Phoenix FREEEEE Festivals

The Arab American Festival takes place the last weekend of September from noon until 10pm. Orginally I thought those to be odd hours, but I realized September in Phoenix outside, even with trees, can be quite warm.

There were few vendors, but their wares were surprisingly reasonable. Decorated items with coins or beads were displayed to be worn as a scarf, belt and tops.

Why there was a large FBI and CIA booth, I don't know. We made several guess among ourselves. It was a first for me.

Several food vendors offered a variety of Mediterranean food from Egypt to Turkey and Greece. Some reasonable priced items for $2-3 enables you to taste few.

The real reason to go is the entertainment. We lasted about 5 hours and had I been able to know what else was coming up, I might have stayed longer.

Entertainment was continuous. There were singers, but except for the first one, it was all in Arabic. About then I realized most of the people in the stand could understand them. Okay to be honest, none of cared for the 15 minute long songs (yes 1 song) performed by someone in little more than street clothes.

The dancers were another story. The entertainment alternated from one type to the next and the dancing was enough to make us sit through the singing. Elaborate costumes of brightly colored materials whirled around the stage. The coins and bead caught the sunlight and glimmered on the stage. The audience clapped to the excellent beat of the drummer. We weren't the only ones enjoying this part.

Parking was free in various lots and on streets by the park, but as as the sun started setting more people came in. I'm glad we went early, but I would like to have seen the lights in the trees and on the kids rides light up.

Tempe Lake formed from the overflow of the Salt River, was the site of the Festival of Greece May 1-3. Having been to two Greek Festivals in California, I learned this one also is hosted by the Greek Orthodox Church. I found it to be similar in many ways to the other festivals. Prior to attending I went online to http://atasteofgreeceaz.webs.com/directionstofestival.htm to learn more about the events. There was a list under entertainment, but the names were, well uh, Greek to me without any definition. I didn’t know if I was looking at the name of a person, dance troupe, or type of dance. The brochure at the festival was the same. We sat down and watched performances of children attempting to do a basic Greek step dance. The next performance was children a couple of years older as was the next. If there was any professional entertainment later after children of all ages performed, we didn’t stay to watch.

There were a dozen food vendors with items from Greek Fries which was fries topped with feta cheese and oregano. A tea cup size cup of Greek coffee made from decaffeinated coffee, sugar and milk cost approximately $4 and was very sweet with 1/2" of silt on the bottom. I spent $2 for a pita with tomato sauce and white cheese of some sort. There were plenty of pastries and expensive entrees like spanokopita for $8 or lamb for $16, but I would rather go to a restaurant.

Few vendors were there and very little of the items had anything to do with Greece. Clothing was from India. Having been to French, German, Asian and other ethnic festivals there always seem to be a both to win a trip as well as postcards and maps to entice visiting the country. I found none of this here.

I realize the money for this goes to charity, but we spent little time there. The entertainment was poor and the prices expensive. This will be the last Greek festival for me.

Tempe Town Lake
www.tempe.gov/lake
31 E. 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 480 967-2001
Disability Accessible
Parking free, admission free Friday $1-2 S-S

April 18-19 Heritage Park, an area of old Victorian homes available for touring, becomes the site of the Asian Festival. No matter what direction you enter the area from, make your way around to the information booth first. Here you’ll find a brochure with a map of the vendors as a listing of the entertainment which is non-stop. The Arizona Asian American Association puts this awesome festival together.

A schedule of continuous entertainment<\B> includes dance, martial arts, and fitness. Dance troupes with their instructors displayed the Circle Laotian<\B> Dance and Sampradaya India<\B> Dance, as well as a Taiwanese<\B> Hoop Dance and Traditional Vietnamese<\B> Dance. Beautiful costumes from headdress down to geta footwear and tabi socks were worn. The traditional Vietnamese attire for women, Ao Dai, in pastel colors were worn by dancers carrying brightly colored umbrellas as part of their routine. This was a terrific opportunity to see the differences in clothing from different Asian countries. No doubt clothing was fashioned not only from old traditions combining necessity as well climate. While clothing was often long and layered, seemingly cumbersome, it was often designed to circulate air onto the skin and absorb moisture while keeping the intense sun from ravaging skin.

Japanese<\B> drum teams pounded on keg size drums with a dowel they swirled around in the air between strikes and a sword two long was whisked around another performer . Audience volunteers were brought up to try their hand at hand at drumming. There were even individuals displaying Chinese<\B> martial arts with air spins and kicks.

Food vendors tempted with Chinese egg rolls, Japanese sushi, Philippine noodles, Thailand rice dishes and items from Pakistan that I really wanted to taste. Entrees from Pakistan were large with several side dishes…..with a price tag of equal size. Not having any idea what it was, the price kept me away.

Booths with travel and culture information were in one area where souvenir vendors displayed traditional clothing, some for photographs, and native cloth and jewelry for purchases.

While we arrived at opening and left an hour before closing, it wasn’t enough time to see all the entertainment and stop by all the vendors. We did manage to attend the Taiwanese Tea Ceremony which lasted a little over an hour and was incredible information. And I happen not to be a tea drinker much less a connoisseur. By the time we left I was able to visually select the best tea and smell the lids from 4 different teas and know which I was drinking. I didn’t realize the difference. Perhaps I never cared for tea because people were trying to pass off the junky stuff and my taste is more discerning.

http://www.aaaa-az.org
Heritage Park 115 N. Sixth St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 (480) 460-8389
Parking free & pay, admission free

March 27-29, 10-6p the Tempe Spring Festival<\B> turns the streets of downtown in a street faire filled with arts and crafts. Truly unique crafts, the likes of which I have never seen, were displayed. A dresser with the top half a mannequin coming out of the top and the bottom half mannequin legs was completely covered in tiny shells. Photographs, naturally, were not permitted, but absolutely needed to imagine this. Applying rows and rows of tiny shells had to have taken more time than fathomable. The time alone was worth the $4500. asking price.

Lightweight gauze skirts and blouses with ruffles and pleats were a far cry from the unconstructed, shapeless style clothing sold in stores. Very figure-flattering to anyone and something neither my sister nor I passed on.

Pictures of miniature gardens were made of natural materials and colored with the same. Tiny pieces of bark were fashioned with the tips of leaves to look like a tree and petals of flowers were wrinkled into tiny flowers. A couple of the larger pictures even had butterflies. Everything retained its original color and was very realistic as a pixie forest.

Plenty of unusual salsas were available to taste ranging in "wimpy" to fire as well as mango flavored. I opted to try about 6 of the 20+ jellies and purchased the raspberry Grenache, raspberry merlot, and cabernet. Not just for toast or toasting mind you. Think crepes! Hmmmm, jellie shooters anyone?

(Can’t wait for the Fall Festival in December)

Mill Avenue, Tempe
Disability Accessible
Parking free, admission free

This is an awesome park for many reasons. Tempe Lake is formed from the overflow of the Salt River and hasn’t been there for that many years. It not only serves the purpose of retaining overflow, but it has become a recreation area for fishing, boating, and kayaking. A walking path with bench lines both sides. There is picnic facilities and beach. The park is host to numerous festivals, FREE<\B> no less, throughout the year. It is located across the street from the Mill Street shopping district which is full of restaurants and stores in beautiful old brick buildings.

March 14-15, 10-5p, the Aloha Festival<\B> had 3 stages of continuous entertainment. We started out at the main stage standing on the grass and gradually obtained chairs as people came and went. Dance troupes from different professional dance studios staged 45 minute performances ranging from the Maoris and Kiwis of New Zealand to the Hula of Hawaii and Tahitian of Tahiti. The host would announce the troupe and explained story the music and performance depicted. Costumes were brightly colored muumuus, feather skirts, and sarongs.

Vendors ware included jewelry, souvenirs, clothing, and good luck charms from many islands. International food booths and plenty of beverage-only stands extended in different directions.

You could even learn to string shells and seeds into leis or take out a canoe for free. Outrigger clubs in the area provided information and enticed new members. Extra parking, which was definitely needed, was 2 blocks away in a large park and garage.

Tempe Town Lake
www.tempe.gov/lake
31 E. 5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281 480 967-2001
Disability Accessible
Parking free, admission free

March 7-8, 9-4, the Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival takes places where the three rivers, Gila, Fria, and Salt converge. In a gravel parking lot near and under pass with bluegrass music playing in the background, wildlife and outdoor enthusiast gather to educate children and adults alike.

Wildlife displays include various reptiles like rattle snakes, lizards and geckos. Pamphlets and hosts provide additional information about the creatures. Live birds like falcons perch upon the arm of knowledge fellows. Representatives from the Audubon Society, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Parks, Department of Fish and Game and several others offer guide books, placards, and hiking maps.

For anyone interested in learning about new activities, but not wanting to pay for lessons there are several opportunities. Canoeing is demonstrated with offers for hands on experience in a confined area of the narrow Gila River. A wide area of the river just under an over pass was stocked with trout. Just off the shore are plenty of fishing poles with a gentleman who provides a bag of dirt with several large worms. This is great opportunity to try fishing, but get there as early as possible as this is and extremely popular activity and gets very crowded.

Not interested in water sports? How about testing your aim with archery? Get a pair of binoculars loaned to you and go on guided hike. Sign up for these or the early guided birding tours online. Learn about wildlife rescue and volunteer opportunities.

In keeping with the earth theme, you’ll find information on solar power, local growers, and other energy saving ideas. Free light bulbs and eco-grocery bags are passed out. Recycling programs and composting information is available from several vendors.

Of course, you can always sit down on a bale of hay, grab some food and enjoy watching kids.

http://www.tresriosnaturefestival.com
Avalon Blvd. & Gila River, 623 204-2130
Parking free, admission free