What’s cookin’ at the 48th annual Tucson Meet Yourself festival

It’s that time of year again to meet up, eat, and treat yourself.

The 48th annual Tucson Meet Yourself is taking over parts of downtown for a weekend of fun from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday, October 8 – Saturday, October 9, and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 10.

As was seen in previous years, Tucson Meet Yourself is designated to a certain area, and this year it’s going to be absorbing four city blocks by the Jacomé Plaza that’s in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library.

There’s going to be more than 50 performing groups sharing music and dance, the inaugural Arizona Ethnic and Traditional Dance Festival, and more than 30 food vendors that’ll be representing at least 20 cultural regions.

“We’ve been very careful and intentional about planning this year’s Tucson Meet Yourself,” said, Maribel Alvarez, Festival Program Director. “We produce a festival for the public, of course, but our allegiance is primarily to the artists and food vendors who get to share their culture. Our close conversations with these participants — many with whom we have enjoyed decades of relationship — have helped us plan a scaled-back festival that takes safety very seriously, while still allowing for celebration and enjoyment.”

Be sure to invite your appetite along for the walk while getting whiffs of multiple aromas from the following food vendors.

Participating Tucson Meet Yourself Food Vendors

• Baja Tacos Tucson
• Boriken Modern Puerto Rican Cuisine
• Cafe Francais
• Cafe Santa Rosa
• Ceedee Jamaican Kitchen
• Cocina Oaxaqueña
• Eat Masri
• El Taco Rustico
• Empanadas El Dominicano
• H.B.C.U. College Tour Group
• Hawaiian Shave Ice
• Inca’s Peruvian Cuisine
• J’s Kettle Corn
• Just Churros
• Kain Na Tayo Filipino
• Lajkonik Polish Folk Ensemble
• Los Chiquilines Aguas Frescas
• Matilde Santa Cruz – Sonoran Homecooking
• Maya Gracie’s Kitchen
• Moreno’s Roasted Corn
• O’odham Ladies
• Order of Ahepa Greek Food
• Pam’s Kitchen
• Patricia’s Cuban Kitchen
• Ricuras de Venezuela
• Saffron Indian Bistro
• San Xavier Cooperative Farm
• Santa Cruz Catholic Church / Little Mexico Restaurant
• Sema Foundation-Turkish
• Solid Grindz Hawaiian Food
• Sonoran Sno Cones
• Takoyaki Balls
• Vietnamese Student Association
• Wat Buddhametta
• Yoeme Barrio Libre Community

You can see the entire list online with a description of each food vendor, along with where they are actually going to be located at Jacomé Plaza.

Tucson Meet Yourself will be located at Jacomé Plaza, in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library at 101 N. Stone Ave. For more information, visit tucsonmeetyourself.org.