While there’s lots to love about summer, food festivals might be one of our favorite parts of the season. We share some of our must-experience food festivals in this summer list.
Plan your summer road trip around a food festival this year. With unique food and local brews, entertainment and vendors, you can pick a festival per month to attend this summer and get your grub on. From the East Coast to the South, and West to Colorado, there are food festivals for every taste and budget. Trust us, with so many delicious events to choose from, it was no easy task narrowing this list down. The good news is, this just scrapes the surface with food festivals of all types happening across the country you’re sure to find just the right festival – and a KOA campground near by – for you!
Georgia Peach Festival | Fort Valley, GA June 1-2 & Byron, GA June 9
If you’re a peach lover you’ll perk up at the Georgia Peach Festival. Featuring the Miss Georgia Peach Pageant, concerts, a parade and perhaps most impressive and delicious: the world’s largest peach cobbler. The festival is held to show the area’s peach pride and to honor peach growers for their contribution to the state’s economy and food industry nationwide. There were no admission prices found on the event’s website.
KOAs Nearby
Taste of Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO June 8-10
Taste of Fort Collins is a Northern Colorado tradition that lasts three days and offers food from local and national restaurants, entertainment from various musicians and arts and crafts vendors. As well as food, many of the local beer brewers are on site. The event is family friendly with wristbands for those over 21. The event is held in downtown Fort Collins and is surrounded by restaurants, shops and bars. There is an entrance fee, but the price, along with the musical lineup has not been set yet.
KOAs Nearby
Fort Collins / Lakeside KOA Holiday®
Fort Collins North / Wellington KOA
Music City Hot Chicken Festival | Nashville, TN July 4
Uniquely-Nashville, the Music City Hot Chicken Festival celebrates Nashville’s own Hot Chicken dish. The free event features a fire truck parade, free Hot Chicken samples to the first 500 people in line. Lines form early. Visitors can purchase hot chicken and other food from Nashville Hot Chicken establishments, beer and other food from local vendors. The event features live music from local bands and an amateur cooking competition. The event ends at 3 p.m. when visitors are encouraged to head downtown fro the annual fireworks display. Admission is free.
KOAs Nearby
Nashville East / Lebanon KOA Journey®
Windy City Smokeout | Chicago, IL July 13-15
“Believe in Barbecue.” The ultimate cookout, the Windy City Smokeout features twenty of the world’s finest pitmasters and ice-cold beer from local and national brewers. There will be more than 30 musical performances by mostly country artists such as Brett Young, Brett Eldredge and Alex Williams on two stages. Events include a Casamigos Tequila Mixology class, Pearl’s Southern Comfort Crawfish Boil, BBQ Brunch and The Biggest Happy Hour of the Summer hosted by Budweiser. Events cost an additional amount on top of admission. The event includes air-conditioned restrooms, bars and concessions throughout the festival grounds and free entry for children under $10. Admission starts at $110 for access all three days.
KOAs Nearby
The Maine Lobster Festival | Rockland, ME August 1-5
Lobster lovers rejoice! With more than 20,000 pounds of lobster and 1,700 pounds of butter at The Maine Lobster Festival there is plenty to go around. The five-day event takes place on the coast in Rockland, Maine, and includes a sea goddess coronation, a big parade, entertainment, an international crate race, art, crafts people and vendors, cooking contests and a marine tent. Around 30,000 people attend each year over the course of five days. This festival has staying power. It’s been an annual event
since 1947. Admission prices vary from $1 to $8 depending on the day. Prices for other events at the festival vary.
KOAs Nearby
Augusta / Gardiner KOA Journey®
Vermont Cheesemakers Festival | Randolph, VT August 12
The 10th Annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival is a one day event that celebrates Vermont’s cheese culture and cheese makers in Coach Barn, Shelburne Farms. The event features more than forty award-winning cheesemakers, Vermont artisan food producers, local wine, craft beer and spirits producers, cheesemaking, cooking demos and workshops. There will be more than 200 cheese, beverages and foods to sample and purchase. Admission starts at $60 and includes a wine glass and shopping bag.
KOAs Nearby
Queeche / Pine Valley KOA Holiday®
Happy eating…and camping!
