Top 7 US Food Festivals For Solo Travelers

Food and drink can often be one of the most enjoyable parts of travel for solo travelers, and there are a huge variety of food festivals that are held across the United States that can be enjoyed. Here are seven of the most interesting and tasty food festivals that are worth visiting, and have particular features that will be interesting or attractive to solo travelers.

Copper River Wild

Alaska may be a long way to travel for a food festival, but there is no doubt that Alaskan salmon is a very special product, and this July festival celebrates the salmon and many other wonderful ingredients and foods that are produced locally. A trip to the town of Cordova for the Copper River Wild festival can easily be combined with other activities in the region, and after enjoying the wonderful flavor of the local salmon, the chance to explore the nearby Prince William Sound shouldn't be ignored.

Hampton Beach Seafood Festival

With the 2014 Hampton Beach Seafood Festival marking a quarter of a century since this event was first held, this is truly a celebration of seafood. The festival is held at the heart of the town every year on the weekend after Labor Day. There are a variety of events held during the festival weekend including cooking demonstrations and live music in the evenings, but it is sampling the culinary delights of the food court where the majority of the 150,000 visitors really get to taste the best seafood that New Hampshire has to offer.

The Hatch Chile Festival

Chile is a massive part of the cuisine and the culture of New Mexico, and in the small town of Hatch, their main crop has become the inspiration for the Hatch Chile Festival that celebrates these wonderful ingredients. There are several cook-offs that see the best local and regional chefs aim for the prizes, while there are also plenty of different chances to try the local chile, along with mariachi bands, live music and entertainment.

 

Vermont Cheesemakers Festival

Cheese is a product that is found in dishes around the world, but when it comes to those tasty artisan cheeses that are worth sampling by themselves or on a cracker, then the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival is definitely the place to go. Held in July every year since 2009, this festival celebrates the wonderful artisan cheeses from over forty producers in the state, while also offering a great variety of other Vermont products including wine and beer, and demonstrations for those keen to try making their own cheese.

The Music City Hot Chicken Festival

This amazing celebration combines some of the most exciting features that Nashville has to offer, including wonderful spicy chicken, great music and has plenty of good beer to enjoy too. The Music City Hot Chicken Festival is social and welcoming to newcomers, with a particularly good vibe as it is held on Independence Day, meaning everyone is ready to relax and have a good time. From tasting what the local chicken vendors have to offer through to seeing the amateur chefs in action, this is a great day worth savoring.

The state of California is famous for producing excellent wine and the California Wine Festival, held in Orange County and in Santa Barbara, has been running for over a decade. It celebrates the great wines and food produced in this part of California. Starting off with an evening event on the Thursday night, there are a series of wine tastings and live music events, while the Saturday afternoon beachside wine tastings are among the most popular events in the festival.

For those traveling solo, there is no doubt that the lubrication of a few glasses of wine is ideal when it comes to making new friends.

The Charleston Wine and Food Festival in South Carolina is a real joy for the food and drink connoisseur, with fine wines and great local food being at the heart of the event, with the wonderful Culinary Village being a real feast for the senses. The opening night party is a real celebration when the best of Charleston food and wine is enjoyed, while the smaller events such as craft beer seminars and lunchtime tours are also worth enjoying.