Food festivals around the world offer an excellent opportunity to broaden your palate and experience new foods. Thankfully, there are plenty of food festivals all over the world. There is a food festival for everyone, ranging from large-scale affairs that occupy entire cities to small-scale get-togethers in a single square.
Here is our list of 17 must-attend food festivals across the world, whether you’re a foodie or just someone with an adventurous palate. These festivals provide an opportunity to experience the finest of every continent, from street food markets in Asia to culinary extravaganzas in Europe. Therefore, it’s likely that you will discover your new favorite food destination here, regardless of whether you are an experienced traveler or a homebody who is just inquiring about new cuisines. Enjoy your meal.
Want 15% off your first order? 
1: Pizza Festival in Naples Italy
Food festivals are a fantastic way to celebrate international cuisines because they give you the chance to try new foods, discover new cultures, and broaden your culinary horizons. Pizzafest exemplifies everything mentioned above and more. It is devoted to pizza, the most beloved Italian dish of all.
Since 1995, Pizzafest, an annual event in Naples, has drawn tourists from all over the world. Visitors can eat as much pizza as they want from more than 100 different vendors for a week. In addition, there are opportunities to win prizes, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Pizzafest is the ideal gathering for anyone who enjoys Italian pizza made locally or is curious to give it a try.
2: Celebration of Giant Omelette France
The town of Bessières in southwest France honors an omelette, one of the nation’s favorite foods, once a year. Locals and tourists alike gather for the Giant Omelet Celebration (La Fête de l’Omelette Géante) to savor a massive omelette prepared with roughly 15,000 eggs.
The omelette is served with bread and salad and is prepared in a massive pan with a diameter of more than six meters. The event has been going on for more than 50 years, usually during Easter. Visit Bessières if you’re in France at this time to sample this delectable custom!
Dr. Berg’s Birthday Celebration Sale – 15% Off Sitewide with code Berg24 
3:Maine Lobster Festival USA
Every summer in Rockland, Maine, there’s a food festival called the Maine Lobster Festival. The lobster festival honors the seafood specialty that is indigenous to the state of Maine.
A range of meals with a lobster theme, live music, carnival rides, and other kid-friendly entertainment can be found at The Maine Lobster. Attracting over 20,000 visitors annually, the Maine Lobster Festival is one of the biggest and most well-known food festivals in the country. Check out the Maine Lobster Festival if you’re looking for a tasty and exciting way to celebrate the summer.
4: National Street Food Festival India
All of those who enjoy street food will smile at this, for sure. There are countless options for food on Delhi’s streets, ranging from spicy gol gappe to sweet and tangy bhalle papdi, oily chhole kulcha, and savory chaat. And to the delight of all foodies in the capital, these incredible street foods are brought to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium once a year!
Aquasana.com 
5: Maslenitsa Pancake Festival In Russia
This is one of the most well-known food festivals in the world and arguably Russia’s happiest holiday. Traditionally, Shrovetide, or Pancake Week, was a somber occasion to honor the dead, marked by the burning of the figure of Maslenitsa. But eventually, it developed into a fun and constructive thing! Activities include sledding, horseback riding, fighting, folk dancing, puppet performances, and an abundance of food—pancakes, of course! Individuals don vivid masks and costumes in vibrant colors. Wednesday is a day when both locals and guests prepare and enjoy feasts. Baked pancakes, brewed beer, nuts, honey gingerbread, hot sbiten (drinks made with water, honey, and spices), and tea are among the food items.
Celebrate the Quicklly Moments with Special Holi offerings! 
6: Mid-Autumn Festival in China
In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is a celebration of the harvest and the moon.
One of the traditions surrounding the holiday is the preparation and exchange of mooncakes made from lotus paste and an egg yolk center to represent the completion and unity of families.
During the celebration, there will also be watermelon, cassia wine, tea, and lotus roots, which symbolize peace.
At night, families leave their teacups outside to see the reflection of the full moon.
7: La Tomatina Spain
Bunol, Spain, hosts the annual La Tomatina food festival. For sheer fun, participants toss tomatoes at one another. Since 1945, the festival has taken place. The annual attendance at the event exceeds forty thousand.
It’s unclear where La Tomatina came from. Some claim it began as a demonstration against the mayor of the town. Some claim it was just a way to pass the time and use up extra tomatoes. In any event, the festival is now a well-liked travel destination.
You should know a few things if you plan to attend La Tomatina. First of all, the festival is held on August’s final Wednesday. Second, participation is restricted to individuals who are eighteen years of age or older. Lastly, you will need to bring about 200 of your tomatoes!
La Tomatina is a must-visit place if you’re searching for a memorable and enjoyable culinary and travel adventure. It’s an experience you won’t quickly forget.
Purchase any three bags of coffee from Stone Street Coffee for $40! 
8: St. Moritz Gourmet Festival Switzerland
The St. Moritz Gourmet Festival is the type of event that unites culinary icons from globally renowned kitchens to create mouthwatering treats for the Swiss public! With electrifying top guest chefs cooking and serving culinary highlights from the best cuisines around the world, this nine-day food fiesta is one of the most anticipated food celebrations worldwide. The festival’s previous year’s theme was Japanese food, and guests adored the unique flavors they tried! Every St. Moritz Gourmet Festival is not complete without the Chocolate Cult, where you can sample a wide variety of treats made with the best chocolate and maybe even get “chocolate wasted”!
9: Taste of Chicago Illinois
Every year, Chicago, Illinois, hosts the Taste of Chicago, a culinary festival. In addition to live music and entertainment, the festival offers a broad selection of food from nearby restaurants. Attracting over two million visitors annually, it’s one of the biggest and most significant food festivals in the US.
The festival was founded in 1980 to showcase the city’s varied culinary offerings. In addition to showcasing the city’s many restaurants, the festival gives chefs a chance to display their abilities. The Taste of Chicago has consequently grown to be a significant occasion for both residents and visitors.
10: Hokitika Wildfoods Food Festival New Zealand’s Hokitika
Every year, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival honors the finest West Coast cuisine as well as the distinctive native cuisine of New Zealand. The festival, which takes place in the picturesque little town of Hokitika on the west coast of the South Island, allows attendees to try a variety of regional specialties. The Wild Foods Festival offers a wide variety of foods, including berries, venison, seafood, and shellfish, for everyone to enjoy.
With seminars and demonstrations given by some of the best chefs in the area, there are also lots of chances to learn about the history and culture of the food in the area. There are many international cuisines to choose from in addition to traditional Maori fare. Thus, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is unquestionably worthwhile to attend, whether your goal is to sample some delectable cuisine or broaden your palate.
11: Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Thailan
An annual celebration of the Thai-Chinese community’s dedication to vegetarianism takes place in Phuket: the Vegetarian Festival. To cleanse their bodies and minds, participants refrain from eating meat, dairy, and eggs for nine days.
The Chinese calendar’s ninth lunar month, when it’s thought that the gates of hell are open and ghosts can wander the earth, is when the food festival takes place.
To appease the spirits and guarantee their safety, participants dress in white and perform various self-mutilating activities, like firewalking and body piercing. The festival’s grand finale features a procession through Phuket Town’s streets, where participants carry ornate altars to the Chinese shrine. They show kindness by providing vegetarian meals to passersby as they travel. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a great place to go if you want to do something different.
12: Bugfest in North Carolina USA
Every year, the Bugfest food festival, held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, honors the delectable cuisine of insects. There are many insect-based delicacies available for sampling at the Bugfest, such as chocolate-dipped scorpions and grasshopper guacamole.
Live music and entertainment are also included at the event, along with educational exhibits on the many varieties of insects that can be found in North Carolina. If you’re brave enough to take on such a culinary adventure, the Bugfest is a great way to discover more about these amazing animals while also indulging in some delectable and surprisingly healthy food!
13: Ramen Show Tokyo Japan
Every year, the dish of ramen noodles is celebrated at the Tokyo Ramen Show, a culinary festival. The event, which takes place in late October, brings together more than fifty different vendors from throughout Japan, each of whom offers a distinctive twist on the traditional soup.
Apart from ramen, other Japanese food stalls are offering different kinds of drinks and snacks. The Tokyo Ramen Show is the ideal location to try some of the greatest dishes that Japanese cuisine has to offer because it offers so many options. The Tokyo Ramen Show is sure to have something for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard ramen fan or just want to try something different.
14: Festival of Texas Hot Sauce Texas USA
One of the best ways to broaden your palate and try new foods is to attend food festivals. This also applies to the Texas Hot Sauce Festival. During this yearly event, some of the state’s top producers of hot sauce gather to share their products with people who enjoy spicy food from all over.
You can sample every sauce available and take advantage of cooking demos, live music, and more. If you’re daring, you can even compete in the hot sauce eating competition. The Texas Hot Sauce Festival promises to be an enjoyable and unforgettable experience, regardless of your level of heat tolerance or desire to add some spiciness to your daily routine.
15: Gilroy Garlic Festival USA Gilroy, California
An annual culinary celebration honoring—you guessed it—garlic is called the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Founded by Linda Beahrs and Rudy Melone in 1979. The festival takes place in Gilroy, California. With more than 100,000 attendees annually, it has grown to become the biggest garlic festival globally.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival honors all things garlic-related. Bread, fries, chicken, garlic ice cream, and other foods are available to guests. The festival offers food, music, and entertainment in addition to cooking demonstrations. A fantastic place to learn about garlic and try some of the many culinary applications for it is the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
16: Melon Festival in Chinchilla Australia
The first melon festival was held in 1994 in the town of Chinchilla, which supplies up to 25% of the melons grown in Australia. The original festival was intended to uplift the city’s spirits after an extended period of extremely severe droughts.
Expect to witness a small amount of hilarious mayhem as the participants in the game don their watermelon skis and gracefully glide over the juicy rink during a melon ski race.
The Chinchilla Melon Festival features a melon bungee and pit spitting in addition to the marathon.
17: Oktoberfest in Germany
Join the millions of other beer enthusiasts who travel to Germany each year for Oktoberfest and take part in the greatest beer celebration on earth. You’ll be spoiled for choice with everything from the best beers to sip, spill, and soak into delectable foods like bratwurst, pretzels, and roasted meats. In addition to the incredible assortment and volume of beer available here, the festival also serves up some delicious food. It is without a doubt one of the most well-known food festivals worldwide.
Conclusion
Food festivals promote cross-cultural dialogue and gastronomic exploration by providing a singular opportunity to sample cuisines from around the world. These festivals honor the diverse tapestry of human traditions and the universal joy of food, whether they are celebrated through tomato-throwing in Spain, stein-raising in Germany, or indulging in sweets in India. Indulging in these culinary treats not only satisfies our cravings but also heightens our appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s culinary legacy.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the world’s largest food festival?
The biggest food festival in the world, Taste of Chicago (or just The Taste as it is known locally), takes place in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, every September. In addition, it’s Chicago’s biggest festival.
What is the background of the food festival?
Paul and Jane Skogen used just $500 to launch Skogen’s IGA in 1946. In 1976, Dave Skogen, Paul’s son, assumed leadership of the company. They bought the Red Owl store in Holmen, Wisconsin, in 1979. Using a name license from Supervalu, Festival Foods launched its first location in Onalaska, Wisconsin, in 1991.
Why does food play a big role in festivals?
Beyond social and cultural barriers, food is a universal language. It can unite people, spread happiness, and produce enduring memories.
What is chicken jerky?
Jerk is a cooking style where the main ingredient, usually chicken but also possibly beef, pork, goat, boar, seafood, or vegetables, is coated in spices and cooked slowly over a fire or grill made usually of green pimento wood that is placed over coals. The smoke that is produced during this process is essential to the flavor of the food.
What is the most famous food sold at festivals?
Fried foods are the most popular fair food, according to almost everyone. This is a food category that has expanded from funnel cakes and corn dogs to include fried avocados, fried Coke, and other items. You could probably fry it if you could eat it. The inventiveness and the fact that it is prepared and served fresh will appeal to customers.
