Cacti are jerks. The smug, spined plants refuse to cavort with “cactuses,” and the lewd saguaro looks like it’s flipping everybody off. Most Arizonans have run into a cactus (literally) at some point in their lives, and it isn’t pleasant. Fortunately, we can get the upper hand by harvesting the paddle cactus’ oh-so delicious prickly pear fruits. From jams to margarita flavoring, the possibilities are endless with this delectable fruit, which is the star of Superior’s annual Prickly Pear Festival. The event kicks off with a hike and pancake breakfast (complete with prickly pear syrup, of course), and while grown ups can learn how to make a prickly pear IPA, the whole fam can shop, eat, and listen to pear-centric lectures.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Prickly Pear Festival starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, August 24 at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37616 U.S. Highway 60. Events range in price from free to $25. See the details at www.superiorazchamber.net.
Sat., Aug. 24, 2013