Tempe Festival of the Arts Returns to Downtown Tempe Dec. 5-7

The 57th annual Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts returns to Downtown Tempe, Dec. 5-7, transforming Mill Avenue and surrounding streets into a vibrant outdoor gallery. The festival features 350-plus juried artists, a weekend full of live entertainment, interactive family programming, Chalk-A-Lot Street, a Wine & Spirits Tasting and more. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

This fall’s theme, “A Storybook: Journey Through Time,” invites artists to interpret past, present and future through imaginative, narrative-driven works. Festival attendees may vote for the People’s Choice Award, while the festival’s jury will determine the Best Mural award.

The Fall 2025 Featured Artist is Nicholas Baker (Booth #1140), known for intricate pen-and-ink drawings created through stippling—a technique that builds imagery dot by dot with a fine-point pen. Baker’s art represents a deeply personal journey of rediscovery after a life-altering event that inspired him to pursue his passion full time. His precise and expressive pieces exemplify craftsmanship and introspection.

The Young Artist Exhibition + Competition, taking place Friday through Sunday, will showcase more than 300 works created by K-12 students from across the Valley, with many pieces available for purchase and opportunities for youth artists to win cash awards.

Inside Kids Block on Saturday and Sunday, the Young Collectors Gallery offers children the chance to purchase a handcrafted piece donated by a festival artist for just $5, giving young visitors an exciting jump-start to their art-collecting journey. Volunteers will assist with purchases, and children are encouraged to visit the participating artist’s booth afterward to personally meet them.

Presented by Arizona Flower Market, Chalk-A-Lot Street brings 10 chalk muralists who will be creating large-scale pieces live on Saturday and Sunday on Fourth Street west of Mill Avenue.

Activities

Festival-goers can explore 20-plus local food, snack and drink vendors scattered throughout the festival, serving everything from barbecue and street eats to sweet treats and beverages. Three Beer & Wine Gardens will feature craft beer from Four Peaks Brewing Company and Pedal Haus Brewery, along with canned wine and cocktails. The Arizona Wine & Spirits Tasting presented by BMW, located in Centerpoint Plaza, will spotlight seven Arizona wineries and distilleries, offering guests the opportunity to sip, sample and savor local craftsmanship.

The entertainment lineup expands beyond music this year, offering a mix of performances, interactive experiences and specialty showcases throughout the festival. The Centerpoint Stage, presented by Omni Hotel at Tempe ASU, will feature nine live performances across the weekend, each in 90-minute sets.

In a separate area of the Tempe Festival of the Arts, the Lo-Fi Lounge will host a live DJ all three days, creating a dedicated spot to relax and enjoy continuous music. New for the fall festival, FABRIC Incubator will present a fashion show highlighting emerging designers from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Centerpoint Stage. Rounding out the expanded lineup is a specialty car showcase from Legendary Bombs, an Arizona car club known for expertly restored and customized lowrider “bomb” cars from the 1930s–1950s.

Presented by Medieval Times, the Kids Block on Saturday and Sunday features hands-on art projects, take-home crafts and partner activations. Young visitors can participate in Jr. Knights Training Sessions and crown-making at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. both days, design LEGO holiday ornaments with LEGOLAND Discovery Center, create upcycled hanging art with artist Shari Keith, make rhinestone and ribbon ornaments with The Walter Hive, and explore robotics, 3D printing and VR inside IDIA Lab’s mobile “Hive” unit.

The space also includes large outdoor games, sidewalk chalk areas, and plenty of tables and seating for families. A dedicated Parent’s Lounge sponsored by Tempe Birth Center will be available for breastfeeding parents, diaper changing or a quiet place to step away.