8th Annual SAVOR Southern Arizona Food and Wine Festival

SOUTHERN ARIZONA’S LARGEST CULINARY FESTIVAL RETURNS ON JANUARY 28, 2023, TO THE TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS

Tickets are now on sale for the annual community-wide food and wine festival, presented by Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, Local First Arizona & Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Early bird ticket sales have begun for the 8th Annual SAVOR Southern Arizona Food and Wine Festival. The event gives the public a chance to experience the rich diversity of cuisine, culture, and agricultural history, making the Sonoran Desert and Tucson a famed UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

The SAVOR Southern Arizona food and wine festival will celebrate the largest local gathering of restaurants, chefs, breweries, wine, and specialty food purveyors at the lush and historic Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Presented in partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, Local First Arizona, and Tucson Botanical Gardens, all three nonprofit organizations strive to educate and promote the beauty and culture of Southern Arizona in their unique way.

“This spectacular community collaboration has truly grown to become the largest annual showcase of Southern Arizona’s rich and diverse culinary talent, and native foods,” said Kate Marquez, Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, “We look forward to highlighting our regional cuisine, and providing an opportunity for our community to come together to spend a day experiencing local foods and recipes in one of our region’s most serene settings, at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.”

The Festival will bring together stars of Tucson’s culinary scene with acclaimed regional chefs, wine and spirits experts, and local Heritage Foods movement leaders. Festival programming will include interactive cooking stations, the opportunity to engage with local chefs, live music, art experiences, a signature event raffle, and admission to the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Attendees will stroll the gardens while visiting local restaurants and exhibitors offering their signature dishes and premiere wine and cocktail samples, experiencing an intersection of place and palate.

Now in its eighth year, after taking a 2-year break due to COVID, the SAVOR Southern Arizona Food and Wine Festival will continue to highlight the distinctive cuisine of Tucson has developed from a culturally layered history and a variety of heritage food ingredients.

Tickets for the 8th Annual SAVOR Southern Arizona Food and Wine Festival are now available at https://www.saaca.org/savor.html. General admission tickets are $100 each and include menu and libations samplings from local chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and food purveyors. VIP tickets include early entry into the event, a special welcome cocktail and preferred parking for $150. This is a 21+ event. Event participants will be announced on a rolling basis beginning January 2023.

SAVOR Southern Arizona Food and Wine Festival
When: Saturday, January 28, 2023.
Where: Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way
Cost: General admission $100 (12pm-3pm), VIP Tickets $150 (11am-3pm)
Online: Savor Food and Wine Festival – SAACA
Phone: (520) 797-3959

About the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance
The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and advancement of the Arts. SAACA strengthens the bonds between people, place and purpose through collaborative, arts-driven experiences. SAACA (formerly the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council) was created to develop cultivated programming that spotlights local creatives and celebrates unique culture, while providing direct opportunities for artists to make and sell their work. To date, SAACA has created over 400,000 arts-driven experiences, from innovative community festivals and cultural celebrations to creative sector development, and accessible arts enrichment programs. SAACA continues to grow in footprint and in impact while working to pursue the mission of strengthening the bonds between people, place and purpose. www.saaca.org

Local First Arizona
Founded in 2003 by Director Kimber Lanning, Local First Arizona (LFA) is the largest alliance of independent businesses in the country, working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona. With over 2,500 local business members, LFA educates citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. Visit www.LocalFirstAZ.com for more information.

Tucson Botanical Gardens
Tucson Botanical Gardens, designated as America’s Best Secret Garden by Reader’s Digest, is an urban oasis in the heart of Tucson, featuring a 5 ½ acre collection of 17 specialty gardens. Voted Tucson’s “BEST Public Garden” in the Tucson Weekly’s BEST of issues for 12 years and awardee of the 2014 Copper Cactus Award for a Nonprofit business. Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the Tucson Botanical Gardens has a seasonal tropical butterfly exhibit, an on-site café and two garden gift shops. The Gardens is located at 2150 N. Alvernon Way. For more information on classes, rotating exhibits, events or anything else, call (520) 326-9686, Ext. 10, email info@tucsonbotanical.org or visit www.tucsonbotanical.org.