Sunny Tempe Is Home to Abundant Outdoor Festivals and Activities This Spring
Tempe, Arizona (PRWEB) January 23, 2014 -- This is the perfect time of year to escape the cold climates and take advantage of Tempe, Arizona’s plentiful sunshine. Tempe’s calendar is brimming with outdoor activities, festivals and exhibits this spring, so now is the time to book a sunny getaway. For more information about springtime events and activities in Tempe, visit the Tempe Tourism Office at http://www.TempeTourism.com or call 800-283-6734.
Spend a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sun at Tempe Town Lake. Enjoy a picnic or stroll along the banks of the water to enjoy the breeze. For water lovers, Tempe Boat Rentals offers a variety of watercraft to explore the lake. Visitors can rent paddleboards, kayaks, pedal boats, hydrobikes and other boats. Prices range from $18 per hour for a 2-person pedal boat to $20 per hour for a paddleboard to $65 per hour for a pontoon boat.
Hiking is a favorite pastime of winter travelers to Tempe. Within walking distance from Tempe Town Lake, visitors can capture a bird’s eye view of Tempe while hiking up “A” Mountain. The hike includes stunning views as well as a history lesson. Several petroglyphs from the early Hohokam settlers can be viewed from the path. Or, head a few minutes north to explore the Sonoran Desert landscape in Papago Park. A favorite hike is Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural geological formation in the buttes that provides a unique hiking destination.
Beer enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Great Arizona Beer Festival in Tempe on March 1. With over 200 craft brews from more than 50 breweries nationwide, the Great Arizona Beer Festival is the largest beer festival in the Southwest. Held at Tempe Town Lake from 2 – 6 p.m., visitors will find great live music, tasty food, entertainment and games. Tickets are $50 for general admission, including up to 24 different beer samples, or $90 for VIP admission. All guests must be 21 or over to enter.
Discover island life at the 20th Anniversary Arizona Aloha Festival, March 8-9 at Tempe Town Lake. Get a glimpse into the rich cultures of the South Pacific through a variety of fun festival activities, delicious tropical fare and unique shops. Sample the traditional Hawaiian “plate lunch,” vilo vilo chicken or Spam musubi and finish with a mango smoothie or coconut ice cream. Shop in the Island Marketplace, and watch performers such as storytellers, Tahitian drummers, slack key guitar and more. This free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Asian culture is celebrated at the 11th annual Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, March 22-23 at the SRP Marina at Tempe Town Lake. Activities include two days of dragon boat races, food vendors and performances by martial artists, musicians and dancers. The beautifully decorated dragon boats are manned by teams of up to 20 paddlers from all over the U.S. and countries such as Canada, China and Taiwan.
Art lovers will feel right at home at the 37th Annual Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts, March 28-30. As many as 400 artist booths will fill the Mill Avenue District showcasing unique hand-made artwork including jewelry, paintings, photography and everything in between. This popular outdoor festival features live music, an assortment of food options, the Arizona Wine Festival and The Art of Beer. The free event is held each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Desert Botanical Garden is the ideal location to explore the plants and vegetation of the Sonoran Desert. It’s also the perfect host to the stunning Chihuly in the Garden exhibit, ongoing through May 18. Guests to the garden will discover extraordinary and vibrant works of art by Dale Chihuly scattered throughout the trails of the garden. To see the exhibit in another light, visit the garden in the evening for Chihuly After Dark from 8 p.m. to midnight, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, or April 5, 12, and 19. The Music in the Garden Concert Series, Friday evenings from February 7 through June 27, is another way to enjoy the garden this spring. Visit http://www.dbg.org for ticket information.
About Tempe Tourism Office
The Tempe Tourism Office is a non-profit organization devoted to marketing Tempe, Arizona as a desirable visitor and group destination site. The Tempe Tourism Office's mission is to provide visitors, media professionals and meeting planners with information on Tempe hotels, Tempe restaurants, Tempe entertainment and local points of interest. To learn more about Tempe, Arizona please call 480-894-8158 or 800-283-6734 or visit http://www.tempetourism.com.
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Toni Smith, Tempe Tourism Office, http://www.tempetourism.com, +1 480-894-8158, [email protected]
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