8-11am | Free | All Ages
Mission Garden

Be part of history and the future! Join us at Mission Garden to plant agave in the traditional Hohokam style, inspired by ancient plantings on Tumamoc Hill. These agave plants will provide food for bat pollinators and may even become part of a future festival’s roasting pit.

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.

2-3pm | Free | All Ages

The Howard Scott Gentry Award was established in 2017 by Dr. Gary Nabhan and the Agave Heritage Festival to recognize leaders in binational collaborative research on agave conservation and use.

In 2025 we recognize Diana Pinzón and Faby Torres Monfils for their leadership and uncompromising commitment to core values of the cultural and ecological connections and foundations that support mezcal production.

6-8pm | $50 | 21+
Tap & Bottle North

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Join us at Tap & Bottle North with La Gritona Tequila Reposado & Bara-Cara Tequila Blanco. La Gritona Reposado & Bara-Cara Blanco are distilled by Melly Barajas and her staff of women at her distillery in Valle De Guadalupe, Jalisco.

Light bites will be provided to enhance your sipping experience.

The tasting will include:
1 neat pour of Bara-Cara
1 cocktail made with Bara-Cara
1 neat pour of La Gritona
1 cocktail made with La Gritona

All ticket holders will get a complimentary 50ml bottle of La Gritona Reposado Tequila to take home with them.

All bottles will be available for purchase after the event.

5–11 pm | $65 early bird & $70 beginning 2/22 | 21+
Downtown Tucson

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Under the spell of a beautiful Spring Tucson night, explore the best downtown has to offer. Begin your journey with an intimate mezcal toast, then pick your own adventure among the 12 participating bars and restaurants. Explore mezcal’s smoky mystique with expertly crafted cocktails, tantalizing bites, and the story of agave in every sip. Your ticket includes a veladora, lanyard, and access to a curated collection of mezcal tastings and pairings at each decadent stop.

*The night starts with check-in at The Playground with welcome toasts at 6pm and 7pm

2025 Participating Bars

• Cruda

• Sonoran Moonshine

• The Playground

• The Monica

• RBar

• AC Marriott

• The Century Room

• La Chingada

• Batch

• Highwire

7-9pm | price TBD | 21+
Bar Crisol

Immerse yourself in the world of agave excellence with an exclusive educational tasting experience featuring Los Cantiles 1905 Spirits at Bar Crisol.

Guided by renowned experts Omhar and Carlos Acuña, this refined tasting journey explores the intricate flavors, distinct terroir, and centuries-old techniques that define Northern Spirits. Each sip is a testament to heritage, sustainability, and the artistry of agave distillation along the borderlands.

Join us for an evening where tradition meets innovation and let the spirit of agave tell its story.

9–11pm | Cash Bar | 21+
Bar Crisol

Two of the best mezcal bars unite for an unforgettable night in Tucson! LA's Madre takes over Bar Crisol, showcasing the bold flavors of Los Cantiles 1905, a renowned bacanora brand. Sip on expertly crafted agave cocktails, enjoy neat pours, and experience the rich tradition of bacanora in this one-night-only celebration of mezcal culture and borderland heritage.

A Future Inspired By Agave
9am-6pm | Free | 21+

*Registration with approved invitation only

The 2025 Summit will be a day of action focused on bringing the vision of the City of Century plants to reality.
Tucson and Southern Arizona can be the Region of Century Plants: uniting communities across borders to foster agave sustainability, cultural heritage, and economic resilience for future generations.

Morning Sessions

• Climate Smart Heritage Foods

• Market Expansion of Bacanora into the US

• Arts and Storytelling

Afternoon Sessions

• Business, Branding, Sense of Place with Agave as the Anchor

• Bat Friendly & Beyond, creating a label for agave sustainability in the borderlands

• Open for topic established day of

If you are interested in attending, please register here:

A Culinary Tribute to the Sonoran Desert
6-9pm | $196 inclusive | 21+
Maynards Patio
400 N Toole Ave

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Continuing the culinary excellence of the Agave Heritage Festival, this extraordinary five-course dining experience brings together the region’s finest flavors at Maynards Kitchen & Bottle Shop.

Led by Maynards’ new Executive Chef, Roderick LeDesma, this thoughtfully crafted menu highlights the rich bounty of the Sonoran Desert, blending traditional ingredients with modern, innovative techniques. Each course is expertly paired with La Gritona Reposado Tequila—a distinguished, female- and family-owned distillery led by Melly Barajas—featuring both neat pours and artful cocktails that enhance the flavors of each dish.

This exclusive dining event is presented in collaboration with the Center for Regional Food Studies and the Southwest Center, celebrating the deep-rooted cultural and culinary heritage of the borderlands.

Join us for an unforgettable evening where food, tequila, and tradition come together in an immersive celebration of agave and regional gastronomy.

9pm-close | Cash Bar | 21+
Hotel Congress

Step into an evening of innovative agave cocktails as Aaron DeFeo, owner of Little Rituals and founder of Tequila Fest (est. 2008), returns to Hotel Congress—where it all began. A Tucson native and James Beard Award semi-finalist, Aaron brings his signature creativity to this one-night-only bar takeover, featuring masterfully crafted cocktails with Cambio Tequila, Del Maguey, and Lost Explorer.

Don’t miss this legendary homecoming, where bold flavors, agave artistry, and Tucson’s rich cocktail culture take center stage.

Raise a glass to the roots of the Agave Heritage Festival and experience a night of boundary-pushing mixology in the heart of Tucson.

Time TBD | Price TBD | 21+
Bar Crisol

Join us for an intimate Guided Tasting at Bar Crisol, featuring the exceptional mezcals of NETA. This exclusive event invites guests to explore the rich traditions and terroir-driven expressions of agave spirits from the southern valleys of Oaxaca.

1st Seating 6-7pm | $50 | 21+
Tap & Bottle Downtown

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Join us at Tap & Bottle Downtown for an interactive tequila tasting. You'll start at a table with a small group and sip on tequila while discussing unique topics guided by a Tequila Ocho Ambassador. After a set amount of time, you'll switch tables, dive into a new tequila expression, and engage in fresh discussions with a new group. Whether you're a tequila aficionado or just starting your agave journey, this experience offers a perfect mix of education, connection and great spirits.

Your ticket includes:
3 • 1 oz neat pours
1 • Cocktail

You will receive a spirits tasting glass to take home with you.

Light bites will be provided.

2nd Seating 7:30-8:30pm | $50 | 21+
Tap & Bottle Downtown

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Join us at Tap & Bottle Downtown for an interactive tequila tasting. You'll start at a table with a small group and sip on tequila while discussing unique topics guided by a Tequila Ocho Ambassador. After a set amount of time, you'll switch tables, dive into a new tequila expression, and engage in fresh discussions with a new group. Whether you're a tequila aficionado or just starting your agave journey, this experience offers a perfect mix of education, connection and great spirits.

Your ticket includes:
3 • 1 oz neat pours
1 • Cocktail

You will receive a spirits tasting glass to take home with you.

Light bites will be provided.

7-10pm | $65 early bird, $75 after 2/22 | 21+
Borderlands Brewing Company
119 E Toole Ave

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Step into the epicenter of Tucson’s agave culture at Agave Fiesta, the event that first ignited the Agave Heritage Festival in 2008 and continues to be a cornerstone of the celebration. This immersive experience brings together over 50 artisanal and ancestral agave spirits, crafted by master distillers who honor time-honored traditions while shaping the future of agave production.

Taste the legacy. From mezcal and tequila to bacanora and sotol, each sip tells a story of heritage, sustainability, and craftsmanship—woven together by the hands of those who have preserved this ancient spirit for generations. Engage with industry experts as they share insights on agave culture, terroir, distillation techniques, and the historical significance of these revered spirits.

Beyond the spirits, Agave Fiesta is a vibrant sensory experience. Enjoy expertly crafted agave cocktails, soak in the energy of live music, and indulge in a thoughtfully curated light bites from Borderlands Brewing, where regional flavors meet agave-inspired pairings.

What’s Included with Your Ticket:

• Festival shot glass

• 4 agave spirit samples

• 2 agave cocktails

• 1 sample of a heritage beer

• Inspired light bites

Join us for an unforgettable evening where tradition, artistry, and celebration come together in every sip. Raise your glass to the past, present, and future of agave.

10:00-11:30 am | All Ages | FREE

The N-Gen & Agave Heritage Festival Lifetime Career Award honors individuals whose work deepens our understanding of agave’s cultural, ecological, and social significance. In 2025, we honor renwoned agave experts Paul and Suzy Fish will share their knowledge on how centuries old technology enhanced the production of agave in fields on dry basin slopes in southern Arizona.

Their hands-on lecture will open your eyes to the cultural landscape all around us, changing the way you see Tucson and the greater Southwest. Do not miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the best.

11:30-5:30 pm | All Ages | FREE

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking panels, hands-on tastings, and inspiring discussions on how agave continues to shape culture and industry.

This engaging series brings together experts, producers, and creatives to discuss innovative agave growing practices, cross-border collaborations, and the evolving role of agave in sustainability and resilience.

9-11pm | Cash Bar | 21+
Sonoran Moonshine

Phoenix’s premier agave bar, Barcoa, takes over Sonoran Moonshine for a one-night-only celebration of agave culture, featuring the exceptional flavors of Mezcal Vago and Tequila Ocho. Known for its dedication to mezcal, bacanora, and sotol, Barcoa brings its signature craft and deep appreciation for agave spirits to Tucson, offering an exclusive lineup of expertly crafted cocktails and neat pours showcasing these iconic brands.

Join us as Phoenix meets Tucson in this agave-fueled takeover—where every pour tells a story of heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation.

1st Seating 12-1pm | $50 | 21+
Westbound

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Join us for an unforgettable Agave Heritage Festival guided tasting experience, featuring the exquisite craftsmanship of Esfuerzo Mezcal paired with Ember’s Chocolate.

Each ticket includes:

5 • .75 oz pours of Esfuerzo Mezcal
5 • expertly curated chocolate pairings from Ember’s Chocolate
1 • complimentary copita to take home

After the event, guests will have the opportunity to purchase Esfuerzo Mezcal to continue their tasting journey.

Secure your spot for this unique mezcal and chocolate pairing experience—space is limited!

2nd Seating 2-3pm | $50 | 21+
Westbound

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Join us for an unforgettable Agave Heritage Festival guided tasting experience, featuring the exquisite craftsmanship of Esfuerzo Mezcal paired with Ember’s Chocolate.

Each ticket includes:

5 • .75 oz pours of Esfuerzo Mezcal
5 • expertly curated chocolate pairings from Ember’s Chocolate
1 • complimentary copita to take home

After the event, guests will have the opportunity to purchase Esfuerzo Mezcal to continue their tasting journey.

Secure your spot for this unique mezcal and chocolate pairing experience—space is limited!

9:00 am-12:00 pm | All Ages | FREE

Discover the beauty of Patagonia, Arizona, while exploring groundbreaking conservation efforts with Borderlands Restoration Network and Bat Conservation International. Enjoy a guided tour of restoration sites and a native plant sale, supporting agave and nectar-feeding bat conservation while promoting sustainability and biodiversity.

8:00 am | All Ages | FREE
Tumamoc Hill

Explore the slopes of Tumamoc Hill on a guided hike, enjoying stunning Sonoran Desert views while discovering how agave has played a vital role in the region’s past and present.

This tour offers insights into the ecology, cultural history, and desert adaptations that have shaped this unique landscape.