Tempe, Arizona is a community known throughout America for having an energetic, creative, and popular arts and entertainment community. The warm year round weather makes Tempe a prime location for residents and tourists alike. Over 160,000 people call the city home, and over 100,000 people visit the city each day. No matter if you're looking for art galleries, theater shows, or live entertainment, Tempe has a plethora of options to choose from. For almost 50 years, the Tempe Festival of Arts has celebrated the creative community. This event attracts over 200,000 people for each of its bi-yearly shows. People come from all over the country to experience Tempe and this unique gathering of artisans and their work. The artists come from all over the planet for this opportunity to network and get in touch with the fans of their work.
The festival itself is a great event for all ages and demographics. Hundreds of artists display their work for sale and the enjoyment of the masses in attendance. All of the works you find here are original art and range in price so everyone can walk away with a unique piece of their own. You'll find sculptures, paintings, glass work, leather creations, metalwork, woodwork, jewelry, and so much more. The entire scene of the festival is alive with live music and a range of street performers. In addition to all the art, stop by the AZ Wine Festival, which features some of the best wine that the state has to offer. The Art of Beer give you the opportunity to sample great Arizona microbrews and to socialize with other visitors and friendly locals. Make your next Arizona vacation an unforgettable one by taking in the Tempe Festival of the Arts. We interviewed Event Representative, Josh Yeager of the Downtown Tempe Authority, about the Tempe Festival of the Arts.
RAL: Tell me about the Tempe Festival of the Arts.
JY: This year is the 47th annual Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts. Each festival (spring & fall) draws upwards of 225,000 attendees, so about 450,000 annually. The festival holds appeal for art collectors, art lovers, and festival goers of all ages. We've got activities for children at the Brickyard Creation Station at the ASU Ceramics Museum. Jewelry and arts are available for all ages, with live music and entertainment like aerialists and street performers, as well as coveted festival fare. This year we're introducing food trucks, plus a Festival After Dark component, sponsored by the Filmstock Film Festival that keeps the party going until 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with LIVE music and drinks. What makes this festival unique is the longevity and all-ages appeal. The festivals are a tradition in the community, but draw artists and attendees from all over North America.
RAL: Take me through a day at festival.
JY: Food, fun, shopping, music, street performers and more. The best aspects of the festival are that it's free to attend and open to the public. The festival turns downtown Tempe into a massive open air street event, and we strive to stimulate every one of your human senses!
RAL: Which activities attract a lot of attention during the festival?
JY: Engage with Chalk-A-Lot Street is an interactive mural contest featuring 10 artists and teams competing for a cash grand prize. Watch more than two dozen street performers keep the festival lively including an aerialist, steel drums, face painting, glitter tattoos, musicians and more. Make With the Museum and the Brickyard Creation Station offer hands-on educational art experiences where visitors make their own masterpieces for free, to take home and add to the Brickyard Gallery’s ongoing body of work. Enjoy artist demonstrations, art-making activities, viewing of the permanent collection, and shop in the Ceramics Research.
RAL: Any guest appearances?
JY: The Festival Stage is located at Centerpoint Plaza and features live music all weekend including The Joe Costello Project, Romen Buffalo and the Loyal Order, The Resonators, and Ronstadt Generations. Emcees for the weekend include KJZZ on-air personality Blaise Lantana, as well as Arizona Music Hall of Fame inductee and recent Tempe IMPACT award-winner Walt Richardson.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
JY: Tempe is located five miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and it's only three light rail stations from the airport. The area has seven full service hotels and 45 hotels total.
RAL: What does the Tempe Festival of the Arts mean to the community?
JY: This event is a beloved community treasure, not only in Tempe, but in the entire Phoenix Metro region and beyond. The fall festival typically offers cool temperatures and abundant sunshine, coupled with a fantastic way to shop for one-of-a-kind-jewelry, art, and unique holiday gifts. Most of the dozens of food and beverage vendors, craft breweries, and wineries are local. All of the shops, bars, and restaurants in downtown are open and the streets and venues are packed. With over $1.6 million in original art sold on average, the fall festival is perfect for finding one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at affordable prices.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
JY: The Tempe Festival of the Arts offers attendees a unique, twice-a-year opportunity to enjoy some of Arizona's finest weather while enjoying a no-fee event that stimulates all senses. From the dozens of food and beverage vendors, to local music, street performers, food trucks, food, wine, beer and unparalleled shopping, you'll find it all twice a year on one of Arizona's safest and most inclusive communities. This is all set against the dramatic backdrop of A-mountain, ASU's main campus, Tempe Town Lake, and swaying palm trees.
For more information on the Tempe Festival of the Arts please visit their website.