It’s Spring and what better way to start it off by celebrating at the Arizona Aloha Festival!

This annual family friendly and FREE two-day event celebrates Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, and other South Pacific Island cultures. There will be live entertainment on several stages including authentic music, dance in traditional attire, cultural displays & demonstrations, arts & crafts, and educational lectures about Hawaii and Polynesia.

The huge Island Marketplace has vendors offering unique & traditional crafts, fresh flower leis, baskets, hats, carved bone necklaces, tapa cloth, island wood products, Hawaiian jewelry, Hawaiian coffee, and Hawaiian music.

There will be two food courts this year and both are stocked with traditional American snacks, but don’t miss out on the chance to sample some of the favorite foods from vendors offering a variety of culinary delights from Hawaii and the South Pacific Islands, like kahlua pig, manapua, haupia, Vilo Vilo chicken, or Spam musubi.

Children are invited to make island crafts to take home with them. The Ukulele Corner is where anyone can take a free lesson and learn to play ukulele on their ‘loaner’ ukes. Experienced players volunteer to share the joy with those who want to learn and will show you how to play some chords and strum. You’ll be hooked from the start and playing in no time! Local ukulele players will also congregate here to jam.

When: Saturday March 11th and Sunday March 12th from 10am – 5pm

Where: Tempe Beach Park, 80 W Rio Salado Pkwy. Tempe, AZ 85281

For additional information, maps, parking, and full event schedule, please visit their website at: www.AZAlohaFest.org