Fill up this fall at Phoenix food festivals

Fall is here, and in Phoenix, that doesn’t mean it’s time to bundle up and go inside. Instead, the opposite is true, and Arizona’s food festival producers are ready to celebrate with events that make the most of the cooling temperatures. It’s festival season, and we’re excited to hit the town to enjoy everything from craft beer to pizza and chili. Add these events to your calendar, and prepare for an awesome autumn.

Here are the tastiest festivals happening around metro Phoenix this November.

SanTan Rib Fest

Nov. 2
495 E. Warner Road, Chandler The East Valley craft brewer is launching a barbecue festival centered around ribs. SanTan’s inaugural Rib Fest will include beef and baby back ribs that have been rubbed, smoked and sauced. But, the pitmasters will be cooking other barbecue staples, such as brisket, pulled pork and smoked turkey along with sides and cookies. In addition to bringing your appetite, the brewer invites guests to don their dancing shoes, with live music courtesy of Young Country and Joshua Strickland of The Bayou Bandits. Tickets are $12 and food is available for purchase.

SerbFest

Nov. 2-3
4436 E. McKinley St. SerbFest has celebrated Serbian culture in the Valley since 2003. This year’s festival returns to St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, offering two days to experience the food, music and dance of Serbia. Among bites available during the festival are roasted lamb shank, stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls and spinach burek, a savory pastry made with flaky dough. This year’s specialty cocktail is the SerbFest Sunset, a drink made with vodka, raspberry liqueur and soda. There will be live music and folklore performances, along with a kids’ zone. Entry is $5; children ages 12 and younger are free. Food is available for purchase. This is primarily a cash event and ATMs will be available on-site.

Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic

Nov. 8-9
North Macdonald and West Pepper Place, Mesa More than 40 regional pitmasters will fire up their smokers in downtown Mesa for this two-day festival and barbecue competition. Friday kicks off with appetizer and dessert contests, while Saturday’s festivities include the Four Meat and Kids Que grill-offs. Downtown Mesa BBQ Classic guests will be able to sample the barbecue, learn to line dance, shop local vendors and more. Entry is free, with tasting tickets available for $2 each.

Southwest Belgian Beer Fest

Nov. 9
245 E. Jackson St. A brand new festival that celebrates all things Belgian beer is coming to downtown Phoenix this fall. The Southwest Belgian Beer Fest will feature bocks, pils, lambics, saisons and other Belgian styles created by international, domestic and local breweries. Guests can enjoy live music, seminars from beer experts and meet-and-greet events. Tickets start at $60 online and include 20 samples and a souvenir glass. Upgraded VIP tickets also are available, and attendees may buy tickets at the door for an increased price.

Arizona Fall Festival

Nov. 9
67 W. Culver St. The original Arizona Fall Festival was held 18 years ago in the parking lot of Duck and Decanter. In the nearly two decades since, the event has grown to include more than 200 vendors who take over Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. More than 40 restaurants and food trucks will come together to create a food court packed with flavor. There’s also a beer garden with $2 samples of Arizona beers, wines and spirits. This event is family- and dog-friendly, and admission is free.

Amore Soiree

Nov. 9
7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale Amore Soiree is a new festival from the team behind the Salt & Lime Fiesta. The festival’s theme is “Tulum Meets the Desert,” and will include more than 70 tequila brands to sample and performances by Afrobeat artists including Shimza, OVEOUS and Pasta Rada. The event will also feature food from local restaurants including Santo Arcadia and Los Olivos, as well as a beer garden that will serve cocktails and seltzers. This is an event for those 21 years and older. Tickets start at $99, but those who are willing to immerse themselves in the event and check their phones at the door can get tickets for $49. If guests need to use their phones, there will be a designated area, along with digital disposable cameras available by request. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Laveen Youth Sports.

Phoenix Pizza Festival

Nov. 16-17
1202 N. Third St. Slice, anyone? The Phoenix Pizza Festival is back this fall with plenty of pepperoni to go around. For two days, Arizona’s finest pizza makers will serve up slices at Margaret T. Hance Park alongside a vendor market, kids zone, live music stage, beer and wine bars and more. Tickets are $16 and must be purchased online; admission for kids ages 5 is free. Pizza and drinks can be purchased from vendors separately.

AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews

Nov. 16
7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale Can’t decide between attending a festival for beer, wine or spirits? Then grab tickets for AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews – an event that has it all. You’ll even find ciders and hard seltzers on the menu. The event takes place at Salt River Fields and tickets, which start at $60, are available online. Admission includes 15 different samples. Food trucks and vendors will be on hand to provide some eats to soak up those sips.

Copper State Whiskey Fest

Nov. 16
113 N. Sixth St. Copper State Whiskey Fest is a new event from the organizers of the Copper State Beer Fest. Here, swap your draft beers for distilled spirits from local and international makers. Among those are Whiskey Del Bac and Adventurous Stills, along with U.S. distillers Heaven Hill, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve. International labels include Scotch maker Glenmorangie, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey and Japan’s Nikka Whisky. The festival will also serve other spirits, craft beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. Guests can also expect local food trucks, live music, a golf simulator, flash tattoos and more. Tickets start at $80, with designated driver tickets available for $30. Proceeds benefit Beer Babes Family, which works to support women in the beer community.