food event. This year’s theme is “La Strada del Vino,” meaning “the street of wine,” and the two-day festival will showcase more 30 wines from Tuscany, Veneto, Sicily and beyond — taking attendees on a tour of Italian wine country without leaving Scottsdale. Live musicians, restaurant vendors and artisans also will be part of the festivities. Tickets are available online, and children ages 12 and younger get in for free. Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival Oct 26-27 15205 N. Kierland Blvd., Scottsdale Scottsdale’s Kierland Commons shopping plaza will become a destination for wine lovers and art connoisseurs in late October. Take a stroll through Main Street and view works from more than 100 artists, including bronze and glass sculptures, paintings, jewelry and photography. Then taste your way around Arizona’s wine regions with samples from 15 of the state’s top vineyards. Tickets for the Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival are available online and include admission for one of the two days, 10 wine-tasting tickets and a commemorative glass. Arizona Bao and Dumpling Festival with Nom Nom Noodles Festival Oct. 26-27 8401 W. Monroe St., Peoria A festival that celebrates all things bao and dumplings is coming to Peoria this fall. On Saturday, the Arizona Bao and Dumpling Festival will showcase all sorts of creative dumplings, while the focus on Sunday will be on noodles. Vendors from around the Valley will be on hand to serve fried chicken, Japanese cheesecake, Korean sandwiches, mochi doughnuts and more. Retail vendors and anime artists will keep the entertainment going between bites of delicious dumplings. Tickets are available online. NOVEMBER Southwest Belgian Beer Fest Nov. 9 245 E. Jackson St. A brand new festival that celebrates all things Belgian beer is coming to downtown Phoenix this fall. The Southwest Belgian Beer Fest will feature bocks, pils, lambics, saisons and other Belgian styles created by international, domestic and local brew- eries. Guests will enjoy live music, seminars from beer experts and meet-and- greet events. Tickets start at $60 online and include 20 samples and a souvenir glass. Upgraded VIP tickets also are available, and attendees may buy tickets at the door for an increased price. Arizona Fall Festival Nov. 9 67 W. Culver St. The original Arizona Fall Festival was held 18 years ago in the parking lot of Duck and Decanter. In the nearly two decades since, the event has grown to include more than 200 vendors who take over Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. More than 40 restaurants and food trucks will come together to create a food court packed with flavor. There’s also a beer garden with $2 samples of Arizona beers, wines and spirits. This event is family- and dog-friendly, and admission is free. Phoenix Pizza Festival Nov. 16-17 1202 N. Third Street Cheese slice anyone? The Phoenix Pizza Festival is back this fall with plenty of pepperoni to go around. For two days, Arizona’s finest pizza makers will serve up slices at Margaret T. Hance Park alongside a vendor market, kids zone, live music stage, beer and wine bars, and more. Tickets are $16 and must be purchased online; admission for kids ages 5 is free. Pizza and drinks can be purchased from vendors separately. AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews Nov. 16 7555 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale Can’t decide between attending a festival for beer, wine or spirits? Than grab tickets for AZ Barrels, Bottles & Brews — an event that has it all. You’ll even find ciders and hard seltzers on the menu. The event takes place at Salt River Fields, and tickets, which start at $60 and are available online, include 15 different samples. Food trucks and vendors will be on hand to provide some eats to soak up those sips. Raise a glass at the 51st Four Peaks Oktoberfest, running Oct. 11-13. (Photo Four Peaks Oktoberfest) Autumn Eats from p 15
