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An authentic food and cultural event supporting tourism and the arts For the third year, the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is partnering with Visit Tucson to celebrate the best 23 miles of Mexican food north of the border, combined with the Southern Arizona arts community. On Saturday, June 16th, at 6 PM at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort, SAACA will host the Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival, featuring spectacular food and spirit samplings, along with live, interactive arts experiences. The event will highlight some of the most authentic and delicious food offered in the United States, sampling familiar favorites like tacos, fajitas, and molé to some possibly less familiar classics such raspados, sopes, and elotes.
NEW FOR 2018: TASTE THE 23! This year's event will expand Tucson 23 into a week-long celebration of Visit Tucson's Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food directly from the source: the restaurants. In the week leading up to the main event at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, participating restaurants will provide specials with the theme of Taste the 23 Restaurant Week to celebrate the amazing culinary assets in Southern Arizona, starting on June 10, 2018. Select restaurants will host additional arts & entertainment experiences as part of the Taste the 23 Week! Specials are being added daily here. “We’re thrilled to see the Tucson 23 festival return to the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass for another exciting year," said Dan Gibson, Visit Tucson's Communications Director. "Since 2017’s event, there’s been even more national and international attention for the Mexican food found in our corner of the Sonoran Desert – including a James Beard award for our own El Guero Canelo - and on June 16 people will have a great opportunity to celebrate the Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food all in one place.” In addition to the culinary delights, The Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival will feature traditional Latin music and beautiful dance performances. Additionally, there will be several large 6' x 6' hand-made murals, created by local artists, available for photo opportunities. A thirst quenching variety of local Sonoran micro-brews will also be featured alongside new takes on traditional Mexican cocktails featuring the finest selection of tequila, mezcal and other local spirits. The Tucson 23's venue partner, JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, is offering Tucson 23 ticketholders special weekend getaway packages as well as hosting several pre-event activities exclusively for Tucson 23 attendees staying at the hotel, allowing guests to delve even deeper into Mexico's rich traditions and flavors. The pre-event activities include: a celebrity chef dinner with Seis Chef Erika Bostick, cooking classes, tortilla making, a tequila infusion demonstration, and Mexican wines, as well as spa and golf specials. Attendees of the Tucson 23 will be given exclusive access to these special offers following their event ticket purchase. Tickets to The Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival include unlimited food tastings from all participating restaurants. Beer, tequila and cocktail sampling, and live entertainment will highlight the best in live performances, with mariachi, flamenco guitar, and Ballet Folklorico. Tickets are available at here or by calling (520) 797-3959 x 105. 2018 RESTAURANT PARTICIPANTS BOCA Tacos y Tequila Carnitas La Yoca Casino Del Sol Charro Steak Cocteleria La Palma Mariscos Y Mas El Charro El Coronado Family Restaurant El Cisne Cocina de Mexico Fermented Tea Company Gringo Grill + Cantina Mexico City Kitchen Oasis Fruit Cones [POPPED] Artisan Popcorn Perfecto's Restaurant Pima Community College - Culinary Arts Pure Love Juice Reforma Cocina Rigo's Restaurant Rollies Mexican Patio Seis Kitchen Sir Veza's Taco Garage 2018 LIBATION PARTICIPANTS Roger Clyne's Mexican Moonshine Tequila Three Wells Distilling Company Barrio Brewing Estrella Jaliscos Sierra Nevada Brewing Company More details with regard to specials, activities and participating restaurants, exhibitors, and entertainment schedule will be announced in the coming weeks on the website at https://www.saaca.org/tucson23.html. Official event hashtag: #Tucson23. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates. The Tucson 23 Mexican Food Festival When: Saturday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Where: JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85745 Cost: $60 Online: http://www.saaca.org/ Phone: (520) 797-3959 x 105 Note to Media: Photos Available Upon Request About The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food Tucson is home to the most authentic Mexican north of the border. The highest concentration of these restaurants is found within a 23-mile area that includes the City of South Tucson, Downtown, and lower midtown. At these terrific eateries, many of which are family-owned and decades old, the settings are casual, the ingredients are fresh, and the experience is unforgettable. About Visit Tucson Visit Tucson is the official destination marketing organization for Tucson and southern Arizona. Its mission is to drive economic development by connecting visitors with their ideal travel and meetings experiences. Visit Tucson is financially supported by the City of Tucson, Pima County, and the Town of Oro Valley and more than 500 individual and business partners. For more information, go to VisitTucson.org. About JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa Nestled on 50 acres in the saguaro-covered foothills of Tucson National Park, the AAA Four Diamond Starr Pass Resort & Spa is considered one of Tucson's premier destination resorts. Featuring 575 guestrooms (including 35 suites) with picturesque views, the resort offers 88,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, six dining experiences, 20,000 square-foot Hashani Spa, fitness center, a collection of outdoor water features including the meandering Starr Canyon River and Monsoon Falls waterslide, the Blur Teen Lounge and Rising Starr Kid's Club, two tennis courts and access to multiple hiking and biking trails on property. Starr Pass Golf Club features 27 holes of championship golf designed by Arnold Palmer. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is located just 12 miles from Tucson International Airport. With easy access to Interstate 10, the resort is a short 90 minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Visit us online, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort is located at 3800 W. Starr Pass Boulevard in Tucson. About Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote engagement in arts and culture, helping our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for all ages. New partnership to bring an expanded festival with stronger focus on community enrichment, economic development through tourism, and supporting local businesses The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) and the Sky Islands Tourism Association (SITA) will partner to present the 30th Annual Patagonia Fall Festival the weekend of October 12 - 14, 2018. The new collaboration will transfer the logistical management to SAACA with the goal of growing local impact through the festival and bringing local sustainability to the region. In addition to expanding the event, SAACA will be focusing more efforts on arts and cultural tourism and economic development in Patagonia, AZ.
“We believe this to be a spectacular and timely partnership with an organization who shares our values, and commitment to the arts,” Bonnie Maclean, 2017 Festival Director said, who also sentiments the support of this new partnership on behalf of the Sky Islands Tourism Association. Over 15,000 people attended the festival last year, according Maclean. “The Patagonia Fall Festival attracted many out-of-region visitors to our city and generated significant economic impact to our city, and has simply grown too large to maintain independent management” Maclean said. “Our partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is certain to generate great return to our community, along with providing our region with a unique, authentic and well-executed festival.” The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the preservation, advancement and creation of the arts in communities throughout the State. Each year, the SAACA makes its impacts through advocacy, diverse arts and cultural programming, opportunities for artists, and creative community projects. Over the past 20 years, the organization has provided services and programming for over 700,000 artists, organizations and individuals throughout the State. “SAACA is proud to partner with the Sky Island Tourism Association on this spectacular festival and we look forward to bringing new opportunities for the arts to Patagonia and the surrounding communities.” Executive Director Kate Marquez said. “The community of Patagonia has built one of the largest community festivals in the region, and we are honored to work hand- in-hand with the many volunteers, business owners and residents who have passionately grown this festival to the size it is today.” The Patagonia Fall Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2018. SAACA plans to provide several new additions to the festival to commemorate this momentous occasion. Based off majority artist and vendor feedback, the festival will be moving to a two-day format with a focus on creative place-making in the community. SAACA is adding a 30th Anniversary KICK-OFF CELEBRATION on Friday, October 12th, featuring vendors, community activities, and live music to celebrate the 30th anniversary. From 1 PM-5PM, the Friday festivities will include an (optional) Artist preview from festival participants, historic museum tour, wine tastings, free art classes and ending the day with a free community concert featuring a Local Band Showcase at 5 PM at the Gazebo. Music will still be a main highlight of the event as the Gazebo will be fully programmed with bands both days with an additional stage added to the west-end of the park that will feature local and emerging bands. The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild will return this year contributing the event's wine and beer garden. Major investments will be made by SAACA in building festival infrastructure, expansion of regional marketing and tourism opportunities for the community, and additional arts and cultural activations throughout the weekend. The Patagonia Fall Festival will take place at Patagonia Town Park on Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, with live music continuing until 6:00 PM; and Sunday from 9:00 AM – 4:00pm. Applications for artists, exhibitors and vendors can be found athttp://patagoniafallfestival.com/ starting on May 15, 2018. ● Festival Dates: Saturday, October 13 & Sunday, October 14, 2018 ● Add'l Date: Friday, October 12th - 30th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration ● Location: Patagonia Town Park, 325 McKeown Ave, Patagonia, AZ 85624 ● Cost: Free ● Online: http://patagoniafallfestival.com/ ● Contact: Carla Kiefer - 520-333-4087 - festivals@saaca.org About Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote engagement in arts and culture, helping our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for all ages. About Sky Island Tourism Association (SITA) The mission of Sky Island Tourism Association (SITA) is to grow regional tourism, thereby enhancing business and employment opportunities within the Sky Island communities of Elgin, Sonoita and Patagonia. SITAS’ objective is to make the Sky Islands region a well-known and popular tourist destination for short and long term visitors. Our excellent visitor's center, highly capable volunteer staff, established website, and affiliation with the Arizona Office of Tourism, and now SAACA, form a solid foundation for these efforts. |
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