Staff Reports | Community Updates
Downtown Tempe Authority has received multiple honors for its Tempe Blooms event, including two Pinnacle Awards announced at the International Festivals and Events Association’s annual convention.
The January 2025 event earned a Gold award for Best Sponsor Partner in the 30th Annual IFEA/Haas and Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Competition, recognizing its collaboration with presenting partner Arizona Flower Market.
The Pinnacle Awards honor outstanding festivals and events worldwide. Downtown Tempe Authority also received awards for its Juneteenth Block Party and 2nd Sundays on Mill in diversity and community impact categories, according to a press release.
Tempe Blooms additionally earned a 2025 Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence from the International Downtown Association and was recognized as a Culture Impactor in the Tempe Arts and Culture Awards presented by the City of Tempe. Other honors include an Impact Award for Best Downtown Event and a Public Awareness Award from the Arizona State Floral Association.
“These awards are a wonderful recognition and reinforce our commitment to creating experiences that connect people to the downtown district,” said Lori Foster, president and CEO of Downtown Tempe Authority. “We’re grateful to all of our partners and artists who help create these memorable experiences at our events, and especially to Arizona Flower Market, who helped us launch Tempe Blooms into something truly special.”
Ms. Foster said the idea for Tempe Blooms originated in 2024 after the team was inspired by a floral event in New York. A $100,000 grant from the Arizona Office of Tourism’s Visit Arizona Initiative helped bring the concept to life.
Tempe Blooms will return Jan. 24 and 25, 2026, as a free two-day event featuring 21 floral displays, 10 live mural curations, more than 45 local vendors, live music on 10 stages, floral design workshops, a build-your-own bouquet station, and family activities.
