Not all beach festivals are about big stages, loud music and painful sunburns. For decades, passionate winemakers, chefs and foodies have been heading to the coast for incredible gastronomic events that include everything from luxury champagne tastings with expert sommeliers to late-night dessert and dancing with celebrity chefs.
If you’re a foodie looking for something exciting, interesting and delicious to switch up your old routine, check out these beach festivals for foodies hungry for fun.
FEBRUARY. A national star-studded five-day event, the Food Networking & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is a mouthful in in both senses of the word! Held in Miami Beach and showcasing the talents of the biggest and best wine and spirit producers, chefs and culinary personalities on the planet, this foodie spectacular takes place inside giant tents pitched right on the beach. From the drool-worthy Burger Bash hosted by Guy Fieri and the delectable Italian Bites on the Beach organized by Giada de Laurentiis to a plant-based master class in all things vegan and an artisanal donut workshop that will leave you drooling, this food event is perfect for anyone who hates standing on the sidelines and really wants to get involved.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival 2018
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Posted by 30A on Thursday, 3 May 2018
APRIL. The South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is a four-day foodie extravaganza held each April in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
During this dazzling festival, the Town Center of Grand Boulevard bursts into life, creating a real-life grown-ups’ playground for anyone into edibles.
For sipping, there’s a magical all-day rosé garden, bubbly champagne tastings and a Spirits Row where you can indulge in new liquor flavors you never even knew existed. And for hungry bellies, there’s the Culinary Village where you can discover an array of tempting food tastings and street foods, created by the most talented chefs in South Walton.
Megan gets a taste of this weekend’s Sandestin Wine Festival, including some 30A Wine. ???? ???? ???? let’s take a stroll: ????‍♀️
Posted by 30A on Sunday, 15 April 2018
APRIL. Offering “Wine, Food & Fun in the Sun”, the Sandestin Wine Festival provides something for all levels of wine lovers held each year at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Miramar Beach. Wine newbies can soak up loads of info about the world of wines and sip samples from the comprehensive selection. And wine aficionados can take it to the next level, meeting local winemakers, asking the big questions they’ve always wanted to ask and getting their hands on hard-to-find bottles. While wine is certainly the star of the annual April event, it’s not the be all and end all. The dynamic festival also features live music concerts and interactive experiences inside culinary tents.
????????Seeing Red Wine Festival at Seaside – New Town, Old Ways:
Posted by 30A on Sunday, 12 November 2017
NOVEMBER. Going strong for almost 30 years, the Seeing Red Wine Festival is named as one of Fodor’s “Top 30 Can’t-Miss Fall Wine Festivals” and we totally agree.
Each November, Central Square in Seaside, Florida jumps into action with an exclusive selection of top quality wine tastings from some of the most respected vineyards and winemakers in the business.
There’s also plenty of delicious food offerings chosen by the best local chefs, as you stroll through the tasting tents. Only a limited number of tickets are available each year to guarantee a pleasurable, memorable experience for everyone. So snap up yours and get your lodging reserved as soon as you can to avoid missing out!
Photo courtesy: Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival Facebook page
DECEMBER. Winter really brings out the foodies in Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival. Melt away your winter worries with an international menu of gastronomic delights of this 4-day, star-studded epicurean extravaganza.
From comfort food to 5-course dinners with premium wine pairings and Master Sommelier, this gastronomic experience hosts an unprecedented collection of talent for this four-day foodie festival.
Residents and visitors alike will savor the many culinary creations, as master chefs mix, blend and create culinary magic in an unmatched resort destination.
NICOLA QUINN is a British freelance writer based on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. During the week she knuckles down and gets the job done, but on the weekend she spends her time soaking up the sunshine on the little volcanic island she calls home.
