23 Most Famous Food Festivals in the USA in 2024
Food festivals celebrate flavors, textures and cultures from so many vibrant cuisines, culminating in the perfect day out for friends and families. They are a type of culinary tourism attraction where foodies can enjoy unique and classic foods, amongst a host of other choices. There is no shortage of festivals across the USA, but there are some that you simply cannot miss.
Are you unsure of which food festivals to visit? From sweet to savory and everything in between, there is bound to be something for everyone at the most popular food festivals in America. To help you choose the best food festivals, we have compiled a list of 23 gastronomic experiences you don't want to miss out on.
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The 23 Best Food Festivals in the USA
1. South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Miami, FL
Offering a combination of beach entertainment and delicious food, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival brings together two of the simplest, yet best pleasures in life. While indulging in delightful eats and having plenty of fun in the sun, festival-goers will also get to meet experts in the food industry.
Known as the “Foodie Super Bowl,” you’ll get to enjoy signature events like the Burger Bash, where you can cast your vote and influence the decision of which burger is best. You’ll want to attend the Tacos and Tequila event if you're a fan of these Mexican pleasures. All in all, there's something for everyone.
Festival Location: 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Month of Festival: February
2. Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, Orlando, FL
The vibrant and exciting Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval is hosted by Universal Studios in Florida, which already adds an exciting element to it. This springtime festival features nights of talented performers, colorful costumes, parade floats and flavors from around the world.
The festival offers over 70 delicious dishes, with a special focus on authentic Cajun specialties. Some stand-out meals you need to try are authentic and crispy pork schnitzel from the German booth, as well as birria tacos and beignets.
Festival Location: 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819
Month of Festival: February - April
3. Charleston Wine + Food Festival, Charleston, SC
Founded in 2005 by a group of community members, the Charleston Food + Wine Festival is one of the country’s most famous food festivals. Spanning five jam-packed days, this food festival promotes and celebrates Charleston’s beloved culinary scene and showcases cuisines as well as talent from across the world. Guests from far and wide flock to experience this food festival at least once in their lives.
Festival Location: 635 Rutledge Ave. #101, Charleston, SC 29403
Month of Festival: March
4. Knott's Boysenberry Festival, Buena Park, CA
Calling all food and wine lovers to this unique food festival hosted at Knott's Berry Farm. If you love refreshing sips as much as you do flavorful bites, the Knott's Boysenberry Festival is for you. In the early 20th century, Knott's Berry Farm started as a boysenberry farm and has since become a foodie destination and world-class theme park.
Festival-goers can indulge in various savory dishes, good wine and live music at this annual food festival. You cannot visit this food festival without trying the boysenberry soft serve or the boysenberry carne asada pizza.
Festival Location: 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620
Month of Festival: March - April
5. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
Looking for the best food in New Orleans? You don't have to look any further than the highly-anticipated New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This food festival is a cultural extravaganza of food and jazz music that will have your taste buds dancing as much as your feet.
Experience cuisine that features the centuries-old traditions of Louisiana cooking with modern classics. Enjoy dishes like crawfish po-boy, shrimp bread and Cajun jambalaya. Listen to the soothing sounds of jazz while scouring through craft stalls under the Louisiana sunshine.
Festival Location: 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119
Month of Festival: April - May
6. Bluegrass BBQ Fest, Lexington, KY
Name a better combo than bluegrass music and a good old American barbecue — we'll wait. That's exactly what you'll walk into at the Bluegrass & BBQ Festival — a celebration of music, heritage and life itself.
Enjoy exciting events like the House of BBQ, where you’ll get to enjoy slow-roasted meat and appreciate live music from the best names in bluegrass music. With dishes like Memphis-style dry rub ribs and over 300 sauce options, this food festival is one you don’t want to miss.
Festival Location: 1152 Monarch St., Lexington, KY 40513
Month of Festival: May
7. Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Aspen, CO
The small mountain community of Aspen in Colorado is known for more than its award-winning ski slopes. Nearing the top of the list of reasons to visit the picturesque town is the Aspen Food & Wine Classic — a premier food festival held annually in June to kick off the summer season.
For over 40 years, this famous food festival has served up gourmet and innovative foods, panel discussions with world-class chefs and expert wine tastings. With over 150 brands of wine to try, this food festival is also a oenophile's paradise.
Festival Location: 419 S. Mill St., Aspen, CO 81611
Month of Festival: June
8. Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, New York, NY
Get ready to enjoy some of the most iconic NYC food at this famous food festival held in New York City’s Madison Square Park. You'll want to be at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party if you're looking for a carnivore’s dream come true. This food festival has a variety of food vendors and award-winning barbecue pit masters serving delicious meals.
Enjoy dishes like sticky baby back ribs and tender brisket served with a tangy jalapeño coleslaw. For those feeling brave, try a serving of the Bloody Mary cucumber salad.
Festival Location: 11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Month of Festival: June
9. Picklesburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Calling all pickle enthusiasts! You don’t want to miss out on attending Picklesburgh, a festival that is “the destination for all things pickled.” Don your best pickle outfit and look for the giant inflatable pickle floating high in the sky in Downtown Pittsburgh. Sample your way through more pickles than you can imagine and partake in some exciting gherkin games like pickle juice drinking and bobbing for pickles.
Festival Location: Boulevard of the Allies between Stanwix and Smithfield Streets, Pittsburgh, PA
Month of Festival: July
10. Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland, ME
For over 70 years, the Maine Lobster Festival has been a major destination for seafood-loving foodies looking to enjoy a week of pure happiness. This food festival originally started to revive Midcoast Maine communities but has grown to the extent that it is now an international event.
Spend five days eating fresh lobster, witness chefs compete for glory in the annual seafood cooking contest, sample locally made wine and beers and get ready to watch one of Maine’s largest parades. There really is something for everyone at this festival.
Festival Location: 1 Park Drive, Rockland, ME 04841
Month of Festival: July - August
11. SoCal Taco Fest, San Diego, CA
The next food festival on this list takes you to California. Each year, downtown San Diego welcomes thousands of visitors to SoCal Taco Fest, a vibrant festival that celebrates flavorful tacos and great music. Guests can enjoy an exciting day of tasting mouth-watering Mexican food like chicken fajitas, tacos, birria ramen and pupusas served with elote. Be sure to visit the cocktail demos and enjoy live music from popular artists like Vanilla Ice and Smash Mouth.
Festival Location: 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
Month of Festival: August
12. National Buffalo Wing Festival, Buffalo, NY
It’s only fitting that the city where the popular Buffalo wings were invented in 1964 hosts the annual National Buffalo Wing Festival. At this sensational food festival, you can indulge in over 100 styles of wings and take part in countless wing games, like a hot wings contest and bobbing for wings in a pool of blue cheese dressing. Aside from endless delicious chicken, you can also delight in the sounds of foot-stomping live music.
Festival Location: 1 Bills Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Month of Festival: August
13. Taste of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Explore bold and exciting Chicago food at this vibrant food festival held along the lakefront of downtown Chicago. Held annually in September, the Taste of Chicago food festival welcomes an estimated 1.5 million visitors all looking to sample unbeatable culinary masterpieces from food trucks, pop-up restaurants and celebrity chefs.
With such a wide variety of choices, there is something for everyone at this food festival in Chicago, like the classic deep-dish pizza, cheesecake and churros. Enjoy your food while tapping along to the live sounds of renowned musicians such as CeeLo Green.
Festival Location: Various locations
Month of Festival: September
14. The Great American Foodie Festival, Las Vegas, NV
If you want to experience one of the country's most epic food truck festivals, this one's for you. Held in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, the Great American Foodie Festival is one of the largest food festivals on the West Coast.
What makes this food festival so unique is that it brings in chefs from across the country with over 50 food trucks for guests to explore. If that isn't enough, you can also enjoy a beer garden, eating contests, celebrity chefs and carnival rides.
Festival Location: 1300 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV 89014
Month of Festival: September
15. Family Style Food Festival, Los Angeles, CA
Explore the vibrant and diverse culinary options that Los Angeles food has to offer at this family-friendly food festival hosted each fall in Los Angeles. Bringing together the best of fashion and food, the Family Style Food Festival is where fashion brands partner with the culinary world for an exciting event like no other. Enjoy bites from some of the most iconic restaurants in Los Angeles, browse through the many unique art installations and sing along to live music.
Festival Location: 1245 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Month of Festival: September
16. National Fried Chicken Festival, New Orleans, LA
Celebrate Louisanna's best cooking at the National Fried Chicken Festival. This food festival is all about honoring a Southern staple: fried chicken. Over 50 restaurants showcase the best work they have to offer and present endless varieties of this favorite food. On top of fried chicken, there are unique dishes you can try, like the Korean chicken baos and even ice cream chicken legs for something deliciously unconventional.
Festival Location: 6601 Franklin Ave., New Orleans, LA 70122
Month of Festival: October
17. Portland Fermentation Festival, Portland, OR
Known as the “Stink Fest,” this food festival offers unique takes on Portland food. Held annually in October, the Portland Fermentation Festival has a wide variety of fermented foods and drinks for people to sample, such as zesty pickled vegetables, meat and soy ferments You'll also have the opportunity to gather useful tips from local and professional fermenters.
Festival Location: 721 NW 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
Month of Festival: October
18. Memphis Food & Wine Festival, Memphis, TN
Every year in October, the much-anticipated Memphis Food & Wine Festival returns to the birthplace of rock ‘n roll. This food festival is an event where fine food and high-end wines are brought together to give visitors the experience of a lifetime. Celebrate local talents and international experts at this vibrant food festival. Nibble on some popular desserts and sip on your favorite wine while enjoying the live music on stage.
Festival Location: 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN 38117
Month of Festival: October
19. Lexington Barbecue Festival, Lexington, NC
If you’re big into barbecue, you will want to add this food festival to your bucket list. Held in the streets of Lexington under the North Carolina sky, the Lexington Barbecue Festival is an extravaganza of immense proportions.
It first launched in October 1984 and since then, locals and tourists have flocked to Lexington to enjoy the best barbecue in town. If nothing else, you’ve got to try the pork shoulder that gets cooked for more than half a day until it reaches delicious, tender perfection.
Festival Location: Main St., Lexington, NC
Month of Festival: October
20. Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, Honolulu, HI
Celebrate the unique flavors of the Aloha state at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, hosted throughout October and the first weekend of November. This food festival features farm-to-table dinners from over 80 chefs and tastings from winemakers, sommeliers and mixologists.
Some must-try events at this food festival include the Backcourt BBQ and the Annual Halekulani Gala, where culinary experts take to the stage. Guests can enjoy modern gastronomy and fine wines in what is known worldwide as a location that's a piece of paradise.
Festival Location: Various locations
Month of Festival: October - November
21. Austin Food & Wine Festival, Austin, TX
Celebrate Texan favorites right off the grill at the Austin Food & Wine Festival. At this exciting culinary event, you'll get to sip and savor your favorite wines paired with small bites while learning expert tips for pairing wine. Learn from Michelin-star chefs and sample delicious dishes prepared over an open flame at the fire pit. Finally, you'll also get to attend a hands-on grilling master class, learning skills worthy of a professional pitmaster.
Festival Location: 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Month of Festival: November
22. Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, Lake Buena Vista, FL
This famous food festival is a little different from others. Hosted by Disney World’s Swan & Dolphin Resort in Florida, the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic showcases unique bites from over 30 kitchen stations and nearly 1,500 wine selections.
With a focus on gourmet food, festival-goers can expect unlimited nibbles, with dishes ranging from Angus beef tenderloin from Shula's Steak House to ahi tuna from Kimonos. You'll also get to cleanse your palate with fine wine and spirits under the guidance of expert sommeliers.
Festival Location: 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Month of Festival: November
23. Beignet Fest, New Orleans, LA
Last (but most certainly not least) on this of food festivals is Beignet Fest in New Orleans. This festival features some of the most decadent sugar-coated treats, alongside countless savory options.
It’s not just the deep-fried pastry that makes this festival so popular. Beignet Fest Foundation celebrates and empowers children with autism, and proceeds from the food festival go towards this mission.
Festival Location: 61 Friederichs Ave., New Orleans, LA 70124
Month of Festival: November
Other Foodie Experiences To Enjoy
Up your cooking skills and recreate some of your favorite festival foods on a gourmet level by joining interactive cooking classes near you, where you can learn the best tips and tricks in the industry while meeting like-minded people. If you'd prefer, you can also learn from the comfort of your own kitchen thanks to online cooking classes.
If you feel like leaving the cooking up to professionals while you do the eating, book food tours near you to learn more about the magic of local culinary scenes, all around the world. Taste the best foods in the world while learning a thing or two about the rich history of whichever city you're in.
With so many food festivals to choose from, there has never been a better time to be a foodie in the USA. Whether you’re looking for a festival that celebrates classic American barbecue, fresh seafood or even the humble pickle, you’re bound to find a festival that excites your palate.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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