What better way to toast summer than at one of the nation's many gastronomic goings-on? Below is a sampling of food festivals to satisfy every taste, from country fairs offering the simply sublime flavors of the season (think lobster, BBQ and blueberries) to more cosmopolitan Restaurant Week showcases and tasting extravaganzas. Admission fees may not reflect all food and event costs, and details are subject to change, so be sure to call ahead before hitting the road in pursuit of summer's best.
Northeast/Midatlantic
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West Coast/Southwest
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Midwest/Mountain
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South
Northeast/Midatlantic
June 23 & 24
Pennsylvania Ave. NW (bet. 9th & 14th Sts.), Washington, DC, 20004, 202-828-3099
Tens of thousands of BBQ lovers will converge in Downtown DC to savor 'cue from across the country, including Memphis ribs, North Carolina pulled pork and Texas brisket. The culmination of the weekend event is the National Capital BBQ Battle, in which the nation's top barbecue chefs compete for $25,000 in prizes.
Cost: Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages six–12; children under six admitted for free.
July 16–20 & 23–27
Various locations throughout NYC, 202-828-3099
New York City is arguably the restaurant capital of the world, and Summer Restaurant Week highlights some of its most delectable offerings at affordable prices; participants include Aureole, Café Boulud, Chanterelle, Craftbar, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Nobu and Spice Market.
Cost: $24.07 for lunch; $35 for dinner.
July 20–22
Watkins Glen International Speedway, 2790 Country Rd. 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, 607-535-2486
At this annual festival sponsored by the Corning Glass Museum, you can learn how to make wine and also how to make the glass you drink it in. Sniff and swirl local grapes (more than 75 wineries will be in attendance), or sign up for special events such as wine-pairing seminars, chef demos, even a toga party.
Cost: From $10–$125 depending on event or package.
July 20 & 21
Waterfront Park, Lake and College Sts., Burlington, VT 05401, 802-244-6828
Celebrate American Beer Month by going to New England's oldest beer festival. Thirty-plus brewers from around the Northeast converge on Vermont to hold tasting sessions and treat festival attendees to the region's finest microbrews.
Cost: Admission is $25 per session for adults and $5 for designated drivers and those under 21; $135 for a VIP pass.
Maine Lobster Festival (photo by Alice Knight)
August 1–5
Harbor Park, 1 Park Dr. (Main St.), Rockland, ME 04841, 207-596-0376
In its 60th year, the Maine Lobster Festival is a New England institution featuring boatloads of Maine's finest crustaceans, a codfish carry, a "diaper derby" baby race, fine arts, musical performances and the coronation of the 2007 Maine Sea Goddess.
Cost: Admission is free to all on Wednesday, not including food or rides. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, admission is $7 from 9 AM–3 PM; $10 from 3–10 PM. On Sunday, admission is $7 all day. $2 for children ages six–12; children five and under admitted for free. Call ahead as prices are subject to change.
August 5–10 & 12–17
Various locations throughout Boston
Participating restaurants have yet to be announced for Beantown's Summer Restaurant Week, but in the past they've included Bistro 5, Julien, Legal Sea Foods, Olives and nearly 90 other area eateries.
Cost: $20.07 for lunch; $30.07 for dinner.
August 17–19
Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Rd., New Paltz, NY 12561
Pit masters from the Northeast flock to this upstate New York fest to test their grilling mettle with separate fish, pork chop, beef, chicken, pork ribs, pork butt and beef brisket competitions. The judging staff has been certified by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, so expect rulings that are fair, balanced and delicious.
Cost: Admission is $5 for adults and free for children.
August 19–25
Union Fairgrounds (off Common Rd.), Union, ME 04862
The Union Fair, in some incarnation, has been around since the 1860s, and wild blueberries, native to rural Maine, have been its central attraction since 1959. Expect blueberry pies galore, contests like watermelon-seed spitting and bubblegum blowing and a week packed with entertainment.
Cost: Admission is $6 per day, $15 for three days or $25 for the week; free for kids under 15; $3.50 for seniors ages 63 and up on Tuesday, August 21st, only.
August 31–September 2
Somers Cove Marina, Seventh St., Crisfield, MD 21817, 410-968-2500
Maryland is known for its soft-shell crabs, but this festival on the Delmarva Peninsula celebrates their hard-backed brothers. Crab and skiff races, regattas and crab cooking contests add to the classic Chesapeake Bay experience.
Cost: Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children.
West Coast/Southwest
June 24
Media Park (Venice Blvd. at Culver Blvd.), Culver City, CA 90232
This beloved benefit, which raises money to fight childhood hunger, offers a "strolling buffet" of dishes by more than 30 top restaurants, including Beacon, BLD, Blue Velvet, Grace, Joe's and Simon LA.
Cost: tickets are $95 in advance and $105 at the door; $150 for VIP admission; $25 for kids 15–seven; free for children six and under.
July 7
Plumas St., Yuba City, CA 95991, 530-755-4084
The highlight of Yuba City's summer festival – about a two-hour drive from San Francisco – is a salsa competition celebrating the local tomato crop. Proceeds go to local charities, and Sierra Nevada beer, brewed in nearby Chico, flows like nectar.
Cost: Free admission; $35 for the salsa competition.
July 8
Château Julien Wine Estate, 8940 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel, CA 93923, 831-624-2600
On the idyllic Monterey Peninsula, the Château Julien Wine Estate offers a low-key festival to celebrate its Private Reserve, Estate Vineyard and Barrel Selected New Release wines. Enjoy lively music and a traditional barbecue against a gorgeous backdrop.
Cost: Admission is $25; $15 for members.
July 12–15
Various locations throughout Sonoma County, CA, 800-939-7266
The best chefs and vinters from throughout Sonoma County come together for this weekend of wine and food to benefit local education and welfare organizations. Don't miss wines from over 120 Sonoma wineries – and highlights such as an all-star chef dinner and auction at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.
Cost: From $75–$2,500 depending on event.
July 12–15
Multiple locations along California's central coast, with many events taking place at Cliffs Resort at Shell Beach, CA 93449, 805-544-1285
Indulge your Sideways fantasies by sampling the vino produced by wineries from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties; featured events range from reserve wine tastings to a black-tie gala at the Hearst Castle abutting the Santa Lucia Mountains.
Cost: From $40–$1,250 depending on event.
July 27–29
Linfield College, 900 SE Baker St., McMinnville, OR 97128, 800-775-4762, 503-472-8964
At Sunday afternoon's "Passport to Pinot" showcase, enjoy Pinot Noirs from all over Oregon's Willamette Valley, with local winemakers pouring some 60 variations of the varietal.
Cost: $125 for the "Passport to Pinot" event; $795 for three-day package.
July 27–29
Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave., Gilroy, CA 95020, 408-842-1625
Over two tons of garlic will be consumed, sold and otherwise celebrated at this pungent festival in Central California. Enjoy a savory cook-off with garlic-laden treats and watch as Miss Gilroy Garlic is crowned and legions of vampires are sent packing.
Cost: Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for seniors and children ages six–12; children under six admitted for free.
Oxnard Salsa Festival (photo courtesy of Oxnard Salsa Festival)
July 28 & 29
Plaza Park (bet. B & Fifth Sts.), Oxnard, CA 93030, 805-247-0197
Salsa eating and salsa dancing go hand-in-hand at this Central California fest. For just four dollars, you get a bag of tortilla chips and free rein to heat up your taste buds at the spicy salsa-eating tent. Later you can cool your mouth down with a variety of icy margaritas and fresh lemonades.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
August 4 & 5
Whaler's Village (Oceanfront Shopping Center), Lahaina, HI 96761, 808-661-4567
On the shores of Maui, you can try to beat last year's onion-eating champ in the allotted 60 seconds for the grand prize of a hundred dollars and all-you-can-chew breath mints. If scarfing onion isn't your thing, you can sample onion-filled cuisine from Maui's finest chefs.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
August 10 & 11
Tualatin Commons, Tualatin, OR 97062
Most don't associate the state of Oregon with crawfish, but the tasty prehistoric-looking crustacean is plentiful in the Tualatin River, a hundred miles from the Pacific. This central Oregon festival, which is even older than the crawfish festivals in Texas and Louisiana, features a parade, crawfish cook-off and two chock-full days of entertainment in Tualatin's Community Park.
Cost: Free admission on Friday; Saturday admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and children ages six–12; children under six admitted for free.
September 1 & 2
Chile Festival Grounds at Municipal Airport, Hatch, NM 87937, 505-267-5050
Hatch, located in Southern New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley, is the self-proclaimed chile capital of the world. Held Labor Day weekend, the festival highlights Hatch's spicy supremacy with a chili cook-off and a chile-pod eating contest.
Cost: $5 per carload; event and food prices vary.
Midwest/Mountain
Telluride Wine Festival (photo courtesy of Telluride Wine Festival)
June 28–July 1
Several locations around Telluride, CO, 1-866-356-5944
Enjoy magnificent views of the resort town along with wonderful wine and gourmet vittles at this festival held in the middle of the Rockies. Special culinary guests include Andy Nusser (Casa Mono) and Karen DeMasco (Craft).
Cost: From $60–$395 depending on event or collection of events; $850 all-inclusive.
June 29–July 8
Grant Park, Chicago, IL 60607, 1-312-744-3315
Three million people come to Taste of Chicago each year to savor native dishes like deep-dish pizza, sample food from some 70 local restaurants and catch musical events and Fourth of July fireworks displays. This year's performers include Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Cracker, Los Lonely Boys and Kenny Rogers.
Cost: Free admission; food and drink tickets available at a cost.
June 30–July 4
Kellog Blvd. & the Mississippi, St. Paul, MN 55102
George Thorogood, jalepeño cheese curds, The Village People, corn dogs, The Original Family Stone, blooming onions: what's not to love about the combination of food and entertainment at this year's Taste of Minnesota bash? The week culminates in a Fourth of July fireworks display over the Mississippi that will knock your socks off.
Cost: Free admission; food and drink tickets available at a cost.
July 7–14
Grand View Pkwy. & Union St., Traverse, MI 49684, 231-947-4230
It's about more than cherry pie at this lakeside fest in Michigan – after all, the Traverse City area produces almost 75% of the nation's tart cherries. Revel in red with a cherry pit spitting contest, a showcase of regional fruit and even a rousing game of "Cherryopoly," a festival board game based on Monopoly.
Cost: Free entry, with individual events costing up to $35.
July 13–15
Stonehill Winery, 1110 Stone Hill Hwy., Hermann, MO 65041, 1-800-909-WINE
Even though Hermann, Missouri, is almost 800 miles north of New Orleans, the Stone Hill Winery's Cajun Concert captures the spirit of the Big Easy. This three-day festival about 100 miles west of St. Louis serves up Cajun catfish, jambalaya, andouille sausage and a Cajun band and dancers from Louisiana – just the thing to spice up a Midwestern summer.
Cost: Pavilion admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children; two- and three-day passes are also available for $18 and $25, respectively; $4 to the enter the grounds, $1 for children.
July 27 & 28
Main St., Frankfort, IN 46041, 765-654-4081
At the tail end of Hot Dog Month wags the 11th annual Frankfort Hot Dog Festival. Though not as publicized as Nathan's famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in NYC's Coney Island, this is the place to go for all things frank(fort)er, including a 5K "Bun Walk and Run" and a classic Main Street full of entertainment.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
July 27–29
8750 N. Second St., Machesney Park, IL 61115, 815-885-3192
This Northern Illinois festival has rockin' ribs from former World Championship of BBQ winners the Super Smokers, along with ribs, pulled pork and other smoked meats from local BBQ luminaries. Proceeds go to a local charity, so you can chow down for a good cause.
Cost: $3 entry donation before 6 PM, $5 after; children under 12 admitted for free.
August 2–4
Kiwanis Park Dr., Sheboygan, WI 53081, 920-803-8980
Nothing says summer in the Midwest like bratwurst fresh from the grill. Sheboygan, Wisconsin, serves up a heaping platter of summer fun with their Brat Days festival – you could even go home with a cash prize if you win this year's brat-eating contest (open to Wisconsin residents only), but remember rule 6e of the tournament bylaws: "no hurling."
Cost: free admission; brat-eating contest is $10 per person.
August 4 & 5
Olathe Community Park, Olathe, CO 81416, 866-363-CORN
This Western Colorado festival is an old-school agricultural carnival featuring local 4H clubs, displays from agri-businesses all over the Uncompahgre Valley and all the sweet prairie corn you can devour.
Cost: Admission is $16 in advance and $20 at the gate, with discounts for seniors; $3 for children ages three–12; free for children under three.
August 9–11
Riverdale School, State Rd. 1, Riverdale, Indiana 46785, 260-337-5470
The 11th anniversary of this fest promises at least 39 varieties of pickles from the nearby Sechler's gourmet pickle factory. Try your hand at creating your own pickle recipe for the pickle cook-off (previous winning recipes include a Lemon Pickle Pop Cake with Pineapple Coconut Topping).
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
August 31–September 3
Civic Center Park, Broadway & Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203
The first "Festival of Mountain and Plain" occurred at the Civic Center Park in 1895. It went bust in 1902, and then was revived back in 1983 with a snappy new name. In addition to food prepared by local chefs, there will be a raptor exhibit and a Colorado heritage area to bring you back to the days of the original turn-of-the-century blowout.
Cost: Free admission; food and drink tickets available at a cost.
August 31–September 3
Main St., Ligonier, IN 46767, 260-894-9000
Over ten thousand people attend this sticky sweet festival every year to sample the various marshmallow masterpieces created by Ligonier locals and fellow marshmallow aficionados. The inventive dishes at the marshmallow cook-off will put your s'mores to shame.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
South
Luling Watermelon Thump (photo courtesy of Luling Watermelon Thump)
June 21–24
Downtown Luling, Interstate 10 & Hwy. 183, Luling, TX, 78648, 830-875-3214, ext. 2
No, a Watermelon Thump isn't some sort of medieval torture method involving fruit – it's the name of Texas' biggest watermelon festival. Given that moniker via a contest in 1954, the event offers food booths, carnivals, entertainment, a beer garden and the crowning of the Thump Queen.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
July 18–22
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. (bet. Bienville Ave. & Iberville St.), New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-299-0404
In the Katrina aftermath, Tales of the Cocktail is bigger than ever, with mixologists, chefs, bartenders and drink writers flocking to the Big Easy to show their support. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about tequilas, bourbons and even absinthe from drink experts.
Cost: $15–$175 depending on the event; $275 all-inclusive.
August 3 & 4
Dillard City Hall Grounds, Dillard, GA 30537, 706-746-2690
They take their barbecue seriously in Georgia, as witness this festival dedicated to the art of barbecuing chicken, ribs, pork and beef brisket by the strict rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (the world's largest international organization of barbecue enthusiasts, they'll have you know). Eat your fill while listening to the sweet sounds of bluegrass.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.
August 30–September 1
Richards Park, Memory Ln., Brady, TX 76825, 325-597-3491
Over a hundred teams gather in central Texas each Labor Day to compete for the championship title in Richards Park. Get your goat cooked in myriad ways (in 1995, the winner's goat sauce included the special ingredient of two cups of black coffee), while arts and crafts and horseshoe- and washer-pitching round out the fun.
Cost: Free admission; event and food prices vary.