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Pollinator Festival: A Celebration of Food & Community in Tucson

Pollinator Festival (Photo courtesy of Community Gardens of Tucson)

Pollinator Festival: A Celebration of Food & Community in Tucson

Apr 2, 20252 min read

The Community Gardens of Tucson is hosting its fun and educational Pollinator Festival on Sunday, April 6, from 3 – 5 p.m. This event is free to attend and will be held at the New Spirit Garden located at 8701 E. Old Spanish Trail.

This year’s Pollinator Festival aims to raise awareness about pollinator health and the importance of these creatures in supporting biodiversity, food production, and our environment.

There’s a lot going on at the Pollinator Festival — food trucks, live music, local vendors, a farmers market, and interactive demonstrations from regional experts. If you’re feeling lucky and want to support the Community Gardens, they’ll be raffling off local goods, activities, experiences, gift baskets, and local dining deals.

All in all, it’s a celebration of the essential role that pollinators play in our ecosystem.

So, all of that learning and supporting local pollinators ought to work up an appetite, too. Here’s a list of food vendors setting up from 3 -5 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.

Participating Food & Beverage Vendors

  • You Sly Dog – hot dogs with a variety of tasty toppings
  • Mafia Kitchen – yummy cannoli and refreshing Italian sodas
  • Del Cielo Tamal– fresh and flavorful Mexican cuisine
  • Banhdicted – Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches
  • Churro Inzunza – sweet, cinnamon-covered churros
  • Crooked Tooth Brewing – locally crafted, pollinator-friendly beers

“This event is a perfect way for the community to come together and support the mission of the Community Gardens of Tucson, which works to enhance local food systems, promote sustainability, and connect people to the land.”

More About Community Gardens of Tucson

Community Gardens of Tucson is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating community through sustainable gardening practices. By creating accessible and inclusive spaces for people to grow food, the organization supports local food systems, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

New Spirit Garden has 36 in-ground plots, a three-bin compost system, and a pollinator garden planted in partnership with the Audubon Society of Southern Arizona in 2020. Also, the garden has a small orchard planted in partnership with New Spirit Lutheran Church and a communal playground area.

The Pollinator Festival is located at 8701 E. Old Spanish Trail. For more information, visit communitygardensoftucson.org.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At 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.

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An evening of food, plants, and connection returns under the desert sky.🌵✨

In partnership with @salus.healers, join us THIS SATURDAY, August 29, at @tohonochul for Desert Magic, a one-night celebration of the edible and medicinal beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Stroll the gardens, drink in hand, and discover chef and wellness stations along the way.

🌿SWIPE TO SEE OUR WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS offering sound healing, massage, somatic therapy, readings, reiki, plant walks, workshops & more: @awakenedwombs | @curavidabodywork | @dharmawellness.center | @drkorigiudici | Ease Bodywork | @itsme.emmav | @healingspiritsoaks | @marie.heartnectar | @innerblissenergetics | @jessi.kyte.bodywork | Medicine Within | @monsoonmystics | @morosomedicalcenter | @intuitive_readings_by_zev | @sugarmelovetucson | @tantricheart_coaching | @gathering_point_ | @thehealinghubaz | The Somatic Sound 

🔥FOOD: @el_chef_padilla (@copperashculinary) | @landofmilknhoney (@tohonochulgardenbistro) | @chefdevonsanner (@sandpcreative) | Chef Gracie Soto (@anita_st_market) | @chefjosetucson (@ameliastucson) | @kenneth.foy | Obie Hindman & @tuckerhartford (@tucsoncityofgastronomy & @solpuebloprovisions) | @archimagirus_cultro (@scratchingtheplate)

🥣 SOUNDS @tucsonmodernjazzquartet | DJ Sets by Rosa Dragona & LaDev

Ticket includes wellness stations, herb walks, workshops, sound healing, & botanical drinks.

Tap the link in bio to grab yours! 🎟️✨ 

#tucsonfoodie #tucsoneventAn evening of food, plants, and connection returns under the desert sky.🌵✨ In partnership with @salus.healers, join us THIS SATURDAY, August 29, at @tohonochul for Desert Magic, a one-night celebration of the edible and medicinal beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Stroll the gardens, drink in hand, and discover chef and wellness stations along the way. 🌿SWIPE TO SEE OUR WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS offering sound healing, massage, somatic therapy, readings, reiki, plant walks, workshops & more: @awakenedwombs | @curavidabodywork | @dharmawellness.center | @drkorigiudici | Ease Bodywork | @itsme.emmav | @healingspiritsoaks | @marie.heartnectar | @innerblissenergetics | @jessi.kyte.bodywork | Medicine Within | @monsoonmystics | @morosomedicalcenter | @intuitive_readings_by_zev | @sugarmelovetucson | @tantricheart_coaching | @gathering_point_ | @thehealinghubaz | The Somatic Sound 🔥FOOD: @el_chef_padilla (@copperashculinary) | @landofmilknhoney (@tohonochulgardenbistro) | @chefdevonsanner (@sandpcreative) | Chef Gracie Soto (@anita_st_market) | @chefjosetucson (@ameliastucson) | @kenneth.foy | Obie Hindman & @tuckerhartford (@tucsoncityofgastronomy & @solpuebloprovisions) | @archimagirus_cultro (@scratchingtheplate) 🥣 SOUNDS @tucsonmodernjazzquartet | DJ Sets by Rosa Dragona & LaDev Ticket includes wellness stations, herb walks, workshops, sound healing, & botanical drinks. Tap the link in bio to grab yours! 🎟️✨ #tucsonfoodie #tucsonevent
@vegantucsonnightmarket returns September 5th from 6–10pm with over 60 vendors!

Come support our amazing local makers, small businesses, and restaurants while eating an absolutely ridiculous amount of vegan food. 

🐖 FREE ENTRY | FREE PARKING | DOG-FRIENDLY
📍RILLITO PARK • 4502 N 1ST AVE, TUCSON, AZ

Check out the vendor list in our bio✨

Thank you to our sponsors: @semperfi_heatingandcooling, @tucsonprimeleaf and @trulieveaz_ 

Photos by @astra1wanderer 
#tucsonevents #vegantucson 
#tucsonsmallbusiness #tucsonlocal@vegantucsonnightmarket returns September 5th from 6–10pm with over 60 vendors! Come support our amazing local makers, small businesses, and restaurants while eating an absolutely ridiculous amount of vegan food. 🐖 FREE ENTRY | FREE PARKING | DOG-FRIENDLY 📍RILLITO PARK • 4502 N 1ST AVE, TUCSON, AZ Check out the vendor list in our bio✨ Thank you to our sponsors: @semperfi_heatingandcooling, @tucsonprimeleaf and @trulieveaz_ Photos by @astra1wanderer #tucsonevents #vegantucson #tucsonsmallbusiness #tucsonlocal
“Indian food represents many different regions and cooking styles, featuring far more than the curries that it is popularly known for — though those are certainly found in abundance at Tucson’s Indian restaurants. For religious reasons, beef and pork are not common in the Indian diet, but carnivores can enjoy plenty of chicken, lamb, and seafood dishes. Most Indian restaurants have large sections of their menus devoted to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, too.

Kitchens are almost always accommodating about adjusting spice levels but as a rule of thumb, the hottest dishes are the vindaloos, while the mildest are the kormas and biriyanis.” — @ediebjarolim 

Find @ediebjarolim’s guide on Tucsonfoodie.com“Indian food represents many different regions and cooking styles, featuring far more than the curries that it is popularly known for — though those are certainly found in abundance at Tucson’s Indian restaurants. For religious reasons, beef and pork are not common in the Indian diet, but carnivores can enjoy plenty of chicken, lamb, and seafood dishes. Most Indian restaurants have large sections of their menus devoted to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, too. Kitchens are almost always accommodating about adjusting spice levels but as a rule of thumb, the hottest dishes are the vindaloos, while the mildest are the kormas and biriyanis.” — @ediebjarolim Find @ediebjarolim’s guide on Tucsonfoodie.com
@Berrygreensacai is closing its original downtown Tucson location at 245 E. Congress St. after seven years.

The University Boulevard location near the University of Arizona will remain open, with the team shifting its full focus there. Berry Greens says it will announce a reopening date for the University location soon.

“After much thought and consideration, we have decided to close down our downtown Congress St location after 7 amazing years. We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support, loyalty and for allowing us to be a part of your community for so long.”

Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com 

#downtowntucson #uofa@Berrygreensacai is closing its original downtown Tucson location at 245 E. Congress St. after seven years. The University Boulevard location near the University of Arizona will remain open, with the team shifting its full focus there. Berry Greens says it will announce a reopening date for the University location soon. “After much thought and consideration, we have decided to close down our downtown Congress St location after 7 amazing years. We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your support, loyalty and for allowing us to be a part of your community for so long.” Read @jackie_tran_’s article on Tucsonfoodie.com #downtowntucson #uofa