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Where: 1134 S. Farmington Road (Just west of the Frontage Road and Starr Pass, and the first left after that intersection; turn left before the Waffle House Restaurant on the south side of the street.)
2010 update: Try the food! It was delicious even if a bit expensive ($11 for a filling plate of freshly cooked lamb, plantains, and rice). Always a good place to take friends and family interested in acquiring some great African Art.
What: The African Art Village Show venue is open to the public and one that every Tucsonan should see. Here, you can buy African masks ($50-$85 for smaller ones; $100 and up for larger); baskets for $5 and $10; trinkets and finished jewelry; bags (great woven bags available for $20); beaded wall panels, hats, chairs, and thrones ($100 and up, sometimes less; obviously more for larger pieces); carved wood decorations and musical instruments; Ghanaian kente cloth; metal weaponry and Nigerian metal art works (typically very good prices on metal work); rugs; shea butter; other items; and, of course, African trade beads. (These price estimations from 2008.) 2009 note: An Arizona Bead Dog friend, and long-time attendee of this show, reported that it had less than half of its usual vendors this year. What a shame! And no food vendor this year.
Inside or Out: The show is outdoors, so when it’s raining, the vendors, and the buyers, have a tough time of it. Bring a hat if it’s cloudy.
Tips: If you enjoy bargaining, the African vendors will indulge you; they expect it. If you feel uncomfortable about it, just ask them the price and pay it. But you have nothing to lose except a few bucks of the price of the mask you want.
Trivia: While most of the vendors are African, most travel from New York or Los Angeles, not Africa, for this show. This doesn’t mean they don’t travel to and from Africa to obtain their goods; they do. Also, many wholesale buyers come here from all over to make their African purchases — once these items get into stores, expect a price hike of two to ten times the bargain price.
Parking: Ample parking, but the lot owner charges $5. Well worth the price, however, especially if you go with a group of friends.
Food: The grilling food smells deliciously tempting.
Rest rooms: Portable.
2012 show dates: Open over 2 weeks, starting Friday, January 27th through Sunday, February 12th.
2011 show hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
2009 Shuttle routes: Ruby/Emerald.
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