Your Guide To Tempe Festival Of The Arts 2021

TEMPE, AZ — Tempe Festival of the Arts, an award-winning arts festival that draws artists from across the country, is back in fall 2021 after its last three dates in 2020 and spring 2021 were canceled because of the pandemic.

The festival is set for 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Dec. 3-5, with up to 350 artist booths lining Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets. Artists working in a wide range of mediums participate in the festival including, wood, photography, ceramics and more.

Visit the Chalk-A-Lot area, on 4th Street west of Mill Avenue, to see professional chalk artists create special pieces celebrating Tempe's sesquicentennial. Awards will be given for Best Professional and People’s Choice.

The festival takes place along Mill Avenue, between 3rd Street and University Drive in downtown Tempe.

In the past the festival has consistently ranked in Sunshine Artist magazine's Top 100 Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows, according to the festival website.

Entertainment

Beyond works of art to take in and purchase, the Tempe Festival of the Arts also offers plenty of additional entertainment, with local and regional musical acts on several stages and street artists like musicians, henna artists and caricature artists.

Food and Drink

There are plenty of food and drink options throughout the festival, in the food court and from food trucks. Some options include Guac Girl, Safari Samoas, Yellowman Fry Bread and Jake's Lemonade.

The festival has two beer and wine gardens with different beer selections that accept cashless payment only.

You can buy tickets here to the Arizona Wine & Spirits Tasting at the festival with selections from Adventurous Stills, Burning Tree Cellars, Desert Diamond Distillery, Page Springs Cellars & Winery and Winery 101.

For Kids

The Kids Block features pieces from young artists in local K-12 schools as well as hands-on art projects that kids can complete during the festival.

More than 450 pieces from local young artists will be on display and for sale. In the Kids Block, kids can create a recycled city using cardboard boxes, make crafts like DIY lanterns and bracelets, play yard games, draw with chalk and play with jumbo Legos.

In the Young Collectors area, kids can pay $5 to purchase a piece of art from one of the professional vendors at the festival.

Click here for a map of the festival.

Click here for a street closure map.