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Gelato Festival America to make stops in Phoenix and Tucson

Posted at 2:22 PM, Sep 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-26 17:22:05-04

A European-based gelato festival is crossing the pond and making its debut in America with stops planned in Scottsdale and Tucson.

Organizers of Gelato Festival America said the three-day food festival will make four stops in the western part of the United States and bring international and national gelato-makers together for people to taste Italy's version of ice cream. It will also serve as a competition of sorts to crown "best gelato in America."

Related: 75 fall festivals happening around the Valley

"Our goal is to spread the culture of artisan Italian gelato throughout the world's largest consumer market for frozen desserts..." said Daniele Palazzoni, general manager of the festival, in a prepared statement.

The festival is scheduled to visit Kierland Commons in Phoenix, Oct. 27-29, and La Encantada in Tucson, Nov. 3-5, 2017.

(It visits Boulder, Colorado this weekend and Santa Barbara, California in October.)

Tickets are $10 for children 12 and younger and $25 for adults. That includes one-day access to the festival, one taste of every competing gelato flavor, classroom demos, contests, and activities.

While the festival is here for three days, a ticket is good for one day at the festival and can be purchased online or at the gate. Gelato samples cannot be purchased a la carte.

People who go to the festival will also vote for "best gelato in America" using a QR code and their cellphone, the festival said in its release.

Based on the festival's stop in Boulder, some of the gelato flavors could include "strawberry cheesecake crunch" and "Italia summer sensation" which includes lemon, mint and ginger. 

IF YOU GO:
Gelato Festival - Phoenix (Oct. 27-29)
Where: Kierland Commons, 15205 N. Kierland Blvd., Scottsdale AZ 85254
Time: Friday, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Admission: $10 - $25

Gelato Festival - Tucson (Nov. 3-5)
Where: La Encantada, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, Tucson AZ 85718
Time: Friday, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Admission: $8 - $16