8 famous food festivals in the world worth travelling for!

Food is a universal love language! Food connects travellers across borders as every nook and cranny of the world celebrates culinary traditions that narrates a story. A story that talks about the heritage and flavour of the place. From freshly baked pizzas to wine-spilled streets of Italy and chicken tikkas in India, the best way to explore a place’s food is by being a part of food festivals.
From La Tomatina and Pizzafest to Melbourne Food Festival and Goa Food Festival, these food festivals are an absolute must visit. Food fests are one-stop destinations to relish local cuisine and get an insight into the place’s history and culture. On this note, let’s have a look at some of the most famous food festivals across the globe that are worth travelling for.

Where: Buñol, near Valencia
Now this is one of the most-awaited food festivals in the world! It began as a playful tomato fight in the 1940s. But today, it has transformed into the world’s most (messiest) food festival! La Tomatina attracts lakhs of merrymakers from across the globe to the small town of Buñol. Participants throw overripe tomatoes at each other in a friendly banter and the entire street turns pulpy. The blockbuster Bollywood cinema ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ captured the fun festival beautifully on screen.

Where: Chicago, Illinois
Taste of Chicago in the United States is famous as the largest food festival in the world! Not many must be aware of this fact for sure. Grant Park transforms into a foodie’s heaven during this time. The food fest has been running for over 40 years making it an iconic event. When here, one can relish a wide range of pizzas and Chicago-style hot dogs. Besides food, people can enjoy live music and other cooking activities.

Where: Panaji, Goa
Goa Food and Cultural Festival is an annual event organised by Goa Tourism. People from all over the world travel to India to taste the delicious spicy food. The sunshine state celebrates its coastal cuisine during the event which attracts food lovers from all over. There are stalls serving some amazing seafood and Goan local delicacies. Don’t miss out on tasting feni cocktails, which are the highlights of the festival. Besides food, the festival also shows Goan folk music, and art.

Where: Dubai
The Dubai Food Festival is counted among the world’s most awaited food festivals. The festival is a perfect combination of fine dine and street food culture. This is the best time to experience food at world-class Dubai restaurants. One of the prime features of the festival is “Etisalat Beach Canteen.” It is a beachfront venue where local and global vendors come together to treat the tastebuds of visitors.

Where: Melbourne

Australia’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is another must-visit food fest where visitors can enjoy local cuisine, and watch a live show of innovative cooking. The food fest runs for two weeks straight! There are over 300 events and masterclasses. This is the best time to witness Melbourne’s multicultural influences where one can relish international flavours at scenic Australian venues.

Where: Paris
This is the perfect place for chocolate lovers. The Salon du Chocolat is dream come true for every one who lives for chocolates! It’s a globally-renowned food fest that attracts chocolatiers from around the world. Those who visit here can be in for a treat as they can watch live demons of chocolate making. But that’s not the only best part. It also organises fashion shows featuring dresses made of chocolate. Sounds delicious, right?

Where: Munich
Oktoberfest is another much-awaited food festival in the world. It is the largest beer festival in the world where people can relish a range of delicious Bavarian cuisine. Some pretzels served here are bigger than a human head (like literally)! As far as history is concerned, the event dates back to 1810. You can also parktake in fascinating parades and beer tents, which add to the overall festive charm.

Where: Naples
The list would be incomplete without the mention of Pizzafest in Italy. The festival honours pizza as the cuisine was born here at Naples! Every September, Naples hosts Pizzafest, where pizzamakers and lovers from across the globe come together to show their art. If you are also a pizza fan, then this is one festival that you simply can’t miss as here you can taste authentic Neapolitan pizza baked in wood-fired ovens. Once in a lifetime experience for sure!