Festivals and More | Aphoenicianfall

-DO NOT TOUCH

-SILENCE

Those are your typical rules when you visit a museum, but at

the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. things are a little different.

Put on a pair of headphones, available through the museum of course, and travel through the world of music, literally. This museum offers numerous exhibits of musical instruments with audio and videos of all the continents in the world.

Imagine traveling through time through a pair of headphones. Would you care to see what Argentian roots have to offer or perhaps you're in the mood for some polka.

MIM makes its exhibits particularily special for people of all ages. Taking your family, a date, or an entire class is ideal for this kind of place.

Taking Arizona for a spin.

Fall. It's the time of the season where the weather is just right, not too hot and not too cold for Arizona natives and tourists. While many turned to indoor activities during the summer, this season's looking a little more friendly to everyone. Here's a look at some of the festivals and hobbies offered this fall for people of all ages around the valley.

Musical Instrument museum

Celebrating the Dead

Tour de Fat/ Oktoberfest

Beer lovers come out in droves for New Belgium Brewing's annual kick-off of

the Oktoberfest festivities with Tour de Fat. Don't be surprised to see a pirate

or alien peddle passed you! Beer lovers and bicycling enthusiasts decked out in wild

costumes weave their way around Tempe coming to an end at Tempe Towne Beach

Park.

To cool down after their ride, festival patrons mill around the beach park to sounds of

local rock bands and street preformers. The fun starts with the ride at 10. Remember,

the beers are for responsible drinkers 21 and over!

Choose from a range of New Belgium's best brews, like the iconic Fat Tire, Ranger IPA and a handful of seasonal flavors. Beer not your cup of tea? No worries. Food and munchies from Brat Haus in Scottsdale will tide your tummy over nicely with juicy bratwurst snadwiches.

Did Tour de Fat not cut it for you? Have no fear. Oktoberfest follows the next weekend. Love Arizona beer? Great. You will get plenty of it at Four Peak's Oktoberfest. Arizona's favorite brewing company, Four Peaks, provides the beverages for the weekend. Enjoy a shmorgishborg of beer gardens and German food. It is an offbeat-day at the races for wiener dogs as they race to victory in front of thousands of attendees! Still haven't had your fill? Hop on any of the carnival rides. Just hold your beer for the people belows sake!

Hip-Hop at MIM

Early Hip-Hop era is displayed at MIM. Earlier influences are accompanied by what first started this type of music.

Dragon

Singapore celebrates its culture by bringing in their dragon to MIM.

Let the drum roll

Drums of all shape, form, and time era can be found throughout MIM.

The Scissor Dance

Chilean traditional dance uses scissors to entertain and yes that is the real size of the scissors.

Rock N' Roll

Electric guitars and amplifiers are through time are found at MIM.

Musical Instrument Museum Exhibits

Instrument Exhibits are displayed across the museum according to their continent and country. They are accompanied by audio and video visuals as well as informational canvases and their instruments or attire.

Cultural Coalition held it's annual Day of the Dead celebration with live entertainment for the community Sunday afternoon to honor the loved ones who have passed.Those who attended were able to enjoy activities from different vendors around Margaret T. Hance Park where the festivity took place.

Scheduled performances were set to take place throughout the day as families gathered with their children to learn about the history of holiday.Traditional dances, food booths and music was provided by vendors. Many children wore facepaint or day of the dead masks with vibrant colors to participate in many of the performances.Local artists shared their artwork to the public and soldmany of their pieces.

Traditional dances like the Quetzalcoal and La Llorona were brought back again this year to share with those watching. Volunteers gathered around to help children with their sugar skulls while dancers paraded around the park in their costumes after each performance.

Carmen Guerrero, the executive director for the Cultural Coalitionintroduced many of thedancers and shared with those in attendance stories of how Day of the Dead has been shared among her family through many generations.

The Cultural Coalition aimed to help people understand and value the change of traditions among their indigeneous roots. After all the performances, the Cultural Coalition began their closing candlelight prayer.

It entailed a moment of silence to honor loved ones who have passed. Everyone was encouraged to light a candle in honor of the dead as they walked around with their lit candles. The organization was able to raise over $6,000 to bring this celebration and welcomed everyone in the community.

Dancers, artists, families and friends enjoyed the day as they shared with each other memories of those who had died in the past years.

April Juarez

From Taylor Swift to Women in Rock, MIM offers special exhbitions throughout the year that focuses on issues that arose and arise in music since forever.

It's quite an experience. Each exhibit is displayed with their appropriate instruments. It doens't stop there. The exhibits are accompanied by three to four videos to show the kinds of music that is made through the use of said instruments.

All you have to do is walk up to from exhibit to exhibit depending on what catches your eyes.

It's an experience many seem to enjoy. For those that fall in love with the museum or love memorabilia, MIM has you covered with their gift store just for you.

Sara Norton

Arizona Taco Festival

Are you a food festival groupie? Good. Fall 'tis the season for food lovers, and what better way to indulge than at a taco festival!? The Arizona Taco Festival rounds up the best of the best taco food trucks in the Valley for a show down of the tastiest street taco. Attendees can let their hair down and live on the wild side with taco flavors like rabbit and goat to more traditional favorite like carne asada and chicken lime.

Tacos not enough? Grab a margarita and catch a lucha libre wrestling match! Mingle around the grounds to sounds of mariachi bands and local rock groups. But watch where you step, a Chihuahua beauty pageant contestant might be underfoot! After your feast on tacos, be sure to vote for your favorite! The food truck with the tastiest taco is crowned Arizona's best taco!