Top Ten Food Festivals in the United States

If you’re a foodie, this list is for you. We’ve got ten of the top food festivals in United States. Travel and food, what else can you ask for?

#10 Hatch Valley Chili Festival

Hatch Valley, NM plays host to a weekend-long chili festival. Held every year in early September along the Rio Grande, eaters come to sample roasted chilies of all different flavors: red and green, mild and scorching. The festival includes folklorico dancing, music, chili tosses, and of course raw chili eating contests.

#9 World Cheese Dip Championship

New to the “food events” world, and though technically not a festival, this competition is something any foodie would not want to pass up. The World Cheese Dip Championship began in 2010 as a kind of spin off from a documentary by Nick Rogers, a Little Rock filmmaker and lawyer, which is explores the history of cheese dip. Apparently it got its start in none other than Arkansas in 1935 by a restaurant called Mexico Chiquito (which is still operating). Held in September, the one-day competition is open to amateur and professional cheese dip makers alike and gives all attendees the chance to sample cheese dips of all flavors and spices.

#8 Burlington Chocolate Festival

What food festival list would be complete without a nod to chocolate? This four-day festival is held in Burlington, WI in May and got it start back in 1987.  What started as a festival to help boost the economy in Burlington has now become a non-profit event that supports local charities. The festival includes chef demonstrations and competitions, a kids cookie decoration contest, a candy wrapper fashion design contest (called “Project Yum Way”), a chocolate bake-off, and of course chocolate eating contest.

#7 Georgia Peach Festival

What do you first think of when you think about Georgia? Peaches, of course! Byron and Fort Valley, GA host the annual Georgia Peach Festival in June. A nine-day festival, this one has been going strong since 1986. Activities include music, arts, crafts, the Miss Georgia Peach pageant, and the Peach Festival Parade. But the thing foodies go to this festival to see is the world’s largest peach cobbler, which is cut up and served to the public for free!

#6 Gilroy Garlic Festival

This festival began in 1979 and is held for three days every July in Gilroy, CA, the garlic capital of the world. It features music, arts, crafts, cooking competitions, and of course two tons of garlic on all kinds of foods: bread, fries, chicken, pasta, steak, mushrooms, sausage, and calamari. Professional and amateur vendors alike provide the garlicy good food.

#5 Buffalo Wing Festival

Foodies wondering where the wing festival was hiding, wonder no more. Buffalo, NY hosts an annual buffalo wing festival every September, and yes, there are competitions! Hot sauce recipe competitions, hot wing eating competitions, and even a beauty pageant make this festival a definite “must” for any foodie.

#4 Taste of Chicago

Held mid-summer in Chicago, IL, this ten-day festival includes music, different runs for all ages, sports, arts, family activities, and food, food, food. Offering sample dishes from over 70 restaurants in the Chicago area, this festival is a heavenly treat for anyone who likes food. Looking for healthy food choices? A panel of doctors and nutritionists approve certain menu items at some of the featured restaurants and mark their choices with a green apple. Festival goers may also attend wine tastings and chef demonstrations.

#3 Bite of Oregon

Getting its start in 1983, this three-day festival is held in August in Portland, OR and proceeds to go benefit Special Olympics Oregon. One hundred percent local, the festival includes food tastings by Oregon-based restaurants, including wines and microbrewed beers. Offering small plates and meal-sized portions, foodies have their pick of burgers, shellfish, short rib tacos, fried pies, and many other culinary wonders. This one also aims to be a zero waste event—go green!

#2 Taste of Vail

Looking for a taste of the best, then this one is for you. Held annually in April in Vail, CO, this three-day food festival holds events in various locations throughout the town. Offering seminars as well as food and wine tasting, this festival also offers some skiing instruction. You’ll find it all here, from lamb to chocolate, beer to wine & cheese, as well as demonstrations and instructions from top chefs.

#1 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

Held annually over Memorial Day weekend, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience’s five-day festival proceeds support local non-profit organizations.  Featuring seminars by chefs as wells as tastings from local restaurants, the festival showcases food and wine from Louisiana as well as from all over the country.  And new to the festival starting this year is an international cake competition and tasting!

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