Returning to the Valley on January 25, A Taste of AZ Food and Drink Festival, presented by Talking Stick Resort, invites food enthusiasts and beverage connoisseurs alike to enjoy a taste of the Grand Canyon State while surrounded by the scenic McDowell Mountains at Salt River Fields’ Centerfield Plaza.
Attendees will experience live music and interactive cooking demonstrations paired with food samples from over 40 of Arizona’s top chefs and restaurants, including Nelson’s Meat + Fish, The VIG, and Uchi, as well as drinks and beverages from Arizona’s top wineries, breweries, distilleries and more.
“After the success of last year, we couldn’t wait to get back to the drawing board on how we could enhance this year’s edition,” Festival Organizer Luke Irvin said. “We believe that the Taste of AZ Festival did exactly what we had hoped – brought together Arizona’s vibrant food and drink community. We are so excited to bring it back to Salt River Fields.”
All tickets will include unlimited food samples, 15 drink samples, and free parking, with the option to upgrade to VIP for early event access and two complimentary tickets to a 2025 Spring Training game.
“Our festival is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for people to taste their way through Arizona’s food and beverage scene. By creating our magazine and book, we’ve had the opportunity to explore the culinary and beverage excellence of the state,” Irvin said.
The festival is partnering with The Joy Bus, which will be the nonprofit beneficiary for the event. Founded by award-winning chef Jennifer Caraway in 2011, The Joy Bus delivers a fresh and healthy meal with a friendly face to cancer patients. Also returning from last year’s festival to perform live are The Hourglass Cats, a “funky-fresh Sonoran Reggae Desert Rock ‘n Roll & Hip-Hop collective” from Phoenix.
“We’ve brought all the food and drinks together for a beautiful Arizona winter day, so folks can enjoy tacos from Phoenix, wine from the nationally recognized Verde Valley AVA, beer from Flagstaff, and so much more,” Irvin said. Adult GA ($99) and Adult VIP ($139) tickets are now available. For more information, visit azfoodanddrinkfestival.com.
