Best Food Festivals In The World

I personally like to attend festivals, especially those that are food-related. I made a list of great foodie festivals for this summer so that you can add them to your agenda. These are the ones that deserve a nice trip outside of your comfort zone, so let's dig into it…

Because yes, going on holiday also means forgetting about your hips or six-pack and getting to know the culture through traditional dishes! Taking a break at a food festival is the perfect opportunity to enjoy culinary while tasting new flavors and discovering cultures. Whether you want to learn how to make dim sum, learn to prepare lobster, or to pick up the latest food hypes, get a glimpse of worldwide fab food festivals here!

Dumpling Festival, China

The dumpling festival ("Duan Wu Jie") in China originated from a legend where a Chinese man threw dumplings into the river in the hope of being able to cross the road safely. Fortunately, the dumplings are no longer thrown into the river during the festival, but they can be eaten. And that is a good thing because here you will find the best dumplings, of course, and you will learn how to make them yourself.

When: the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar

Entrance: Free

Maine Lobster Festival, Maine - America

Very American, but still fun is the Maine Lobster Festival. And yes, you guessed it that is entirely dominated by the lobster. Expect a lot of different preparations of lobster, cooking competitions, demonstrations, and, of course, a lot of lobster food.

When: 29th July till 2nd August

Entrance: From 1 dollar

La Tomatina, Bunol - Valencia

This may not be what you were thinking about when you read the food festival, but that is La Tomatina, of course. Once a year, the streets in various Spanish cities turn red. Of the tomatoes happy. Because this festival is actually a big tomato-throwing fight.

When: 26th August 

Entrance: From 10 euros

Salon Du Chocolat, Paris

The Salon du Chocolat is organized every year in Paris. And that is a dream come true. Think workshops, a sculpture of chocolate, lectures about chocolate, and even a chocolate fashion show. Oh, and now I almost forget to mention that the festival is about chocolate and that you can eat virtually unlimited chocolate everywhere? I'll skip that Eiffel Tower once and go to this festival next time in Paris.

When: 21st – 25th October 

Entrance: From 14 euros

Ramen Show, Tokyo

Where else can you find an entire festival about ramen than in Japan? More than 36 different still gather on a long pier and serve a lot of different types of ramen for € 6.50.

When: Late October - Mid November 

Entrance: Free

Marathon Du Medoc, Pauillac - France

There are (thankfully) a lot of wine festivals in the world, but the Marathon du Medoc is a story apart. Officially no food festival but a marathon, but do not let that scare you off. Because on the way there is also a lot of wine drunk and there are tastings of cheese and oysters. The whole marathon itself runs through some of the most beautiful vineyards in Bordeaux.

When: 12th September 

Entrance: From 87 euros

Herring Festival, Hvide Sande - Denmark

This, of course, could not be anything other than a Scandinavian food festival. This festival that takes place in Denmark revolves around herring, so expect a lot of tasty fish, an election of the best herring recipe of the year, an explanation filleting, and even a fishing contest.

When: 10th April in Hvide Sande, Denmark 

Entrance: Free

National Street Food Festival, New Delhi

In India, they understand the art of street food like no other. Once a year, the best stands gather at the National Street Food Festival in New Delhi. Please do me a return ticket!

When: Mid-January in New Delhi 

Entrance: Free

Pizzafest, Naples

Naples is the city that invented pizza, therefore is it expected for a pizza festival serving more than 100.000 pizzas. The must-try of the festival? The traditional Margherita – made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, salt, and extra-virgin olive oil, and first created in Naples as a nod to Italy's green, white and red colors – is the star of the show.

When: 29th May – 7th June

Entrance: partly free or free for many events

Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

Everyone knows the more famous Spanish fight – La Tomatina, but in Italy, they have this battle for more than 200 years now, in the northern part of the country. You won't have a chance to toss oranges at your friends or strangers; this event is for locals only to participate in, but don't worry, you can watch.

When: 22nd – 25th February

Entrance: free

Blue Food Festival (Bloody Bay, Tobago)

The mid-October festival gets its name from the dasheen itself(a variety of taro that thrives in swamp conditions), which, when ground and cooked turns blue -- not usually a color associated with an edible foodstuff.

The weekend-long festival attracts thousands of participants, rich and poor, all keen to cook inventive dishes using the root.

When: mid-October 

Entrance: free

Maslenitsa Pancake Festival, St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia

This is among the most famous food festivals around the world and probably the most cheerful holiday in Russia. The Pancake Week (Shrovetide) used to be a rather somber remembrance of the deceased where the figure of Maslenitsa was burned. But with time, it turned into something positive and fun! 

When: 24th February – 1st March 

Entrance: free

St. Moritz Gourmet Festival

St. Moritz Gourmet Festival is the kind that brings together legends from famous kitchens around the world so that they can whip up delicious delights in unison for the people of Switzerland! This 9-day long food fiesta is actually among the most awaited food celebrations around the world where electrifying top guest chefs cook and offer culinary highlights from the best cuisines around the world. The theme of last year's fest was Japanese cuisine, and visitors absolutely loved the exotic flavors they tasted! A prominent part of every St. Moritz Gourmet Festival is the Chocolate Cult, where you'll get to taste a diverse range of delicacies made from the finest chocolate, and you may even get "chocolate wasted"!

When: 31st January – 8th February 

Entrance: different tickets based on the event

Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling, Gloucester, England

People in this festival do precisely what the name says they do! They roll down a hill. And no, I am not joking! This event is held each spring over the hill outside of Gloucester, England, where all the participants have to do is follow some simple rules – watch a 9-pound round Double Gloucester cheese run down the hill, give it a second's head start, and then tumble after it. The one who catches it, takes it home! How cool is that! 

When: 25th May 

Entrance: free

Bacon Festival, Sacramento, California

Yes, you heard it right! There is a festival in the world that is solely dedicated to bacon. The world goes crazy over bacon, so you have no excuse to not visit one of the best food festivals around the world. The meat-loving population of the world can go crazy, hogging on dishes like bacon gelato, bacon salad, bacon ramen, and bacon tater tots.

When: 18th April 

Entrance: free

Vegetarian Festival (Phuket, Thailand)

This nine-day Thai celebration is part of a general mind and body detoxification. The biggest event occurs on the island of Phuket, where the faithful hang lanterns outside temples and march through the streets beating drums to drive away evil spirits. As this festival is dedicated to body detoxification, it's easy to forget about meat, so the whole place goes veggie for nine days. It might seem as though it's the same carnivore-friendly dishes on restaurant menus, but the cooks use soybean and protein substitute products instead of meat.

When: 16th - 25th October

Entrance: free

As far as I am concerned, these were the best food festivals in the world! So are you already training for the marathon du Medoc or just saving for a trip to one of these other food festivals? Let me know via @iamfoodietraveler!

Love food? Love to travel? Share photos of your own foodie journeys on Instagram with the hashtag #iamfoodietraveler. For inspiration, check out a few of my recent posts.