Summertime brings with it a general celebration of the great outdoors. From beach retreats to hiking adventures, this time of year inspires myriad reasons to leave the house. Though a sunny day can always motivate me to head outside, there’s nothing that boosts that desire more than an opportunity to do one of my favorite things in the world: eat.
Fortunately, thanks to temperate weather and fresh produce in its peak in many parts of the world, summer and fall are optimal seasons to pursue food-filled excursions. These include themed international food festivals that celebrate the flavors of a city, and bustling markets to sample bites and get an intimate look at the everyday life of a locale. These food-fueled gatherings have become even more meaningful after years of separation due to the pandemic.
Mark your calendar for these nine international food festivals and markets worth visiting this summer.
1. Maine Lobster Festival
July 31-August 4
Lobster and Maine are synonymous, so it should come as no surprise that the Northeastern state’s biggest festival is centered around its beloved crustacean. This year’s Maine Lobster Festival celebration includes five days of activities that will bring thousands of visitors to Rockland, Maine. The main eating tent will offer freshly steamed lobster, lobster rolls, lobster macaroni and cheese, lobster bisque and, you guessed it, many more lobster-filled dishes.
There will also be seafood cooking contests, concerts and Maine-made brews, wines and spirits from Steins and Vines.
Best of all, this is a celebration with a cause. As a nonprofit organization, the Maine Lobster Festival donates all proceeds back to midcoast Maine communities each year, including community service groups, local food pantries, high school sports teams and more. Admission to the festival is free, and prices for menu items will be updated on this page.
If you go, check in at: The stylish yet subdued 250 Main Hotel. The 26-room boutique hotel is just steps away from Rockland Harbor, a busy waterfront with attractions that include a children’s museum, restaurants and walking trails.
2. Borough Market London
Dating back to the 12th century, Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and largest food markets. You can easily spend a few hours here among vendors who have set up shop under a large covered area to sell fresh and prepared produce, cooked food, spirits and wine.
A dizzying array of prepared dishes are spread throughout 100 stalls, bars and restaurants here, so come hungry. Spanish specialist Brindisa—a favorite here–offers gourmet bites of Iberian acorn-fed ham, chorizo and piquillo peppers served in grilled ciabatta bread and more. El Pastor is a small taqueria that serves mezcal, too, and Caso do Frango doesn’t miss with its piri piri grilled chicken. Don’t miss a stop at Kappacasein Dairy for their famous raclette cheese—served with potatoes and pickles.
Market hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m.–5 p.m Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; and closed on Mondays.
If you go, check in at: The newly opened Raffles London at The OWO—one of the city’s most anticipated hotels of 2024. The palatial 120-room property features nine restaurants, three bars, a 27,000-square-foot Guerlain spa and a subterranean pool.
3. Taste of Chicago
September 6-8
Arguably one of the best food cities in the U.S., Chicago has hosted one of the country’s best food festivals for over 40 years. This September, Taste of Chicago will be held for three days at Grant Park and offer a lineup of local restaurants serving their star dishes as well as entertainment that ranges from dancing lessons to concerts. Last year’s lineup included Badou Senegalese and Chicago mainstays like Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, Lou Malnati’s and BJ’s Market and Bakery. The event is free to visit, but tickets are available to purchase for food and drink.
If you go, check in at: The Langham, Chicago, voted the third best hotel in the USA 2024 by U.S.News & World Report. More than 100 artists’ works are spread about the hotel, well-known for its views and sumptuous afternoon tea. It’s also just steps away from many of the city’s tourist attractions.
4. Smorgasburg Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles’ Row DTLA is a 30-acre enclave for the arts, retail therapy and tons of food. One of my favorite one-stop shops for food in the city is Smorgasburg, open every Sunday with over a dozen food vendors and lifestyle brands.
Here, you’ll really get a taste of the city’s diverse culinary scene, including Filipino barbecue from Taste of the Pacific, delicious bites from Sus Arepas, citrusy bites of ceviche from Correas Mariscos and an array of sweet options from Ice Cream Alley, featuring all the best ice cream vendors in the city. Row DTLA also has a farmers market where you can support local producers every Wednesday. On several dates throughout 2024, MAUM Market will be celebrating its two-year anniversary by bringing over 100 local Asian-owned small businesses to one space at Row DTLA.
If you go, check in at: The newly opened Delphi Hotel, located downtown with 205 guest rooms and a skyline view that can’t be beat. Another big perk here is Denae’s Diner—an all-day eatery with a retro feel that exudes comfort dining.
5. Food & Wine Classic, Charleston, South Carolina
September 27-29
Taking place in Charleston for the first time this September, the Food & Wine Classic will feature more than 40 celebrity chefs and wine experts, including Wanda Mann, Tyler Florence, Amanda McCrossin and Andrew Zimmern. Cooking demonstrations, wine and cocktail seminars and entertainment are just a few of the experiences lined up for the big event, in collaboration with Southern Living and Travel + Leisure.
A 19,000-square-foot tented grand tasting pavilion will house local and global wines, spirits and gourmet foods. Food events on the lineup so far include a traditional southern oyster roast and what are sure to be other nods to the Low Country southern ingredients greatly influenced by the cooking ingenuity of enslaved Africans in the region when the city was first built. Presale tickets are currently available for a discounted price here.
If you go, check in at: The 212-room Hotel Emeline, a downtown Charleston favorite. A restaurant, coffee shop, multiple living rooms and a garden-esque courtyard are just a few amenities that guests can enjoy.
6. Barbados Food and Rum Festival
October 24-27
What better place to visit than the birthplace of rum? Barbados claims this title and pairs their celebrated spirit with dishes from the island’s best vendors and celebrity chefs with events all around the island during their Food and Rum Festival.
Past experiences at this festival have included a rum route that visits rum shops for tastings and cocktail-making classes and a junior chef cook-off. No matter which event you attend, don’t miss a fish fry experience at Oistins, located on the southernmost tip of the island. In 2023, the festival was named the Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival by World Culinary Awards. You can see how it earned that title when tickets are released here soon.
If you go, check in at: Retreat to the beachfront Cobblers Cove, located on the white sand beaches of the island’s west coast. Just a short drive from many of the island’s best restaurants, this secluded property is ideal for relaxed luxury.
7. Genesis, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Genesis is a wellness and food centered three-day event created by SanBrite’s owner and Michelin-starred Chef Riccardo Gaspari and his wife and partner, Ludovica Rubbini. Now in its fourth year, Genesis celebrates the connection between nature and primordial cooking with the aim to reconnect with the land.
This year’s event will take place in the Dolomites ski resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo from Sept. 6-9, with a number of curated experiences like hiking excursions, pottery workshops and dishes from many acclaimed chefs from around the world.
If you go, check in at: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort, located in the heart of the Dolomites. The 52-room property offers stunning views of the region’s lush mountains and a large wellness space that includes a Turkish bath, pool and sauna.
8. New Orleans Fried Chicken Festival
October 5-6
New Orleans is a mecca for food, from the roux-based gumbos brimming with andouille sausage and shellfish, to the crusty bite of a stuffed po’boy sandwich. I have never had a bad meal in this city, and a food festival is definitely the best way to have an expansive experience for all there is to offer in the South.
The annual Fried Chicken Festival will return this October for two days: All to celebrate the satisfying bite of a crunchy piece of different chicken variations. Last year, the festival drew over a whopping 100,000 attendees, crowning Red Bird Fried Chicken with the title of Best Fried Chicken, while Best Use of Chicken in a Dish was awarded to Bao Mi for its Korean fried chicken bao. This year is sure to be even more popular, so click here to buy early admission tickets.
If you go, check in at: My favorite hotel in New Orleans, Hotel Saint Vincent is a 75-room retreat in the Lower Garden District. Shaded public spaces, a lively pool area and a dimly lit speakeasy are just a few of its memorable amenities.
9. Time Out Market, Lisbon, Portugal
I never skip the Time Out Market when I’m in Lisbon, in part because I can never say no to good crab—and here, you don’t have to. Some of my favorite shops to visit include the fried, meat-filled bites at Croqueteria and the humongous crabs steamed to perfection at Marisqueira Azul. The market here is always buzzing with crowds that dine over communal indoor tables housed in a 17th-century former palace with over two dozen food stalls. Open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight, this is a must visit while roaming Lisbon’s streets.
If you go, check in at: AlmaLusa is just a 10-minute walk from the market and many of the city’s buzzing bars and restaurants. The 28-room property is intimate, with the peaceful, large square Praça do Município, as its neighboring attraction.
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