Local First Arizona to Celebrate 11th Annual Certified Local Fall Festival

(Phoenix, Ariz.)  —  Local First Arizona will host the 11th Annual Certified Local Fall Festival on Saturday, November 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Portland Parkway in the heart of downtown Phoenix.

The Certified Local Fall Festival is a free family-friendly event for all ages and an annual celebration of all things local to Arizona.

“There is no other festival or event like the Certified Local Fall Festival, it is a completely unique event to Arizona,” said Local First Arizona Director Kimber Lanning. “This festival highlights everything that Arizona has to offer, from one-of-a-kind local shops, boutiques, and restaurants to Arizona-made wine, beer, and spirits.”

The Certified Local Fall Festival has grown into one of Downtown Phoenix’s premier community events, having been named Best Free Festival of Phoenix by the Phoenix New Times in 2011. This year’s festival will feature more than 100 vendors with some of Arizona’s favorite local businesses.

According to Lanning, new studies show that when Arizonans support local and independently owned businesses, up to four times more money stays and circulates in the local economy to support local job creation, strong schools and local services, and vibrant and diverse communities. “The Certified Local Fall Festival is a fun way to engage the community with the local business community and remind them about the benefits of supporting local businesses,” said Lanning.

Furthermore, a thriving local business scene contributes to a community’s strong sense of place. Lanning points to a recent Knight Foundation study which shows “connection to place” as the single-most leading indicator in places that have prosperity. “We need to be sure that people living here feel connected to this place, and locally owned businesses play an important role in that connection. The Certified Local Fall Festival brings thousands of people out to celebrates Phoenix’s unique sense of place and inspires them to be proud to call Arizona home.”