Things to Do

🏈 Raise a glass in Pat Tillman’s honor at Pints for Pat Tempe, which runs noon-4 p.m. Saturday – exactly 42 days (Tillman’s ASU jersey number) before Pat’s Run – at Hundred Mile Brewing. All proceeds go to the Tillman Scholar program.

🍖 The second annual Downtown Chandler Barbeque Festival offers craft beer, tasty barbeque, and live music from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $18; food and drink are extra.

☕️ Check out Persian food and culture from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at the Scottsdale Waterfront at the sixth annual Persian New Year Festival, one of the country’s largest. Admission is $10 for adults and includes a cup of chai tea.

📖 Get a free book, ‘‘The Taco Stand,’’ written by Someburros owner Tim Vasquez with the purchase of any kids meal Saturday at any of the Mexican restaurant’s 15 Valley locations. One book per order while supplies last.

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🍷 The 15th annual Devour Culinary Classic – the state’s premier food and drink festival – takes place 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Tickets were $150-$225, but have sold out.

🇯🇵 More than two dozen vendors will be hawking Japanese food and drink at the 40th annual Arizona Matsuri festival from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. Admission is free.

🥣 Help support Valley food banks by buying a ceramic bowl handmade by a Tempe student or community member at the 22nd annual Tempe Empty Bowls from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Tempe Public Library. Admission is free.

🍖 The 72nd annual Laveen BBQ, which includes music, games, and vendors, raises money for several community charities from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen Village. Admission is free.

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🇨🇦 Queen Creek Olive Mill’s 10th annual Canada Week, which continues through Feb. 24, includes a Canadian inspired-menu, a sangria social from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, and a limited-edition maple white balsamic vinegar for sale.

🍹 The 12th annual Arizona Cocktail Weekend kicks off tonight with The Cocktail Carnival – featuring unique cocktails, art shows, and circus performances – at the Walter Where? House in downtown Phoenix.

🍫 The Chocolate Affaire, a two-day exhibition of chocolatiers, food demonstrations, live music, and interactive experiences, runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Glendale Civic Center.

🍺 The 14th annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival, the centerpiece of Arizona Beer Week, takes place Saturday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission (which include 24 samples) still are available.

🐕 Meet adorable an adoptable dogs when Wicked Rain Pacific NW Craft Beer Bar in Gilbert hosts a meet-and-greet with the non-profit Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue from noon-3 p.m. Saturday.

🦞 Enjoy dishes like the spicy jambalaya and shrimp po-boy and cocktails like Hurricanes at the Pedal Haus Brewery Mardi Gras Bash from 2-10 p.m. Saturday athe the brewery’s downtown Phoenix location. Admission is free.

🧧 You’ll find a variety of Asian foods, as well as anime and marketplace vendors, at the Lunar New Year Asian Food Festival from 4-9 p.m. Saturday at the 808 Union Hills Plaza in north Phoenix. Admission is free.

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🍹 The 12th annual Arizona Cocktail Weekend –  four days of spirits showcases, brand-driven happy hours, educational seminars, boozy brunches, and more at bars and restaurants throughout Phoenix – starts Friday.

(If you’re wondering, it’s unrelated to the 14th annual Arizona Beer Week, which begins today.)

3 signature events

The Cocktail Carnival: Enjoy unique cocktails, art shows, and circus performances from Walter Productions at this whimsical, circus-like event headlined by DJ Nu-Mark starting at 8 p.m. (VIP) or 9 p.m. (general admission) Saturday at the Walter Where? House in downtown Phoenix.

Top Bars: More than 40 of the world’s best cocktail bars travel to downtown Phoenix as pop-ups, sharing samples of their most popular signature cocktails, at 8 p.m. (VIP) or 9 p.m. (general admission) Sunday at Warehouse 215.

The Last Slinger Standing: Sixteen of Arizona’s top mixologists face off in head-to-head battles featuring secret ingredients until just one is left at 7 p.m. Monday at the event space at Republic National Distilling Company in east Phoenix.

Other events

See the full list of other Cocktail Weekend events

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🍺 The 14th annual Arizona Beer Week – 11 days of festivals, special releases, tap takeovers, beer and food pairings, parties, and other ale-related fun at breweries, restaurants, and bars throughout the state – starts Thursday.

A sampling of events around the Valley

Pedal Haus Passport Beer Dinner: Pedal Haus Brewery hosts a five-course beer dinner – each pairing inspired by the country in which the beer style originated – at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at its downtown Phoenix location.

Brewers Round Table: The heads of five Valley breweries discuss their industry and answer questions during a four-course beer dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at SanTan Gardens in Chandler.

Black Tuesday & Donuts: The Hungry Monk’s annual beer-and-free-doughnuts pairing/pajama party will feature The Bruery’s highly ranked Black Tuesday imperial stout at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at the Chandler restaurant and bar.

Arizona Strong Beer Fest: Samples of more than 500 beers will be available at Beer Week’s signature event, now in its 23rd year. Gates open at 11 a.m. (VIP) and 1 p.m. (general admission) Saturday, Feb.17, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.

American Presidential Stout Release: The annual Presidents Day release of Arizona Wilderness Brewing’s sought-after imperial stout will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at the brewery’s Gilbert and downtown Phoenix locations.

Pink Boots Arm Wrestling Throwdown: Lovely ladies of Arizona’s craft beer community will compete in their fifth annual fundraiser for the Pink Boots Society at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Boulders on Southern in Mesa.

Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing: The Sugar Bar in Chandler will offer its third annual pairing of six Girl Scout cookies and six beers or ciders Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25.

See the complete list of Arizona Beer Week events

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🧧 Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar & Grill in Scottsdale hosts a Lunar New Year celebration  through Feb. 29. It kicks off today with a special menu and a performance by the award-winning 9 Dragons Lion Dance Phoenix troupe.

🖤 Bitter love potion cocktails and $5 mystery shots will be flowing when Level 1 Arcade Bar in downtown Mesa hosts an emo anti-Valentines Day party from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. tonight. No cover, but those dressed in black will get VIP line access.

🍨 Andy’s Frozen Custard celebrates the grand opening of its newest store on the southeast corner of McQueen and Elliot in Gilbert with $2 one-topping sundaes from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday.

🇯🇲 Enjoy traditional Caribbean food, music, and art at the second annual Jamaican Jerk, Roots & Reggae Festival, which runs noon-6 p.m. Saturday at the Ruben Romero picnic area at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. General admission: $20-40.

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⛷️ The Montauk in Old Town Scottsdale transforms into the ‘‘Champagne Chalet at Mount Montauk’’ today for a day of fake snow, chilly libations from an ice luge, plenty of champagne, and themed photo ops. Doors open at 9 a.m.

🍦 Jeni’s Ice Cream in Old Town Scottsdale celebrates Ice Cream for Breakfast Day with limited-time Banana French Toast and Maple Soaked Pancakes pints, French Toast waffle cones, and giveaways from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

🦞 The 12th annual Southwest Cajun Fest – featuring Mardi Gras food, Dixieland bands, bead-throwing, a hidden speakeasy, street performers, and more – takes place 2-10 p.m. Saturday in downtown Chandler. Admission: $8-$28.

🍺 The Sugar Bar in Chandler celebrates its two-year anniversary with a block party, beer collaborations, food trucks, music and music bingo, lawn games, prize giveaways, and face painting from 5-11 p.m. Saturday.

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🍷 Arizona Wine Festival (pictured): More than 20 Arizona wineries, plus live music, food trucks, and vendors from 11 a.m .-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Square in Phoenix. Tickets: $30-$45 (includes 10 tasting tickets).

📖 A Taste of AZ Festival: Quarterly magazine Taste of AZ hosts its first food and drink festival from 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. Tickets: $89-$129 (includes unlimited food samples and 15 drink samples).

🍜 Nom Nom Noodles Festival: More than 20 restaurants and vendors will sell noodle dishes from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Plaza Park in Peoria. Tickets: $15-$20 (noodle dishes are an additional 5-$17 apiece).

🍺 Steel Cactus 1-year anniversary: Gilbert brewery celebrates from 6 p.m.-close Saturday with drink specials, music trivia with prizes, live band karaoke, and music by Punk ’n Pints with Punk Daddy. No cover.

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