and…read moreThe Croft Downtown. I had heard that Arizona Cocktail Weekend was a can't miss event but I was unprepared for how awesome this edition was! This year was the event's 10tth anniversary which undoubtedly added some great energy. The word that comes to mind is "generous." Every bar or spirit vendor that participated genuinely wanted to be part of this event, impart some education, and create a memorable experience. Over the two days, I met so many great and talented folks, not to mention sampling some unforgettable cocktails! There is also a ton of free swag given away. Arizona Cocktail Weekend is also a great spotlight on the revitalization efforts of downtown Phoenix. Downtown is gaining an increasingly vibrant food and beverage scene that puts Phoenix on par with other major metropolitan areas. It's my understanding that the owner of Bitter & Twisted and Little Rituals is one of the architects of this flawlessly executed event. While I knew I would get to try some great drinks from Phoenix-area bars and restaurants, I was stunned to find bars from around the country and the WORLD. Yup, bartenders from London, the Netherlands, and other far-flung hotspots traveled down for the event, not to mention closer locales such as Denver and San Franciso. It was such a great opportunity to taste the world at home. The Espresso Martini from Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur was especially delicious! The frozen Irish coffee from Homeboy bar in London was also refreshing. I promise that the cocktails weren't all coffee-related! The vibe at both events was great and the support staff like security were easygoing. Maybe the only crossed wire was that you needed to present your vaccine card. I did have a photo of mine but it took a little while to find. Another opportunity area would be to partner with some rideshare companies or even create a hotel staycation package. Given that this event is only a decade old, the sky is the limit on how this festival will transform. The other attendees were focused on the fun and nothing got too out of hand. For the large-scale events, there was not much food available so I would recommend grabbing dinner before you go. An entrance ticket is going to include at least ten small (but potent!) drinks and you will want something on your tummy. Pro tip: every year the schedule of events goes live on their website and you can buy early bird tickets several weeks in advance. Even at full-price, these events are worth it, but always great when you can lock them in at a discount.

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.

The Devour The World Food and Libation Festival offers international local restaurants and chef's…read moreofferings. They also offer cultural music and dance performances and live painting. Tickets were only $55.00. Parking was close, free and easy. No long lines. Just get what you want and sit at a table or stand by a high top. There was more food than I could eat. All of it was either good, very good or great. There was more booze than I could drink. For $55.00 this was a GREAT VALUE for a food and drink festival and is among the best!

How did I not know about PHOESTIVUS!? My cousin asked to tag along over the weekend. We arrived a…read morelittle after 5 PM. Of course downtown was busy however we were able to find street side parking close by. This is the best place to get all your holiday shopping and to support all your local vendors/ artists! There's a mix of 170 vendors. We also enjoyed the food trucks! We snacked on popcorn, papusas, and tamales. Yummy! Everything we ate was very delicious. I'd come back again next holiday! Very festive and dog friendly.

Neat market, it takes up a whole block. All local valley vendors from Goodyear to Chandler. Food,…read morejewelry, vintage goods, soap, plants, art, and more. The Yeti wonders and you can take a photo with him, there's a hip Santa you can also take a photo with. You can air your grievances, and what you're grateful about. There was a glass making demonstration from a studio. There was live jazzy music which I loved. Overall, a nice holiday market. There is street parking, metered parking, and a parking garage nearby. It's dog friendly and there's vendors catering to dog products as well.

I absolutely love living in Old Town. I recently went to Scottsdazzle for the holiday lights, and I…read morealways have such a great time. It's really nice to see the community come together and have something fun to do. They had Santa and Mrs. Claus, the lights were beautiful as always, and it's pet-friendly and kid-friendly truly something for all ages. They also offer different activities, which makes it even better. The only downside is parking. Parking is a hassle, and if you park near the restaurants (since there's no assigned parking for the event), there are workers who will pressure you to pay to park so they don't call a tow truck. It honestly feels like a hustle depending on who you are or how you look, they'll charge anywhere from $5 to $25.

Scottsdazzle in Scottsdale is such a magical experience. I absolutely loved the lights along the…read morecanal -- walking through and seeing the reflections shimmering on the water made everything feel extra special and festive. It's a beautiful way to enjoy the holiday season, whether you're strolling, taking photos, or just soaking in the atmosphere. The whole area feels lively yet relaxing, and the light displays create a really charming backdrop.

We genuinely enjoyed the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival. The 2020 one was hosted by the Crowne Plaza…read moreSan Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ November 5th to 8th. You can buy a day pass or a weekend pass. Everything was organized well. There's plenty of parking at and around the hotel. The food and drinks were provided in the courtyard with seating, and were reasonably priced. You can also buy food and drink at the hotel lobby's bar. We liked the sheer amount of musicians and how there were multiple areas, one stage was on the patio, another was in the ballroom, and there were two other additional rooms. You were handed a schedule with your pass and welcomed to go in and out as you please. There were a range of artists from a pianist team couple from Italy who played beautifully to a band of 5 saxes who played the finale. It was all wonderful to hear. I'll be sure to go again next year! The musicians also share their stories. One opened for Cab Calloway, another had a father that worked in Desi Arnaz's band (aka Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy). These are not just any jazz musicians - they're seasoned players! I'd like to add that they also did well under Covid-19 restrictions. All the staff wore masks and masks were required for attendees, also seating was spaced out accordingly.

I like chocolate. I like chiles. I also have a paid membership to the botanical gardens which means…read morethe event was free for us. So, it was a match made in chocolate-chile heaven! We got here on Sunday around 3:30-4 so while the weather was absolutely gorgeous unfortunately there weren't a lot of samples and vendors left. The most memorable sample I tried was from Xocolatl who sells a divinely nuanced Oaxacan hot chocolate from Mexico. In addition to chocolate there were booths with pepper jelly, dried peppers, and there was a vendor that was selling roasted Anaheim chiles for $3.75/lb. (I thought this was odd since the entire booth was covered in poblano peppers which made me think the roasted peppers were actually going to be poblanos). There was also live music to enjoy and a cash bar. While I was disappointed there weren't more booths to browse through it might be because we came so late in the day on the last day of the festival. If I go again in the future I'll go earlier on the weekend. 3.5/5.