May Food Festivals and Events

If you love food (most people do) this upcoming weekend is especially good. Here is a small sample of what's being served

BRAWLEY: Taco Festival & Cinco De Mayo, May 5, 2023, 6-10 p.m. North Plaza Park. Best Taco Contest, Taco Eating Contest, Beer Garden, Live Entertainment. Location: Main Street & Plaza Park brawleychamber.com | tacos

ATASCADERO: Tamale Festival 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Downtown and Sunken Gardens are sizzling with excitement as guests buy and taste homemade tamales from a variety of tamale vendors. Best Tamale contest, mariachi bands and more than 100 vendors with over 30 of them being tamale vendors! Free admission, atascaderotamalefest.com

BISHOP: Chili, Cars & Cervezas Cinco de Mayo Celebration May 6, 2023, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tri-County Fairgrounds & Event Center.  International Chili Society World Qualifier Cook-Off features  25 different craft beers, live music, a car show, swap meet, and Kids Zone. Buy sampling kits for a hearty tasting experience!  Location: 475 Sierra Street, Bishop, CA, 93514. Free admission, tricountyfair.com

SAN DIEGO: Tacos & Beer Brews Cruise May 4, 2023,  7-10:30 p.m. in San Diego Harbor. Sample over 20 different Limited Release and Iconic Stone Craft Beers, including some Cinco de Mayo specialties. Tacos! Tacos! And More Tacos! available, plus two floors of entertainment including the Sugar Skulls Band playing Modern Rock with a Latin twist. Location: Flagship Cruises & Events, 990 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. $55, rockstarbeer.com

SELMA: Selma Raisin Festival May 4-7, 2023 in Lincoln Park behind senior center, 2301 Selma St., Selma, CA.  

HEALDSBURG: Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience May 19-21, 2023 Celebrate the Makers to support the rich local agricultural culture of Sonoma County, including farmers and farmworkers, as well as Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation. Friday & Saturday: Horn Barbecue Lunch & Private Vineyard Tour, 12-4:30 p.m. |A Timeless Pairing: Champagne & Caviar Seminar, 4-5:30 p.m. |Craft Cocktails at Lo & Behold, 4-7 p.m. Sunday: Community Brunch at Chalkboard, Benefiting Healdsburg FFA, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Zinfandel Live Wine Experience, 12-3 p.m. $200-4,000, healdsburgwineandfood.com

 LA HABRA: La Habra Citrus Fair May 5-7, 2023. Downtown Fair, multiple locations 321 E La Habra Blvd La Habra City Hall El Centro Lions Park Free admission, lahabrachamber.com

SANTA CLARITA: Taste of the Town, May 7, 2023, 12-5 p.m. Blomgren Ranch. $95-150, tasteofthetown.com

BIG BEAR LAKE: Grill & Chill Craft Beer & BBQ Festival May 27-28, 2023, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bartlett Events Area
630 Bartlett Rd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
$40-108 approx., bigbear.com
bigbear.com
40+ independent California craft breweries and BBQ competitors from around the nation vie for awards by the  certified KCBS Judges and People's Choice! General Admission ticket purchasers receive a ticket book with 10 (ten) tickets and a commemorative 16 oz. pint glass to use for craft beer tastings, with a 5 oz. fill line. Tickets are also reedemable for BBQ sampling plates from incredible BBQ cook teams!

LAFAYETTE: Taste of Lafayette  May 16, 2023, 5-7:30 p.m. $50-55, lafayettechamber.org

FOUNTAIN VALLEY: Crawfish Festival May 19-21, 2023 at Mile Square Park Sports Park. $5-13, VIP $30-60, crawfishfestival.com

FREMONT: Burger & Brew Fest, May 20, 2023, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Freemont. Celebrate  craft breweries of northern California, enjoy live entertainment, including the Burger Throwdown cooking competition, then purchase a burger or two and shop the arts and crafts vendors. Location: Downtown Fremont Capitol Avenue between Liberty Street and Paseo Padre Parkway. Free admission, burgerandbrewfest.com

THOUSAND OAKS: Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-off & Craft Brew Festival May 7, 2023 at Conejo Creek Park South 1379 E Janss Rd Thousand Oaks, CA Traditional Red Chili Verde Salsa General admission $20 includes unlimited chili sampling! facebook.com/tochilicookoff

ROHNERT PARK: Kreole & Crawfish Gathering May 13, 2023, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
SOMA Village Center
1100 Valley House Dr.
Rohnert Park, CA
Billed as an array of Brass, Zydeco, and Accordion Soul Music, the festival includes a full bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options, and ticket options with and without Crawfish Boil Experience.
Lineup:  Gerard Delafose & The Zydeco Gators, Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, MJ's Brass Boppers and headliner Andre Thierry's Accordion Soul Music.

SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Taco Festival May 21, 2023, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
The Boulevard (Del Paso)
1600 Del Paso Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
$8 admission, sacramentotacofestival.com
Tacos, continuous entertainment, eating contests, professional wrestling and Northern California's Chihuahua Beauty Contest.

 

Past events

Chili Cookoffs

• SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Swallow's Inn Chili Cook-off May 4, 2019
• AUBURN: Auburn Chili Cook-off May 4, 2019
• THOUSAND OAKS: Thousand Oaks Conejo Valley Chili Cookoff May 5 2019
• CASTRO VALLEY: Chili Cook-off at Rowell Ranch Rodeo May 10, 2019
• REDLANDS: Cruise for Sight Regional Chili Cook-off May 11, 2019
• CAMPBELL: Orchard City Chili Cook-off May 11, 2019
• LONG BEACH: California State Championship Chili Cook-off May 11, 2019
• CAMPBELL: 2nd Annual Orchard City Chili Cookoff May 11, 2019 
• RIVERSIDE: Inland Empire Chili Cook-off May 25, 2019
• TWAIN HARTE: Twain Harte Area Chamber Chili Cook-Off May 25, 2019
• AVALON: Catalina Island Chili Cookoff May 25, 2019
• McKINLEYVILLE: Pony Express Days Chili Cook-off May 29, 2019 

SAN FRANCISCO: Taste of Portrero May 2, 2019, -10 p.m. $150-up. tasteofpotrero.com

WOODLAND: California Honey Festival May 4, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: Historic Downtown Main Street, Barth Building, 426 First St., Woodland, CA.
Free, visitwoodland.com | californiahoneyfestival.com

SANTA CLARITA: Santa Clarita Valley VegFest May 4, 2019, 12-9 p.m.
Central Park
27150 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA
$35-50, scvvegfest.com
Over 50 participating restaurants, vendors and food trucks, including: Beyond Meat, Delighted by Hummus, and Amaro Pizzeria, as well as a variety of local craft beer and wine vendors. General admission includes unlimited pours of beer, wine and kombucha on the festival day (alcohol served from noon to 5:00 p.m.) and a sampling of various vegan foods. Amenities: 2 DJs spin all day, lounge and dance area, celebrity vegan speakers, yoga in the park, vegan-friendly merchandise, play area for kids.

LOS ANGELES: Vegfest Los Angeles 2024 TBA
Woodley Park, Lake Balboa
6004 – 6076 Woodley Ave, Encino, Ca 91316
All Vegan Festival Free Admission!
Free admission, vegfestla.org
Over 150+ Vendors in Eco Marketplace
50+ Food Booths And Trucks
Oasis Beer And Wine Gardens
Package sales are a win-win! All revenue from these sales contributes directly to our nonprofit organization's festival production costs, and helps to keep the festival free. A win for you - a win for everyone. We have two great Supporter Packages to choose from! Both packages include use of the Supporter Fast Pass lane at food exhibitors and in the Oasis!

LOS ANGELES: LA Food Bowl September 2023 lafoodbowl.com

 ENCINITAS - Chocolate Festival May 11, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free with admission to botanic garden. | chocolate

ANAHEIM: Taste of Anaheim May 16, 2019
tasteofanaheim365.com. Located at Garden Walk

ANAHEIM: Orange County Greek Festival May 17-19, 2019
ocgreekfest.com

GARDEN GROVE: Garden Grove Strawberry Festival May 24-27, 2019 strawberryfestival.org

OAKDALE: Oakdale Chocolate Festival May 18-19, 2019,
oakdalechamber.com

OAKLAND: Greek Festival May 17-19, 2019
oaklandgreekfestival.com | Greek

OXNARD: California Strawberry Festival  May 18-19, 2019, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
castrawberryfestival.org

NORTHRIDGE: Valley Greek Festival Memorial Day Weekend May 25-27, 2019 | Greek

NOVATO: Marin Greek Festival May 24-26, 2019 | Greek

WASCO: Menudo Cook-off May 26, 2019, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Menudo Contest | Jalapeno Eating Contest | Live Entertainment. Location: Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 South P Street, Wasco, CA. $12-15. kchcc.org

McCLOUD: Mushroom Festival May 25-26, 2019
mccloudchamber.com
Held every Memorial Day weekend, the mushroom festival celebrates the wild mushroom hunting that occurs every spring in and around McCloud. Event features live music, mushroom vendors, wine tasting, special mushroom delicacies, cooking demonstrations, seminars and educational booths on mushroom harvesting.

ANDERSON: Happy Valley Strawberry Festival May May 25-26, 2019 | strawberries

BREA: Taste of Brea May 23, 2019, 5-9 p.m.
Downtown Brea, California
breachamber.com
$30 approx. wrist band for tasting
Food, drinks and fun in Brea Downtown at The Taste of Brea: Chasing Delicious is the Brea Chamber of Commerce's annual festival.

ROSEVILLE: BerryFest Strawberry Festival May 11-12, 2019
Mother's Day Weekend
$13.65-20, feedmeberries.com

VISTA: Vista Strawberry Festival May 26, 2019, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Memorial Weekend vistastrawberryfest.com

MONTEBELLO: Armenian Food Fair May 19, 2019, 2-10 p.m. Beer Garden open till 12 a.m. Freshly prepared Armenian food, pastry, dancing, live music and dance performances! Kidszone, Shopping, Tournaments, world famou Pirashki and Meet Auntie Manig.  Location:900 W. Lincoln Ave. armenianfoodfair.com

ARROYO GRANDE Strawberry Festival, May 25-26, 2019
Always on Memorial Weekend, Sunset magazine called this event one of the best festivals in California for the Memorial Weekend | strawberries

SANTA FE SPRINGS: Heritage of Aloha Festival May 18-19, 2019  at Heritage Park, Free admission | polynesian

FORT ROSS: Alaska Native Day May 18, 2019
Features Kashia tacos, Anchorage Unangax Dancers from the Aleutian Islands, Ekatherina Savvinova (Saina) of Sakha Republic performs songs and shares the Siberian Native history at the Fort. fortross.org

SAN DIEGO: SoCal Taco Fest May 18, 2019, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Waterfront Park 1600 Pacific Highway  San Diego, CA
$25-up, age 21+ only, 91x.com | tacos

LINDEN: Linden Cherry Festival May 18, 2019
Fresh cherries sold. Parade at 10 a.m. Festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission, fresh cherries available for purchase. lindenchamber.net/cherryfestival

AVALON: Catalina Island Chili Cook-off May 25, 2019, 1-5 p.m. South Beach, Avalon, CA catalinachamber.com | facebook.com/avalonrotary

LIVINGSTON: Pick & Gather Festival Memorial Weekend May 31-June 2, 2019, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Riverdance Farms - Merced Co.
209-761-0081 12230 Livingston Cressey Road Livingston, CA 95334 $5-up admission & campsites available, riverdancefarms.com | farm

KINGSBURG: Kingsburg Swedish Festival May 16-18, 2019 includes plenty of Swedish Pancakes and tasty delights.

 

Past Events

ALPINE: Wild in the Country – Rock n Roar

ANDERSON VALLEY: AVWA Pinot Noir Festival

BURBANK: California Winemasters

CASTRO VALLEY: Rowell Ranch Rodeo Chili Cook-Off | BBQ | Cowgirl Picnic rodeo

FILLMORE: Fillmore May Festival Unique Foods

FRESNO: Pirate Festival grub & grog

GUERNEVILLE: Russian River Women's Weekend

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Duck-a-thon Wine Tasting

LIVERMORE: Livermore Wine Country Street Fest

LODI: ZinFest Wine Festival

LOS ANGELES: Zoo Beastly Ball

OAKLAND: Jack London Square Wine Festival

PASO ROBLES: Wine Festival Grand Tasting

PETALUMA: Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff, Salsa and Beer Tasting

REDLANDS: Hangar 24 AirFest International Beer Festival

RIVERBANK: Omelette Breakfast

PLEASANT HILL: Wine, Women & Shoes

SAN DIEGO: D6 Night Market spicy!

SANTA CLARA: Saint Clare Community Festival serves ethnic food all weekend

SARATOGA: Silicon Valley Grand Wine Tasting

TIBURON: Tiburon Wine Festival

TWAIN HARTE: Twain Harte a la Carte

VACAVILLE: Solano Wine & Food Jubilee

VENICE: Venice Spring Fling beach food

VENTURA: Surf ‘n' Suds Beer Festival

WEST HOLLYWOOD: West Hollywood Russian Festival May 20

WINDSOR: Wishes in Wine Country

CARDIFF BY THE SEA: Taste of Cardiff May 3, 2018 cardiff101.com | taste

BISHOP: International Feast May 4, 2018, 6-9 p.m.
Tri County Fairgrounds
Bishop, CA
$25, bishopvisitor.com

LA JOLLA: Junior League of San Diego Food & Wine Festival May 5, 2018, 12-5 p.m.
Ellen Scripps Browning Park
La Jolla Cove
$85, $110 VIP, jlsdfoodandwine.com
Join the fun at La Jolla Cove, for the Annual Junior League of San Diego (JLSD)Food & Wine Festival. The festival is dedicated to the love of San Diego restaurants, great wines, craft beers, and cocktails. Featured attractions are the raffle and silent auction prizes, a photo area, and live music. This signature event raises crucial funds for the JLSD's mission-based programs that support transition-aged foster youth and train JLSD members to become strong community leaders.

SAN DIEGO: Gator By The Bay-Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival May 10-13, 2018
3900 North Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA
gatorbythebay.com
$35-up
Spanish Landing
Gator by the Bay - Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival returns to San Diego!

CASTRO VALLEY: Chili Cook-off at Rowell Ranch Rodeo May 11, 2018, 5 p.m. Chili Cook-Off The Rotary Club of Castro Valley annually hosts the Chili Cook-off at Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park.
9711 Dublin Canyon Blvd. Castro Valley, CA rowellranchrodeo.com

OAKLEY: A Taste of Oakley May 12, 2018, 6-8 p.m.
$ ci.oakley.ca.us
The Taste of Oakley at City Hall features Oakley restaurants & caterers serving a dish from their menu for guests to sample. Location: Oakley City Council Chambers, 3231 Main Street, Oakley, CA 94561.

PARADISE - Chocolate Fest May 11-12, 2018

ENCINITAS - Chocolate Festival May 12, 2018 | Chocolate Festivals

SANTA BARBARA Fork Fest nightout.com

Downtown San Rafael Farmers' Market

• Kern County Nut Festival Bakersfield, CA cancelled again in 2017
• Feast In the Streets Scottish Rite Masonic Center Sacramento
• Bakersfield Biggest, Baddest BBQ at Kern County Fairground
• Taste of Brentwood
• Temecula Old Town Chili Cookoff
• Tustin Lobster Fest in Peppertree Park

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.