11 of The Best Food Festivals in the US

A growing fascination with event-based experiences is driving up the popularity of U.S. food and wine festivals over the last few years, and it’s not hard to see why. Some bring together the most exciting chefs from across a city or region, while others celebrate a specific ingredient or dish in delightful, sometimes surprising, ways. Hit the road and hit up some of the best food festivals in the U.S.!

Mix Things Up in the Magic Kingdom

Indulge your senses at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

A trip to Disney is about more than the rides during the world-class Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. During your stay in Orlando, bring the kids for youth-oriented activities like Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt or learn to make candy sushi as a family. Or grownups can go on a culinary voyage that spans the globe with a host of themed multi-course meals, or take an expert-led course in cheese, beer or wine. And don’t leave without your festival cookbook so you can recreate some of that Disney magic at home!

Live Deliciously in LA

The five-day Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival features cuisine from the city’s best chefs.

The Los Angeles dining scene is one of the most exciting in the world, with restaurants representing just about every type of cuisine. With so many amazing choices, the only problem is narrowing down your options. But with the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival, you can sample a little bit of everything! This five-day food and wine festival features some of the city’s best chefs hosting a series of elaborate dinners, casual cookouts, cocktail hours and more. The Power Lunch series, which opens the doors of some of LA’s most exclusive restaurants for daytime reservations, is the best way to get the best table in the house.

Shuck, Slurp and Sip

California’s Oysterfest Music Festival is one of the best places in the country to get oysters.

Whether you want them barbecued, fried or on the half-shell, the Oysterfest Music Festival, with stops in San Diego and San Francisco, is the best place to chow down on some of the freshest oysters you’ll find anywhere. Explore dozens of shellfish stalls as you enjoy music from artists like She and Him and Grandmaster Flash—and wash it all down with perfectly paired craft beers and cocktails. Is it one of the best food festivals in the U.S.? Shell yeah!

For Superb Seafood, Go Coastal

Georgia’s Jekyll Island features its own festival devoted to shrimp and grits.

Want to sample the best of a Southern seafood staple? The Shrimp & Grits Festival on Georgia’s Jekyll Island is where you’ll find it. People from across the country flock to the tiny coastal haven to sample local restaurants’ takes on the classic dish, as well as an array of other regional specialties. There’s also an artists market where you can browse sculptures and handmade jewelry, as well as a selection of packaged goods so you can take a little taste of the festival home with you.

Chow Down on Crab

The Chesapeake Crab Wine and Beer Festival is so popular it’s now held in three cities on the East Coast.

The Chesapeake Crab Wine and Beer Festival must be doing something right, because this crustacean celebration has gotten so popular that it’s now held in Baltimore, Richmond and Washington, D.C.! If you’ve been to the Baltimore Crab and Beer Festival before, you know that in addition to all-you-can-eat blue crabs, you’ll find great music, cold beer and even a 5K race if you’re looking to work off a few of those calories. If you’re in the mood for seafood, this food festival is the best place to get cracking!

Get in a Pickle (In a Good Way)

Pittsburgh is known as “The Destination of All Things Pickled.”

Billing itself “The Destination For All Things Pickled,” Pittsburgh’s Picklesburgh Festival is an ode to all forms of the vinegar-y specialty. Sure, you’ll find your standard spears, but there’s also Korean kimchi, pickle-brined fried chicken and even pickle-peanut butter fudge! If you’re feeling brave, enter the pickle-juice drinking contest but beware: previous winners have downed 32 ounces of the sour liquid in less than ten seconds. Whatever you decide to do, it’s sure to be dill-icious.

Midwest is Best

No Chicago food festival would be complete without deep-dish pizza.

The Taste of Chicago festival is coming up on its 30th anniversary, and it’s not hard to see why both locals and visitors consider it one of the best food festivals in the U.S. Held in one of the city’s beautiful lakefront parks, the Taste brings together dozens of Chicago’s favorite restaurants, from tiny Southside taco joints to the city’s beloved deep dish pizza restaurants. During your trip to Chicago, take in a performance at one of the many music and theater stages and don’t forget to stop by the Rainbow Cone stall for a classic Chicago ice cream treat.

You Can’t Miss Charleston

The Charleston Wine and Food Festival is your best chance to sample incredible food from the city’s many acclaimed chefs.

If you’re a serious foodie, the Charleston Wine and Food Festival is a dream come true. From the signature dinners thrown by some of the city’s most acclaimed chefs to the excursions to local farms and hands-on classes in a variety of subjects, this festival is all about the love of all things food- and wine-related.

Hit Up Hawaii

Hawaii’s chefs showcase their diverse culinary talents during the state’s multi-island food and wine festival.

Not that you need an excuse to visit Hawaii, but if you did, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival would be a great one. Taking place across multiple tropical islands over three weekends, this food and wine festival is definitely worth the plane ride. Inspired by the bountiful ingredients and diverse culinary influences of their area, Hawaii’s chefs showcase their incredible talents at multi-course plated dinners, beachside BBQs and late-night parties, all set against the backdrop of the Hawaiian islands. Who could resist?

Sip and Snack in South Beach

At the Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown, Miami’s best tiki bars show off their most creative concoctions.

If you’re looking to escape the February blues, there’s no better way than a trip to Miami for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. The food and wine festival draws some of the biggest names in the culinary scene to serve up stunning meals against the equally stunning Florida sunsets. Don’t miss the elaborate garnishes and tropical flavors of the Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown, where the country’s best tiki bars battle it out for the right to the tiki throne.

Get Hot and Bothered

Why choose between red and green chilies? At the New Mexico Chile Festival, you can taste both.

Want to spice things up? Head to New Mexico and book a Los Lunas hotel, where chilies are more than just an ingredient––they’re a way of life. The Viva New Mexico Chile Festival turns up the heat with chili and salsa cookoffs, gardens where you can pick your own chilies, pony rides and more. Spend enough time here, and you might even come up with a response to the official New Mexico state question: red chilies or green?