Where To Travel For Summer Food Festivals

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore. Some people like to visit sites of natural beauty, while others prefer to soak up some culture.

Millennials are gaining a reputation as a generation of foodies, that is to say they take a keen interest in what they eat and where it comes from. If you want to indulge your foodie side, there are hundreds of summer food festivals to choose from.

The largest food festival in the world, with some 2.5 million visitors each year, takes place in Chicago, Ill., each summer. Taste of Chicago boasts more than 300 local foods, live music and plenty of activities.

In Europe, many people think of France or Italy when it comes to good food. Far fewer would name Helsinki, Finland, as a foodie destination. However, in late June, the Finnish capital comes alive with one of the largest food and wine festivals in Europe, Taste of Helsinki, curated by chefs from 12 of the city’s best restaurants.

Visit the Mediterranean to sample the best of Italian, Greek, Moroccan and Serbian cuisine in Trapani on the Italian island of Sicily. The Stragusto Festival kicks into gear in late July, and Trapani provides a spectacular setting.

Another less traditional foodie destination is Scotland, which is better known for the monstrosity that is the deep-fried Mars bar than anything else in the way of food. However, the Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival goes to show Scottish cuisine is unfairly treated. Local specialties get their chance to shine in early September.