Chandler Ostrich Festival 2023 is here. See the lineup, ticket prices and who gets in free

KiMi Robinson, Arizona Republic

March 18, 2023 at 11:31 AM·3 min read

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival has announced its spring 2023 return.

The 33rd annual event will take place March 16-19 at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. A St. Patrick's Day-themed celebration will be on March 17. The family-friendly festival, which honors the region's history of ostrich ranching more than a century ago, promises to bring back more than 50 fair rides, festival foods and big-name musical performances this year.

Where else can you see performances by Train and The Commodores, meet ostriches, watch BMX riders and observe duck races?

Here's a guide to this year's event, from ticket prices to the main stage concert schedule.

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When is the 2023 Chandler Ostrich Festival?

The Chandler Ostrich Festival takes place March 16-19, 2023. Here are the hours each day:

Thursday, March 16: 4-11 p.m.
Friday, March 17: 2 p.m.-midnight.
Saturday, March 18: 10 a.m.-midnight.
Sunday, March 19: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

How much are tickets to the Ostrich Festival in Chandler?

Tickets are on sale now at the Ostrich Festival website. General admission for Thursday, March 16, starts at $15, with VIP tickets from $50.

Admission for Friday-Sunday, March 17-19, begins at $20 for ages 5 through 12 and $30 for those 13 years and older. VIP starts at $150.

Kids 4 and younger get in for free on all days.

Ostrich Festival 2023 musical performers

This year's Ostrich Festival's main stage lineup includes:

Thursday, March 16: Willie Jones (7:30-8:30 p.m.), MacKenzie Porter (9-10 p.m.).
Friday, March 17: Train (9:45-11 p.m.).
Saturday, March 18: Nicky Youre (8:15-9 p.m.), The Commodores (9:30-11 p.m.).
Sunday, March 19: Sublime with Rome (8:45-10 p.m.).

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Chandler Ostrich Festival history

The man most associated with ostriches in Arizona is the city's founder, Dr. Alexander J. Chandler, per a 2017 article in The Arizona Republic. Reporter Jerod MacDonald-Evoy wrote:

"The doctor was among the first to bring the birds to Arizona after he saw them at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Chandler Museum Administrator Jody Crago said.

"Twelve years later, in 1905, the doctor had a large herd of ostriches at his ranch in Mesa and his success spurred other local ranchers to follow suit. Chandler tried to corner the ostrich market but eventually was upstaged by the Pan American Ostrich Farm in the West Valley, Crago said.

"By 1914, the Chandler Arizonan was reporting that ostriches 'dot the landscape by the hundreds' and there seemed no end in sight for the stream of profits. However, like all good things, it came to an end. The start of World War I slowed the ostrich trade in Arizona and nationally.

"Flashy clothes and large feathered hats were falling out of style, especially since Americans were being urged to help in the war effort, Crago said. Dr. Chandler held out hope the feathered fashions would re-emerge, going as far as to keep boxes of 'thousands of feathers' in his basement for years, Crago said.

"But it wasn't until 1988 that ostriches came back to Chandler in a big way, in the form of the annual Ostrich Festival.

The Ostrich Festival replaced what used to be the city's annual spring festival as the city wanted to do something 'more unique,' Crago said. The festival commemorated the city's unique connection to the large birds and Dr. Chandler."