Our friends at Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) are expanding their annual Fall Artisan Festival in Oro Valley to feature an expanded food area curated by us!!
The (now slightly renamed) Oro Valley Fall Foodie & Art Festival is happening from Saturday, October 26 — Sunday, October 27.
This free two-day outdoor event will take over the Oro Valley Marketplace (12155 N. Oracle Rd.), turning the picturesque open-air shopping center into a headquarters for creativity, flavors, and autumn fun.
This year, more than 135 local artisans will bring their handcrafted goods to the festival, including jewelry, metal sculptures, woven textiles, and home decor. It’s a prime opportunity to meet the folks who make the crafts and they’ll even have a few live demonstrations.
Foodie Experience
SAACA asked us (Tucson Foodie) to bring Oro Valley a little taste of Tucson—so we rounded up some of our favorite food trucks and vendors, including some returning favorites from prior years.
We’ve curated more than 25 food and beverage vendors for the Foodie Experience, featuring seasonal treats like pumpkin-flavored drinks, kettle corn, fudge, and regional bites that celebrate Southern Arizona’s food culture.
Foodie Experience Vendors
Saturday & Sunday
- 520 Taco Stop – Authentic Mexican flavors from tacos and burritos to quesadillas and enchiladas, there is something for everyone
- Cinnaholic – Custom vegan cinnamon rolls with endless toppings
- Cook’s Kettle Corn – Classic, fresh kettle corn with the perfect sweet-salty balance
- Dante’s Fire – Elevated comfort food with bold, inventive twists
- Del Cielo Tamal – Handmade, traditional Mexican tamales
- Espressoul – Artisan coffee brewed to perfection with a sustainable focus
- Fiesta Filipina – Authentic Filipino street food bursting with vibrant flavors
- Lovin’ Spoonfuls – Hearty vegan comfort foods packed with flavor
- Malta Joe’s Baked Goods – Savory Maltese pastizzi filled with Mediterranean-inspired goodness
- Mex-Sal – Mexican and Salvadoran fusion dishes with bold, authentic flavors
- Oh Wow! Mini Donuts – Hot, fresh mini donuts with a variety of fun toppings
- Pupuseria Rosita’s – Traditional Salvadoran pupusas filled with savory goodness
- Substance Diner – Vegan comfort food classics served with a modern twist
- Transit Tea – Fresh, craft teas and refreshing healthy drinks
- Yum Yum Pocha – Korean street food offering savory bites from Korea to Oro Valley
Saturday only
- Churros Inzunza – Family-run churro spot offering fresh, traditional sweet treats
- Mafia Kitchen – Bold, mafia-inspired Italian dishes full of rich flavors
- NYC + Sonoran Street Food – a new concept from the owners of Empire Pizza and Bollywood Pizza!
- Tortilleria Arevalo – Fresh tortillas and hearty pasties with Southwestern flavors
Sunday only
- Big Sexy’s Chicken Wangs & Thangs – Crispy, juicy wings with bold, flavorful heat
- Bollywood Pizza Company – Unique Indian-inspired fusion pizzas bursting with spices and creativity
- CowPig – Gourmet burgers and BBQ blending beef and pork for a flavorful experience
- Haus of Brats – German sausages and brats offering an authentic taste of Germany
Craft beer and wine will also be available in the Beer & Wine Garden featuring a selection of Ranch Hand Brewing beers and favorites from Flying Leap Vineyards.
Entertainment at the Festival
This season’s festival also has some family-friendly, fall-themed activities, including pumpkin painting, a kids’ art station, and a 24-foot pumpkin centerpiece for family photo opportunities. Kids can get into the Halloween spirit with trick-or-treating at more than 70 stations, where artisans will be handing out candy throughout the festival walkways.
Also, be sure to catch the Master Pumpkin Carving demonstrations by Food Network star Matt Harper, from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Check out our October 2023 article, “Nine on the Line: Matt Harper, Local Pumpkin Sculptor.”
Live music will fill the air throughout the weekend with performances by Fox and Bones (Americana), Tesoro (Flamenco), Chris Baron & Two Secrets (Folk Rock), and more. After-hours music at Fork & Fire Smokehouse + Taproom (11835 N. Oracle Rd. #101) will keep the party going with performances from The Beatle Brothers (Beatles tribute band) and Sean Lewis (Pop/Rock).
Check out the live music schedule here.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience art, food, music, and the festive charm of fall!
The Oro Valley Fall Foodie & Art Festival will take place at the Oro Valley Marketplace (12155 N. Oracle Rd.) For more information, visit saaca.org.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
