Weekends are the time to treat yourself. For many diners, that means booking a reservation at a splurgy spot well in advance. It doesn’t always have to be that formulaic or well planned. Some of the best experiences come on a whim. A simple text from a friend asking, “You free tonight?” can lead to a memorable evening filled with excellent food.
Phoenix’s tight-knit community of chefs and bartenders always seems to have a collaboration, pop-up or one-off dinner cooking. And often, those events come together at the last moment. We’re here to make sure you don’t miss out on any of these fleeting opportunities.
This weekend, there are plenty of culinary events to fill your plate. Sip whiskey, stuff yourself with pizza or join a Friendsgiving potluck picnic in the park. Make your last-minute plans before it’s too late.
Flagstaff pizzeria Pizzicletta is among the dough slingers at Phoenix Pizza Fest.
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This weekend
Tipsy Cactus 10th Anniversary
Friday to Sunday
2722 S. Alma School Road, #1, Mesa
Tipsy Cactus TapRoom & Bottle Shop will throw a weekend-long party to mark 10 years of pouring craft beer and wine. The taproom collaborated with Goldwater Brewing Co., Slow Body Beer Co., Everywhere Beer, Beachwood Brewing and Radian Beer Co. on five beers that will drop for the party. Tipsy Cactus also has lined up a slate of food trucks for each night. Grab grub from La Hamburguesa and Alita on Friday, Zappala’s on Saturday or Chef Gabe Catering on Sunday.
Murder Mystery Dinner Experience at ADERO
Friday
13225 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, Fountain Hills
Who says the fun and costumes have to end after Halloween? Toast the glamour of 1930s Hollywood at an immersive dinner at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, hosted with The Murder Mystery Co. During this interactive evening, you’ll play detective, interviewing suspects and looking for clues to solve a whodunit. Your evening starts with welcome drinks and small bites, followed by a buffet featuring sirloin, chicken à la king and mahi-mahi. Prizes will be given to those with the best attire and sleuthing skills. Tickets are $165 and can be reserved on Eventbrite.
Copper State Whiskey Fest
Saturday
2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa
Toast all things oaked and aged at Copper State Whiskey Fest. The distiller lineup includes locally made Whiskey Del Bac; U.S. distillers Bardstown Bourbon Co., Old Forester and Woodford Reserve; and international labels Buchanan’s, Bushmills and The Dalmore. The festival will also serve other spirits, craft beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. Attendees can expect local food trucks and live music. Tickets start at $60, with designated driver tickets available for $30. Proceeds benefit Beer Babes Family, which supports women in the beer community.
Eric’s Family Barbecue owner Anthony Garcia spritzes meats on the smokers with a mix of apple cider vinegar and water. It’s a process that the staff does hourly while the meats cook.
Fall Off the Bone
Saturday
12345 W. Indian School Road, Avondale
The popular West Valley smokehouse, Eric’s Family Barbecue, will host a free customer appreciation event on Saturday. Attendees can expect open-fire barbecue and demos on preparing a whole hog and trimming brisket. Sip brews in the beer garden, poured by fellow westsiders Saddle Mountain Brewing Co. and 8-Bit Aleworks. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and also features a rib competition, local vendors and live music.
Session 022: Corridos Ketamina
Saturday
909 N. First St.
The Palabra building comes alive on the weekends with its cocktail lounge, Bar Lento. Before that, owner Jorge Ignacio Torres and his team curated evenings featuring food, music and art. That continues Saturday night with Session 022, featuring sounds from Corridos Ketamina and Needleservice. Downtown restaurants, including Bacanora, Bad Jimmy’s and Smoothie Vortex, will serve food to pair with drinks from Bar Lento. The evening starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.
Phoenix Pizza Festival
Saturday and Sunday
1202 N. Third St.
Slice, anyone? The Phoenix Pizza Festival returns this weekend. The event at Margaret T. Hance Park assembles some of Arizona’s finest pizza makers, including Pizzicletta, Otra Pizzeria and Freak Brothers Pizza. They’ll serve slices alongside a kids zone, live music stage and a spritz bar. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased online; kids ages 5 and younger get in free. Pizza and drinks can be purchased from vendors separately.
Arizona Baking Club Friendsgiving
Sunday
2605 N. 15th Ave.
The Arizona Baking Club invites people to a Friendsgiving picnic in Encanto Park as long as they bring a dish to share — organizers suggest a Thanksgiving classic, a family favorite, a seasonal dessert or a new recipe. The Friendsgiving potluck starts at 3 p.m. Arizona Baking Club will email attendees the exact meeting place in the park. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Bread Fest
Sunday
689 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert
For the carb connoisseur, confident home baker or passionate pasta lover, there’s an East Valley food festival for you. Hayden Flour Mills will host its second edition of Bread Fest at Don Guerra’s Barrio Bagel & Slice on Sunday. Spend the afternoon learning baking tips just in time for the holidays, shop with local vendors and taste items from local producers including Barrio Bread and Sonoran Pasta Co. Home and cottage bakers may also enter breads and treats into a contest judged by professionals from around the state. Tickets can be purchased online (free for children under 12, $12 for others and $40 for those entering a baking contest).
Gregory (from left), Kathryn, Zachary and Alexandra Cohen are the family behind The Farish House, which Gregory and Kathryn purchased in November 2025.
The Autumn Harvest
Monday
816 N. Third St.
Lean into the cooler temperatures with an autumnal wine dinner at the downtown bistro The Farish House. The four-course paired dinner will feature housemade gnocchi with butternut squash-miso puree, a porchetta mosaic, buttermilk-brined Cornish game hen with risotto and a spiced poached pear pastry. Each course will be paired with French wine. Browse the full menu online and save your seat for this dinner ($110 per person) on Tock.
Sessions Vol. 2: Latha x Beginner’s Luck
Tuesday
7240 E. Main St., C100, Scottsdale
On Tuesday, Beginner’s Luck will host the second installment of its collaborative dinner, which also brings music and art to the table. Chefs Bernie Kantak and Digby Stridiron will create a meal featuring Afro-Caribbean food and cocktails. Kantak helms the restaurant group behind Beginner’s Luck, and Stridiron cooks at Latha, the Michelin-recommended pan-African restaurant in downtown Phoenix. The menu features plantain gnocchi, a pumpkin and okra callaloo stew with rice grits and shrimp, and tamarind barbacoa roti. The evening will also feature artwork by Lucien Downes and a live DJ. Reserve your seats on OpenTable.
AZ Brunch Fest vendors share classic brunch sips and bites, like chicken and waffles.
Provided by AZ Brunch Fest
Save your seats for these upcoming Phoenix food events
Indian Frybread & Arts Festival
Nov. 21
5244 S. 48th St., Chandler
Taste food from more than a dozen vendors at the third annual Indian Frybread & Arts Festival at the Rawhide Event Center. The event celebrates Native American food and culture, and will also showcase art, music and dance. In addition to frybread, expect chili, snacks, desserts and other bites from Fluffin Fry Bread, Hello Frybread and others. Tickets are $25; those ages 12 and younger are free with a paying adult.
Sangria Social
Nov. 21
25062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek
Queen Creek Olive Mill is getting ready to host its November Sangria Social, featuring four fall-inspired sangria flavors, food and live music. Start with a white sangria made with apples, honey and sage. Then sip a rosé riff with grapefruit, raspberry and thyme. The mill’s Main Event sangria starts with tempranillo and is infused with warm, savory flavors from pecans, almonds, apple cider and rosemary. For a sweet finish, try the Syrah sangria, made with figs, dark chocolate, orange and vanilla. There’s no advance ticket required to try these seasonal sangrias.
AZ Brunch Fest
Dec. 6
7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale
Arizonans go hard for brunch. A food festival celebrating the boozy, decadent weekend meal returns to Scottsdale Stadium for a second year in December. AZ Brunch Fest features popular hotspots and makers, including Hash Kitchen, Andres Candough, The Canal Club, Press Coffee and SanTan Brewery + Distillery. Tickets start at $55 and are available online.
Dining and Cooking