A Rare Opportunity to Connect with Experts, Taste Regional Agave Spirits and More
Tucson, AZ (April 3, 2025) -- Creating a schedule that covers the broad scope of offerings this year can be an exciting challenge during the four-day Agave Heritage Festival. Abundant Tasting opportunities, exceptional dinners, fascinating educational programs, award presentations, and fiestas, all in celebration of the Agave,make this festival unique in the world and specifically meaningful for Tucson, the City of Century Plants.
With over 14 free events among the 30+ events, the Agave Heritage Festival continues to embrace a festival of accessibility, education, and excitement.
Acclaimed Agricultural Ecologist, Ethnobotanist, and recent Beard Award winner for his book Agave Spirits, Past, Present and Future of Mezcals, co-authored with David Suro Pinera, Gary Nabhan is a strong proponent of the Agave Heritage Festival and its mission to build worldwide awareness of Agave culture.
"Even if you don't drink tequilas or mezcals in Tucson, it's clear that these plants are part of the cultural identity of the Old Pueblo - they line our streets, our yards and bloom in our murals, songs and stories. Tucson probably has as many kinds of agaves in our parks, botanical gardens and nurseries as any city in the world. While other Sonoran Desert cities might claim saguaros as their icon, there is no doubt that Tucson deserves to be known as American City of Mezcal Diversity.
For details, tickets, and additional information on all of the 2025 Agave Heritage Festival events, visit www.agaveheritagefestival.com
AGAVE CULTURE FREE EVENTS
Howard Scott Gentry Lecture and Award Ceremony - Thursday, April 10, Award Ceremony 3-4:30 pm, Lecture
Honoring Legacy, Leadership & Land, this award is named in honor of Howard Scott Gentry—the pioneering botanist whose work laid the foundation for modern agave research—this event recognizes individuals who lead with courage, cultural insight, and deep respect for the land and communities sustaining agave traditions. This year’s honorees are Diana Carolina Pinzón and Fabiola “Faby” Torres Monfils for their binational leadership and steadfast commitment to honoring the cultural and ecological roots of mezcal production. Their work exemplifies the values at the heart of the Gentry Award: collaboration, sustainability, and cultural preservation.
Paul and Suzy Fish Lifetime Career Award Lecture at Mission Gardens Saturday, April 12, 10-11:30am
Honoring the Roots of Knowledge, the festival recognizes Paul and Suzy Fish for their groundbreaking research on ancient agave cultivation in the Sonoran Desert. Through decades of archaeological and ecological work, they’ve helped uncover the hidden agricultural landscapes and traditional knowledge systems that continue to shape our region today. Arrive early or linger after the lecture to explore Mission Garden—Tucson’s living agricultural museum—and walk among heritage crops and agave plantings that echo the very history the Fishes have brought to light.
Agave Planting at Mission Garden, Thursday April 10, 8-11am
Help plant agaves as part of Mission Garden’s new Tomorrow’s Garden, where we consider what foods might be grown sustainably in the Sonoran Desert. No experience is needed, and families are encouraged to join! We’ll provide all tools and gloves, just bring your enthusiasm, long pants, and a hat for sun protection. Inspired by Indigenous plantings on Tumamoc Hill these agave plants will provide food for bat pollinators and may even become part of a future festival’s agave roast.
Mission Garden Agave Pit Roasting Uncovering- April 10, 5:30-7:30pm
Members of the Kumeyaay tribe, led by Dr Stanley Rodriguez, will demonstrate their methods of roasting agave hearts, then share samples of this sweet, unique food. Dr Rodriguez is a member of the Kumeyaay Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation, Is an educator, language teacher, and tribal singer. He is an advocate for his community’s culture and traditions and will give a lecture the following day, April 11 at Mission Gardens from 10:30 -11:30am on the traditional methods of Agave Roasting,
Agave Talks and Tastings presented with Mezcalistas – To Empasize our Commitment to Sharing Knowledge– April 12, Club Congress, 11am to 4pm
Explore the cultural, agricultural and market potential of agave in this interactive, drop-in series, featuring expert-led panels, mezcal tastings from Raices Imports and Origin Raiz del Esperitu, sessions will highlight sustainable agriculture, cross-border collaboration and creative innovations shaping the future of agave.
11am-12pm – Beyond Distiallates: Agave’s Legacy in Art, Food & Fiber
Ryan Kashinipour (University of Arizona) moderator. Panel includes Valeria Canedo(Polinizador Social para la Conservacion y Epodieramiento Rural) and Angelica Afanador Pujol (Arizona State University).
12-1pm – Cross Border Sustainable Agave Agriculture & Cultivation
Gary Nabhan (University of Arizona) as moderator. Panel includes Rachel Burke (Bat Conservation International), Francesca Claverie (Borderlands Restoration Network) and Julie Figueras (The Lost Explorer)
2-3pm – Community Building to Strengthen Collaboration in Agave Locally and Globally
Francisco Terrazas (Raices Imports, Tequila Interchange Project) moderator. Panel includes Misty Kalkofen (Siembra Spirits, Liquid Productions), Niki Nakazawa (Neta Spirits), and Bildo Saravia (Origin Raiz Del Espiritu)
3-4pm – Ecological Conservation in Agave
Caitlin Hall (Agave Heritage Festival) moderator. Panel includes Chava Rosales Trejo (Tequila Cashcahuin), Marsella Macias (University of New Mexico, Chelenzo Farms) and Randy Young (La Tierra del Jaguar).
Pre-Launch Event: Sip, Savor, and Celebrate Agave at Alton Brown’s Last Bite Tour! – Women’s Plaza at Centennial Hall - April 9, 6-7pm,
This one-night event is just a preview of the Agave Heritage Festival (AHF), which will be held April 10–13.
Before Alton Brown’s highly anticipated Last Bite show, get a taste of Tucson’s vibrant food scene with a special Agave Heritage Festival pre-launch event! Indulge in a special Sonoran mezcal-driven cocktail crafted exclusively for the evening. While you sip, explore the rich history and culture of agave—a plant that has shaped the culinary, ecological, and cultural traditions of the Sonoran Desert for generations.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
Agave Fiesta Grande Tasting at Borderland Brewing Co – April 12, 7-10pm
The event that first ignited the Agave Heritage Festival in 2008, the Agave Fiesta continues to be the cornerstone of the celebration. This immersive event brings together over 50 artisanal and ancestral spirits crafted by master distillers who still practice time-honored production traditions. Guests can enjoy live music and light bites provided by Borderlands Brewing and expertly crafted agave cocktails: the Banhez Mezcalrita (Ensemble Mezcal, Combier Orange Liqueur, Desert Forager Prickly Pear, Agave Syrup and fresh lime) and the IZO Desert Passion (Sotol Joven, Gran Ponche Mexicano Passion Fruit, lime and Triple sec). It’s an unforgettable evening where tradition, artistry and celebration comes together in every sip. Raise your glass to the past, present, and future of agave.
Bar Takeovers – Tucson Welcomes Award-winning Mixologists for exciting, creative appearances during
April 11 – 8-10pm Monsoon Room at Jo Jo’s with Jesus Alfredo Perez Blancothe festival
Chef/Mixologist Jesus Alfredo Perez Blanco from Hermosillo, Sonora takes over Jo Jo’s at Monsoon Room. Known for his expertise in agave spirits, Jesus will showcase La Gritona, NETA Artisinal Mezcal and PM Spirits, will offer a selection of neat pours and refined cocktails that highlight the depth and tradition of Sonoran mixology.
April 11- 9:30 – 11:30pm – Hotel Congress Lounge Bar and Little Rituals
Step into an evening of innovative agave cocktails with Aaron DeFeo, owner of Little Rituals and Founder of the Agave Heritage Festival. A Tucson native and James Beard Award semi-finalist, Aaron brings his signature creativity for two nights featuring masterfully crafted cocktails with Cambio Tequila, Del Maguey and Lost Explorer.
About the Agave Heritage Festival
The mission of the Agave Heritage Festival, now in its 17th year, is to bring people together to explore and celebrate the cultural, ecological, and economic significance of the agave across borders. Founded in 2008 the Tucson-based Agave Heritage Foundation has grown to include the ever-expanding exploration and uses of the Agave plant in its many forms. The festival has since become a city-wide destination event that spotlights the southwest region through the lens of the agave plant. The Agave Heritage Festival celebrates the unique importance and sustainability of the agave plant and borderlands culture with seminars, tasting events and world-class culinary events. For the complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit agaveheritagefestival.com. @agaveheritagefestival #agaveheritagefestival.