If you like to try new dishes, food festivals could be your best friend. These gatherings celebrate international recipes and bring people together with live music and activities. Here are seven you need to add to your bucket list.
1. Oktoberfest
The most famous international food festival may be Oktoberfest. While numerous cities have their own version, the most authentic one is in Munich, Germany. The festival lasts two weeks, starting around mid-September and ending on the first Sunday in October.
This festival is a must for beer lovers. The Munich crowd guzzles the beverages, and there are plenty of drinks at Oktoberfest. While beer tents are the primary attraction, there are also gigantic pretzels, carnival rides and games. The food and attractions are enough fun for the entire family to enjoy.
2. Salón de Chocolate
Those with a sweet tooth can convene in Quito, Ecuador, for Salón de Chocolate. This festival draws inspiration from the Parisian event bearing the same name. However, the chocolate is just as good or better in Ecuador because of the local products. With Arriba cocoa beans, you get a memorable experience.
Salón de Chocolate typically happens in mid-June. You’ll get more chocolate than you can handle through samples, workshops and lectures. While there, check out the chocolate sculpture competition to see some incredible artwork.
3. Taste of Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has recently become a significant tourist destination. The Taste of Dubai food festival only strengthens this attraction. At this event, people from worldwide gather to celebrate the city’s best restaurants. Guests even get workshops to learn how to make the food themselves.
Taste of Dubai is in February, so you don’t have to worry about the scorching summer temperatures. Regardless of your food preferences, there’s something for everybody. Barbecue, oysters, smoothies and coffee highlight this food festival. When outdoors, you get live music, VIP lounges and free samples galore.
4. The Vegetarian Festival
Vegetarian diets are growing internationally, especially in South Asia. In Thailand, more residents are switching from meat to plant-based diets, but where do these consumers convene? The Vegetarian Festival — or the Nine Emperor Gods Festival — in Phuket is a hot spot that should be on your bucket list.
When the ninth lunar month starts — typically September or October — the shops celebrate with red and yellow flags. During the celebration, you’ll see dancing, street performers and large parades in the streets. The food selection includes plenty of plant-based options, such as dim sum with mushrooms and local produce.
5. Miami Spice
South Florida is the gateway to the Caribbean for the United States and blends numerous cultures. At Miami Spice, you can sample these fantastic foods and eat gourmet dishes. The event includes over 250 restaurants in Miami serving steak and seafood from American, Asian, and Mediterranean influences.
From early August to the end of September, you can enjoy the participating restaurants all over Vice City. Outside the festival, check out the natural landmarks like Coral Castle and the beaches.
6. Stone Town Food Festival
In October, head to the island of Zanzibar for the annual Stone Town Food Festival. At this UNESCO World Heritage site, you get the best Swahili food East Africa offers. Enjoy the tropical paradise as you feast on fish curries, spicy peppers, fresh octopus and other local delicacies.
Zanzibar is in the Indian Ocean, so Stone Town combines different cultures. Traditional dancing, live music and friendly faces highlight your experience at this food festival. The culinary celebration lasts six days, so you have nearly a week to appreciate the excellent Swahili cuisine. These foods focus heavily on smell, so get your olfactory senses ready.
7. Taste of Kakadu
The Aboriginal people have been in Australia for centuries, and the country prioritizes respect for their cultures. How does the Land Down Under celebrate its food and performing arts? The Taste of Kakadu is one of the First Nations festivals you must visit. Located in Kakadu National Park, this bush food event offers food, education and plenty of fun.
Imagine eating canapes while a bullroarer and didgeridoo play in the background — that’s the experience you get in the Taste of Kakadu. In the floodplains and stone country, you have truly special experiences with cooking demonstrations, guided tours and performing arts. The hands-on activities help you feel closer to Aboriginal cultures.
Finding Food and Fun at International Festivals
Food brings people together regardless of how you make it. When you travel abroad for it, you gain a new perspective and respect for other people.
Food festivals are a terrific start because of their plentiful samples and performing arts. No matter where you travel, there’s a culinary celebration for everyone. Even specific foods and cuisines have events worldwide.
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