2019 Food Festivals to Plan for Now

Planning your 2019 travels? You won’t want to miss these 2019 food festivals, so start booking travel now.

American Cheese Society’s Festival of Cheese

The next American Cheese Society Festival of Cheese takes place in Richmond, Virginia, July 31–Aug. 3. Called the “Mother of all Cheese Festivals,” it’s a true must for anyone who considers themselves a cheese aficionado. While the crowning of the society’s cheese competition winners isn’t open to the public, you can taste-test the winning cheeses for yourself at the following festival, where hundreds upon hundreds are laid out for you to try at your whim, alongside other cheese-appropriate accompaniments, from crackers and salami to cider and beer.

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival

This annual fall festival takes place on Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, in October. If you missed this year’s event, make plans for next year’s now. Enjoy a historic locale while sampling “the harvest of the sea.” There’s plenty of fresh, local seafood, from lobster rolls to fried calamari, all for you to enjoy. Entry is free and you can expect great live bands and shopping at the pop-up stands and businesses along the Wharf.

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

If you’re a big Food Network fan and are more likely to geek out because you’ve spotted Bobby Flay than, say, Bono, this event is for you. Like most of the food and wine festivals the network associates itself with, the tickets for this one go fast and there are a ton of special VIP events as well, that generally sell out pretty quickly. Keep your eye on those you want to attend most and book ASAP.

Taste of Chicago

Chicago has an awesome food scene that ranges from the most stereotypical (deep-dish pizza, anyone?) to the most unique and inventive. Try all the flavors Chi-town has to offer, but don’t miss the music lineup either, just as good as the food. This summertime festival draws in huge, big-name acts for big crowds.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

If your schedule doesn’t quite let you get away on the weekends, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Disney World is a good option, as it stretches over more than 50 days. The lineup includes awesome tastings, mixology events and live music and the cuisine covers nearly every culture in the world.

NYC Wine & Food Festival

You likely already know this one. The annual November event is packed with things to do, but the tickets are pricey and go quick. It’s all for a good cause, though — 100 percent of the net proceeds go to fight hunger. This is another star-studded event where you can find just about all your favorites from the Food Network, plus renowned chefs that keep a lower profile.