Now OUT
FEST BESTS Our favorite flings of the spring
Festival season is upon us! Whether you’re into art, food, music or all of the above, there’s a fete for you. Here are some of our upcoming favorites.
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival: March 16-18 This 23rd annual festival, which takes place in downtown Carefree from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, will feature 150 juried artists displaying more than 5,000 pieces of artwork including paintings, pastels, sculptures, hand-blown glass, handcrafted jewelry, photography and more. The event will also include live performances, food trucks, samplings of sweets, and tastings of wine, beer and even rum. Admission, $3; drink tastings with a souvenir glass, $10. www.thunderbirdartists.com. Burger Battle: March 23 The title of Best Burger in the Valley is again up for grabs, and it’s up to you to help choose this year’s winner. Hungry patrons are invited to the Scottsdale Waterfront from 7 to 9:30 p.m. to enjoy mouthwatering burger creations from eateries such as The Porch, Joe’s Midnight Run, Hopdoddy, and Tavern Americana. Along with all the burger samples you can eat, tickets include ice-cold beer, milkshakes, fries, dessert and live music. VIP admission allows for early admission to the event as well as exclusive access to the VIP Lounge. Tickets start at $65. www.scottsdalefest.org/burgerbattle. Innings Festival: March 23-25 This first-ever festival at Tempe Beach Park is a can’t-miss spring training celebration for music lovers and baseball fans. With three stages and more than 35 rock, pop and alt-country artists, the festival’s headliners will include Chris Stapleton, Queens of the Stone Age and The Avett Brothers. Counting Crows, Young the Giant, The Head and the Heart, and The Decemberists will also take to the stages. On the food front, there will be culinary demos with chef Beau MacMillan, plus professional baseball player meet and greets and fun family activities. Tickets start at $89. www.inningsfestival.com. The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival: March 24 This southeast Valley festival returns to downtown Chandler for its ninth year. The event, which takes place from noon to 10 p.m., will feature more than 40 barbecue pitmasters from local, regional and national restaurants and barbecue competition teams. Plus, for the first time ever, the festival will have more beer, wine and spirit selections including vodka, whiskey and bourbon. New experiences will include two added stages, live cooking demos, art installations, and more. Tickets start at $20. www.chandlerbbq.com. Italian Festival: March 24-25 Hosted by the Italian Association of Arizona, this fifth annual festival at Scottsdale Civic Center Mall celebrates all things Italian. Starting at 11 a.m. both days, the event will feature demonstrations by renowned Italian DJ and food evangelist Don Pasta as well as performances by Quartetto Aires and solo performer Pietro Rainone – all visiting from Italy for the festival. Of course, there will be plenty of Italian foodie favorites, including gelato, pizza, handmade meatballs, sausages, pasta and wine. Tickets start at $10. www.italianfestivalaz.com.
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So Scottsdale! March ‘18