With summer comes a whole slew of festivals celebrating everything from the harvest of sweet corn to the booming local craft beer industry. It seems this year we've got more summer events than ever, making a lack of travel plans all the more palatable. You may have to make a drive to get in on some of the fun, but don't let that stop you from checking out some of these delicious summer events in metro Phoenix and beyond.
See also: Two New Beer Festivals to Debut This Summer in Metro Phoenix (Bonus: They're Both Indoors!)
5th Annual Northern Arizona BBQ Festival Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14 6 to 10 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday) Williams Visitor Center Parking Lot, Williams www.nazbbq.com
This Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned cook-off will feature more than 30 different barbecue teams, beer, wine, food concessions, and live entertainment. Food and drink samples will cost $2 each.
Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival Saturday, June 14 1 to 5 p.m. Pepsi Amphitheater (The Fort Tuthill County Park), Flagstaff $45 in advance, $55 at the door www.azbeer.com/flagstaff.htm
Returning for its 22nd year, the Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Event will bring together dozens of breweries from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Vermont. Admission includes a souvenir mug, 24 sampling tickets, and live entertainment.
Tilted Earth Wine and Music Festival Saturday, June 21 1 to 11 p.m. Riverfront Park, Cottonwood $45 in advance, $50 at the door pagespringscellars.com/2014/04/tilted-earth-wine-music-festival
This wine and music event is part of Page Spring Cellar's 10 year anniversary celebrations. A ticket includes five wine samples and a reusable Govino logo glass. Participating vineyards include Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Grand Canyon Winery, Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, and Pillsbury Wine Company.
11th Annual Arizona Lavender Festival Thursday, June 19 through Sunday, June 22; Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, June 29 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Red Rock Farms, Concho $5 per person www.RedRockFarms.com
Entry fee to the annual lavender festival includes a Lavender Growing Discussion, Cooking with Lavender Demonstration and Tastings, and a Topic of the Day discussion. Box lunches and picnic packages are available for purchase.
4th Annual Chili Cook-Off Sunday, June 22 12 to 8 p.m. Hualapai Mountain Resort, Kingman www.gokingman.com/event-hualapai-mountain-chili-cook-off-jun22-2013 $25 entry fee for cooking participants
The Hualapai Mountain Resort in Kingman presents the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off with music, chili tasting, and prizes for the best chili cooks.
Scottsdale Beer Palooza Saturday, June 28 WestWorld of Scottsdale, Scottsdale 1 to 6 p.m. $40 general admission, $60 VIP www.scottsdalebeerpalooza.com
This year will be the first Scottsdale Beer Palooza, which will feature dozens of craft breweries, live music, food trucks and other beer-friendly foods. Admission includes 20 four-ounce beer samples.
Talking Rock Ranch Wine Festival Saturday, June 28 3 to 8 p.m. Talking Rock Ranch, Prescott $25 per person www.talkingrockranch.com/prescott-events/prescott-wine-festival
Talking Rock Ranch Resort, which received the Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Award of Unique Distinction in 2009, invites guests to taste a wide variety of wines that will be available at a special Talking Rock rate. Admission includes a reusable glass for tasting.
Sweet Corn Extravaganza Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13; Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 Apple Annie's Produce & Pumpkins, Wilcox 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.appleannies.com/weekend-events
This celebration of summer corn will include hot roasted sweet corn and U-Pick produce.
Real, Wild and Woody Saturday, July 19 Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe 2 to 6 p.m. $50 in advance, $65 at the door www.realwildandwoody.com
Hosted by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, this one-day event will feature a collection of specialty cask and barrel-aged beers in an indoor setting. Admission includes includes 20 tastings and a 10 oz. hand blown commemorative snifter.
Peach Mania 2014 Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20; Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27; Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, July 3; Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10; Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apple Annie's Orchards, Wilcox www.appleannies.com/weekend-events
This annual celebration of Willcox Peaches includes an "All You Can Eat" Peaches & Pancakes breakfast, wagon rides, and peach picking. You'll also be able to enjoy free samples of peaches and dozens of peach products, including peach pie and peach ice cream.
5th Annual Grape to Glass Symposium Saturday, August 2 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lawrence Dunham Vineyards, Pearce $65 pre-registration www.lawrencedunhamvineyards.com
The 5th Annual Grape to Glass Symposium at Lawrence Dunham Vineyards will offer in-depth vineyard and winery tours, lunch paired with Lawrence Dunham Vineyards wines, a barrel tasting panel, live music, and guest speakers.
HarvestFest Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 Sonoita Vineyards, Elgin Time TBD Free
This event kicks off the Harvest Season with grape stomping competitions, horse-drawn vineyard tours, as well as tastings and pairings showing off signature Sonoita Vineyards wines.
Mile High Brew Fest August 16, 2014 Downtown Prescott, Prescott Details TBD www.facebook.com/milehighbrewfest
This beer-centric event will take place in downtown Prescott offering brew lovers live music, food, art, and samples from dozens of local and national breweries and wineries.
3rd Annual Prickly Pear Festival Saturday, August 23 The Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior www.superiorazchamber.net/index.php?Itemid=310
Back for the third year, this festival includes a guided desert hike, pancake breakfast with prickly pear syrup, and Jean Groen's popular class teaching how to pick and prepare prickly pear fruit. During the event local restaurants will also feature special prickly pear dishes.
Annual Family CornFest, Arts & Crafts Fair Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium, Phoenix Free www.el-zaribah.org/activities/cornfest
At this annual celebration you can purchase sweet corn as well as hot corn on the cob. The event also includes an indoor arts and crafts fair with more than 60 vendors.
Apple Harvest Celebration 2014 Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, September 1; Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7; Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 Apple Annie's Orchards, Wilcox 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.appleannies.com/weekend-events
Held during the peak of the apple season, this festival features Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Rome Beauty apples. Attendees can pick their own fruit, enjoy an "All You Can Eat" pancake breakfast served with hot apple topping or cider syrup, and get free wagon rides. Asian pears and sweet corn will also be available.
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