Summer Food Events Around the Country
(Image credit: Courtesy Great Chowder Cook-Off)
Take a break from the beach and spend the summer chowing down on some of your favorite foods from around the country. Festivals dedicated to horseradish, oysters or peaches are some of the few events you won't want to miss.
May 19
Watch chefs compete for the title of best Texas steak at this event in Hico, Texas. For $25, you can sample hors d'oeuvres and enjoy a 12-ounce rib-eye steak prepared by your favorite grill master.
The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
May 17 to May 19
Watch teams compete for $110,000-worth of prizes at this Memphis barbecue contest. While you're there, take a tour of the vendors to learn about their cooking process and barbecue secrets.
May 19 and May 20
This new Brooklyn food festival, created by the founders of Bonnaroo, will be the ultimate food party. Seventy-five of the city's top food vendors will be on hand to sell food, as well as more than 60 brewers and winemakers. General tickets are already sold out but $249 gets you the Extra Mooga all-inclusive food and alcohol pass.
June 1 to June 9
The Georgia Peach Festival has been taking place in Fort Valley and Byron, Ga., for the past 24 years. This festival is home to the world's largest peach cobbler and hosts a Miss Georgia Peach contest.
The International Horseradish Festival
June 1 to June 3
This 24-year-old festival located in Collinsville, Ill., features a root-grinding demonstration, horseradish recipe contest and bloody mary contest. Admission and parking are free.
June 2
Restaurants travel from all over the country to compete in this Newport, R.I., chowder competition. Tickets are $25, but people can pay an additional $15 for an extra hour of chowder-tasting before they open the event for general admission.
June 2 and June 3
Oyster fans flock to this festival in New Orleans, complete with a full-on oyster-shucking contest. If you just like to eat the oysters, take a stab at the oyster-eating contest on Sunday.
Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival
July 26 - July 29
Food personalities Tom Colicchio, Buddy Valastro, Anne Burrell and others gather for this annual event in Atlantic City. You can find some events for less than $50, such as the Taste of Spain or a bourbon and whiskey tasting.