Scottsdale Italian Festival: Planning Your Visit

Published on 5 min read
Scottsdale Civic Plaza with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale Civic Plaza and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Dru Bloomfield from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Edited)

The Scottsdale Italian Festival brings Italian food, walk-around wine tasting and live entertainment to an autumn weekend in Scottsdale. Organised by the Italian Association of Arizona, it suits a visit built around eating, listening to music and, if you want to take part, playing bocce. Choose the announced weekend before arranging your stay.

Festival dates and the official programme

Season
October–November, based on recent editions
Usual duration
Two days
Entry
Ticketed general admission
Children
Aged 12 and under free, without a ticket

Choose the festival weekend before arranging your stay. The Italian Association of Arizona publishes the annual programme on its website, italianassociation.org, where the festival announcement gives the dates and venue for that edition.

The programme also helps you decide whether to centre your visit on a particular performance or leave room for food, wine and browsing. Treat the named performers and individual activities as that edition’s line-up, rather than expecting an identical programme each year. If you are travelling with children, build the visit around the food and entertainment rather than the wine tasting.

Live music, opera and street performances

DayFestival hoursProgrammeMusic viewing
Saturday11am–7pmMusical performancesMain stage, Scottsdale Civic Center
Sunday11am–5pmMusical performancesMain stage, Scottsdale Civic Center

Live opera, music and street performances are recurring parts of the festival. The main stage gives you a place to stop and listen between food stalls, while street performances add another reason to explore the grounds rather than stay in one viewing spot.

For a performance-led visit, choose a named act from the annual programme and make that your first commitment. If food is your priority, leave a break in your browsing to enjoy a set. Use the programme’s individual listings to decide when to be at the stage, then leave time for eating and exploring the grounds around your chosen performance.

Food, wine and taking part

Handmade pasta and different styles of Italian pizza are among the festival’s food offerings. Browse the stalls before choosing a meal, especially if your group wants to share several dishes. Smaller bites let you try food from more than one vendor without committing to a full meal at each stall.

La Strada del Vino, meaning “the wine route”, is the name used for the listed walk-around tasting. It brings together more than 30 Italian wines from different regions, giving you a way to compare regional styles rather than settle on a single glass.

Bocce, an Italian bowls game, offers another way to take part, with a tournament for visitors who register a team. For an outdoor visit, wear comfortable shoes and clothing you can layer as the day progresses.

For budgeting, allow roughly $15–$25 per person for a festival meal and a soft drink, with more for extra dishes or dessert. Treat that as a spending estimate, and budget the wine package separately.

Tickets and advance planning

Advance purchase is a way to save money, not a requirement for general admission. Buy online using “BUY TICKETS NOW” on the Italian Association’s website, italianassociation.org, or purchase general admission at the door. General admission covers festival access and live entertainment, so allow a separate budget for food and drink.

  • General admission: roughly $15–$30, from presale to regular pricing.
  • Admission plus wine tasting: roughly $55–$75, from presale to regular pricing, with six tasting tickets. The presale package also includes a glass and lanyard.

Choose the admission-plus-wine package through the online ticket link if tasting is part of your visit. Otherwise, ordinary admission lets you enjoy the entertainment without paying for a tasting allocation.

The bocce tournament requires registration for a team of four. Allow about $100 per team, including general admission for each participant. Arrange your group before registering rather than buying separate entry tickets first.

When choosing accommodation, favour a convenient journey to the announced venue over proximity to a previous festival site. That keeps the return straightforward after a day of eating, music and outdoor activities.

The venue and parking

Scottsdale Civic Center is the announced festival venue, providing a central Scottsdale setting for food, wine and entertainment. Its outdoor grounds let you move between eating and watching performances, so plan your arrival around the first activity you want to enjoy, not simply the moment you park.

Name
Scottsdale Civic Center
Location
3939 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Maps

For the Civic Center, the free public parking options include Wells Fargo Garage at 3888 N Wells Fargo Ave and Library Garage at 3803 N Drinkwater Blvd. These garages serve the Civic Center generally and are useful starting points for an arrival by car.

Choose a space whose permitted stay covers your visit. Both garages mix three-hour spaces with spaces without a time limit. If you intend to stay for food and several performances, choose accordingly and read the signs at your space before leaving the car. Leave time to park and reach the festival so you are not arriving at the stage just as your chosen performance begins.

Sources & fact-checking

Checks against the sources below cover: opening hours, services, and key figures.

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