It’s springtime, and that means festival season is here. With a bevvy of food and drink (everything from whiskey to wine and beer) festivals to tempt your taste buds, we’ve rounded up some of the most exciting epicurean gatherings the Southeast has to offer this spring and summer. Consider this your ultimate guide to planning your next food-inspired sojourn.
Formerly known as the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival, the event returns to Blowing Rock, N.C., April 14-17, as “Savor Blowing Rock” to maximize and expand its scope. The festival offers seminars, pairing, dinners and tasting, as well as two new cooking classes and two downtown satellite tents in addition to the main tent. Entertainment and music also will be offered throughout the festival. Ticket prices start at just $25 for some seminars and range up to $125 for the Reserve Wine Tasting. For tickets, visit savorblowingrock.com/info-tickets. For accommodation info, visit savorblowingrock.com/lodging-packages.
Whiskey lovers looking for a beach escape can combine the two during the new Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife – W3 event in Jekyll Island. Sip on whiskey, spirits, wine and beer, and sample cuisine from some of the best chefs in the South—all taking place oceanfront at The Westin Jekyll Island. The event, which runs April 22-24, benefits the Jekyll Island Foundation and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be doing demonstrations onstage with wildlife. Tickets to the festival range from $35-$125. For accommodation info and tickets, visit www.whiskeywineandwildlife.com.
Head to the Florida panhandle’s Emerald Coast to partake in four days of wine and food tastings, tasting seminars, live entertainment and lifestyle stations at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, April 28-May 1. Wine connoisseurs will love that the festival pours up more than 800 wines to taste for a diverse wine experience. In addition to two grand tastings, the festival also features the Savor South Walton Culinary Village (where you can enjoy food tastings and wine pairings) and a Nashville songwriters showcase, among other offerings. All events take place in the Grand Boulevard Town Center at Sandestin (unless otherwise noted). All proceeds support the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which supports children’s charities in Northwest Florida. Tickets range from $35-$175. For ticket and accommodation information, visit sowalwine.com.
Amelia Island will play host to the 53rd Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which takes place April 29-May 1. Held in Fernandina Beach, Fla., the festival actually kicks off at 6 p.m. on April 28 with the Pirate Parade, packed with fun for the whole family. In addition to filling up on fresh shrimp, the festival provides a host of other events throughout the weekend, including a Parade of Boats, the Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant, Pirate Invasions on Friday and Saturday, fireworks, live entertainment from musical acts Mud Morganfield and The Gin Blossoms. The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is offering an expanded Kids Zone this year, located in Central Park, where there will be plenty of entertainment for little ones (think pirates, rides, games and more) and even kid-friendly food. Don’t miss the Antiques and Fine Art and Crafts portions of the show. The festival is free to attend. For accommodation information, visit ameliaisland.com.
For a Cajun extravaganza of flavors and fun, road-trip it to New Orleans over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29 for the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE). Offering three levels of ticket packages ($225-$570) to choose from, there are plenty of options for wine and food aficionados, as well as individual ticket options ranging from $75-$175, depending on the tasting/experience. This year, NOWFE 2016 launches with its Vintner Dinners on May 26, followed by the signature Royal Street Stroll and exclusive Vinola Tasting on May 27, and the single Grand Tasting event and The Big Gateaux Show on May 28. For tickets, visit nowfe.com. For accommodation info, visit.neworleanscvb.com.
No need to travel farther than Midtown Atlanta to experience some of the best fare of the Southeast, June 2-5, during the sixth-annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. More than 250 chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, pitmasters and artisans will descend on our city for four days of wining and dining, complete with learning experiences, tasting tents, dinners and events, and master classes. The Atlanta festival serves up something for everyone, showcasing the best of the South. Don’t miss the variety of themed tasting tents for an all-you-can-indulge experience located in the Greensward Promenade area of Piedmont Park (we hear there’s even a pick-your-garnish cocktail garden). A variety of ticket passes and packages are available, starting with early bird pricing (through April 15) for an Individual Tasting Tent Pass for $80 up to a 3-Day Pass for $485. Additional packages, events and ticket options are available. For ticket info and accommodations, visit atlfoodandwinefestival.com.
Nothing goes together better than summer and an ice-cold beer. That’s the idea behind the Palm Beach Summer Beer Fest, taking place July 23 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, Fla. The festival, which is Florida’s only indoor craft beer fest (hello A/C!), offers live music and more than 150 craft beers for sampling, from local brews to those made all over the country. The beer fest will feature two sessions this year: noon-4 p.m. or 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. Advance general admission ranges from $40-$75 (or just $10 for designated drivers), while day-of admission will cost you $55-$100 (still just $10 for DDs). For tickets and accommodation info, visit their website at palmbeachsummerbeerfest.com.
Located just a quick three-and-a-half hour drive from Atlanta, Asheville, N.C., is quickly becoming a draw for food tourism. Taking advantage of this momentum, the Asheville Wine and Food Festival (Aug. 19-20) is designed to showcase western North Carolina’s chefs, restaurants, vineyards, breweries, distilleries and farms. Held in lively downtown Asheville, events include “Sweet,” a decadent evening of desserts, champagne, wine, spirits and shopping on Aug. 19 and the “Grand tasting” on Aug. 20, which will feature food, wine, beer, spirits and culinary demonstrations, among other highlights. Ticket options range from $50-$100. For ticket and accommodation info, visit ashevillewineandfood.com.
