A meal can make a memory, but a food festival changes the itinerary. Spring brings a new crop of global festivals that blend destination with appetite and are worth traveling for. These aren’t just events but edible snapshots of place and season — and we call it traveling for taste.
Spring food festivals remind us that spring belongs on the plate as much as in the air. Each brings something distinct: a local ritual, a burst of regional pride, a menu you can’t recreate at home. They celebrate the season by feeding it. And for travelers chasing the flavors that define a place, these are moments worth planning around.
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival
Held from April 10-13, 2025, in Pebble Beach, California, this coastal festival leans into luxury without losing warmth. Guests meet world-class chefs in relaxed settings, taste curated dishes by the sea and watch culinary masters at work up close. It’s elegant without being fussy — fine wine in hand, ocean breeze in the background.
Pebble Beach Food & Wine captures the essence of its setting, where rich culinary heritage meets scenic beauty and a legacy of hospitality. The four-day event brings together global chefs, wineries, mixologists, sommeliers and beverage personalities who will gather for a destination event at the iconic Pebble Beach Resorts. It’s a fusion of tradition and innovation, designed to engage guests in everything from beachside tastings to intimate dinners.
Toronto Food and Drink Fest
Running April 11-13, 2025, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Food and Drink Fest captures the city’s global food culture in one buzzing space. Guests can taste standout dishes from local chefs and restaurants, explore the latest food and drink trends, and catch live demos on the Chef’s Stage — where local and celebrity chefs cook up seasonal hits in real time.
Interactive workshops stir things up with hands-on cocktail-making classes, where attendees learn to mix seasonal drinks and master classic techniques. Music pulses through the Delicious Vibes Lounge, where festivalgoers unwind with friends to sets from IAMSETDOE, Ace Dillinger and Beat Sampras. For those more into wine than beats, the tasting aisles offer expert-led sips and tips on pairing and buying local bottles.
And when the lights dim, the energy shifts. The Sips & Spurs Dance Party kicks off on the Delicious Vibes dance floor — country-themed, boot-stomping and packed. Don’t skip Flavour Street either, where Toronto’s favorite food trucks bring the heat. It’s part tasting tour, part party, all flavor.
Villena Street Food Market
In Villena, Spain, the Street Food Market returns April 11-13, 2025, bringing the heart of spring to Paseo de Chapí with color, flavor and music. Paseo de Chapí transforms into a buzzing hub of food trucks, local performances and family-friendly fun.
The market opens Friday, April 11, at 7 p.m. with food and flair, followed by a children’s storytelling session and a concert by iconic Spanish band La Guardia. Saturday begins with kids’ activities, a Mecano tribute concert and children’s workshops in the afternoon. An acoustic set by Dingolondango leads into a night of comedy, ending with a DJ performance by Aníbal Gómez. Sunday closes out the weekend with a clown performance for the little ones and a Queen tribute concert by Keeng.
Free to attend and full of local spirit, this street food festival turns a Spanish spring weekend into something memorable and mouthwatering. It’s organized by Villena’s Department of Tourism and combines gastronomy with music, culture and shopping, making it a highlight of the spring calendar in the Valencian Community.
Bilbao Basque FEST
Celebrate the Basque Country’s cultural richness in Bilbao, Spain, from April 16-19, 2025, with more than 200 events across four festive days. Bilbao Basque FEST combines concerts, theater, film, dance and traditional sports with gastronomy and hands-on cultural experiences. Most activities are free and open to all, offering a broad and immersive look at Basque heritage.
The festival’s six signature themes — Gourmet, Culture, Music, Market, Film and Sport — shape its programming. Visitors can walk the estuary with local guides, join historical tours, explore markets and taste local products at Txoko Gourmet in Arenal. Meanwhile, the Herri Kirolak exhibitions and official competitions showcase traditional Basque strength sports, including the Bizkaia cart-pulling championship.
Bilbao Basque FEST also highlights the flavors and destinations of the Basque region. Culinary tastings, workshops and local producers come together to celebrate food as a cultural centerpiece, making it a delicious way to understand a place through tradition and taste.
Flower & Food Festival at Dollywood
Running April 18 to June 8, 2025, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the Flower & Food Festival at Dollywood is a full celebration of spring through sight, taste and sound. Guests can stroll among more than 500,000 flowers in full bloom and admire towering mosaicultures shaped like bears, peacocks and even Dolly Parton’s mother stitching her famous Coat of Many Colors. The festival’s signature Umbrella Sky fills the park with color as sunlight filters through a canopy of floating umbrellas.
New seasonal dishes blend local comfort and global flair — like honey garlic chicken skillet, honey and peach BBQ sandwiches, and bright sips like dragonfly lemonade. A Tasting Pass lets guests sample up to five festival plates for an affordable price. Sweet options include cookie dough from The Grove and zesty lemon cannoli.
Live music flows through every park’s corner, from outdoor stages to tucked-away trails. Guests can watch shows, explore with a soundtrack or take a guided festival tour that spotlights the mosaicultures and culinary features.
Stuttgart Spring Festival
Once overlooked, the Stuttgart Spring Festival now kicks off the season in the capital of Baden-Württemberg with a vibrant mix of rides, games and traditional fun. From April 19 to May 11, 2025, this three-week event fills Cannstatter Wasen with carousels, roller coasters and family-friendly attractions, offering something for every age and energy level.
Now the largest spring festival in Europe, it’s a major draw for locals and visitors alike. The lineup includes opening day barrel tapping by Wasen Mayor Thomas Fuhrmann, the ecumenical church service in the beer garden and dedicated days for families, VfB fans and public transport riders. The Wasenhasi mascot and friends charm kids during weekly meetups, while Family Days bring balloon artists, discounts and hands-on fun.
Highlights include the Big Balloon Race on April 26 and the final fireworks show on May 11. From gentle rides to full-blown celebrations, Stuttgart’s Spring Festival blends tradition with a party spirit that keeps growing every year. Ferris wheels spin, pretzels pile high and beer tents buzz with stories. The joy feels big, with giant beer tents, roasted nuts and towering Ferris wheels. It’s festive, flavorful and deeply local — even with the crowds.
Famous Food Festival: Taste the World
The Famous Food Festival, set for June 6-8, 2025, in Huntington Station, New York, is an all-ages event that invites guests to “Taste the World” through food inspired by countries around the globe. With over 120 food, art and beverage vendors, the festival serves up a mix of international flavors, regional favorites and handcrafted goods — all in one vibrant space.
Tickets start at just $8 online, with discounted options for multi-day entry and free admission for kids aged 7 and under. The Famous Food Festival is a traveling event that supports local businesses while showcasing standout cuisine from the Tri-State area. Guests can also enjoy chef demonstrations, curated experiences and family-friendly activities designed to engage food lovers of all ages.
Expect a marketplace of handmade goods, vintage pieces, art and more, adding layers of discovery to a weekend packed with flavor. Beyond the plates, the festival gives back, raising funds for charitable organizations and fostering community connection.
Spring Into Spice Food & Wine Festival
Happening June 7, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Spring Into Spice brings together food and wine vendors, DJs, hands-on seminars and curated tastings in one lively, open-air setting. It’s a one-day celebration that highlights Ontario’s vibrant mix of cultures through bold flavors and new wine narratives.
Attendees can explore wines from around the world and sample dishes from local chefs while moving through The VQA Path — a feature dedicated to showcasing Ontario wines. It’s a chance to build new connections through food, discover regional producers and explore what’s possible when you blend spice with story.
First-time guests and returning visitors alike will find a day full of community, discovery and flavor. Spring Into Spice highlights cultures through flavor, pairing ethnic dishes with carefully selected wines. Music, conversation and community round out the atmosphere.
Adirondack Wine & Food Festival
The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, held June 28 and 29, 2025, in Lake George, New York, brings together the region’s producers since its founding in 2015 by Adirondack Winery. What started as a celebration of New York’s small, family-owned craft producers has become one of the most anticipated events in the region. Each year, hundreds of staff and volunteers come together to deliver a weekend full of flavor, fun and community.
Guests can sample wine, beer, spirits, cider and non-alcoholic beverages while enjoying bites from local food trucks and artisan vendors. The festival also features live acoustic music, magic shows, aerial acts and even kids’ games, offering something for every visitor. Culinary and cocktail demonstrations keep things interactive, while shaded tents and the view of Lake George provide the perfect spot to relax between tastings.
When the journey tastes like spring
Spring doesn’t wait for you to stay put, and these food festivals don’t either. They move you — to new towns, new flavors and new ways to celebrate the season. By the end, the memories don’t just live in your camera roll — they’re tucked between bites, shared tables and the hum of a crowd that came hungry and left changed. After all, traveling for taste makes the world feel a little closer, a forkful of something unforgettable.
Jennifer Allen, retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and writer, shares her adventures and travel tips at All The Best Spots. Living at home with her family — and the cats that rule them all — her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.