Music, art, food, and beautiful weather.
This is what thousands of Tucsonans long for a few times a year.
This weekend, that longing can be satisfied with the Fourth Avenue Street Fair.
For those unfamiliar, the street fair is a biannual event that takes over North Fourth Avenue for one weekend in the spring and winter. It’s been going on for 47 years — which makes the upcoming fair the 94th one.
The street fair was originally started by a small group of artists and business owners who wanted to share their art and bring people together to create a better sense of community.
“We have a really good vibe on Fourth Avenue,” Monique Vallery, events director of the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, says. “There’s something for everyone at the street fair.”
The street fair typically reels in more than 300,000 people over the course of a mile and a half. This spring, over 300 artists will be present at the event, in addition to more than 40 food vendors and several musicians.
“We’re always excited to welcome the community down to the avenue,” Vallery says. “We believe in the fair, and we know that Tucson loves to support it. We love that people want to be a part of our family and our diversity.”
MUSIC
When we think of the street fair, we think of the art and we think of the food. It’s time to think of the music, too.
The street fair will feature several bands and musicians across two stages — one set up on Fifth Street, the other on Seventh Street.
“Our inclusion of musicians just showcases another group of talented folks we have in the community,” Vallery says. “The vast majority of the performers are local, so this is a way for us to support our community by giving them a platform to perform and be heard.”
Among the many performers:
Katie Haverly
Haverly describes her band’s music as “raw, bluesy and soulful, with a strong female voice.”
Haverly is gearing up to record a new album, “Four,” which “explores the next four years of American political history looking through the lens of the four elements — earth, air, fire, and water.”
In terms of the street fair, Haverly couldn’t be more excited.
“I love the community feel of it,” she says. “I love the street fair — all of the food, the beautiful work that people sell — just the sense of community.”
Catch Haverly on the Fifth Street Stage from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 24.
The Eulogy Project
Lead singer and songwriter Eric Eulogy had a tough time defining the genre of the Eulogy Project’s sound.
“I think if I had to simplify it, we’re an acoustic rock band,” he says. “But I want to create music that is fun to listen to and enjoyable for everybody. I want to create something that crosses genre lines.”
Besides the typical instruments in a rock band, The Eulogy Project features the harmonica, fiddle, xylophone, and banjo.
When asked how he felt about so many potential bystanders hearing their music at the fair, Eulogy says, “That’s what it’s all about. That’s why we do it.”
Eulogy says he enjoys the variety of everything involved at the fair — the people, music, art and food.
The Eulogy Project performs on the Fifth Street Stage from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, March 26.
The Unday
Clovis Jako, guitarist of The Unday, has been told that their sound resembles Pink Floyd — except The Unday has female vocals and a viola.
“A reason we all became musicians has to do with our deep appreciation for music and wanting to share that profound experience with other people,” Jako says. “We feel very fortunate to have such a large and diverse audience to perform for.”
Jako says the band feels fortunate to have the opportunity to perform for the large and diverse audience at the fair.
“The street fair really showcases some of Tucson’s best qualities with our unique and robust local artist community, which we are proud to be a part of,” Jako says.
Catch The Unday on the Fifth Street Stage from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.
Cabaret Boheme
Cabaret Boheme, a vaudeville variety troupe, generally has shows with singing, burlesque, and comedy sketches. To the street fair, however, Cabaret Boheme is bringing only the band and singers.
“Our sound is a mixture of things,” Cindy Blue, director of Cabaret Boheme, says. “We do old rock ’n’ roll, blues, and Rat Pack. Most of the songs are danceable, toe-tapper songs, but we have sultry songs, too.”
Most of Cabaret Boheme’s shows are fairly intimate, which usually results in sold-out venues.
“The street fair is going to be different for us,” Blue says. “There will be a lot of people who aren’t there to see the performance. Our challenge is to make it big and bring excitement to make people want to stop, watch, dance, and clap. I have no doubt that this group of performers can do that, and we’re so thankful to be included in the street fair this year.”
Cabaret Boheme will perform on the Fifth Street Stage from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.
ART
More than 300 artists will occupy the white booths set up along Fourth Avenue.
You won’t find anything here that you can find in your local Walmart: The Fourth Avenue Merchants Association requires that artists handcraft the items they sell.
“We want our vendors and artists to be the hands-on producers of their goods,” Vallery says. “Buying something from the street fair means you’re getting something unique that these artists are creating themselves.”
Although the artists showcase an overwhelming amount of different artwork, visitors can expect to find pottery and ceramics, handmade clothing and tie-dye, canvases and wall art, furniture, jewelry, photography, metal and glasswork, toys, and packaged foods.
“There really is something for everyone — even if you don’t think you’re going to buy anything,” Vallery says.
According to Vallery, about 75 percent of the street fair’s artists return each year.
“The street fair is an iconic event,” she says. “Artists come from all over. The worst thing is for an artist to come to the fair and no one shows up. But that’s the thing — 300,000 people come out.”
FOOD
There’s something about strolling along the avenue eating food truck fare designed to indulge your taste buds.
Among the extensive list of over 40 food vendors attending the event, folks can expect to find gourmet popcorn, fry bread, roasted corn on the cob, barbecue goodness, snow cones, and Indonesian satay
The street fair comes around only twice a year — you can use it as an excuse for your cheat day.
But if you’re looking more for a sit-down air-conditioned restaurant, those are always available, too. In fact, Fourth Avenue is packed with restaurants — Caruso’s, Lindy’s, Athens, Brooklyn Pizza Co., Bison Witches, and many more.
WHAT’S NEW?
The street fair has mixed it up with new offerings.
Such as the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s your typical grill — except it’s on a semi-truck, complete with 18 wheels.
“Last time they were in Arizona was for the Super Bowl in 2015,” Vallery says. “They tour nationwide, and the semi is just … this giant grill.”
If the grill itself isn’t captivating enough, a portion of the proceeds spent at the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill will be donated to a local nonprofit.
Also during this fair, the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association, the same group behind the Tucson Folk Festival, is hosting one of the performance stages.
“They bring a lot of local flavor and talent,” Vallery says. “We’re excited that they’re going to be hosting one of the stages.”
A tiny house will also be present at the fair. Vallery says it was recently constructed and is traveling from New Mexico.
GETTING THERE
The street fair runs on Fourth Avenue from Eighth Street to University Boulevard, also extending into side streets.
Complimentary shuttles are provided to and from the event. Guests can park in parking garages near Main Gate Square and catch a shuttle from Main Gate to University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue.
Alternatively, a shuttle is available from the Pennington Street Garage to Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue.
The Tucson streetcar will not run down Fourth Avenue, but will continue its normal route downtown. Guests can park downtown and ride the streetcar close to the street fair.
