History of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival

The first Scottsale Culinary Festival was created more than four decades ago to raise funds for Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Now a reenergized Culinary Festival returns with three entities collaborating – Scottsdale League for the Art, Scottsdale Arts and R Entertainment.

Scottsdale League for the Arts, Formed in 1978, has donated more than $4.5 million to the arts since 2000.  Scottsdale Arts is a multi-disciplinary, nonprofit arts organization that operates the Scottsdale Civic Center.  Scottsdale-based R Entertainment is a national culinary event producer and concert entertainment company.

Dr. Glenn Azzari, Scottsdale League for the Arts president, said, “The Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s 42-year legacy continues in a modernized format as we launch into this new decade.  To deliver new festival and culinary experiences, our volunteer organization is pleased to work with R Entertainment, a Scottsdale event production company that specializes in large festivals and events, and Scottsdale Arts and its expertise with the city’s performing arts center and more.”

SCOTTSDALE LEAGUE FOR THE ARTS

Formed in 1978, the Scottsdale League for the Arts has presented the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, the longest-running festival of its type in the nation. The 501(c)(3), non-profit, volunteer organization supports local arts programs through culinary fundraising events. In 2018, grant recipients included Ballet Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Free Arts for Abused Children, Phoenix Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company and Valley Youth Theater. The League has donated more than $4.5 million to the arts since 2000.