Special Events near ASU
Tempe Festival of the Arts
This festival ranks among the top 20 art festivals in the nation and attracts over 200,000 visitors to the Mill Avenue District of Tempe during its 3-day weekend festivities. Over 300 booths feature unique, handcrafted art from ceramics and woodwork to photography and wearable art. Live entertainment, food, and kid's crafts are featured as well.
Arizona Aloha Festival
The Arizona Aloha Festival is operated by a volunteer organization whose goal is to provide education and awareness about Hawaiian and other South Pacific Islander heritage and culture. This is a free family event complete with Hawaiian food, crafts, and entertainment. Entertainment events include fire dancers, Tahitian drummers, storytellers, and Polynesian martial artists.
Arizona Dragon Boat Festival
Exciting and festive boat races in which teams of about 22 people paddle on painted wooden boats with decorative and colorful dragon heads and tails. Dragon boating is a variation of rowing that originated in China about 2,000 years ago. About 60 teams compete in this event each year, with rowers ranging in age from nine to 65. There are various categories of races, and winners receive medals or trophies. Hawaiian and Thai food is available as well as hot dogs and hamburgers. No alcohol is served. Entertainment includes Asian, Filipino, and Polynesian dancers and musical groups.
Great Arizona Beer Festival
Not children or pet friendly, this beer festival allows adults to enjoy close to 300 different brews, including ones from Left Coast Brewing, Tenaya Creek, Mudshark Brewing Company, and more familiar beer such as Samuel Adams and Warsteiner. This festival is held at Tempe Beach Park and features succulent barbeque food as well as all the beer you can handle. Festival events include a pub-crawl, a beer tasting, and a beer competition judged by beer judges from Draft Magazine.
My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge
You can't beat chips, salsa, and margaritas at Tempe Beach Park. This culinary event features individuals, businesses, and restaurants competing for the best-tasting salsa in various categories. With more than 80 competitors, the fun begins as visitors begin to taste and even vote on the best salsas. More than 20,000 people flock to this annual festival to enjoy exciting live music, a "margarita mix-off" between local bartenders, and ice-cold beer. A "fun zone" is available for children at this daylong event, and proceeds from the festival benefit the Arizona Hemophilia Association.