Break out the forks, the Culinary Festival is returning to Scottsdale this week.

The 26th annual gourmet happening runs through Sunday, with most events taking place in downtown Scottsdale.

The unequivocal highlight of the Culinary Festival is the Great Arizona Picnic, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza (7380 E. Second St.)

Tasting coupons for the event, which features some of the Valley's most popular restaurants, can be purchased for $1 and exchanged for samples. (Samples run anywhere from one to five tickets.)

There will also be children’s activities and live music from Big Nick and the Gila Monsters to worldbeat pop group, Azz Izz.

Admission is $5, though discount tickets — for $4.50 — are available at Safeway stores.

Info: or www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org.

Here’s a taste of other Culinary Fest goings-on:

Cooks & Corks: Learn from the masters as top chefs share their best cooking tips. The event — which runs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza — includes food and wine samples. Tickets are $45.

Southwest Festival of Beers: The mother of all beer gardens, this event will feature more than 200 specialty beers. Located within the gates of the Great Arizona Picnic, the beer fest runs from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The $5 admission (separate from the $5 picnic admission) includes a souvenir mug.

Le Tour Culinaire: Break out the tux for this magical tour of some of the Valley’s finest restaurants. Diners will enjoy a three-course meal at three restaurants. The chauffeured event — which runs from 5:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday — includes dessert and dancing at the Westin Kierland Resort (6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale). Tickets are $175 per person; black-tie attire is required.

Wine Country Brunch: This event — which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center (7700 E. McCormick Parkway) — will feature brunch favorites and plenty of wine. Tickets are $55.

Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Where: Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, 7380 E. Second St., other downtown Scottsdale locations
When: Saturday and Sunday
How much: $5
Info: or www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org