The Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts returns to Downtown Tempe, March 31-April 2, 2023.
Spring is bursting out all over Tempe with perfect weather, fragrant citrus blossoms, Cactus League Spring Training and a bunch of fun outdoor events, concerts and festivals. One of Tempe’s biggest, most popular festivals, the Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts, comes to Downtown Tempe Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2, 2022. Admission is free (yay!), and festival hours go from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. This festival ranks among the Top 100 Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in the nation and attracts nearly 225,000 visitors to Downtown Tempe over the course of the 3-days.
Artist Selection
The Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts receives more than 1,000 applications from artists across the country. From these applicants, a jury comprised of members of the local art community selects the top artisans in each category to participate in the Festival. During the three-day weekend, a new jury then selects the best overall artist and the top artist in each category.
Participants are separated into 18 different artistic categories for judging, ranging from woodwork to photography to ceramics and even wearable art. More than 350 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets, presenting unique and handmade artwork that offers visitors a distinctive shopping experience.
Festival Highlights
The Festival of the Arts has more than just beautiful arts and crafts on display; there are also a ton of fun vendors, activities, sights and sounds that make it a total sensory experience. Other highlights include:
- Street performers, entertainers and buskers scattered throughout the festival
- Live music and entertainment across multiple stages
- Wine and spirits tasting
- Kids Programming in the Kids Block area
- Young Artist Exhibit
- Lots of delicious food to purchase from the food court, food trucks, snack vendors and surrounding restaurants in Downtown Tempe
- Cottage Edibles and Crafts – Find ideal gifts for teachers, hostess gifts or goodies for you! Cottage Edibles has a plethora of gift items, like handmade soup mixes, jams, seasonings, salsas, dips, soaps, lotions, aromatherapy and other handcrafted goodies.
- Street Performers
- Live Chalk Art
Festival Entertainment
Tempe Festival of Arts presents well-known local and regional music at multiple locations throughout the event. More than two dozen street entertainers are on-site for your enjoyment. You’ll find henna artists, face painters, musicians, magicians and caricature artists, along with other fun entertainment.
3rd Street Acoustic Space
Take a seat, relax and bask in the acoustic sounds and free-spirited vocals, guitarists, drum circle collectives and singer/songwriters from around the Valley.
Unplugged Lounge
Kick your feet up and enjoy Southwest’s greatest acoustic instrumentalists at the Unplugged Lounge, located smack dab in the middle of the intersection of 5th Street and Mill Avenue.
6th Street Circle
Move to the dynamic sounds at 6th Street on Friday and Sunday of the festival.
Street Performers
Don’t miss the array of talented street performers, entertainers and buskers scattered throughout the festival footprint all weekend long.
Festival Location, Parking and Transportation
The Festival of Arts stretches north and south on Mill Avenue from 3rd Street to University Drive and the surrounding side streets between Myrtle and Ash Avenue.
Recommended Parking Garages
- Ash Garage – 201 S. Ash Garage – Located on Ash between 3rd Street and Rio Salado Parkway
- CenterPoint Parking Garage – 730 S. Ash Avenue
- West 6th Parking Garage – 133 W. 6th Street
Transportation Options
Located in the center of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Tempe is easily accessible to and from surrounding areas—such as Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix and neighboring East Valley cities including Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert—by car, bus and Valley Metro Rail. Explore how easy it is to get to the Tempe Festival of Arts by public transportation.
Mark your calendar now and don’t miss all the fun in store at Tempe Festival of the Arts. It’s a Tempe classic!
Visit the Tempe Festival of Arts event website for all festival dates.
