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Phoenix festivals: 8 new Valley festivals not to miss this fall

Posted at 5:05 PM, Aug 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-13 21:16:53-04

Who's ready for festival season?

From mac and cheese to pizza to craft beer and fine art, there are more than 90 festivals happening around the Valley between August and December.

Related: 30 top concerts coming to the Valley

Some of them will be making their grand debuts this fall. Here is a look at eight of the newest festivals in the Valley:

ULTRA FIT FEST 

A three-day fitness festival and getaway sponsored by Michelob Ultra and hosted at the J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. The event runs September 21-23, 2018. There will be workouts and panels, live entertainment, food, and fireside chats.

The cost is $400 - $950 per person which includes hotel stay and festival events. You can visit https://www.ultrafitfest.com for more information.

FIREBIRD MUSIC FESTIVAL

The inaugural Firebird Music Festival is an eight-hour jazz concert hosted at WestWorld of Scottsdale. It is part of the launch of JEMrock Productions, a music festival production company. Jeffrey Osborne, Earl Klugh, Bob James, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Jazz Funk Soul, made up of Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson Jr. and Everette Harp, are scheduled to perform. Former American Idol judge Randy Jackson has been tapped to host.

Tickets for lawn seats and general admission start at $45. VIP seats are $150. You can visit https://firebirdmusicfestival.com for more information.

DOWNTOWN OKTOBERFEST

The inaugural Downtown Oktoberfest will be held Saturday, October 6 from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. at CityScape in downtown Phoenix. It is being put on by HDE Agency, the company behind SanTan Brewings' annual Oktoberfest and other Valley festivals. The Phoenix festival will have live music and polka, and German-inspired cuisines from local restaurants, including bratwurst, pretzels, and beer. There will also be brat-eating competitions, beer stein-holding competitions, and pretzel-eating competitions.

Tickets are $10-$15 at the door. It includes access to the festival and music. Food and drink are separate. You can visit https://www.dtphxoktoberfest.com for more information.

LATINO PRIDE FESTIVAL

The inaugural Latino Pride Festival is being put on by the Latino Pride Alliance; a volunteer LGBTQ organization focused on Spanish-speaking communities. The festival is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds in Laveen. The event will have two stages, a dance tent with 12 DJs, and art and expression tent, and a western rodeo, according to the website.

Specific details on festival admission and entertainment lineup have not been announced. You can visit http://latinopridealliance.org/events/ for more information.

AZ BARRELS, BOTTLES AND BREWS

Festival-goers will be able to sample craft beer, spirits and wine from 25 Arizona-based breweries, distilleries and wineries. The new festival will be held Nov. third at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets vary between $19-$75 and include 12 samples. VIP ticket holders will be let in at 1 p.m., according to the website.

You can visit http://azbottlesandbrews.com for more information.

DAY OF THE DOG

A pet-friendly festival for dogs (and cats) will make its debut in Old Town Scottsdale. The website touts various events for Fido, including a puppy stampede, running of the French bulldogs, and a Chihuahua race. There will also be training and education classes, a cat hangout, and an aquatics contest.

You can visit http://www.petapaloozawest.com/scottsdale for more information.

DOWNTOWN DONUT FESTIVAL

Yes, a doughnut festival is coming to the Valley. David Tyda, a producer of the Arizona Taco Festival, said approximately 15 doughnut shops will be at the festival serving different doughnuts, doughnut holes, samples and other creations. The festival will be Nov. 18 at Margaret T. Hance Park, the day after the Phoenix Pizza Festival. 

Tickets are $8. Food and drink are separate. You can visit https://www.downtowndonutfest.com for more information.

KUNG FOOD FESTIVAL

More than 20 restaurants and food trucks will be part of this new Asian street food festival. The Kung Food Festival will be Dec. 1 at Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. According to organizers, festival-goers can expect Pho, stir fry, fusion tacos, noodles, and sushi.

Tickets are $10-$15. As of this writing, the website for the festival had not yet been published.