USA TODAY 10Best
10 best city food festivals across the nation
Best City Food Festival (2023)
With mouthwatering tastings, live cooking demos, beautiful venues and top-notch chefs, these 10 food festivals – voted as the best by readers – highlight the cuisine of cities across the United States, offering a totally travel-worthy epicurean adventure.
- Taste of Colorado - Denver, Colorado
- Bay Bites Food Truck Festival - Mobile, Alabama
- International Taste Festival - Syracuse, New York
- Euphoria - Greenville, South Carolina
- World Food & Music Festival - Des Moines, Iowa
- Flavors on the Avenue Street Fest - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Taste Of Vail - Vail, Colorado
- World Food Championships - Dallas, Texas
- Queens Night Market - Queens, New York
- Taste of Buffalo - Buffalo, New York
Photo courtesy of Astarot // Getty Images
No. 10:
Held in Denver, Taste of Colorado is a multi-day, end-of-summer fete with dozens of food vendors, multiple stages with live performances and a Kids Zone where the little ones can romp. A bevy of local craft distilleries assure plenty of potent potables. For take-home treats to enjoy long after the party's over, handmade crafts and artisanal foods are sold at the marketplace.
Photo courtesy of Vladimir Vladimirov // Getty Images
No. 9:
Held in late summer at Cooper Riverside Park along downtown Mobile’s riverfront, a tantalizing array of local food trucks, craft beer, lawn games and live music join skyline views at Bay Bites Food Truck Festival. All proceeds benefit Mobile Baykeeper, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the community's water and air quality.
Photo courtesy of dimagemaker // Getty Images
No. 8:
The International Taste Festival is held in Syracuse at the New York State Fairgrounds' Center of Progress building. It's a great place to sample homegrown favorites as well food from around the globe, all for a reasonable price. Live entertainment and a 5K/10K race add to the fun. It's family-friendly, so bring the kids.
Photo courtesy of euphoria
No. 7:
In recent years, Greenville, South Carolina has made a mark in foodie circles, winning accolades as an up-and-coming destination for feasting on specialties of the Southern kitchen and beyond. During Euphoria, scores of mouthwatering events are a treat for the taste buds and a great way to get acquainted with everything from soul food to BBQ to food trucks. Proceeds from this not-for-profit festival are distributed to a number of the city's charitable organizations, so it's all for good causes.
Photo courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership
No. 6:
Taking place in late summer in Des Moines, the World Food & Music Festival highlights international cuisine with a diverse group of food and drink vendors, as well as interactive culinary programming. Live performances, such as Irish dancing and Taiko drumming, add to the fun and ambiance, truly making this event a feast for the senses.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Moore/Moore In Focus
No. 5:
Flavors on the Avenue is Philadelphia's springtime, flavor-packed food festival. It takes place along a stretch of East Passyunk Avenue, with neighborhood restaurants lining the street and dishing up a wonderland of food and drinks. Live music and a craft market are a bonus. 10Best contributor Catherine Smith shares: "Flavors on the Avenue is the perfect opportunity to explore one of Philly's most delicious neighborhoods. I love to sample all the eats, then use the verdict to determine which restaurants need to be on my must-visit-soon list."
Photo courtesy of Zach Mahone
No. 4:
Vail is one of the most popular ski resorts in the United States. So, this upscale town is chock-full of restaurants and purchasing a ticket to Taste of Vail is a way to introduce your palate to what's being served on local menus. Held in spring, there are mountaintop wine tastings and culinary seminars on a range of edible subjects. It's a fun way to combine skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports with adventurous eating.
Photo courtesy of World Food Championships
No. 3:
The World Food Championships in Dallas is a competitive event. Participants flex their culinary muscle in a variety of categories, from bacon to BBQ, with a panel of judges choosing the winners. However, you don't have to compete to enjoy; you just need to enjoy food in general. It's a paradise of live chef demos and tasting experiences that will satiate even Texas-size appetites.
Photo courtesy of Queens Night Market
No. 2:
New Yorkers know that the borough of Queens is culinary catnip, a smorgasbord of global goodies that makes a ride on the number 7 subway line an ambrosial proposal. The weekly, seasonal Queens Night Market is modeled after the popular open-air night markets of Asia, offering street food that showcases the ethnic and cultural diversity of the borough. Sample mouthwatering morsels from vendors selling Haitian, Korean, Trinidadian, Brazilian, Romanian, Bangladeshi, Burmese, West African, Filipino and Jamaican food, all with wallet-friendly prices.
Photo courtesy of Bill Wippert
No. 1:
Taste of Buffalo shows off Buffalo's blossoming food truck and restaurant scene, as well as wines from New York State vineyards. Regional specialties, from beef on weck to sponge candy to Buffalo wings, abound. The event raises scholarship money for college-bound students who are committed to studying hospitality and culinary arts.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist... Read More
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is a freelance journalist based in... Read More
Shana Clarke is a freelance journalist based in New York City. She focuses on wine, sake, travel, and wellness. Her work regularly appears in a variety of consumer and trade publications, including NPR, Fortune, Wine Enthusiast, Playboy, HuffPost, Hemispheres, Vice Munchies, and SevenFifty Daily, among others. She is also the Wine Editor for inside.com. Shana holds a Level 3 Advanced Certification from Wine & Spirits Education Trust, served as a judge and sommelier mentor at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, and is a Certified Sake Sommelier.
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is a freelance journalist based in New York City. She focuses on wine, sake, travel, and wellness. Her work regularly appears in a variety of consumer and trade publications, including NPR, Fortune, Wine Enthusiast, Playboy, HuffPost, Hemispheres, Vice Munchies, and SevenFifty Daily, among others. She is also the Wine Editor for inside.com. Shana holds a Level 3 Advanced Certification from Wine & Spirits Education Trust, served as a judge and sommelier mentor at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, and is a Certified Sake Sommelier.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
