The Agave Heritage Festival returns in April 2026, highlighting cross-border collaboration, cultural exchange, and education around agave as both a plant and a living heritage. New partnerships with the Tucson International Mariachi Festival, Borderlandia, and the Tucson Folk Festival join long-standing collaborators like Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, Del Maguey Mezcal, and La Gritona Tequila.
The four-day festival offers panels, tastings, plantings, and a traditional agave pit roast. Thursday opens with a hands-on planting at Mission Garden and the Howard Scott Gentry Award presentation honoring botanist Dr. Wendy Hodgson. Friday and Saturday feature the Field Notes series, exploring regenerative agriculture, heritage foods, and sustainable agave production with experts, producers, and festival sponsors.
Tastings and cultural experiences highlight agave’s diversity. Thursday evening begins with a guided tasting at Bar Crisol, followed by Mexico in a Bottle: Fiesta Grande, featuring top agave producers. Film screenings, including La Ciénega and Las Hijas del Maguey, explore the people and traditions behind agave spirits. Spirit of Sonora, a free community event, celebrates Sonoran agave culture through tastings, music, and interactive experiences…