Tempe Festival of the Arts Returns DEC 5-7, 2025
Nov 26, 2025
Three-Day Celebration Blends Fine Art, Live Music, Family Fun and Local Flavor
WHAT: The 57th annual Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts returns to Downtown Tempe, Dec. 5-7, transforming Mill Avenue and surrounding streets into a vibrant outdoor gallery. The festival features 350-plus juried artists, a weekend full of live entertainment, interactive family programming, Chalk-A-Lot Street, a Wine & Spirits Tasting and more. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
This fall’s theme, “A Storybook: Journey Through Time,” invites artists to interpret past, present and future through imaginative, narrative-driven works. Festival attendees may vote for the People’s Choice Award, while the festival’s jury will determine the Best Mural award.
Featured Artist
The Fall 2025 Featured Artist is Nicholas Baker (Booth #1140), known for intricate pen-and-ink drawings created through stippling—a technique that builds imagery dot by dot with a fine-point pen. Baker’s art represents a deeply personal journey of rediscovery after a life-altering event that inspired him to pursue his passion full time. His precise and expressive pieces exemplify craftsmanship and introspection.
Food & Beverage Experiences
Festival-goers can explore 20-plus local food, snack and drink vendors scattered throughout the festival, serving everything from barbecue and street eats to sweet treats and beverages. Three Beer & Wine Gardens will feature craft beer from Four Peaks Brewing Company and Pedal Haus Brewery, along with canned wine and cocktails. The Arizona Wine & Spirits Tasting presented by BMW, located in Centerpoint Plaza, will spotlight seven Arizona wineries and distilleries, offering guests the opportunity to sip, sample and savor local craftsmanship.
Live Entertainment
The entertainment lineup expands beyond music this year, offering a mix of performances, interactive experiences and specialty showcases throughout the festival. The Centerpoint Stage, presented by Omni Hotel at Tempe ASU, will feature nine live performances across the weekend, each in 90-minute sets.
In a separate area of the festival, the Lo-Fi Lounge will host a live DJ all three days, creating a dedicated spot to relax and enjoy continuous music. New for the fall festival, FABRIC Incubator will present a fashion show highlighting emerging designers from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Centerpoint Stage. Rounding out the expanded lineup is a specialty car showcase from Legendary Bombs, an Arizona car club known for expertly restored and customized lowrider “bomb” cars from the 1930s–1950s.
Chalk-A-Lot Street
Presented by Arizona Flower Market, Chalk-A-Lot Street brings 10 chalk muralists who will be creating large-scale pieces live on Saturday and Sunday on Fourth Street west of Mill Avenue.
Kids Block
Presented by Medieval Times, the Kids Block on Saturday and Sunday features hands-on art projects, take-home crafts and partner activations. Young visitors can participate in Jr. Knights Training Sessions and crown-making at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. both days, design LEGO holiday ornaments with LEGOLAND Discovery Center, create upcycled hanging art with artist Shari Keith, make rhinestone and ribbon ornaments with The Walter Hive, and explore robotics, 3D printing and VR inside IDIA Lab’s mobile “Hive” unit.
The space also includes large outdoor games, sidewalk chalk areas, and plenty of tables and seating for families. A dedicated Parent’s Lounge sponsored by Tempe Birth Center will be available for breastfeeding parents, diaper changing or a quiet place to step away.
Youth Arts Features
The Young Artist Exhibition + Competition, taking place Friday through Sunday, will showcase more than 300 works created by K-12 students from across the Valley, with many pieces available for purchase and opportunities for youth artists to win cash awards.
Inside Kids Block on Saturday and Sunday, the Young Collectors Gallery offers children the chance to purchase a handcrafted piece donated by a festival artist for just $5, giving young visitors an exciting jump-start to their art-collecting journey. Volunteers will assist with purchases, and children are encouraged to visit the participating artist’s booth afterward to personally meet them.
WHY: The Tempe Festival of the Arts brings the community together in a way that highlights what people love most about Downtown Tempe — local art, small businesses, live entertainment and experiences that are accessible for all ages. The festival supports hundreds of independent artists, activates the downtown district and offers visitors an easy way to explore everything the area has to offer.
WHEN: Friday-Sunday, Dec. 5-7
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mill Avenue and surrounding streets in Downtown Tempe
Getting to and through Downtown Tempe is a breeze with Tempe TRiP, Arizona’s only real-time parking and mobility tool. Use it to find the closest available parking to your destination, check current parking rates and follow the fastest routes. With more than 20,000 public spaces in downtown, Tempe TRiP takes the guesswork out of parking so you can plan ahead or adjust on the go. Plan your visit at tempetrip.com.
WHO: Nestled along the shores of Tempe Town Lake, Downtown Tempe is a district like no other. Downtown Tempe Authority, the area’s Business Improvement District, champions more than 165 street-level businesses — the majority locally owned — and works to shape every downtown experience. From keeping streets clean and safe, to advancing parking and mobility technology, to producing signature events and activating public spaces, DTA works to create a positive and welcoming experience for residents, businesses and visitors. Follow @downtowntempe on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok, and visit downtowntempe.com to discover what Downtown Tempe has to offer.
INFO: Full event details, entertainment schedules, tasting information, maps, and vendor listings can be found at https://tempefestivalofthearts.com/
SOCIAL: Attendees are encouraged to capture and share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #tempeartfest
VISUALS: To access and download visuals from the event, visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14eY3yqdUlOfiHWnMhJSbkIgffdjTo4Ck?usp=sharing
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