‘Tis the season to ride your bike to a fall festival, eat, drink and be merry. Explore Downtown Phoenix November 7 and 8 and discover funky parades, cumbia music and great local food, drinks and holiday gifts for the whole family.
CALA Alliance International Festival
Celebrate the dynamic fusion of Latino cultural expression through the arts at CALA (Artistic Celebration of the Americas) Alliance International Festival Nov. 7 and 8 at Civic Space Park in Downtown Phoenix
Since its inception in 2011, the festival brings in world-class musicians, renowned guest speakers, amazing artists and chefs to showcase their craft. This year’s focus is the history and evolution of cumbia music, an Afro-Latino rythmn and widely popular style of dance.

When: Friday Nov. 7 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 2-10 p.m.

Where: Civic Space Park

Admission: Friday CALA Lab is $35, which includes the lecture, appetizers and cocktails. VIP after-party is an additional $15. Saturday’s event is free.

Highlights: Friday’s CALA Lab features an intimate evening with Chef Javier Plascencia, Tito Munoz, director of the Phoenix Symphony and Aldo Sanchez, curator at Museo del Estanquillo. Specialty appetizers and cocktails included in the ticket price. On Saturday, get ready for a full day of free family fun with mask-making, face painting, silk screen workshop, cumbia dancing and more. See the schedule for a full list of activities.

Parking: There’s $5 all-day parking available on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Fillmore Street and metered street parking around the park. CALA greatly encourages people to take the light rail, public transportation or ride a bike. Civic Space Park is conveniently located near the Van Buren Street and Central Avenue light rail stop and central transit center with ample bike parking available.
Certified Local Fall Festival
Just in time for the holiday season, get ready to shop over 100 local food, craft and retail vendors at Certified Local Fall Festival Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complete with live music, beer and wine garden, this is the shopping experience you’ve been dreaming of.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.

Where: Portland Parkway at 10 W. Portland Street.

Admission: Admission is free. Food tickets cost $1 each and each drink sample requires two food tickets.

Highlights: Test your luck at this year’s raffle. Tickets cost $3 each or 2 for $5. Twenty prizes will be announced every hour including local restaurant gift cards, free oil changes, museum memberships and more.

Parking: Limited street parking is available. The festival is conveniently located across from the Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue light rail stop and attendees are encouraged to walk, ride or take public transportation.
Grand Avenue Festival and the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts
Whimsy meets history at the combined Grand Avenue Festival and Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts (PAPA) Saturday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Over the years, both events have emerged as eclectic community-building celebrations of the arts in Downtown Phoenix.
Based on similar missions, the two events joined forced for the first time this year to create for a full day of fun for the whole family. The festival highlights the burgeoning arts community on Grand Avenue, while the parade invites attendees to dress up, march in the parade, build floats, ride bikes or find a creative way to participate.
When: Saturday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.. The parade begins at dusk.

Where: Along Lower Grand Avenue from 15th Avenue to Van Buren Street. The PAPA stage and festival information booth is located at 1501 W. Grand Avenue, which is good place to start.

Admission: Free to for both events.

Highlights: Local artists will be painting and tiling decorative cement planters during the festival and visitors can design a tile or help create their own mosaic design. For the parade, don’t miss the Untrashed Recycled Fashion Show and creative homemade floats made of found materials.

Parking: Free street parking on both sides of Grand Avenue with additional parking lots at 1501 and 1502 W. Grand Avenue, 1346 W. Roosevelt Street and ample bike parking outside Bragg’s Factory Diner and ThirdSpace.
For more information visit the Grand Avenue Members’ Association or PAPA websites.