Santa Monica Welcomes First Los Angeles Wine and Food Festival

There is never a shortage of reasons to visit Southern California, but this March marks the beginning of a whole new reason for family travelers to plan a trip to the region. On March 1, the first Los Angeles Wine and Food Festival comes to Santa Monica Pier, bringing with it the mouthwatering flavors of SoCal and the creativity of its culinary community.

The three-day event will be full of great food and beverages, along with plenty of entertainment and unique photo opportunities. More than 90 chefs, including both celebrities and local talent, will showcase their work. You can purchase tickets for a single day or the entire weekend, and during your visit, you will be able to enjoy an all-inclusive tasting experience that lets you sample all the food and beverage you can handle.

The event is a great starting-off point to discover why Santa Monica is such a great family-friendly destination — not to mention a foodie paradise. The pier itself has lots of fun activities for kids of all ages, like a roller coaster, Ferris wheel and a historic merry-go-round. You can also shop for souvenirs, play some arcade games, or simply enjoy the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and get plenty of those fresh sea breezes.

The city beyond is blessed with more than 400 restaurants to choose from, including 18 that are Michelin-recognized. These eateries cater to a variety of budgets and represent just about every cuisine imaginable, so after the festival is over, continue to discover great food and the fresh West Coast cuisine Southern California is known for.

While this festival is designed to showcase food, wine and culinary innovation, it isn’t just about eating and drinking. It also supports some pretty great causes, like celebrating and promoting female-owned restaurants in a partnership with RE:Her (Regarding Her), a nonprofit supporting female entrepreneurs in the industry. The festival also partners with the Artist Plate Project, a charitable initiative designed to help in providing much-needed support for the Coalition for the Homeless, which works to combat a growing problem across the state and across the country. By supporting these great causes, you not only get a weekend of top-notch culinary delights but you can also do your part to make the world a better place.