50 State Food Festivals Every Foodie Should Visit

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Food festivals are perfect for serious foodies as well as the less adventurous eaters among us. And every state in the union has at least one food festival worthy of making the trek. We have put together a roundup of the best food festivals from each state–whether you live down the road or across the country from them, they’re worth a visit in 2017.

State Food Festivals You Should Visit

1. Alabama – The Annual National Shrimp Festival celebrated its 45th year in 2016.
2. Alaska – Blueberries abound at the Alyeska Resort Blueberry Festival. Enjoy two days of blueberry eating including the no-hands pie-eating contest.
3. Arizona – The 8th Annual Arizona Taco Festival in Scottsdale highlights the tasty taco.
4. Arkansas – The upcoming Hot Springs Gumbo and Crawfish Festival will be held in April.
5. California – The LA Food Fest combines sunny California weather with more than 100 food trucks and vendors during the summer.
6. Colorado – The Annual Colorado Brewers’ Festival, now in its 28th year is a mecca for beer enthusiasts.
7. Connecticut – The 43rd Annual Oyster Festival will be held this August in Milford.
8. Delaware – Delaware is historically known for its peaches and has not one, but two peach festivals in Wyoming and Middletown.
9. Florida – Fans of the key lime should make certain to visit the Key Lime Festival in Key West.
10. Georgia – Known as the Peach State, Georgia is also known for its Georgia Peach Festival.
11. Hawaii – Believe it or not the Waikiki SPAM JAM is one not to miss.
12. Idaho – Potatoes usually come to mind when thinking about Idaho, but the Emmett Cherry Festival is one of the food highlights of the state.
13. Illinois- The Taste of Chicago is world-renowned!
14. Indiana – The 47th Maple Syrup Festival will be held this April.
15. Iowa – The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival has been chosen as one of Iowa’s best food events.
16. Kansas – Food trucks are the main focus at the Kansas Food Truck Festival.
17. Kentucky – Held in Paducah, Barbecue on the River boasts more than 40,000 visitors.
18. Louisiana – There’s plenty of good food to choose from in Louisiana, but the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival stands out.
19. Maine – Maine is also known for its blueberries and the Wilton Blueberry Festival doesn’t disappoint.
20. Maryland – Maryland and Old Bay go together like beans and rice. The Old Bay Festival is a must taste in Cockeysville.
21. Massachusetts – The 37th Chowderfest will be held in June and is a Cape Cod tradition.
22. Michigan – The National Cherry Festival has been an event to visit since 1929.
23. Minnesota – While it might not be for everyone, the Henderson Sauerkraut Days is a must-visit for those who love the kraut.
24. Mississippi – The Annual Crawfish Music Festival combines music and crawfish for one tasty event.years.
25. Missouri – Rock’n Ribs Festival pays tribute to both ribs and music and has been going on for 18
26. Montana – Similar to a blueberry, but not quite the same thing, the Huckleberry Festival pays homage to the humble huckleberry every year.
27. Nebraska – Believe it or not the BBQ is the highlight of The Swedish Festival, which is now in its 65th year.
28. Nevada – Held for over 50 years, the two-day National Basque Festival celebrates the heritage and food of the Basque culture of the region.
29. New Hampshire – From the Giant pumpkin weigh-in to the pumpkin carving, the Pumpkin Festival highlights that most glorious large autumn squash!
30. New Jersey – Cranberries, you either love them or hate. If you love them, then you must visit the Cranberry Festival, now in its 27th year.
31. New Mexico – The Viva New Mexico Chile Festival is all about food, family, fun, and chile peppers by the pound!
32. New York -While there’s plenty of culinary opportunities in NYC, don’t be afraid to venture outside the City for food festivals like the New York State Food Festival in Albany.
33. North Carolina – Mush, Music and Mutts is billed as the Official State of North Carolina Fall Liver Mush Festival. Livermush is also known as scrapple.
34. North Dakota – Norsk Hostfest is a festival that promotes the Scandinavian culture of the area, including food traditions.
35. Ohio – The Taste of Cincinnati is the longest running free culinary arts festival in the U.S.
36. Oklahoma – The Pawhuska Chamber puts on the National Indian Taco Championship every year to showcase the Indian Taco, which is simply a taco made on fry bread.
37. Oregon – Feast Portland is one of the country’s most highly rated food and drink festival.
38. Pennsylvania – If you didn’t know it, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is the Mushroom Capital of the World and the annual Mushroom Festival is worth a visit.
39. Rhode Island – The Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off is just one of the chowder events in New England to visit.
40. South Carolina – For fans of grits, the World Grits Festival should get a stop.
41. South Dakota – The Dutch oven cook-off is the signature food event of the Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering.
42. Tennessee – Cowpeas are also known as black-eyed peas and the Cowpea Festival and Cook-off highlights this tasty legume.
43. Texas – Texas is all about food, but the Austin Food and Wine is a must attend event.
44. Utah – Wasatch International Food Festival
45. Vermont – Of course, the food festival not to miss is the Vermont Maple Syrup Festival.
46. Virginia – The Annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival celebrates the local seafood of Eastern Shore Virginia.
47. Washington – I bet you never knew there was a food event that focuses on the unlikely, but that’s just what the Lentil Festival does.
48. West Virginia – The pancakes are the highlight of the 75th annual Buckwheat Festival.
49. Wisconsin – Dubbed the oldest food fest in the Midwest, the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival pays homage to all things cheese.
50. Wyoming – The Jackson Hole High Noon Chili Cook-off is the food event highlight of Elk Fest.

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