Hannah Houlden

This season, 18 Arizona Wineries, five live bands, more than 60 local artists, crafts, as well as locally grown pistachios, pecans, other local produce and specialty foods will be there.

Tickets range from $20 – $45 per person — depending on the type of experience you’re looking for. Either way, everyone attending the festival will get a commemorative glass.

The brewery wants to help keep you cool with “beer slushies.” There’s going to be a flight of three beers with three Eegee’s, and you’ll also be encouraged to mix the two beverages together a combination that’ll make you jump out of your seat.

It sounds like a lot of fun, but what about the kids?

Don’t worry about it because they’re invited, too, and non-alcoholic Eegee’s will be available throughout the evening.

Don Guerra of Barrio Bread will be offering his guidance through the basics of bread baking fermentation and the use of local wheat.

The five hour session will be introducing everyone to the anatomy of the wheat plant and grinding of wheat berries into flour. Also, the exploration of mixing, kneading, and baking the bread in a cast iron pot is on the agenda.

The class is limited to 20 seats and it costs $155 per person.

This year’s culinary tour is making its first pit stop in Tsuruoka, Japan.  It’s an ancient city located near the Sea of Japan, which in turn has an abundance of seafood waiting to take you on a culinary journey.  No need to travel to Japan, though, because Wilder and his culinary team have created a menu to mimic the tastes of Tsuruoka.

The summer promotion is a lot of fun because it features a wide variety of appetizers, entrees, desserts, cocktails and regional beverages — changing it out every few weeks throughout the season.

First stop: the Southwest.

There’s been a great addition this year, too. Guests can pick up a “punch card” to use each time they grab a bite at Kingfisher.  If you end up buying five “Road Trip” entrees, you’ll snag yourself a sixth one for free.

If you’re not in the mood for anything on the special menus, the regular Kingfisher dinner menu you’ve grown to love will also be available.

The Italian dinner — which has yet to be revealed — kicks the night off, which is soon followed by several stand-up comedians beginning at 8 p.m.

$15 will get you in, and that covers both the dinner and entertainment.