Can you name 60 or so local businesses that you love? Some can, some flat out can’t and some think they can, but then rattle off 20 or so and get stuck. That’s why it’s important to attend events like Local First Arizona’s Certified Local Fall Festival.
Now in its fifth year, Fall Festival, which takes place Saturday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is packing nearly 5,000 people, 60 local businesses, tons of great food and drink and some of the Valley’s best in local music (all for free!) together in the Duck and Decanter parking lot on the southeast corner of 16th Street and Camelback Road.
Most importantly, this event helps benefit Local First and helps attendees discover exciting local businesses. A raffle and silent auction to benefit Local First will take place, and as an added bonus, the first 500 attendees receive gift bags!
There are far too many participating businesses to list, but plenty of favorites will be there — Uptown’s Postino and Frances, Coronado’s That’s a Wrap, Melrose’s Noble Beast and Copper Star Coffee and Midtown’s Fez, plus many more.
Local eateries will provide grub all day long, while local breweries, vineyards, Pop the Soda Shop and Souvia Tea will provide the liquid fuel.
There’s also a full slate of great local live musicians. Here’s the schedule:
- 10:15-10:45 a.m. — Vanessa Atalanta (Phoenix)
- 11-11:45 a.m. — Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl (Bisbee)
- Noon-12:45 p.m. — Flyaway Tigers (Phoenix)
- 1-1:45 p.m. — Fatigo (Phoenix)
- 2-2:45 p.m. — Turn Back, O Man (Phoenix)
- 3-4 p.m. — Loose Cannons Blues Band (Phoenix)
Still not enough? There will be a dance performance by Zahr Jamil Middle Eastern Dance Company, an appearance from Diamondbacks mascot Baxter, unique shopping, arts and crafts and a bouncing castle (for the kids) and a climbing wall (for the bigger kids) to let out some steam.
