Food Fairs + Festivals

There are few better events to plan a trip around than food fairs and food festivals. Whether you're off to Munich for Oktoberfest or Coney Island for Nathan's annual hot-dog eating competition, food is certainly the most delicious way to explore a new place. Travel + Leisure's editors and contributors scour the globe for the very best immersive food experiences, from the deep-fried variety served up at the Minnesota State Fair to the confections of Perugia's annual Eurochocolate Festival, andn even the leaf-wrapped dumplings traditionally eaten during Hong Kong's Dragon Boat Festival.Not all food festivals are created equal, and a bad food fair—like a bad poetry reading—is pretty much excruciating. Too many of us have paid a hefty fee to wait in line for tiny samples of over-cooked food, or paid for the privilege of waiting in line to pay again. But when a food festival is good, it's great: a convenient way to explore many different kinds of food and drink all at once. Food fairs run the gamut from homegrown volunteer operations, like Nashville's Hot Chicken Festival, to elaborate professional endeavors, like New Orleans's Tales of the Cocktail. Though several exciting new food fairs sprout up every year, there are also many excellent mainstays that have been on the scene for decades. Founded in 1947, Rockland's annual Maine Lobster Festival has grown from a sleepy local event to an internationally recognized food fair. (Writer David Foster Wallace named his classic essay collection, Consider the Lobster, after a piece detailing a 2004 visit to Rockland during the festival.) In Munich, Oktoberfest can trace its origins back to 1811.T+L sorts through food festivals and food fairs both old and new, large and small, to identify the gems—and the duds—of the field. Get ready to dig in.

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Get a taste of Hong Kong without leaving home.
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The Texas State Fair Will Have Drive-thru Weekends for Fried Food Fanatics

The Texas State Fair Will Have Drive-thru Weekends for Fried Food Fanatics

Drive through picnics and photo ops will be available in September and October.
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Take a Digital Trip to ‘Asia’s World City’ With the Virtual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival

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The Food & Wine Classic Is Bringing Celebrity Chef Cooking Demos Right Into Your Kitchen

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Munich Cancels Oktoberfest Due to Coronavirus Pandemic (Video)

Munich Cancels Oktoberfest Due to Coronavirus Pandemic (Video)

“We hope that next year we can make it up together!"

More Food Fairs + Festivals

This Under-the-radar Culinary Festival Brings Chefs to the Yucatán to Spotlight Mayan Culture

This Under-the-radar Culinary Festival Brings Chefs to the Yucatán to Spotlight Mayan Culture

A Hard Seltzer Festival Is Touring the Country This Year

A Hard Seltzer Festival Is Touring the Country This Year

he 'Seltzer Land' festival is bringing 100 different kinds of hard seltzer to a city near you this spring.
'Top Chef' Is Bringing the Ultimate Food Festival for Bravo Fans to Universal Studios Hollywood

'Top Chef' Is Bringing the Ultimate Food Festival for Bravo Fans to Universal Studios Hollywood

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How to Get Tickets to the 2020 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

Netflix Is Transporting NYC's Little Italy Back to 1975 — and There Will Be Free Food to Celebrate

Netflix Is Transporting NYC's Little Italy Back to 1975 — and There Will Be Free Food to Celebrate

An American Cheese Won the World Cheese Awards for the First Time Ever

An American Cheese Won the World Cheese Awards for the First Time Ever

Get Ready to Celebrate the Best of Food and Nightlife in Miami and Los Angeles

All Food Fairs + Festivals

Everything You Need to Know About This Under-the-radar Disney World Food Festival

Everything You Need to Know About This Under-the-radar Disney World Food Festival

How to Travel Through Time: Inside Maryland's Renaissance Festival

How to Travel Through Time: Inside Maryland's Renaissance Festival

Washington, D.C. to Celebrate Its First-ever Black Restaurant Week This Fall

Washington, D.C. to Celebrate Its First-ever Black Restaurant Week This Fall

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9 State Fairs You Can Visit in 1 Ultimate Summer Road Trip

The Best State Fairs for 2018

The Best State Fairs for 2018

12 of the Best Food Festivals Happening This Fall

12 of the Best Food Festivals Happening This Fall

Taco Festival Turns to Chaos After Running Out of Tacos

Taco Festival Turns to Chaos After Running Out of Tacos

Chrissy Teigen is secretly in love with airplane food

Chrissy Teigen is secretly in love with airplane food

Spicy Starburst and spicy Skittles are on the way

Spicy Starburst and spicy Skittles are on the way

Why Puerto Rican Food Fans Need to Book a Trip to San Juan This Spring

Why Puerto Rican Food Fans Need to Book a Trip to San Juan This Spring

Oktoberfest by the Numbers

Oktoberfest by the Numbers

Fried Jell-O Takes Top Prize At The Texas State Fair

Fried Jell-O Takes Top Prize At The Texas State Fair

Great Balls of Barbecue: Food at the Texas State Fair

Great Balls of Barbecue: Food at the Texas State Fair

Beignet Fest is Coming to New Orleans

Beignet Fest is Coming to New Orleans

Minnesota State Fair Food Quiz: Are These Items Real or Not?

Minnesota State Fair Food Quiz: Are These Items Real or Not?

What It's Like to Travel for a Hot Dog Eating Contest

What It's Like to Travel for a Hot Dog Eating Contest

A Famous Bug Market in Beijing is Closing Down

A Famous Bug Market in Beijing is Closing Down

10 New (and Mostly Fried) Foods You Can Eat at the Minnesota State Fair

10 New (and Mostly Fried) Foods You Can Eat at the Minnesota State Fair

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Why It's Time to Plan a Trip to Columbia, South Carolina

Fake Food Fests are Popping up All Over the Country

Fake Food Fests are Popping up All Over the Country

Brace Yourselves: Donut Fest is Coming to New York City

Brace Yourselves: Donut Fest is Coming to New York City

The Great Northeast Cheese Fest is Happening This Weekend in New York

The Great Northeast Cheese Fest is Happening This Weekend in New York

NyamJam, Jamaica's First Food Festival, Debuts in St. Mary This Weekend

NyamJam, Jamaica's First Food Festival, Debuts in St. Mary This Weekend

Get Excited for San Diego Beer Week

Get Excited for San Diego Beer Week

How to Conquer the New York Wine and Food Festival—At The Last Minute

How to Conquer the New York Wine and Food Festival—At The Last Minute

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