A Foodie’s August Adventure: Top Global Food Festivals Worth Traveling For

Taste your way around the world! A Foodie’s August Adventure will be all about trying mouthwatering cuisines from all around the world. From fresh seafood to delightful tapas and hearty bibimbap, these international culinary events are worth traveling for. So, pack your appetite🍽️and passports for these top global food festivals in August.

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• Best June Festivals: A Traveler’s Guide to Summer Events
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Maine Lobster Festival🦞

• Date: July 30 – August 3, 2025
• Location: Rockland, Maine, USA
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Embrace the Dog Days of Summer with a fresh seafood feast! The Maine Lobster Festival annually takes place during the first weekend of August, from Wednesday through Sunday. It is a must-attend fest for seafood lovers who can enjoy fresh, hot Maine lobster for five days straight. There are more entertainment activities and contests to keep you hooked on the coast of Maine.

Why Go

• Classic East Coast seafood fest with over 20,000 lbs of lobster served.
• This festival is a lobster lover’s paradise, featuring abundant lobster dishes prepared in various ways.
• The Maine Lobster Festival takes place on the fabulous coast of Maine, which offers stunning views and opportunities for sunset sails.
• Families will find many kid-friendly activities and events, including the Children’s Parade, Lobster Eating Contest, Cod Fish Carry, and the Diaper Derby.

Don’t Miss

• International Great Crate Race: Take up the challenge of running across a string of floating wood lobster crates stretching across a section of Rockland‘s inner harbor.
• Live Music Performances: Listen to the Neptunes Return, Paddy Mills, Bait Bag, Spencer Albee, Midcoast Music Academy, Rigometrics, The Mallett Brothers Band, and more.
• Seafood Cooking Contest: Find out which amateur chef will win the annual seafood cooking contest.
• Steins & Veins: Taste Maine-made or distributed brews, wines, and spirits.
• Art & Craft Tent: See exhibitions from local artists and artisans.

Tour Tip

• Combine with a coastal sailing or puffin-spotting tour.
• Book a sightseeing cruise to admire Maine’s coastal beauty.
• Visit the nearby Maine Lighthouse Museum or the Rockland Breakwater.

Feria Nacional del Elote🌽

• Date: August 3-15, 2025
• Location: Jala, Mexico

Jala Elote Fair, or Feria Nacional del Elote, is one of the top global food festivals in August. The municipality of Jala celebrates this annual event every year during the first weekend of August, with the 2025 Corn Fair set to take place from August 3 to 15. It celebrates the harvest of corn and introduces visitors to Jala’s agricultural and cultural heritage. Expect colorful parades, folk dances, mariachi bands, traditional costumes, culinary offerings, and unique contests.

Why Go

• A Gastronomic Celebration: Celebrate Mexico’s sacred crop—corn! Grilled, fried, sweet, and spicy.
• Legacy of Elote: This fair offers insights into maize’s presence as the backbone of Jala’s agriculture, its role in daily life, and the evolution of corn cultivation.
• Family-Friendly Festival: Feria Nacional del Elote promises fun for all ages with its mechanical rides, games, gastronomic contests, and rodeo shows.
• Religious Significance: This festival also coincides with the religious festivities dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption.

Don’t Miss

• World’s Largest Corn Contest: This is the Corn Fair’s highly anticipated event, where local farmers present their giant corn cobs, some of whose height is up to 49 cm.
• Cultural Heritage: Check out Elote contests, traditional dance shows, religious processions, fireworks, and colorful parades.
• Local Arts and Crafts: Support the local artisans by purchasing their handcrafted ceramics, textiles, or other creations displayed at the fair.
• Various Activities: Don’t miss out on concerts, sporting events, and dances.

Tour Tip

• Book a culinary tour through Nayarit.
• Elevate your experience by planning a visit to a tequila distillery nearby.
• Explore the municipality of Jala’s attractions while you are there.

Great British Beer Festival🍺

• Date: August 5-9, 2025
• Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Beer, beer, and more beer at the Great British Beer Festival. This annual beer fest is regarded as the biggest pub in the world, featuring an assortment of cask ales, craft beers, ciders, and perries. Whether you are a seasoned beer enthusiast or an occasional beer drinker, these events give you opportunities to try award-winning brews. Immerse yourself in interactive tastings accompanied by snacks, while being entertained by live music.

Why Go

• All in One: Beers, Ciders, and Pub Fare.
• New Venue: The 2025 Great British Beer Festival will be held at the iconic National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, UK, for the first time.
• Many Choices: This beer fest will feature the UK and international brews, with over 900 different beverages.
• Food Options: Pair your beer with local snacks, which you can buy from a range of food vendors on-site.

Don’t Miss

• Tasting Experiences: Attend various tasting sessions, which allow you to learn about and taste a wide range of beers and ciders. Each session only costs £22 per person.
• Bar Tasting Program: Get information about various award-winning brews, including their history and fermenting processes.
• Entertainment: Listen to live music and bid your price at Breweriana auctions.
• Homebrewer Competition: See who will become the Champion Home Brewer of the Year 2025.

Tour Tip

• Pair it with a British comfort food tour.
• Explore Birmingham with a guide on a walking tour.
• Book a pub crawl or a bar-hopping tour to discover the world of beer and learn about the craft behind Britain’s finest beers.

Darwin Festival🍜

• Date: August 7-24, 2025
• Location: Darwin, Australia
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Get ready for Australia‘s hottest winter arts festival! The Darwin Festival features eighteen exciting days and nights, with outdoor concerts, theatre, dance, music, and workshops. Expect a vibrant and colorful atmosphere with delightful dry weather. This Australian festival promises an unforgettable experience by showcasing culture, creativity, and community.

Why Go

• A blend of tropical cuisine, indigenous foods, and vibrant street markets under the stars.
• Historical Significance: The Darwin Festival began fifty years ago following Cyclone Tracy’s destruction in Darwin in 1974. It aimed to promote the city’s beauty.
• Community Arts: This 18-day festival showcases a diverse range of cultural performances and arts activities, featuring a lineup that includes music, visual art, dance, theatre, cabaret, and comedy performances.
• A Foodie Destination: It offers a mouthwatering adventure with irresistible local dishes.

Don’t Miss

• Music Performances: Catch artists, like Guy Sebastian, L.A.B., Sarah Blasko, and Emma Donovan, perform live.
• Diverse Artistic Expressions: Cabarets, Circus, Visual Arts, Dance, Theatre, and Native Bush Tucker events.
• Laksa Nights: Only a month later, the Darwin International Laksa Festival will take place from October 1 to 31. Try spicy noodle soups at the event.
• The Lighthouse: Shows + Food and Beverages

Tour Tip

• Pair with a Darwin Harbour cruise.
• Enjoy the festival with a local market food tour.
• Enhance your Darwin trip with Adelaide River cruises.

Montreal Ribfest🍖

• Date: August 15-17, 2025
• Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

A vegetarian’s nightmare or a meat lover’s delight? Montreal Ribfest is a must-attend food festival for those who love themselves some mouthwatering ribs. This annual BBQ extravaganza features delicious smoked ribs whose aroma fills the entire site. Hop from one vendor to another while trying their BBQ meats grilled with their special sauce. This 3-day food fest is ideal for meat lovers.

Why Go

• BBQ Fest: This event offers mouthwatering, finger-licking, and belly-rubbing good BBQ by award-winning BBQ teams.
• Free Entry: You don’t have to pay a single penny to attend this weekend fest. Only bring your appetite and desire to eat.
• A Fundraising Event: Montreal Ribfest is a charity event by the SITN Foundation, which supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Island and West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped.

Don’t Miss

• The Most Amazing BBQ: Barbecue ribs, sweet and sour ribs, St. Louis-style ribs, Texan-inspired smoked and dry-rub ribs, and more!
• Daily Entertainment: Enjoy live music, giant games, and booths.
• Kid’s Zone: The fest offers a separate children’s zone, where you can take your little ones to play.
• The Marketplace: Stop by and see what the fuss is all about the Marketplace.

Tour Tip

• Combine it with walking food tours in Montreal.
• Explore Old Montreal with a guide.
• Book a Montreal bike tour with beer or wine included.

Sacramento Banana Festival🍌

• Date: August 16-17, 2025
• Location: William Land Park, Sacramento, California
• Social Media: Official Facebook, Official Instagram

What could be more fascinating than a fruit-based festival? The annual Sacramento Banana Festival enters its fourteenth year in 2025. This food festival, held at William Land Park in Sacramento, offers a diverse range of food, entertainment, art, and fun for all ages. It is the ideal family-friendly activity for visitors in the town.

Why Go

• This multicultural event celebrates banana-growing countries (Asia, Africa, and the Americas), their diverse cultures, rich food, and vibrant music.
• The Banana Festival is a fundraiser whose proceeds go to support the National Academic Youth Corps.
• It also features competition categories as part of its programming.

Don’t Miss

• Kids Zone: This area features activities such as bounce houses, inflatables, games, bungee jumps, reptile exhibits, and banana-themed crafts for kids.
• Live Performances: Check out live bands and performances on the festival’s two stages.
• Art Exhibitions and Activities: 80+ retail, artisan, community, and craft vendors, chef contests, and Mahogany Fashion Show.
• Food & Drinks: 20+ muliculural food vendors + Beer, Wine, & Spirits Garden

Tour Tip

• Combine a Sacramento Banana Festival with a guided food tour in the town.
• Adults can try a beer or a bar-hopping tour in the town.

La Tomatina🍅

• Date: August 27, 2025
• Location: Buñol, Spain
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram

Next, La Tomatina is more of a tomato fight than a food festival. This grand festival is held on the last Wednesday of August in the town of Buñol, Spain. It is renowned for its epic tomato fights where participants throw ripe tomatoes at each other, covering the streets with tomato pulp. Also regarded as the ‘World’s Biggest Food Fight,’ Buñol welcomes 40,000 to 50,000 people on this day, numbers greater than its original population of 9,000.

Why Go

• Technically a food fight, not a food fest—but iconic! Thousands throw overripe tomatoes in the streets.
• La Tomatina is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that brings thousands upon thousands of people together in a fun and messy way.
• It is a part of a week-long celebration in honor of Buñol’s patron saints, Mare de Deu dels Desemparats and Luis Bertran.

Don’t Miss

• Post-event paella parties: Try the traditional Spanish dish Paella, a saffron-flavored rice dish with chicken and seafood.
• Paella Cooking Competition: Participate in cooking competitions to enhance your experience.
• La Tomatina Infantil: Take your kids aged 4 to 14 to this event on Saturday before the festival.
• La Tomatina After Party: Attend the post-festival party, where music, dance, and entertainment run from 9 PM until around 5 AM.

Tour Tip

• Join a Tomatina + Valencia tapas tour combo.
• Book accommodations in Buñol or Valencia, which offer easy access to the festival.
• Book your tickets and tours early, as they often sell out quickly.

Jeonju Bibimbap Festival🍚🥢

• Date: Late August previews, Full event in September or October
• Location: Jeonju, South Korea
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Now that we have covered the top global food festivals in August, allow us to give a little preview of an upcoming culinary fest in the following month. The Jeonju Bibimbap Festival is a must-attend event for foodies traveling to Jeonju. It highlights the region’s signature dish, Bibimbap, a white rice bowl topped with seasoned vegetables, meat, and an egg. It celebrates the taste and charm of Jeonju’s official representative dish, Bibimbap.

Why Go

• Experience the iconic Jeonju Bibimbap: There is no better place to try this renowned Korean dish than at Jeonju, the home of Bibimbap.
• Food Courts with local delicacies: In addition to Bibimbap, this food festival offers opportunities to try traditional Korean dishes and street snacks.
• Bibimbap’s Significance in Jeonju: Bibimbap is more than a dish in Jeonju; it promotes the region’s recognition by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy.
• Cultural Performances: The festival hosts a range of cultural activities, including traditional madang plays, folk games, night markets, and busking.

Don’t Miss

• Giant Bibimbap Performance: See chefs creating a massive bowl of Bibimbap which is later served to hundreds of witnesses.
• Jeonju Korean Cuisine Parade: Learn about Jeonju’s top 10 delicacies on this parade.
• Bibimbap Theme Hall: Learn how to make Bibimbap from famous culinary masters.
• Bibimbap Experience Hall: Participate in activities themed around Bibimbap and hands-on games like quizzes.

Tour Tip

• Take a guided food walk through Jeonju’s historic district.
• Hanok village food alley + makgeolli tastings.
• Enjoy a Hanbok rental experience in Jeonju.

Honorable Mention

Sagra del Pesce🦐

• Date: May 9-11, 2025
• Location: Camogli, Italy
• Social Media: Official Facebook

Seafood lovers must attend the Fish Festival in Camogli. Sagra del Pesce is among the top food festivals around the world, which was held from May 9 to 11 in 2025. While not an August culinary event, the Camogli Fish Festival deserves a spot on this blog just because of its popularity and significance. It takes place on the second Sunday in May in the Marina Square, Piazza Colombia. It is a grand celebration in honor of San Fortunato, the patron saint of fishermen.

Why Go

• Massive Frying Pan: The festival features a giant frying pan weighing 28 tons, which serves up thousands of portions of fried fish along the Ligurian coast.
• Cultural Heritage: The Fish Festival is linked to the Feast of San Fortunato and coincides with the religious celebrations dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen.
• Traditional Activities: In addition to gastronomical delights, this festival features traditional performances, art exhibitions, and folk dances.

Don’t Miss

• Sunset Seafood with Sea views: Enjoy a seafood feast with stunning coastal views at the Ligurian coast.
• Local Arts and Crafts: Support the local artisans by purchasing their handcrafted goods, regional specialties, or souvenirs.
• Spectacular Fireworks Display: Check out the fireworks display in the evening, accompanied by the burning of elaborate wooden structures on the beach. This act symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and pays homage to Camogli’s seafaring traditions.

Tour Tip

• Combine with a local cooking class or Genoa street food tour.
• Explore Cinque Terre nearby.
• Book a sailing cruise across the Ligurian Sea.

These top global food festivals in August are a perfect excuse for you to plan a trip to your favorite travel destination. From seafood to BBQs and beer, there are multiple options to choose from. But, what about foodies with a vegetarian or vegan diet? Well, you are in for a luck. Just a month later, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place in Phuket, which observes a strict vegetarian diet with no alcohol.