Food Festivals to Plan for Now

Are you planning your 2019 travels? You don’t want to miss these 2019 food festivals, so start booking now.

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival

This annual fall festival takes place on Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, in October. If you missed this year’s event, make plans for next year’s soon. Enjoy a historic locale while sampling “the harvest of the sea.” There’s plenty of fresh, local seafood in every shape, style and form, all for you to enjoy. Entry is free, another big appeal factor, and you can expect great live bands and shopping at the pop-up stands and businesses along the Wharf. This festival is family-friendly, but it’s recommended travelers with younger children come earlier in the morning to avoid the larger crowds and hustle and bustle.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

If your schedule doesn’t quite let you get away on the weekends, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Disney World is a good option, as it stretches more than 50 days. The lineup includes awesome tastings, mixology events and live music, and the cuisine covers nearly every culture in the world. Of course, no kid ever needs an excuse to go to Disney World, so while they’re riding the rides and seeing the sights, the adults can chow down on delectable food offerings and sip on sublime cocktail choices.

Taste of Chicago

Taste of Chicago is a great fit if you have older children who have musical tastes a bit closer to your own. Taste of Chicago, in addition to having some awesome food, also serves up some great musical acts. Each year, the lineup features big names and a good mix of genres, so you’re sure to find performers that appeal to every fan in your group, from hip hop to the classics.

Pie eating contest at cherry festival © Susan Sheldon | Dreamstime.com

National Cherry Festival

Each summer, the National Cherry Festival in Traverse, Michigan, kicks off with a slew of family-friendly activities. As one of the oldest food festivals in the country, you can find plenty of vintage-style fun, like pie eating contests. After you’ve had your fill of all the cherry pie you can eat, enjoy the other great things Traverse offers travelers, like plenty of awesome outdoor space to hike, camp and enjoy the waterfront.

Maine Lobster Festival

Another decades-old tradition, the Maine Lobster Festival combines the carnival-like atmosphere your kids will love, with upscale dining options the parents will drool over. There are rides, music, games and all the rest, alongside amazing lobster dishes in every size and shape. Each year, tens of thousands of pounds of lobster are served up to eager festival attendees.