Highlights of August
- Local Wine Festivals: Sample regional wines and meet the winemakers.
- Farmers Markets: Peak-season produce and artisanal goods.
- Craft Beer Tastings: Seasonal brews perfect for summer evenings.
How to Plan Your Event Calendar
Book tickets early, especially for popular wine dinners and brew fests. Pair your event visits with nearby attractions to make a full weekend out of it.
Park It + Pour It! Food & Drink Festivals Happening Across the USA: August, 2025
If your perfect summer involves sipping rosé under twinkle lights, dancing in the streets with a lobster roll in one hand and a craft beer in the other, or tasting your way through a garlic-infused fantasy, then August is your month.
I’ve curated a definitive list of food and drink festivals across the United States this August. Whether you're looking for wine tastings, taco trucks, cultural feasts, or quirky small-town celebrations, there’s something for every palate. Each event includes location details, estimated pricing, 21+ restrictions, and even a fun fact about the city or state.
🍇 August 1–3, 2025
America’s Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival — Dunkirk, NY
📍 Chautauqua County Fairgrounds
💰 Tasting tickets: ~$32–$43, DD tickets ~$10, camping extra
🍷 21+ for tastings
✅ Includes: souvenir glass, unlimited tastings, live music, kick-off party
📌 Fun fact: Dunkirk lies in the heart of New York’s “Grape Country,” one of the largest grape-growing regions east of the Rockies.
Watsonville Strawberry Festival — Watsonville, CA
📍 Downtown Watsonville
💰 Free admission, food and games priced separately
👨👩👧 All ages welcome
✅ Includes: strawberry treats, live music, arts & crafts
📌 Fun fact: Watsonville grows more strawberries than anywhere else in California!
Live Music at Arrigoni Winery — Portland, CT
📍 Arrigoni Winery, recurring Fri–Sun in August
💰 $10–$15 cover; wine sold separately
🍷 21+ for alcohol
✅ Includes: live music, wine by the glass or bottle
📌 Fun fact: This charming small-batch winery is nestled along the Connecticut Wine Trail.
🧄 August 2–3, 2025
Glorious Garlic Festival — Geneva, NY
📍 Fox Run Vineyards
💰 Free entry; food & wine sold onsite
👨👩👧 All ages welcome
✅ Includes: garlic-inspired cuisine, wine tastings, live demos
📌 Fun fact: Geneva sits at the northern tip of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes wine region.
🌮 August 3, 2025
Latin Festival: Tacos & Tequila — Oceanport, NJ
📍 Monmouth Park Racetrack
💰 ~$12–$15 entry; tacos & tequila sold separately
🍷 21+ for tequila tastings
✅ Includes: mariachi bands, taco trucks, tequila bars
📌 Fun fact: Monmouth Park is one of the oldest horse racetracks in the U.S., dating back to 1870.
🌆 August 6, 2025
Taste of Andersonville — Chicago, IL
📍 Andersonville neighborhood
💰 ~$40–$50
👨👩👧 All ages; 21+ for alcohol tastings
✅ Includes: progressive dinner-style tastings from over 30 restaurants
📌 Fun fact: Andersonville is known for its Swedish roots and independent food scene.
🍺 August 8–10, 2025
Dancing in the Streets — Chicago Brewing District
📍 Hubbard Street between Ashland & Paulina
💰 Free entry; beer & food available for purchase
🍺 21+ to consume alcohol
✅ Includes: live music, food trucks, brewery pop-ups
📌 Fun fact: This fest takes place among some of Chicago’s top breweries like On Tour and Goose Island Barrel House.
🧀 August 9, 2025
Taste of Albany Park — Chicago, IL
📍 Kedzie & Lawrence
💰 ~$30 tasting tickets
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: global eats from this multicultural neighborhood
📌 Fun fact: Albany Park is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the U.S.
Summer Wine Tasting Soirée — San Diego, CA
📍 Mission Bay Beach Club
💰 ~$45–$60
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: wine flights, beach views, small bites
📌 Fun fact: Mission Bay is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country.
William Chris Vineyards Harvest Festival — Hye, TX
📍 William Chris Vineyards
💰 ~$75
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: grape stomp, live music, wine tastings
📌 Fun fact: Hye is part of the Texas Hill Country AVA, the second-largest wine region in the U.S.
TWC Grape Stomp & Paella Party — Hye, TX
📍 Texas Wine Collective
💰 ~$65
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: paella lunch, live music, wine, grape stomp
📌 Fun fact: The winery sits along famed Wine Road 290.
Summer of Riesling — Amity, OR
📍 Varnum Vintners
💰 ~$30–$40
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: Riesling flights, food pairings
📌 Fun fact: Amity is located in the Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon’s top wine-producing region.
Summer Soirée Poolside — Eola-Amity Hills AVA, OR
📍 AtTheJoy Luxury Retreat
💰 ~$80–$100
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: pool party, wine, local food
📌 Fun fact: Eola-Amity Hills is prized for its cool-climate Pinot Noir.
🥦 August 9–10, 2025
Veggie Fest — Lisle, IL
📍 Danada South Park
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: vegetarian food vendors, yoga, wellness talks
📌 Fun fact: This is one of the largest vegetarian festivals in North America.
🧄 August 13, 2025
Garlic Fest — Highwood, IL
📍 Downtown Highwood
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: garlic-infused everything, live music
📌 Fun fact: Highwood holds Guinness World Records for the most lit pumpkins in one place.
🎨🍷 August 16, 2025
Mt. Helix Food & Wine Festival — San Diego, CA
📍 Mt. Helix Nature Theatre
💰 ~$75–$125
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: unlimited tastings, local food, live music, art
📌 Fun fact: This open-air amphitheater sits atop a mountain with panoramic views of San Diego.
The Art of the Crisp: Chips and Wine Pairing — Hye, TX
📍 Texas Wine Collective
💰 ~$45
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: curated potato chip & wine pairings
📌 Fun fact: They once paired jalapeño chips with Viognier!
Oak Park Microbrew Review — Oak Park, IL
📍 Downtown Oak Park
💰 ~$35–$55
🍺 21+ only
✅ Includes: unlimited beer tastings from over 70 breweries
📌 Fun fact: Oak Park is the birthplace of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
🦞 August 16–17, 2025
Great American Lobster Fest — Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
📍 Navy Pier
💰 Lobster meal ~$50–$75; general admission free
👨👩👧 All ages, 21+ for drinks
✅ Includes: lobster, live bands, fireworks
📌 Fun fact: Happens during the Chicago Air & Water Show — watch jets fly over as you crack claws!
Wine & Art Walk — Lisle, IL
📍 Morton Arboretum
💰 ~$15–$25
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: wine stations throughout the gardens, local art
📌 Fun fact: The arboretum contains over 222,000 live plants!
🚚 August 17, 2025
Around the World Food Truck Festival — Lemont, IL
📍 Downtown Lemont
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: global cuisine trucks, beer garden
📌 Fun fact: Lemont’s downtown is built over a canal that once connected the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.
Bloody Mary Fest — Highwood, IL
📍 Downtown Highwood
💰 ~$35–$45
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: bottomless Bloody Mary tastings, garnish competition
📌 Fun fact: There’s also a pet parade and best-dressed tomato contest.
🌽🍕 August 22–24, 2025
Corn Fest — DeKalb, IL
📍 Downtown DeKalb
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: corn boil, carnival rides, live bands
📌 Fun fact: Corn Fest began in 1977 and still serves free sweet corn!
Pizza City Fest — Chicago, IL
📍 Plumbers Union Hall
💰 ~$49–$89
🍕 All ages
✅ Includes: dozens of local pizzerias, panel talks, samples
📌 Fun fact: Chicagoans eat more thin crust than deep dish — gasp!
Taste of Greektown — Chicago, IL
📍 Halsted Street
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: Greek food, music, dancing
📌 Fun fact: Greek culture has been part of Chicago’s fabric since the 1890s.
FoodieLand Night Market — Portland, OR
📍 Portland Expo Center
💰 ~$6 entry; food priced per vendor
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: Asian street food, global fusion, games
📌 Fun fact: FoodieLand started in California and expanded thanks to viral TikTok eats.
🎡 August 23–24, 2025
West Chicago Food Festival — West Chicago, IL
📍 Downtown West Chicago
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: food vendors, cultural performances
📌 Fun fact: West Chicago was the first Illinois community created by the railroad.
Zoo Uncorked: Wine & Vines — Brookfield Zoo, IL
📍 Brookfield Zoo
💰 ~$65–$85
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: wine tastings throughout the zoo
📌 Fun fact: You can sip Syrah while watching giraffes.
Around the World Cultural Food Festival — Alexandria, VA
📍 Oronoco Bay Park
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: cultural showcases, ethnic food vendors
📌 Fun fact: Alexandria’s Old Town has more historic buildings than Boston!
Chicago Romanian Food & Folk Festival — Chicago, IL
📍 Avondale neighborhood
💰 Free admission
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: traditional Romanian dishes, dancing
📌 Fun fact: Try sarmale—Romanian cabbage rolls stuffed with pork and rice.
Lakeview Taco Fest — Chicago, IL
📍 Southport Ave
💰 ~$10 donation requested
👨👩👧 All ages
✅ Includes: gourmet tacos, margaritas, music
📌 Fun fact: One vendor always brings a lamb-and-mint taco that locals rave about.
Sangria Festival Chicago — Humboldt Park
📍 Humboldt Park Boathouse
💰 ~$45–$85
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: 15+ sangria vendors, salsa bands, art installations
📌 Fun fact: One of the most Instagrammable festivals in the Midwest!
🌟 August 24, 2025
Taste of Texas: Twirl & Sip — Hye, TX
📍 Texas Wine Collective
💰 ~$45–$60
🍷 21+ only
✅ Includes: line dancing, wine tastings, themed bites
📌 Fun fact: Hye once had a post office visited by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
🌎 August 28 – November 22, 2025
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — Orlando, FL
📍 Walt Disney World Resort
💰 Park admission + food purchases (~$150–$200 total/day)
👨👩👧 All ages; 21+ to drink
✅ Includes: dozens of international food pavilions, cooking demos, concerts
📌 Fun fact: Try wine tastings in Morocco, churros in Mexico, and poutine in Canada—all in one day.