Tempe Festival of the Arts - What Makes This Event So Special?

There are plenty of art fairs across the country, but none quite like The Tempe Festival of the Arts. Few carry the legacy, bustling energy, and community spirit of the Tempe Festival of the Arts. For more than 50 years, this festival has been a Downtown tradition, drawing hundreds of artists, thousands of attendees, and a tradition of creativity that only gets better with age.

The numbers say it all: the Fall Festival celebrates its 57th year in 2025 and the Spring Festival its 49th. Twice a year, more than 150,000 people flood into Downtown Tempe to explore Mill Avenue and its surrounding streets. That’s a lot of “feet to the street,” and that’s a win for local business. Every festival weekend helps downtown thrive with new diners at our restaurants, new shoppers in our boutiques, and plenty of reasons to linger long after the art browsing is done.

It’s not just us who think it’s a big deal. The festival consistently ranks among the Top 100 Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine and has even snagged the Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association.

Of course, the heart of the event is the 350+ juried artists presenting work in 18 categories, like sculpture, photography, jewelry, wearable art, and more. But what keeps people coming back year after year is everything else.

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Attendees return year after year for Chalk-a-Lot Street, where muralists transform pavement into masterpieces, and for live music, street performers, and surprise pop-up activations that turn Mill Avenue into a stage. Many make the Wine & Spirits Tasting Experience in Centerpoint Plaza their annual ritual, reusing commemorative glasses from past festivals and bringing new friends or family along for the fun. Families have their own traditions in the Kids Block, where creativity gets passed down as kids try hands-on activities, pick out and purchase their own art, and meet the artists themselves. Longtime fans head straight to their favorite artists booths they’ve built relationships with over the years, and those artists look forward to reconnecting with familiar faces who stop by each season to add a new piece to their collection.

Even with decades of history, the Tempe Festival of the Arts never stands still. Each year, we look for ways to expand and add something new—whether that’s fresh programming in the Kids Block, new muralists taking over Chalk-a-Lot Street, or exciting partners joining the Wine & Spirits lineup. Longtime favorites get little upgrades too, so no two festivals are ever quite the same.

At the end of the day, what makes the Tempe Festival of the Arts special isn’t just the art—it’s the way it brings people together. It’s neighbors supporting neighbors, kids discovering creativity, and visitors leaving with more than just a purchase. And it’s been happening for more than half a century!!