2012 CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2012 Food Festivals, Local Food, Beer and Wine Events (see also: 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008)
September 7-9, 2012 Taste of the World Festival 2012 - Los Angeles, California Travel the world in a single day and celebrate the food, drink, music and dance from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. This delicious event will be a true feast for the senses and an apt reflection of the multicultural diversity of Los Angeles, held in the heart of the city.
Sept 7-9, 2012 27th Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival - Northstar, Calif Come enjoy three full days of cooking seminars and demonstrations, culinary competitions, wine tastings, grape stomp, and more.
September 8-9, 2012 Capitola Art & Wine Festival - Capitola, California The festival combines art, wine, music, and food all in Capitola Village by the Sea. Over 150 fine artists and 21 wineries will participate in this year's event.
September 11-13, 2012 National Heirloom Exposition - Santa Rosa, California Come and see over 3000 varieties of heirloom produce—from every state. With more than 70 speakers and 250 natural food vendors, this is the world's largest heritage food event. The Exposition creates awareness on issues surrounding 'pure food'. Proceeds from this not-for-profit event benefit school gardens and other food programs.
September 15-16, 2012 California Beer Festival--Ventura - Ventura, California Come experience over 130 craft beers on tap at Craft Beer Heaven on Saturday, as well as mouth watering food and great entertainment. The Blues, Brews and BBQ event will be held on Sunday. CBF's main goal is to shine a light on the craft beer movement and celebrate great beer!
September 20-22, 2012 81st PCCA Convention - Newport Beach, California Since 1932, the Pacific Coast Coffee Association has strived to encourage growth and prosperity in the coffee business. We continue to celebrate and support all businesses and entities operating in the coffee industry.
September 20-30, 2012 LA Beer Week - Los Angeles, California Featuring a mind and palate pleasing array of local beer establishments, breweries, beer cuisine, restaurants and education. Come out and celebrate the diversity of our local beer culture at one of the many events being held at great establishments all across the Southland.
September 22, 2012 Blazin' Hog Competition BBQ & Zydeco Music Festival Mariposa, California Presented by the John C. Fremont Hospital Foundation. The best BBQ competition and Zydeco music festival in the Sierra's! Come hungry and wear your dancin' shoes!
September 22-23, 2012 The Gourmet Experience - Del Mar, California A cooking and home entertainment showcase featuring the best in culinary solutions, appliances, culinary travel, home products & specialty foods for the gourmet lifestyle.
September 30, 2012 L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade - Culver City, California Join us for the third annual event. Culinary greats from across the country will come together to prepare and serve their delicious dishes while raising funds and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, benefiting childhood cancer research.
2011 CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2011 Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events waiting for new dates
September 2-4, 2011 Food & Wine The Taste--Beverly Hills - Beverly Hills, California An epicurean event celebrating the worlds of food, wine, art, and music. Designed to intrigue the palate and engage the senses, Beverly Hills residents—and beyond—are encouraged to come out and experience a wine and food event unlike any other.
September 2-4, 2011 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend - Sonoma, California An epicurean event unlike any other, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend combines the elegance, sophistication, and style of Showcase: Taste of Sonoma, with the festivity, frivolity and fundraising of the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction for three unforgettable days of celebration.
September 2-5, 2011 LA Times and Food & Wine’s The Taste - Los Angeles, California Featuring 9 signature events taking place across Los Angeles, from Beverly Hills to Hollywood to Downtown, THE TASTE will showcase the burgeoning and dynamic culinary scene represented in LA and includes everything from local restaurant tastings and cooking demos from celebrity chefs, to wine tastings and cocktail seminars with some of the world's top vintners and mixologists.
Sept 2-5, 2011 30th Annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off Carnival & Fair - Malibu, California Hosted by the Malibu Kiwanis and attended by thousands, the event includes food, fun, a silent auction, rides, and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis community programs. Attendance: 12,000.
September 3, 2011 Brews & Bites 2011 - San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Brewers Guild. The guild is made up of all breweries based in San Luis Obispo County and they will once again showcase their craft beers together with foods from local restaurants. Live Music.
September 3, 2011 Julian Grape Stomp Festa - Julian, California Celebrate the harvest of the grapes with a real, olde-world style grape stomp and festa at the Menghini Winery. Italian music, dancing, bocci ball competitions, wine tasting, food and crafts. Attendance: 2,000.
September 3-4, 2011 Millbrae Art & Wine Festival - Millbrae, California Festival-goers can taste their way around the world with twenty food vendors serving up flavorful fare with an international flair. A juried show, the festival will showcase the original work of 250 artists and craftspeople exhibiting their innovative wares. Attendance: 65,000.
September 8, 2011 Taste of Downtown - San Diego, California San Diego's most prominent Taste returns to downtown for the 11th consecutive year. Participants will stroll through each corner of downtown San Diego and taste a wide variety of the best cuisine the city has to offer.
September 9-11, 2011 The Original Long Beach Lobster Festival - Long Beach, Cal Combines local popular artists, Swing, Salsa, R&B/Motown, 70s/80s Dance Bands, Fresh Live Maine Lobsters steamed in the World’s Largest Cooker for that mouth watering taste, food court, children’s area, dance floor, two stages and bars to create the largest Lobster Festival outside of Maine.
September 9-11, 2011 Oakley Almond Festival - Oakley , California Oakley's biggest event of the year celebrates the almond. Always held during the second week of September.
September 10, 2011 Kendall-Jackson Winery 15th Annual Heirloom Tomato Festival Santa Rosa, California More than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in every size, shape and color imaginable will be picked fresh from our own Culinary Gardens and sampled on a beautiful Wine Country afternoon.
September 10-11, 2011 40th Annual Art & Wine Festival - Mountain View, California Highlights include festive drink, stellar live music, incredible edibles, and kids' park.
September 10-11, 2011 Pittsburg Seafood Festival - Pittsburg, California This year will be the 27th Annual Pittsburg Seafood Festival! Includes a wine paviliion, beer pavilion, live music, kids area, arts and crafts vendors, great food and lots and lots of extras! You won't want to miss it!
Sept 10-11, 2011 16th Annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival - San Francisco, Cal Indulge in chocolate delicacies, sip wine and enjoy chocolate inspired family activities. Proceeds benefit Project Open Hand.
September 10-11, 2011 25th Annual Tracy Dry Bean Festival - Tracy, California Showcasing 60+ varieties of dry beans from California and around the world. Featured bean this year is the unique Hopi Anasazi, a naturally degassed fast cooking heirloom bean used in soups,salads, vegan foods, and as a side dish. Over 100 bean, crafts, and merchandising vendors feature good food where admission and chili contest bean sampling is free. Three entertainment stages. 5K-10K Run, Show and Shine Car/Bike Show, Bean Cooking demonstrations/sampling, kids carnival and chili cookoff. . Attendance: 80,000.
September 11, 2011 Taste of Chico - Chico, California The 26th Annual Food, Beverage, Music & Fine Art Festival
September 11-17, 2011 SOM 2011 Spirits of Mexico - San Diego, California The largest, most comprehensive festival of agave-based spirits in North America, and will be packed with seminars discussing the finest spirits, tequila tastings, cocktail challenges, authentic Mexican dishes and an awards ceremony.
September 14, 2011 Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner - Los Angeles, California Joie De Vivre restaurants has partnered with the James Beard Foundation for a Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner. West Restaurant & Lounge will play host to four talented chefs, 3 of whom are from Joie De Vivre's SoCal restaurants. Proceeds benefiting the JB Foundation and a scholarship will be awarded to an aspiring chef in Joie De Vivre's name.
September 15-18, 2011 Lodi Grape Festival - Lodi, California The Festival’s mission and main purpose is to promote the agriculture and agricultural products of San Joaquin County, and to offer diverse forms of agricultural education. The Festival strives to present unique, family – oriented exhibits that not only entertain, but educate and enlighten.
September 16, 2011 Martinis on the Plaza - Martinez, California Enjoy a magical evening under the enchantment of a starry sky, a babbling plaza fountain, graceful white tents & dancing twinkle lights as you travel back in time to the elegance of the 1940's Rat Pack era. Partake of specialty martinis, epicurean delights from regional restaurants, and live big band swing music as we celebrate Martinez's heritage as the birthplace of the Martini.
September 16-18, 2011 23rd Annual Taste of Newport - Newport Beach, California Southern California's Premier Food Festival. Food, Drinks, Entertainment.
September 16-18, 2011 Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival - San Pedro, California The World's largest lobster festival, features discount Maine lobster meals. After feasting on our world famous lobster meals, enjoy dancing, street performers and music. Shop for arts and crafts.
September 17, 2011 6th Annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival - Fair Oaks, California Why do chickens cross the road? To attend the Fair Oaks Chicken Festival, of course! Attendance: 15,000.
September 17, 2011 49er Festival & Chili Cookoff - Groveland, California This all day event begins with a pancake breafast followed by a real small-town parade through downtown Groveland. The highlight of the day is the Chili Cook-off with local chefs vying for top awards in three categories: Beans, No Beans and Vegetarian Chili. Free music, kids zone, auction and raffle. (Annually, 3rd Saturday in September)
September 17, 2011 9th Annual North Berkeley Spice of Life Festival - Berkeley, Cal This five-block long food and art fair celebrates the spice of life with cooking demos and samples by local chefs, gourmet food, beer and wine, a farmers market, artist exhibitions, yoga and bodywork demonstrations, and lots of kids activities.
September 17-18, 2011 16th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival - Lafayette, California Now in its 16th year, the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, held the 3rd weekend in September, is the one of the largest outdoor festivals in Contra Costa County. Art, handmade crafts, sample foods from top local restaurants and enjoy quality wines and microbrews, and enjoy continuous music from our two main stages. Attendance: 100,000
September 17-18, 2011 Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival - Santa Clara, California The 2011 festival will feature the talents of local and regional artists with nearly 175 booths, 25 community groups serving international foods, fine wines, micro-brewed beer and entertainment on three stages.
September 18, 2011 Taste of the Central Coast - Arroyo Grande, California Join the Family Care Network for the Annual Taste of the Central Coast; a fine food and wine tasting event paired with a live and silent auction to raise funds that directly benefit the children and families we serve. Showcasing 40 local restaurants & wineries and live jazz.
September 18, 2011 2nd Annual Couscous Festival - Pasadena, California The only one of it's kind in the U.S.--food demonstrations throughout the event.
September 18, 2011 Polo in the Wine Country - Oakmont, California An afternoon of live jazz, gourmet food, polo matches, and wine and beer tasting. Benefits Junior Achievement.
September 18-23, 2011 San Diego Restaurant Week - San Diego, California One of the premiere restaurant weeks in the country featuring over 180 restaurants and 250,000 diners each year. Participating restaurants offer 3 course meals at bargain prices- either $20, $30 or $40 per person, depending on the restaurant.
September 21, 2011 3rd Annual A Taste of Downtown San Rafael - San Rafael, Cal The Tasting event will be located throughout the Downtown San Rafael area and will include restaurants and merchants offering hors d'oeuvres and wine samples.
September 22-25, 2011 Walnut Festival - Walnut Creek, California Celebrates the history of growing walnuts in the area and raises money to benefit the community.
Sept 23-25, 2011 16th Annual Redondo Beach Lobster Festival - Redondo Beach, Cal Maine lobsters prepared fresh daily. Giant Food Court, Beach Bars, Games, Entertainment, Rides, Games, Puppets, Magicians, Storytellers.
September 23-25, 2011 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival - Sonoma, California The 114th Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is all about wine, food, and fun. There is wine tasting, lots of foods, and live music on two stages all weekend.
September 24, 2011 California Candy Festival - Fairfield, California Over 10,000 candy lovers are expected to attend. Activities include candy sampling, candy-themed music & entertainment, candy making competition, parade, wine & chocolate pairing pavillion, and candy art contest. Takes place at the 15-acre Jelly Belly Visitors Center. Attendance: 10,000.
September 24, 2011 12th Annual Mount Veeder Appellation Wine Tasting - Napa, Cal Featuring Mount Veeder Wines From Nearly Two Dozen Wineries. Chef Selected Food Pairings. Raffle For a Mount Veeder Wine Cellar. Live Music In The Gardens.
September 24, 2011 A Taste of the Gold - Grass Valley, California Fun and tasty event, featuring some of the Northern Sierra Foothill's finest restaurants and wineries. Find your favorite wine, and with glass in hand, nibble your way through more restaurants than you could possibly visit in a long weekend.
September 24, 2011 Wine Boot Camp - Healdsburg, California The ultimate fantasy experience for wine lovers. An intensive, highly enjoyable one-day training program, Wine Boot Camp® provides the experience and knowledge needed to become totally confident in the understanding and appreciation of fine wine. Work in the vineyard and the cellar. Make a bottle of your own wine.
September 24, 2011 NoHo Taco Cook-off - North Hollywood, California 20 cooks to compete to make the best tasting taco in the Los Angeles area. Our panel of gourmet food truck judges will select the winner of this competition. The festivities will also include: live entertainment, dancers, art and craft booths, 25 food trucks, aerial performances and dog adoptions. A portion of proceeds will be donated to The Forgotten Dog , a local dog rescue group.
September 24-25, 2011 Sonoma County Farm Trails - Windsor, California Join local farmers for a weekend of tours, artisan foods, wine tasting, hands-on activities, cooking, pick-your-own, agricultural demonstrations, music and harvest. From hay rides to cheese-making, Weekend Along the Farm Trails offers a chance to experience Sonoma County's agricultural heritage.
September 25, 2011 11th Annual Malibu Family Wines Grape Crush and Harvest Festival Malibu, California Benefiting City Hearts, Kids Say Yes to The Arts. Savor delicious samplings from over 20 local restaurants, and taste the heralded Semier Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Rose and Saddlerock Wines. Entertainment, crafts, grape crush and music for all ages.
September 30, 2011 Chaminade Resort & Spa Farm to Table Dinner - Santa Cruz, Cal The Dinner will feature endless wine and local farm produce. Dinners will be served on the Terrace Patio (weather permitting), with panoramic views overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
September 30-Oct 2, 2011 Sonoma County Harvest Fair - Santa Rosa, California A celebration of harvest featuring three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, chef demonstrations, microbrew tasting (Saturday only), farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, continuous live jazz, an art show, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more.
2010 CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2010 Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events events still waiting for new dates
September 9, 2010 The Joy of Sake - San Francisco, California This year's event features 150 different daiginjo, ginjo and junmai sakes, including many gold- and silver-award recipients from the 2010 U.S. National Sake Appraisal.
September 10-11, 2010 St George Church Annual Greek Food Festival - Bakersfield, Cal 3:00pm Friday & 1:00pm on Saturday until 11 PM - $3.00 admission. Children under 12 free. 401 Truxtun Ave., Downtown Bakersfield. Join us for fun, frolic, and great Greek food! For Vendor booths (661) 323-0906 See you there-Opa!
September 11, 2010 5th Annual Great American Blues & Barbeque - San Rafael, Cal The festival celebrates San Raphael and Marin's outstanding heritage of music, it's world famous musicians and the great American roots of the blues. Food concessions focus on the great American original, Barbeque, in all its varied glory.
September 11, 2010 3rd Annual Brew Haw Haw - Los Angeles, California This ultimate outdoor beer bash will offer up suds from some of the region’s best microbreweries and brew pubs. Several of Los Angeles’ most popular restaurants will be there, too, serving up their specialties and festive fare. Fest-goers can tap their toes to live music and bid on great silent auction items, all while supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raise funds for a cure.
September 18, 2010 2nd Annual Taste of Fillmore - San Francisco, California The event will include food sampling, wine tasting and jazz. In addition, we will have a cooking demonstration stage with chefs from Fillmore Street Restaurants and a Fashion Show to showcase Fillmore Street boutiques.
September 18-19, 2010 Glendi Ethnic Food Fair - Santa Rosa, California Enjoy gyros, Piroshki, baklava, foods from Eritrea, Serbia, Greece, Russia, Macedonia, and the Middle East. Beer, wine, ethnic coffee.
September 25-26, 2010 28th American Wine and Food Festival - Los Angeles, Cal One of America’s premier culinary events. Many of the world's top chefs and wine and spirit purveyors will gather on the backlot of Universal Studios to raise a celebratory glass in support of the Meals On Wheels Programs of Los Angeles. A pantheon of food and beverage stars will exercise their considerable talents for the enjoyment of over 2,700 food and wine enthusiasts. The opportunity to sample exceptional dishes prepared by an internationally acclaimed group of chefs will be accompanied by live music, dancing, and a silent auction.
September 25-26, 2010 Harvest: Farm-To-Table - Carmel, California Celebrating agriculture, vitivulture, cheese and good times. More than 50 rockstar chefs preparing fabulous bites with the freshest produce from our local farming and ranch partners. More than 100 wineries will be pouring more than 200 individual wines. Enjoy Wine Seminars, Cheese Tastings, Cooking Demonstrations, Gardening Classes and Barbecue Seminars in a kid friendly al fresco environment. Great music and a Farmer's market provide added benefit.
Sept 30, 2010 Never an Empty Bowl: Sustaining Food Security in Asia - San Francisco, Cal The Asia Society, The Asia Foundation, and Give2Asia invite you to a program marking the release of a report prepared by an Asia Society/International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Task Force on Food Security and Sustainability in Asia. The landmark report examines the multiple factors contributing to Asia's growing food insecurity and lays out a strategy for the future that emphasizes the critical importance of rice as a source of nutrition, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Please join us for a discussion with Task Force members and other prominent experts.
2009 CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2009 FOOD & WINE FESTIVALS, SHOWS, EVENTS events waiting for new dates
September 12, 2009 Palmdale Jazz and Wine Festival - Palmdale, California Come enjoy a warm late summer afternoon, listen to world-class jazz entertainment inlcuding Grammy award winning Norman Brown, taste excellent wines and savor gourmet foods at the Palmdale Jazz & Wine Festival!
September 13-18, 2009 San Diego Restaurant Week - San Diego, California One of the premiere restaurant weeks in the country featuring over 140 restaurants and 250,000 diners each year. Participating restaurants offer 3 course meals at bargain prices- either $20, $30 or $40 per person, depending on the restaurant. Restaurant Week has a new partner this year - the Girl Scouts! Several well-known chefs at top restaurants are creating Restaurant Week dishes using Girl Scout cookies to help bring awareness to the Girl Scout cookie drive.
September 19, 2009 Salute to Agriculture Taste of the Valley Wine & Food Show Salinas, California Become educated about our Agriculture Industry and meet those responsible for growing Salinas Valley produce. Indulge yourself in local wines and delicious food samplers.
Sept 19-20, 2009 Art Bark Fest - Animal Art & Wine Festival - Village at Squaw Valley, Cal The Art Bark Fest was created to combine the love of art & wine with the love of animals and is one of the only animal themed fine arts and wine festival in the country. Benefit for Humane Society Truckee-Tahoe & Squaw Rescue Dogs.
2008 CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2008 Local Food, Beer and Wine Events waiting for new dates
September 6, 2008 Food & Wine Classic - Temecula, California Taste award winning wines from 22 of wineries, paired with samples of gourmet food from local chefs. Proceeds benefitting Jacob's House.
September 14, 2008 17th Annual NatureSweet Carmel TomatoFest - Carmel, California This was the FINAL Carmel TomatoFest. Gary Ibsen announced his retirement from continuing the Carmel TomatoFest Event after 17 years.
September 27, 2008 Fair Oaks'toberfest 2008 - Fair Oaks, California (Website no longer active: www.fairoaksbrewfest.com ) Unlimited Beer Tasting of over 40 different beers, Great Food from local vendors, & Live Music all in beautiful Fair Oaks Park.
