On the lookout for something new and fun to do that will introduce you to new experiences right here in Arizona? There are quite a few options when it comes to outdoorsy activities but what about if you just want to chow down on some tasty food and enjoy cultural festivities? Then you’ll want to check out some of the incredible ethnic festivals hosted here in Arizona. Each one features the absolute best of the various cultures of Arizona residents.
- Arizona Aloha Festival, Tempe
Arizona Aloha Festivals Inc/Facebook This annual festival is held in March at Tempe Beach Park and celebrates the cultures of the Hawaiian and South Pacific islands. The event is free and has plenty of food, music, performances, and vendors. Plus, you can even enter a raffle to win a trip to Maui! Details: azalohafest.org
- Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, Flagstaff
Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society/Facebook This festival is held in July in Arizona’s own “highlands” and is the great reason to escape from the summer heat. Enjoy music, dancing, games, workshops, and check out the genealogy tents to trace your own lineage. Details: nachs.info
- Arizona Matsuri, Phoenix
Florentino Luna/Flickr This annual festival takes place every February in downtown Phoenix and represents a combination of modern and traditional Japanese culture. You’ll get to see a number of performances, a tea ceremony demonstration, purchase locally-made or imported goods, and eat meals served by Japanese restaurants from around the city. Details: azmatsuri.org
- Brazilian Day Arizona Festival, Scottsdale
Brazilian Day Arizona Festival/Facebook A celebration of Brazil’s Independence Day from Portugal, this September festival feels like a day-long party with Brazilian music, dance performances, and food. You’ll also get to see and participate in workshops that focus on aspects of Brazilian culture, like capoeira, samba, and how to play some of the unique instruments. Details: braziliandayarizona.com
- Dia de los Muertos Festival, Mesa
Mesa Arts Center/Facebook This is one of many Day of the Dead events happening around the state in October. The Mesa Arts Center presents this free event with plenty of music, performances, food, altar contests, and family friendly activities that will even keep the kids entertained. Details: mesaartscenter.com
- Hopi Festival, Flagstaff
Alan English CPA/Flickr Now in its eighth year, this annual festival held in September celebrates Hopi culture with traditional music, dance, demonstrations, food, and art. If you’ve somehow never had the pleasure of snacking on piki bread, this is your chance! Details: hopiallnativefestival.com
- Italian Festival of Arizona, Scottsdale
Italian Association of Arizona/Facebook This two-day festival held in March each year celebrates Italian culture and its long history with music, delicious food, and a chance to buy Italian goods. Details: italianfestivalaz.com
- Navajo Nation Fair, Window Rock
Navajo Nation Washington Office/Flickr Hosted in Window Rock, this mutli-day fair is one of several you’ll find scattered around the Navajo Nation during the months of September and October. Celebrated with parades, rodeos, and carnivals, you’ll also find traditional song and dance, delicious foods (both traditional and more modern fare), and the famous Miss Navajo contest. Details: navajonationfair.org
- Polish Festival, Phoenix
Arizona Polish Festival/Facebook This free festival is held in February and is the perfect place to experience Polish food, drinks, and culture. Watch folk dancing, pierogi eating contests, and live music. Plus, you can participate in the “can you polka” contest. Details: festiwal.polskaparafiaphoenix.com
- Tucson Greek Festival, Tucson
Tucson Greek Festival/Facebook This multi-day festival takes place in September and is the perfect place to find amazingly delicious street food, enjoy Greek dance and music, and even check out their bazaar for clothing, jewelry, and more! Details: tucsongreekfest.com
How many of these festivals have you attended before? Let us know your experiences and if there are any that we happened to miss.
Arizona Aloha Festivals Inc/Facebook
This annual festival is held in March at Tempe Beach Park and celebrates the cultures of the Hawaiian and South Pacific islands. The event is free and has plenty of food, music, performances, and vendors. Plus, you can even enter a raffle to win a trip to Maui! Details: azalohafest.org
Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society/Facebook
This festival is held in July in Arizona’s own “highlands” and is the great reason to escape from the summer heat. Enjoy music, dancing, games, workshops, and check out the genealogy tents to trace your own lineage. Details: nachs.info
Florentino Luna/Flickr
This annual festival takes place every February in downtown Phoenix and represents a combination of modern and traditional Japanese culture. You’ll get to see a number of performances, a tea ceremony demonstration, purchase locally-made or imported goods, and eat meals served by Japanese restaurants from around the city. Details: azmatsuri.org
Brazilian Day Arizona Festival/Facebook
A celebration of Brazil’s Independence Day from Portugal, this September festival feels like a day-long party with Brazilian music, dance performances, and food. You’ll also get to see and participate in workshops that focus on aspects of Brazilian culture, like capoeira, samba, and how to play some of the unique instruments. Details: braziliandayarizona.com
Mesa Arts Center/Facebook
This is one of many Day of the Dead events happening around the state in October. The Mesa Arts Center presents this free event with plenty of music, performances, food, altar contests, and family friendly activities that will even keep the kids entertained. Details: mesaartscenter.com
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Now in its eighth year, this annual festival held in September celebrates Hopi culture with traditional music, dance, demonstrations, food, and art. If you’ve somehow never had the pleasure of snacking on piki bread, this is your chance! Details: hopiallnativefestival.com
Italian Association of Arizona/Facebook
This two-day festival held in March each year celebrates Italian culture and its long history with music, delicious food, and a chance to buy Italian goods. Details: italianfestivalaz.com
Navajo Nation Washington Office/Flickr
Hosted in Window Rock, this mutli-day fair is one of several you’ll find scattered around the Navajo Nation during the months of September and October. Celebrated with parades, rodeos, and carnivals, you’ll also find traditional song and dance, delicious foods (both traditional and more modern fare), and the famous Miss Navajo contest. Details: navajonationfair.org
Arizona Polish Festival/Facebook
This free festival is held in February and is the perfect place to experience Polish food, drinks, and culture. Watch folk dancing, pierogi eating contests, and live music. Plus, you can participate in the “can you polka” contest. Details: festiwal.polskaparafiaphoenix.com
Tucson Greek Festival/Facebook
This multi-day festival takes place in September and is the perfect place to find amazingly delicious street food, enjoy Greek dance and music, and even check out their bazaar for clothing, jewelry, and more! Details: tucsongreekfest.com
If you’re looking for more experiences with other cultures present in Arizona, you’ll want to check out some delicious restaurants. Read 15 Restaurants In Arizona To Get Ethnic Food That’ll Blow Your Mind for some tasty suggestions.
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