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.
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.
