This is a free and large festival that happens in the heart of downtown Tempe twice a year; once in…read morespring and once in winter. The only thing that costs money is the parking which can be up to $20. However, one tip I can give you guys is to find a public place a bit further out to park for free. For instance, the Tempe Westside Multi-Generational Center is a public park/facility that you can park at and it's only a 9 minute walk from the festival. As the name implies, there are a ton of art vendors. If you're not from Tempe, there's even more choices because some of downtown Tempe businesses are open during the event. Also, they've got a great selection of food vendors, snacks, and downtown restaurants to choose from. They even have a free water station to fill up your water. I always suggest bringing a small cooler with water bottles and napkins/wet wipes. So even if you're not a fan of the art, it's still a great place to go to if you're a foodie or want to browse other miscellaneous products. For instance, I got a free massage at a physical therapist booth and SugarBee was giving away free apples at one of the events. It's a great place to go if you want to support local.

Have not been to the Tempe Arts Festival in many years. Found myself nearby for a Happy Hour Event…read moreon Friday and theater afternoon event at Gammage. On both days, spent some time walking around Tempe Arts Festival. It was a was a secure and well organized event. Made some purchases of ceramic pottery and a hand made knife and sheath. The artisans close down at 5:30 each day. Parking is available, plan to pay about $20 to $30 per day. Alternatively you can find plenty of nearby restaurants. I parked in the street the second day and took an Uber. Overall a pleasant event.

This was my first year attending. One of the main reasons for the unpleasant experience was the…read moreweather. The venue has no control over that. However, they do have control over the misting truck that was smack dab in the middle of the place. In my opinion, since there was few areas with shade on 100F+ day, there should have been a couple more. I stopped for a little bit to try and watch the pig races. Again, no shade to watch them from. The spectator stands were out in the sun. Sidenote, an umbrella vendor would've made a killing this year. I did see a couple people who were prepared and toted around their umbrellas...but the cheapest one I found when I was there was $15, which I couldn't justify buying. It's a nice little event with carnival games and rides. I just think Mother Nature put a damper on this year's shindig. I won free admission tickets in a raffle, so I just had to pay for parking (and the over priced food). If I had to pay parking plus admission, I think I'd pass. I also know that I cannot survive an outdoor event like this when it is super hot outside. I would've liked to have stayed for the Commodores but they weren't scheduled to take stage til 9pm, which makes it a bit late for me since I still had about an hour drive home.

In 2025, I wanted to attend Ostrich Festival for the first time, but my schedule wouldn't allow it…read more I'm glad I was able to check it out in 2026. I was there for the second weekend, to see The Commodores on Saturday and Baby Bash on Sunday. Some of the other main acts over the course of this two-weekend festival were Kansas and Vanilla Ice. This is the first year the festival has been held at Rawhide. There are some things I really enjoyed about the festival, and some things that I didn't enjoy very much. On the plus side, ticket prices were quite reasonable. That isn't always the case when it comes to festivals. On the other end, you have to pay for parking to attend unless you're using ride share. There's nowhere to park for free that would take you less than a 30 minute walk to get to the entrance. Parking is $15 if you pay at the gate and $13 if you pre-pay online. Take that into account so you have a gauge of the full price of the event. On the plus side, Rawhide is a spacious venue. Beyond the main stage, there was a smaller stage, a ton of food options, carnival games, amusement park rides, and more. I was surprised that the Festival reminded me of a rodeo or state fair more so than a music-centric festival. Given the games and rides, you'll see a lot of kids and families there. On the downside, since it's a "Western town," for the most part, it's dirt, gravel, and grass. Meaning you'll probably be leaving the festival with some dusty shoes. Let's go back to the food. A lot of fair food. Which is going to be overpriced. I had two crepes from AZ Crepe, a pretzel from Wetzel's Pretzels, and a smoothie from Fruitilandia. I wasn't a fan of the smoothie, but the rest met my expectations for the venue. If you'd like to save a little bit on the cost, you can bring in an unopened bottle of water. Next up, the music itself. The stage is pretty solid and it was easy to get right in the center of the action. It's standing room only, unless you get VIP tickets, but you can also bring your own lawn chairs or use some of the chairs that are already there if you can snag one. Festivals are typically pretty consistent when it comes to set times. Baby Bash was scheduled to perform at 8:30. He came on at 9:45. They did share on Instagram that the set times had been pushed back, but I unfortunately didn't see the post in time. My mistake, though from attending a bunch of festivals, it is unusual for the set times to change last minute. While I've been to festivals in other states, the only other ones I've been to in Phoenix are Innings Festival and Extra Innings Festival. I like those festivals more in terms of the overall experience, but I still had a good time at Ostrich Festival. I didn't spot any ostriches, but I hear you can interact with them somewhere at the venue.

I have to say I didn't realize how crazy busy this place would be. Of course I like my country…read moremusic so there was plenty of that a lot of different vendors and people just selling products. The wait is very long. I would say parking was difficult Due to how busy it it I lucked out and found one not too far away. I will say if you don't like a lot of crowds this is not for you because you're literally side-by-side with people.

The only reason this gets any stars is because of the kids section. The parking situation was a…read moredisaster. No one to direct traffic in the lots so people were parking TERRIBLY. Once inside the lines for tickets so you could get beer and bbq we're out of control and they kept running out of tickets entirely. Hubs and I ended up not eating or drinking anything. Luckily, we brought water for the kiddos. Got the unlimited rides wrist band for my 4 year old and let him run amuck. He had a blast. Which is good because nobody else did. We ended up leaving pretty early because we were starving and they had AGAIN run out of tickets and the lines weren't moving. Took a while to figure out how to get out of the place since it was set up like a maze. Got to my car which was boxed in along with 3 or 4 other cars in the lot we were in. Police were there to help some people out and after a 47 pt turn I was able to escape the lot, but it was truly nightmare inducing with the overly tired 4 year old and hungry 5 month old. Actually, hungry everyone. Thankfully, I had gotten free tickets so I wasn't out anything but the wrist band. Hopefully they can get some organization together before next year! It has the potential to be a really fun event, but they need to overhaul the drink/food ticket and parking lot situation.

I have been to a few of these Asian Night Markets since the Asian Chamber of Commerce started…read morehosting them here in Arizona. For me, I enjoy the chance to engage with culture, eat a variety of foods, and support our local Asian community. These events typically take place in the parking lot of the AZ International Marketplace in Mesa. Several food and retail vendors fill up the parking lot with all sorts of yummy food and cool merchandise. There is also a stage with live entertainment. I recently attended the Kamayan Festival version of the night market which was part of the celebration for Filipino American History Month. I had a VIP pass to the Sapporo beer garden and enjoyed the perks that came with it. As much as I enjoy being a part of these festivals, the lines are usually insanely long. I come to these to try new things, but find myself getting discouraged by the long waits. I have learned the best time to come to Asian Night Markets is when they first open if you want to try a variety of food.

I attended the January 2022 edition of this annual event, occurring at Lunar New Year. Centered on…read morethe Asian Pacific American community, this event celebrates cultural diversity, cuisine, art, and music. Organized by the Asian Chamber of Commerce, I know that in the past this required admission but this year's was free. I would not be surprised if it becomes an admission-only event in the future as it was packed from the entry time of 5:30. Given that the city of Mesa has decided to invest considerable resources to brand the area as an Asian enclave, I suspect it will get bigger and more impressive each year. While there are a ton of food trucks here, my advice would be not to show up hungry. Nearly every stall had long lines (save the poor coffee vendor). I would like to say that lines moved quickly, but most did not. I think it is better to have eaten a little something first and then show up and have a snack or two or come later in the evening when the live music really gets going. But if you plan to make this your sole dinner stop it will be frustrating. One perk of a big festival like this is that many smaller caterers/restaurants/food trucks that you haven't heard of will show up. There was plenty that was new to me and gave me a bucket list of places to try. I got some bao buns from Hot Bamboo which has a brick-and-mortar location in Chandler as well as a food truck that often pops up at festivals across town. They make Instagrammable character buns. It's a bit cheesy but the price was good and they were flavorful and satisfying. They were temporarily out of some fillings and the employees were profusely apologetic. It did inspire me to want to one day visit their actual restaurant. The vibe was great and the 2022 edition was a nice blend of people from all walks of life eager to celebrate our post-pandemic world (yeah, Year of the Tiger!). Besides food trucks, there were a few vendors selling gifts and other items but nothing popped out as too special. You can find the schedule on their website. Besides the night market, they also organize some daytime activities at parks that focus less on food and more on culture.

We've been going to the fall festival for years now. It is the same thing every year. The kids…read morestill love it. My 6yr old just became big enough to go down the slide and was ecstatic to go down after waiting for like 3 yrs. Definitely buy tickets ahead.

What a great time!! Plenty to do for the entire family. Pumpkin patch area in the front if you…read moredon't opt in to do the Fall Festival - no entry fee required for that and pricings are very reasonable! We got a giant pumpkin for our toddler to carve when we went on the weekend and there were way too many people for our liking. We came back during the week and it was much better so I would suggest going during the week right when they open at 3pm so you've got plenty of time to enjoy all the festivities. Admission: $12 general admission $10 with donated canned goods $6 for one-day pre-sale Kids 2 and under are free :) Free parking! I love that admission includes so many activities for kids to keep busy for hours. This year they added in a photo booth at the entrance which is so cute to help capture memories - often time it's hard to get a picture of the entire family if one person has to be the photographer so I hope this stays for the years to come! Corn maze, pallet maze, jumpers, train ride, petting zoo, slides, etc. are included. Food for petting zoo ($2) and pony rides ($5) are extra. Some things to keep in mind: They do not enforce mask policies here - you can wear them if you want to. Very dusty from all the dirt so maybe masks would be a good idea :) I would recommend wearing close toed shoes because of all the dirt/dust so you don't end up with brown feet... unless you're into that!

Really disappointing change. This farmers market used to be in downtown Gilbert and had a much…read morebetter atmosphere. The new location at the Chandler Gilbert Community College is basically an asphalt parking lot, which takes away the whole charm of the experience. We arrived, saw the no-dogs sign, and then saw that the market was set up on hot asphalt in the sun, so we turned around and left. That was especially frustrating after making the trip, since the old downtown location was so much more inviting and enjoyable. It is a shame they moved it from downtown Gilbert to a parking lot setting. The old location felt like a community event. This one just didn't.

The Gilbert Farmers Market is absolutely a 5-star experience and the perfect way to spend a…read moreSaturday morning! This market is incredibly well-organized, vibrant, and packed with the best local goods Arizona has to offer. The variety here is outstanding. You can find everything from gorgeous, locally grown seasonal produce and fresh eggs to artisanal bread, local honey, and gourmet coffee. The quality of the products is consistently top-notch, everything just tastes fresher and better than the grocery store. The atmosphere is lively and family-friendly, but never overwhelmingly crowded. It truly captures that wonderful community feel. There are always great food vendors serving ready-to-eat treats and local musicians performing, which makes browsing even more enjoyable. It's also a great spot to meet the actual farmers and makers behind the products. Logistics: It's easy to get to, and while it's popular, the flow of the market keeps things moving smoothly. If you live in the East Valley or are just visiting, make sure the Gilbert Farmers Market is on your weekend itinerary. It's a highlight of the community and truly deserves all five stars!

We went to the San Tan BBQ festival yesterday and stayed for one hour. Paid $50 for my husband and…read moreI. We drank 1 beer each, ate a little food and that's it. Save your money! Nothing interesting or exciting about this festival unless you want to get drunk and stuff your face. It used to be fun! I wanted to ask for our money back but we knew that wouldn't happen. Do better for this festival and we may visit again. Maybe better music lineup.

Absolutely amazing! I came here to visit and found this festival on the Arizona website's calendar…read moreof events. I am so glad we went. There was a plethora of vendors from amazing BBQ to your typical fair food. I'm not a big fan of the cigarette smoking all over the place but the event was filled with fun with live entertainment stages, bull riding, inflatable jump houses and slides, eating contests... the list goes on! San Tan: A local brewery that is good on tap but not so good in the can. There were multiple dispensaries but the best was the grapefruit one since it was very fruit forward and refreshing on the "hot" day. For the locals, I'm sure 90 degrees high isn't hot but I'm a visiting weakling. Bourbon Jack's Bar and Grill: I loved how they offered pulled pork tasters at $2 because I wanted to try everything! The pulled pork was juicy and fell apart, but it was missing flavor. I was left craving for more. Phil the Grill: Completely worth the wait! I loved the flavor of their chicken wings which were the best out of the two I tried. They were really tasty, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The rhib tips were tasty, juicy, fall off the bone amazing, and was accompanied by an amazing BBQ sauce. The smokey Mac and Cheese was delectable too. Very different but worth trying! Overall this was an amazing festival and worth every penny paid! I hope am event like this comes to my city!

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.

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!

Another fabulous FREE arts festival in Fountain Hills. A beautiful setting with hundreds of tented…read morevendors lining several streets. Regular vendors as well as many juried, and also including food vendors and food trucks. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, gifts and SO MUCH MORE!! Always a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lots of free parking in the area.

We always have the best time at The Fountain Hills Art Festival! On Saturday we took Sapphire for a…read morelittle field trip with us and left the boys at home. She made lots of new friends. James Fry Creatives Metal Sculptures and Maria Mustad Luna Ladies. We are going to donate some of the flocks molted feathers to her for her sculptures. She even met a cute little Sun Conure out with her family for a Saturday stroll. Happy Sunday Everybirdie.