To experience the true essence of Japanese culture, visit the Arizona Matsuri Festival of Japan in downtown Phoenix every February. This popular event is one of the biggest Japanese festivals in the US, featuring over 60 vendors offering food and merchandise and exhibits by local schools, universities, and organizations. This event has four stages to witness thrilling performances, including Taiko drumming, martial arts displays, and traditional Japanese dance shows. The best part? It's completely free, and there are plenty of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. This is an incredible opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Japan's vibrant culture and make unforgettable memories.
To experience the magic of candy making, visit the Cerreta Candy Company. This family-owned business has been making delicious treats for over 50 years. They offer public tours of their factory, where you can watch as vats of chocolate are poured into delicate molds to create mouth-watering candies. You'll be able to hear the popcorn popping before it gets coated in luscious caramel. The Cerreta family has passed down their candy-making skills for four generations, and they continue to oversee production and operations. You can watch them make a variety of caramels, fudge, brittle's, Camelback's, and caramel popcorn. They combine modern and old-fashioned candy-making techniques to create popular chocolate-covered creams such as butter, maple, fudge, or peppermint. They specialize in molded chocolates like the famous French Mint and the Chocolate Enrober, where creams, caramels, pretzels, cherries, and marshmallows get covered in luscious chocolate.
Did you know that the Arizona State University Art Museum started as a small display of books? Today, it has become a stunning collection of contemporary American and British ceramics, among other works of art. The museum has over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection, with over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space in five extensive galleries. One of the unique features of the museum is its focus on contemporary artists and Latin American Art.
If you're looking for an exciting and educational excursion, look at the Sea Life Aquarium at the Arizona Mills Mall. With over 5,000 species on display, the aquarium is the perfect place to gaze at a fantastic array of marine life. One of the highlights is the touch tank, where visitors can get up close and personal with some creatures. What's more, SEA LIFE is the world's most prominent family of aquariums, with locations all around the globe. They aim to share their passion for ocean creatures with visitors and inspire a love for these fantastic animals.