The 7 Best Food Festivals In California 2020

California is home to world-class wine and a pretty booming foodie culture in nearly every single one of the state’s larger cities. From San Francisco to Sacramento and all the way down to Los Angeles and San Diego, the Golden State’s just brimming with delightful food festivals to indulge in.

In fact, there are so many that you could honestly even plan an entire road trip up and down the entire Pacific Coast Highway sampling some tasty food, indulging in some full-bodied wine and treating yourself to a fantastic time at the best food festivals in California.

Ready to hit the road? You’re going to want to visit every single one of the best food festivals in California for 2020. Start clearing your calendars now.

The 7 Best Food Festivals In California 2020, How do these rankings work?

1. Napa Truffle Festival

Truffles are an intriguing ingredient that can be used in seemingly endless ways to create truly delectable, inventive dishes. If you’re intrigued by the various uses of truffles, and how to best extract and pair their flavours, check out the Napa Truffle Fest. You’ll get the chance to participate in delightful pairings of Périgord Black Truffles and world-class Napa Valley wines by four Michelin chefs.

2020 dates: January 17th to 20th

2. LA Street Food Festival

The LA Food Fest is perhaps one of the most anticipated food festivals for hungry, eager foodies in California each year. With a slogan such as “don’t forget your #stretchypants,” you just know that it’s gonna be a fantastic foodie fest full of some of the best food in the entire country. You’ll get to sample literally every type of cuisine under the sun as you try some of the newest, boldest, craziest flavours and dishes in existence.

2020 dates: Exact dates TBA, but it’s usually in June

3. California Avocado Festival

Who doesn’t love avocados? You might not otherwise explore the city of Carpinteria. But, the yearly Avocado Festival is a fantastic excuse to head over and check out one of the best food festivals in California for 2020. Aside from tasting endless creative avocado dishes, you’ll get the chance to learn about the history of avocados, avocado farming, and even enjoy jamming out to one of their over 75 musical performances.

2020 dates: Exact dates TBA, but it’s usually in September

4. Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

The chance to spend the day at Disney and treat yourself to tasty food and wine? Um, yeah, we’re in. Each year, Disney allows guests to sip and savour their way through this fun foodie festival, all with a cute Disney twist. As one of the longest food festivals in California, they hold weekly events such as beer and wine-tasting seminars and cooking classes. Or, you can simply enjoy visiting food kiosks where you’ll sample menus inspired by California-grown ingredients.

2020 dates: February 28th to April 21st

5. California Artisan Cheese Festival

We were drooling at the mention of “artisan cheese.” This delightfully smelly festival is one of the best food festivals in the country for those who simply can’t ever get enough cheese. And, we’re not talking about regular old cheddar cheese; we’re talking about the chance to indulge in an entire weekend-long celebration of the wonderful world of artisan cheese. You’ll enjoy everything from tasting demos to boozy pairings.

2020 dates: March 27th to 29th

6. Long Beach Seafood Festival

“Sip the craft and savour the sea” is the tagline of one of this fun food festival. This festival debuted in 2019. However, it was such a huge hit that eager fans can barely wait until May just to rediscover the magic and flavour of some of California’s best seafood. From fish tacos and oysters to shrimp, lobster, and kickin’ sandwiches, you’ll basically get to taste test the whole sea.

2020 dates: May 2nd

7. Bay Area Street Food & Beer Festival

Travelling through San Jose in March? Plan to make a day out of attending one of the best food festivals in California for 2020. You’ll be able to spend an indulgent day exploring the best street food vendors, food trucks, and breweries around. Tickets ensure you’ll get unlimited pours of craft beer from regional breweries. And, of course, you’ll get access to the best street food vendors in California.

2020 dates: March 21st