The Tempe Festival of the Arts reaches its 51st year this season and promises to deliver the good ol’ favs along with new, exciting features!
Kid’s Block
The Tempe Festival of the Arts is fun for the whole family! If your kids are in tow, make sure your first stop is at the Kids Block for lots of artsy fun! Get your young creators involved with the community partners. They will all be on-site Saturday and Sunday with super fun projects like building upcycled sun catchers, constructing a building in the "upcycled city" and painting a work of art in the "Be... An Artist" tiny home. Kiddos can also strike a tune at the instrument petting zoo thanks to M.I.M (Music Instrument Musuem)!
Once you’ve done all those awesome activities, go check out the ‘Young Collectors’ tent so your little one can start their appreciation for all things art by building their own art collection. For just $5, your child can begin their art collecting journey by purchasing their very own piece of art –Handcrafted by one of the professional artists participating in the festival.
Browse the spectacular array of K – 12 art in the Young Artist Exhibition + Competition from youth across the Valley.
If you take a stroll north on Maple to 4th Street to Chalk-A-Lot Street, you and your kiddos can watch the pros as they develop their chalk murals over the three day festival. You can vote for your favorite completed mural during the festival too!
Your young artists can try their hand at being a chalk muralist while in the Kids Block.
Food, Food, and More Food!
While strolling through the festival, be sure to pick up a tasty snack or two!
This year we have some amazingly yummy favorites returning such as The Main Lobster Lady, Yellowman Fry Bread, Hibachibot and/or Yummy Yummy Dole Whip!
If you’re only in the mood for a tasty snack, grab something from Barrie’s Original Kettle Korn, Nuttylicious or SpunLight Cotton Candy!
Be sure to enjoy your treat while enjoying more than two dozen street entertainers along with henna artists, face painters, musicians, magicians and caricature artists!
It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere
And now for the “piece de resistance” (for a lot of us anyway) – the Beer & Wine Gardens are back this year! WHOO HOO!
Local vendors such as Pedal Haus and Four Peaks will be present for those uncontrollable beer cravings while wineries like Su Vino Winery, Aridus Wine Co. and Desert Diamond Distillery will be there to quench your thirst with their delectable wines.
The festival also offers an Arizona Wine & Spirits Tasting!
Buy your presale tickets here: Fall 2019 AZ Wine & Spirits Tasting.
Featured Artist
Beyond the food, drinks and childish fun, the festival also features amazing art! (Duh! That’s why it’s the Tempe Festival of the Arts!)
This year the festival is featuring artist Jackson Ocheltree! He was chosen this year after submitting his otherworldly blown glass. The beauty of his creations will bring a sense of “awe” to anyone who oogles at his art.
Jackson just recently moved from back to his hometown of Nogales, Ariz. in the hopes of becoming more focused on his art. Jackson believes “that glass is a truly unique and magical material to work with, completely brittle and hard when cold, but malleable and fluid when hot.”
Jackson creates his intricate glass orbs in the hopes that they will “transport the viewer away from reality.”
Fashion is Everything
With the help of over 60 designers, models and hairstylists, the festival is thrilled to host F.A.B.R.I.C’s on-of-a-kind fashion show on Saturday, December 7th. You have to be buy a separate ticket for this event, but it’s soooo worth it!
Get your tickets here: Labelhorde Fashion Show.
A portion of all the proceeds will go to the non-profit organization, Arizona Apparel Foundation, which strives a mission to #GrowAZFashion.
Live Music
In addition to all of the artists, food and drinks, there will be live music from some of your favorite local performers.
A few highlights this year include: The Hourglass Cats Trio (Friday, December 6th), Walt Richardson Band (Saturday, December 7th), Hi Dreams (Friday, December 6th) and Dead Hot Workshop (Saturday, December 7th)!
Take a look at the Fall Festival Entertainment section of our website for a listing of all our live music performers.
We hope to see you all at the festival!
For more information on the Tempe Festival of the Arts, please visit our website at TempeFestivaloftheArts.com!
Also, check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates!
A big thank you to the generous sponsors and community partners
that made the 2019 Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts possible.
