By Maria King, grandmom extraordinaire, founder and president of EventCrazy.com. Sign up to receive today!
Anyone who has read a few blogs of mine knows that I like food and food events. One reason I have this fondness is because food is an excellent way to get a quick peek at a culture or get a local feel. Our blending of cultures and our varied landscape both contribute to the variety of foods and cooking we get to enjoy. For example, just the seafood available is so varied from coast to coast that we get to experience an assortment of seafood options. Food events offer many wonderful opportunities to try something new as well.
Food events in the summer are especially nice. They are typically held outdoors and that allows more people to eat together. You get a chance to share a food experience with 1000’s of festival goers. What tastes better than a nice cold drink, some barbeque ribs and some fresh sweet corn on the cob outside in summer? (I could say ice cream covered in hot fudge but I won’t go there. I mean once in a while a person needs something other than ice cream.)
This week we have a very good sample platter of delicious food events. I got really excited when I saw there was a huge Danish festival until I realized that it was the Danish culture, not the pastry. Nothing against the event or the Danish culture because it’s a fabulous event, it’s just my taste buds got a little ahead of themselves. That should not be a mark against the event so I included it just because I like it. But food wise we have a peanut, potato, melon, shrimp, lentil, fish, BBQ, pepper, tomato and two blueberry festivals.(If you say that fast enough, you think you need to add, “I don’t know why she swallowed the fly?”)
There is a little something for everyone and we hope that you can enjoy a festival of some kind this week. It doesn’t have to be specifically a food festival because almost all festivals serve wonderful and delicious foods. If there isn’t anything on this list near you, I invite you to use the search box above to find an event in your backyard. Grab the kids, the neighbors and your fork and head on over to a food event near you! I am not just saying that because I like food, they really are good fun.
Aug 15, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Downtown Pittston, PA18640
Since 1984, features a parade, 5K race, queen scholarship pageant, little Miss and little Mr. Tomato contest, delicious food, games, arts and crafts, kiddie rides, tomato contest, live entertainment, and more. And most important, Don’t miss the Tomato Fights!
50,000+ Attendees
National Lentil Festival
Aug 16, 2013 – Aug 17, 2013
Reaney Park Pullman, WA99163
Since 1989, celebrate the lentil with contests, competitions and activities. Street fair, free lentil chili, live music, arts and crafts, food, parade, 5K Fun Run, 100K Bike Ride and Kid’s area.
20,000 Attendees
Delcambre Shrimp Festival
Aug 14, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Shrimp Festival Grounds Delcambre, LA70528
Carnival rides, food, games, parade with bands, blessing of shrimp fleet and Catholic mass in honor of the benefits of the shrimp industry brings to the area. One of the top festivals in the area.
North Hudson Pepper Festival
Aug 16, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
North Hudson Village North Hudson, WI54016
Highlights of the fest include a grand parade, queen coronation, royalty spaghetti eating contest, championship spaghetti eating contest, hot pepper eating contest, one- mile, 5K and 10K runs, and a pepper cooking contest. Grand Parade 11am on Saturday.
Wild Blueberry Festival
Aug 16, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Downtown Machias Machias, ME04654
Since 1976, 250 craft booths, food, cooking contest, musical comedy and entertainment, pie-eating contest, kids’ activities, road race, farm tours, pancake breakfasts, Blackfly Ball, and more! Fun for the whole family on the beautiful Down East coast.
15,000 Attendees
Danish Festival
Aug 15, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Downtown Greenville, MI48838
Since 1965, honor Danish heritage with ethnic foods, movie night, volleyball contest, children’s activities, live entertainment, customs and music.
75,000 Attendees
Howell Melon Festival
Aug 16, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Downtown Howell, MI48863
Since 1960, grand parade, arts and crafts, train rides, ice cream eating contest, children’s activities, a petting zoo and entertainment.
30,000+ Attendees
Manhattan Potato Festival
Aug 17, 2013
Downtown Manhattan, MT59741
The festival has evolved into an event beginning with a Fireman’s breakfast and includes the Big Sky Carver’s annual tent sale, a parade, a state invitational car show and ends with a Legion dance. The festival still includes lots of food, activities and music. Over the years, the raffle has expanded from three prizes to approximately 100 all of which are donated from area businesses.
Decatur Barbecue, Blue and Bluegrass Festival
Aug 17, 2013
Harmony Park Decatur, GA30030
Since 1954, 2k, 5k and 10k runs, kids’ games, parade, tiny tot contest, beauty pageant and well-known country western entertainers.
10,000 Attendees
Fishermans Feast and Madonna Procession
Aug 15, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Historic North End Boston, MA02113
Since 1910. Boston’s oldest neighborhood, the North End, continues to celebrate the Catholic Feast Days of the Italian Saints dear to the last large immigrant population in the North. Enjoy the processions, street fairs, parades, bands and wonderful Italian food. Stroll the historic and picturesque streets and find yourself transported to Italy. Each night and during weekend days there is entertainment on the bandstand and vendors selling great Italian food (Italian sausages, calamari, pizza, pasta and much more) as well as craft vendors. On Sunday there is a 7 hour Procession of the statue of the Madonna del Soccorso through the North End Streets (12pm), Chef Demonstrations using various Sorrento Cheese products (4pm), The famous Flight of the Angel. As the statue of The Madonna returns to the North Street, a young angel flies from a fourth floor window and recites a prayer to her (8pm). Procession: Feast of Madonna della Soccorsco.
25,000 Attendees
Montrose Blueberry Festival
Aug 15, 2013 – Aug 18, 2013
Downtown City Park Montrose, MI48457
Since 1972. It’s an annual festival and it’s always lots of fun for the entire family and friends. It has blueberry pancake breakfast, parade, teen dances, entertainment tent, carnival rides, pie eating contest, flea market, arts and crafts and sporting events.
50,000 Attendees
Fountain Peanut Festival
Aug 16, 2013 – Aug 17, 2013
Downtown Fountain, NC27829
Since 2008, Set amidst the charming small town atmosphere of Fountain’s Main Street areas, the Festival offers a wide variety of activities and entertainment for every member of the family. The Festival features music performances by local and regional artists. Craft persons, artists and commercial firms come from far and near to display and offer their creations and products to festival goers. An extensive selection of foods are offered each year promising to offer something to tempt every palate. The Festival also offers many special diversions for our younger guests, such family-oriented entertainers and amusement rides for all ages. The Festival, with the exception of the amusement rides is offered entirely free of charge to our guests.
10,000 Attendees
Maria can be reached directly at eventsblog@eventcrazy.com or @eventcrazy on Twitter or visit her website at www.eventcrazy.com
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