Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Food & Wine Classic
Aspen, Colorado
Sponsored by
Food & Wine
magazine, this premier culinary confab features celebrity-
studded food and wine tastings, seminars, cooking demonstrations, chef competitions,
and a grand tasting dinner prepared by the magazine's “Best New Chefs.”
www.foodandwine.com/promo/classic
Shrimp Festival
Oostduinkerke, Belgium
The only place in the world where shrimp fishermen drag their nets from horseback, this
seacoast town in West Flanders celebrates its unique heritage with net-dragging con-
tests, a costumed procession, the crowning of a shrimp queen, and a shrimp feast.
&
32/58/51-29-10;
www.koksijde.be
Festa del Risotto (Rice Harvest Festival)
Villimpenta, Italy
In the heart of the Lombardy plain, this historic walled town east of Mantua celebrates
the harvest of its most important crop—rice—with 3 weekends of live music concerts,
and, of course, feasting on vats of risotto.
&
39/376/667-508;
www.comune.villimpenta.mn.it
JULY
Mandeville Seafood Festival
Mandeville, Louisiana
Held in Fontainebleau State Park over July Fourth weekend, this 3-day event on the Lake
Pontchartrain shore features live music, arts and crafts vendors, a car show, fireworks,
and a food court full of New Orleans-style cooking and fresh seafood.
www.seafoodfest.org
National Cherry Festival
Traverse City, Michigan
Held since 1926, this immense weeklong celebration includes entertainment, food, crafts,
sports events, tours, gala meals, a parade, a talent show, a giant Cherryopoly game, a
cherry dessert cook-off, and competitions for cherry-pit spitting and cherry pie eating.
&
800/968-3380
or 231/947-4230; www.cherryfestival.org
Yarmouth Clam Festival
Yarmouth, Maine
Get your clams fried, steamed, in crab cakes or in chowder at this coastal Maine festival;
townwide weekend events include an art show, running races, canoe race, parade, bat-
tle of the bands, live music, family activities, and pancake breakfasts.
&
207/846-3984;
www.clamfestival.com
Gilroy Garlic Festival
Gilroy, California
Founded in 1979, this weekend celebration devoted to garlic serves garlic bread, garlic
fries, garlic sausage sandwiches, garlic chicken stir-fry, garlic shrimp, garlic popcorn,
even garlic ice cream—along with entertainment, a beauty pageant, and the hotly con-
tested Garlic Cook-Off.
&
408/842-1625;
www.gilroygarlicfestival.com
Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland, Maine
King Neptune and the Sea Goddess rule for 5 days of carnival rides, live music, art shows,
crafts and games, ship tours, seafood cooking contests, pancake breakfasts, a parade, a
cod-carrying race, lobster crate races, and 20,000 pounds of lobster consumed.
&
800/LOB-CLAW
(800/562-2529) or 207/596-0376; www.mainelobsterfestival.com
Sardine Festival
Scala Kallonis, Lesvos, Greece
At the end of July or early August, nighttime festivities in the village square of this work-
ing fishing harbor on Lesvos island include free ouzo and grilled sardines, a live band, and
traditional dancers.
www.lesbos.co.uk
or www.lesvos.com
