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.
Are you looking for a night of laughter and fun? Look no further than the Neighborhood Comedy Theatre's Improv Comedy Show. As the judge, you get to shout out suggestions and decide which team of comedians is the funniest. The performers pull out all the stops to win bragging rights. With no two shows ever being the same, you're guaranteed a hilarious and spontaneous experience. The NCT also offers improv comedy classes, workshops, corporate and private entertainment events, and more. Come check out Downtown Mesa's home for comedy and enjoy all ages of improv comedy, variety, sketch comedy, and more each week.
If you're a music lover, the Musical Instrument Museum is a must-visit spot in Phoenix. You'll hear the history of sound and song uniquely using the wireless headsets issued to each visitor. The accompanying sounds near each display will transport you to the world of music and help you connect with your heritage while seeing over 4,200 instruments on display from every corner of the globe. From the beginning, the goal has been to deliver a musical experience that is enriching, inspiring, interesting, and fun. Today, the museum has a collection of more than 7,500 instruments from more than 200 world countries and territories, reflecting the rich diversity and history of many world cultures. Come and see why music is the language of the soul at the Musical Instrument Museum.
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.