Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts to celebrate 50th anniversary

PHOENIX — The fall Tempe Festival of the Arts will celebrate its 50th anniversary when it opens for the final weekend in November.

The festival opens on Nov. 30 and will run for three days, until Dec 2. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine in downtown Tempe.

“The admirable history of the Tempe Festival of the Arts has to do just as much with the city’s respect for the artist community, as it does the world-class artists and attendees from all walks of life themselves,” Downtown Tempe Authority’s Executive Director Kate Borders said.

“Nearly a quarter of a million people from around the globe make Tempe their destination each fall for art buying, collecting and incomparable holiday gift shopping, and that commitment to the art world sets our festival apart and puts Arizona on the map.”

The inaugural event, in 1968, celebrated local Arizona artwork.

Now, the festival has expanded to 375 booths and vendors selling everything from ceramics to digital art to jewelry.

In addition to the booths, there will be live performances, street performers and food and drink vendors.

Admission to the festival is free and more information about it can be found here.

Follow @KTAR923