It’s no secret that food brings people together. Although many people are back to jet-setting around the globe for a palate-pleasing experience, if you’re looking for something a bit easier, pinpointing food festivals in or around your area could do the trick.
Of course, when food festivals are mentioned, one of the first events that come to mind is the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. And while that is one of the best festivals to hit up for food, wine, and spirits, there are even more festivals—both on larger and smaller scales—that deserve to be praised too. From the highly celebrated South Beach Wine & Food Festival to cultural events like the Barbados Food & Rum Festival, here is a month by month guide to visiting the best food festivals around.
Food festivals not your thing? You could always go on a trek to hit up the best food truck in every state or find the best small-town fast food spots in the U.S.
January
Napa Truffle Festival
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Truffle lovers, this one’s for you. Not only will you get to enjoy a variety of truffles prepared in a number of ways at the Napa Truffle Festival, but you’ll also learn about their history, science, and how to harvest the highly coveted black truffle. Yum.
Location: Napa, California
2022 dates: January 14-17
Ticket price: TBA
Cayman Cookout
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Get ready to throw your resolutions out of the window because this food festival will give you some of the best foods you’ve ever tasted. Hosted by The Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands, the annual Cayman Cookout is a must visit for anyone looking to experience true Caribbean cuisine.
Location: Cayman Islands
2022 dates: January 13-17
Ticket price: TBA
February
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
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While 2021 saw the wildly popular South Beach Wine & Food Festival celebrate its 20th annual installment, fans will see it return back to its traditional month of February for its 21st year. If you’ve never attended one of these festivals, you can expect plenty of events perfect for every level of food lover, including intimate dinners, brunches, lunches, tasting tents, and so much more. And depending on what event you’d like to attend, you can even head there for under $100.
Location: Miami, Florida
2022 dates: February 24-27
Ticket price: Prices vary based on event chosen.
March
Schlafly Stout & Oyster Festival
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An oyster and beer combo festival? Why not! Get ready to shuck and jive with over 80,000 oysters from coast to coast during the Schlafly Stout & Oyster Festival. And if you feel like you’re one of the best oyster eaters and beer chuggers, you can even land a spot in the annual relay competition. Afraid you can’t eat just oysters over two days? There will also be non-oyster offerings at the festival, too.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
2022 dates: March 25-26
Ticket price: Admission is free; beer and food are a la carte.
April
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
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Nothing beats great wine, fine foods, and live music and you’ll get that plus more at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. From more than 600 bottles of wine available for tasting to a multitude of culinary offerings, there will be more than enough fun to be had. Plus, the whole event takes place on the beach. What’s better than that?
Location: Miramar Beach, Florida
2022 dates: April 21-24
Ticket price: TBA
Taste of St. Croix
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Ready for another trip to the Caribbean? Taste of St. Croix‘s annual event is one you should stop by. The locally grown and internationally known event packs the taste of the USVI’s (predominantly St. Croix) most talented chefs and restaurants into four days of unforgettable eating
Location: Christiansted, Virgin Islands
2022 dates: April 29 to May 2
Ticket price: TBA
May
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
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Known as a popular tourist spot, Temecula Valley is one of the best destinations for the wine lover. With that in mind, it’s only right for winos and adventure lovers alike to add the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival to your list of events to stop by. While things have been postponed for 2020 and 2021 due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event is expected to make a return in 2022.
Location: Temecula Valley, California
2022 dates: TBA
Ticket price: TBA
June
FOOD & WINE Classic
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While there are plenty of food festivals that are sponsored by Food & Wine, nothing beats the OG event that takes place in Aspen. Known as “America’s premier culinary event,” the iconic three-day event has been one of the most sold out events in the culinary space. Though the 2021 FOOD & WINE Classic has moved from its traditional June dates to a fall showcase in September, if you haven’t already purchased your tickets, you won’t be able to attend. You should, however, save the date for 2022’s dates—which will resume in mid-June—with tickets going on sale in January.
Location: Aspen, Colorado
2021 dates: September 10-12; 2022 dates: June 17-19
Ticket price: TBA
July
Taste of Chicago
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Touted as the “world’s largest food festival,” the Taste of Chicago is a five-day event filled with food, fun, music, and good times. While 2021’s event saw a bit of shift with the implementation of free pop-up events around the city in place of the festival, there hasn’t been word on whether or not the festival will return to its normal run in the Gran Park area.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
2022 dates: TBA
Ticket price: Admission is free, but tickets are needed to receive tastes. Each set of 14 tickets is priced at $10.
August
Worcester Wine Festival
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Wine lovers rejoice! This is one wine festival that really focuses on your fave. Sip on over 100 wines from around the world while chomping down on some of the best food in the area at the Worcester Wine Festival.
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
2021 date: August 28
Ticket price: General admission is $40 with wine tasting being included. Food is a la carte.
Cherry Creek North Food & Wine
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Formerly a one-day event, the Cherry Creek North Food & Wine festival is back for four days of delicious and celebratory fun. The staple event brings together local restaurants, chefs, and mixologists for a mix of intimate dining experiences, educational seminars, grand tastings, and more.
Location: Denver, Colorado
2021 dates: August 11-14
Ticket price: All-inclusive tickets are priced between $45 and $240
Whiskey Festival
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Whether you’re a whiskey connoisseur or have just been introduced to the spirit, Los Angeles magazine’s sixth annual Whiskey Festival is the ideal destination to stop by. Not only will you get to sip on some of the finest selections of whiskey, but you’ll also get to take home some tasty cocktail recipes, meet some distillers of your favorite brands, and possibly stumble upon a new favorite while there.
Location: Los Angeles, California
2021 date: August 20
Ticket price: All-inclusive tickets are $75
September
Euphoria
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If you haven’t had the chance to indulge in Greenville’s budding culinary scene quite yet, you’ll want to stop by the Euphoria festival to see what all the hype is about. Experience exclusive tastings, cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, and more while indulging in nothing but a good ol’ Southern time.
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
2021 dates: September 16-19
Ticket price: All-inclusive tickets vary per event, but range $45 to $400
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
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Atlanta’s most popular food festival is returning for a new set of dates. Still showcasing recipes from some of the southeast’s most talented chefs and mixologists, the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival will give festival goers an unforgettable weekend filled with tasting tents, intimate dinners, unlimited foods, and all day entertainment
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
2021 dates: September 9-12
Ticket price: General admission one day passes are $125; VIP one day passes are $200; Tasting Tent weekend passes are $225 for general admission and $350 for VIP; Tickets sold separately for Intimate Dinners.
Denver BBQ Fest
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Barbecue fiends, unite! The Denver BBQ Fest is back for another year of saucy fun. Sample some of the best barbecue from a number of the country’s award-winning pitmasters and listen to some good music while doing it.
Location: Denver, Colorado
2021 dates: September 17-19
Ticket price: Admission is free, but food and drink are a la carte. Q Pit Passes (VIP) are also available for purchase.
October
Cornucopia
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Need a reason to head to Whistler, Canada, without hitting the slopes? The Cornucopia festival is exactly what you need. Providing an epic celebration of food and drinks, this long appreciated event has expanded its experience giving you more time to enjoy all that it has to offer. Traditionally occurring for 11 consecutive days, this year’s 25th anniversary will see the fall festival deliver wine, food, craft beer, and cocktail offerings over the course of a month’s time span as an adjustment due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Location: Whistler, Canada
2021 dates: Occurring every Friday to Sunday from October 28 to November 21
Ticket price: All-inclusive ticket prices begin at $36
Newport Beach Wine & Food
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Now equipped with an oceanfront view, the Newport Beach Wine & Food festival is your one-stop shop for decadent eats. Not only will guests get the chance to experience culinary demons from celebrity chefs in an intimate setting, but they’ll also get to brag about all of the extravagant wine they’ve sipped on, too.
Location: Newport Beach, California
2021 dates: October 2-3
Ticket price: TBA
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
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You may not have thought to head to the beautiful islands of Hawaii for a food festival, but that may be because you weren’t aware that there was one. Now that you do know though, you’ll probably want to head there every year. Expanding from a three-day event to now include almost a full month of exciting tastings, the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival will bring together more than 65 celebrated chefs to deliver signature food and beverages for an unbelievably good time.
Location: Island of Hawaii; Kaanapali, Maui; and Oahu
2021 dates: October 1-2, 7-10, and 14-24
Ticket price: Prices vary based on event chosen.
Fall for Greenville
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If heading to Greenville’s Euphoria festival in September isn’t feasible, then maybe making it to the Fall for Greenville festival in October will be. Presenting a full weekend of flavor, this three day event will only include tastings from chefs local to the Greenville area. So if you ever wondered why the city is becoming a mecca for southern foodies, this is the weekend to figure that out.
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
2021 dates: October 8-10
Ticket price: A la carte tastings are priced between $3 and $5.
Barbados Food & Rum Festival
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Noted as the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean,” Barbados doesn’t disappoint with its annual Food & Rum Festival. Spotlighting some of the island’s best and brightest culinary stars—as well as international heavyweights—this is one event that your tastebuds will thank you for.
Location: Oistins, Barbados
2021 dates: October 27-31
Ticket price: TBA
November
Vineyard Fest
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Have you been hoping to make it to Chateau Elan‘s winery and resort? Well, the Vineyard Fest is the perfect reason to do so. After taking a hiatus for 2020, the festival is back for its annual one day event that’s filled with all the food, wine, and alcohol that you can consume. Experience more than 100 of the south’s best food and beverage vendors across the resort’s sprawling 3,500 acre resort. And if it’s in your budget (and if there’s availability), you can even book yourself a stay to really enjoy everything the estate has to offer.
Location: Braselton, Georgia
2021 date: November 7
Ticket price: All-inclusive tickets begin at $150
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival
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Experience a full week of good food and even better drinks at the annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival. Filled dozens of events, a wide range of wineries, and a beautiful backdrop of sailboats and sandy beaches, this is one festival that you’ll be thankful you opted to stop by.
Location: San Diego, California
2021 dates: November 11-14
Ticket price: Two day weekend passes are $195; Three day weekend passes are $270; Three day VIP weekend passes are $465; Grand Tasting Group Pack (includes four GA tickets for one tasting day) is $550
PA Bacon Fest
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If you’ve always wondered what heading to a bacon festival would be like, look no further than the popular PA Bacon Fest. Noted as one of the country’s top bacon festivals, those who attend will have their favorite type of pork in more ways than they can count. From pork rind nachos to bacon cannolis, the only thing you’ll want to make sure you bring is your appetite. Not a fan of bacon, but heading there to support as a plus one? There’ll be vegan options available, too.
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
2021 dates: November 6-7
Ticket price: A donation of $2 is suggested; food and drink are a la carte.
December
Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival
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Looking for the perfect getaway this holiday season? The Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival may be a good (and tasty!) solution. A true definition of “fun in the sun,” this is one winter experience you’ll be happy doesn’t include any sign of snow.
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
2021 dates: December 9-12
Ticket price: TBA, but is all-inclusive
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