15 Food Festivals in the USA This August You’ll Regret Missing

If you thought August was just about beaches and barbecues, think again. Across the USA, it’s a month where towns transform into giant kitchens and streets turn into buffet tables.

From buttery lobster rolls in Maine to garlic ice cream in Minnesota, this is the season when food becomes the main event.

🦞 Maine Lobster Festival – Rockland, Maine

📅 July 30 – August 3, 2025

This is seafood heaven in its purest form. For five glorious days, Rockland’s harbor is filled with the smell of fresh lobster sizzling on grills. Whether you like it boiled, butter-basted, or tucked inside a soft roll, you’ll find it here.

💡 Pro Tip: Come early in the morning to watch the lobster boats unload their catch.
📍 Nearby: Visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum or take a short ferry ride to Vinalhaven Island for scenic walks.

🦪 Milford Oyster Festival – Milford, Connecticut

📅 August 16, 2025

If you love oysters, you’ll be in heaven. This one-day seafood spectacular serves up over 30,000 oysters in every style—raw, baked, grilled, and even Rockefeller.

Watch the high-speed oyster shucking competition, where professionals open dozens of shells in record time.

The festival also features live rock concerts, a carnival, craft stalls, and children’s entertainment, making it perfect for families.

💡 Pro Tip: Pair your oysters with local craft beer—many breweries set up special tasting tents during the festival.
📍 Nearby: Explore Silver Sands State Park for a relaxing post-feast beach walk.

🫐 National Blueberry Festival – South Haven, Michigan

📅 August 7–10, 2025

This is where blueberries take center stage. Expect blueberry pancakes, blueberry pies, blueberry BBQ sauce, and even blueberry beer. The air smells like muffins, and locals decorate their storefronts in shades of blue.

The parade is a highlight, featuring blueberry-themed floats and marching bands. There’s also a pie-eating contest, craft fair, and a 5K “blueberry run” for those who want to earn their calories.

💡 Pro Tip: Try the blueberry shortcake from a local bakery—festival regulars swear it’s the best in the country.
📍 Nearby: Head to South Beach for stunning Lake Michigan views.

🍅 Pittston Tomato Festival – Pittston, Pennsylvania

📅 August 15–18, 2025

Ever wanted to join a real-life food fight? This festival’s famous Tomato Fight is a messy, laughter-filled event where hundreds of people fling ripe tomatoes at each other. Bring goggles—it gets wild.

Beyond the chaos, you can sample dozens of tomato sauces during “Sauce Wars,” enjoy live music, and watch the festival’s beauty pageant.

💡 Pro Tip: Wear old clothes for the tomato fight—you won’t want to keep them afterward.
📍 Nearby: Explore the Susquehanna Riverwalk for scenic views.

🍈 Howell Melon Festival – Howell, Michigan

📅 August 15–17, 2025

Forget watermelons—the sweet star here is the Howell melon, a unique cantaloupe grown only in this region. Try it fresh, blended into smoothies, or served as melon ice cream.

The festival includes a Prince & Princess contest, a vintage car show, live bands, and family-friendly activities.

💡 Pro Tip: Buy a melon early in the day—they sell out fast, especially the perfectly ripe ones.
📍 Nearby: Take a short trip to Brighton State Recreation Area for nature trails.

🌽 Mendota Sweet Corn Festival – Mendota, Illinois

📅 August 7–10, 2025

Here, corn is cooked in a massive vintage steam engine and served free to thousands of visitors. It’s smoky, sweet, and perfectly seasoned.

The festival also includes a carnival, flea market, and a huge parade with floats, marching bands, and horses.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t skip the roasted corn dipped in melted butter—it’s the festival’s signature bite.
📍 Nearby: Visit Starved Rock State Park for hiking trails and waterfalls.

🌶 Hatch Valley Chile Festival – Hatch, New Mexico

📅 August 30–31, 2025

If you like it spicy, this is your dream festival. Hatch chiles are roasted in giant drums, filling the air with a smoky, mouthwatering aroma.

There are cooking competitions, chile-themed crafts, and a Chile Queen pageant. You can even buy fresh bags of roasted chile to take home.

💡 Pro Tip: Wear light clothes—it gets hot in more ways than one.
📍 Nearby: Explore White Sands National Park for surreal desert views.

🍗 National Buffalo Wing Festival – Buffalo, New York

📅 August 30–31, 2025

Held in the birthplace of Buffalo wings, this festival offers every flavor imaginable—from classic hot to peanut butter & jelly wings.

You’ll find wing-eating contests, cooking demos, and live music.

💡 Pro Tip: Pace yourself—there are over 50 vendors, and you’ll want to try more than one.
📍 Nearby: Check out Niagara Falls, just a short drive away.

🧀 Vermont Cheesemakers Festival – Shelburne, Vermont

📅 August 10, 2025

Set against Lake Champlain, this festival is a cheese lover’s paradise. Taste artisan cheeses, meet the makers, and learn pairing secrets with wine, beer, and cider.

💡 Pro Tip: Go early for the best selections—popular cheeses sell out fast.
📍 Nearby: Tour Shelburne Farms for more local food experiences.

🍔 Cheeseburger in Caseville – Caseville, Michigan

📅 August 8–17, 2025

For ten days every August, the quiet lakeside town of Caseville turns into Cheeseburger Paradise. This Jimmy Buffett–inspired celebration is all about tropical vibes, beach music, and—of course—massive, juicy cheeseburgers.

The festival features Parade of Tropical Fools, live island-style music, sandcastle contests, and endless burger stands with creative toppings (think pineapple, jalapeños, or even mac & cheese). The sunsets over Lake Huron are the cherry on top—or should we say, the pickle on the burger.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring a lawn chair and claim a spot early for the parade—it’s one of the most colorful in the Midwest.
📍 Nearby: Head to Sleeper State Park for sandy beaches and camping.

🌍 Des Moines World Food & Music Festival – Des Moines, Iowa

📅 August 22–24, 2025

Why travel the globe when the globe comes to you? This festival gathers flavors from more than 25 countries in one vibrant downtown setting. From Thai curries to Peruvian ceviche, Ethiopian coffee to French pastries—your taste buds will never get bored.

Multiple music stages keep the party going, with performances ranging from mariachi to jazz. There’s also a “Festival Passport” where you can collect stamps for every cuisine you try—a fun way to eat your way around the world.

💡 Pro Tip: Go with friends and share plates so you can try more dishes without getting too full too quickly.
📍 Nearby: Visit the Pappajohn Sculpture Park for Instagram-worthy art shots.

🧄 Minnesota Garlic Festival – Hutchinson, Minnesota

📅 August 9, 2025

If you think garlic is just for pasta, prepare to be amazed. This festival turns the humble bulb into an all-star ingredient—garlic ice cream, garlic cotton candy, garlic beer, and even garlic caramel popcorn.

You can meet local farmers, watch cooking demos, and shop for specialty garlic varieties you won’t find in stores. The air smells so good, you’ll want to bottle it.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring mints if you’re planning a romantic evening after—it’s a garlic overload.
📍 Nearby: Take a scenic drive along the Crow River Valley for small-town charm.

🎌 Otaku Food Festival – San Antonio, Texas

📅 August 9–10, 2025

Part food festival, part anime convention, this event is a sensory overload in the best way possible. You’ll find Japanese ramen stalls next to Filipino BBQ skewers, Korean fried chicken, Thai desserts, and Latin street food.

Cosplay contests, sumo wrestling demos, and anime-themed photo booths make this a unique fusion of food and pop culture. It’s the perfect spot for both foodies and anime fans to unite.

💡 Pro Tip: Wear your favorite cosplay—many vendors offer discounts to dressed-up guests.
📍 Nearby: Stroll along the San Antonio River Walk for dining, shopping, and nightlife.

🎶 Beats & BBQ Fest – Manistee, Michigan

📅 August 8–9, 2025

Imagine smoky BBQ scents filling the air while tribute bands play rock and country hits. This lakeside event brings together award-winning BBQ vendors serving ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and more.

There’s no admission fee—just bring your appetite. And if you’re into BBQ sauce, this is the place to taste unique blends like bourbon maple or habanero honey.

💡 Pro Tip: Come early and sample smaller portions so you can try multiple BBQ spots before you’re too full.
📍 Nearby: Take a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan for the perfect festival finale.

🍝 Feast of St. Anthony – Boston, Massachusetts

📅 August 29–31, 2025

Boston’s North End turns into a little slice of Italy during this traditional street feast. Expect stalls piled high with pasta, sausage rolls, cannoli, and fried calamari, along with Italian folk music and religious processions.

It’s as much about culture as it is about food—locals have celebrated this feast for over 100 years. The streets are decorated with lights, and the smell of garlic, basil, and fresh bread lingers late into the night.

💡 Pro Tip: Try the arancini (fried rice balls)—they’re a festival favorite.
📍 Nearby: Walk to the historic Paul Revere House to add a dash of history to your trip.

🎡 Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, Iowa

📅 August 7–17, 2025

One of the largest state fairs in the USA, the Iowa State Fair is a food lover’s dream. Think deep-fried everything—Oreos, butter, pickles—plus giant turkey legs, pork chops on a stick, and homemade pies.

There are cooking contests, agricultural displays, concerts, and carnival rides. The “butter cow,” a life-size cow sculpture made entirely from butter, is a quirky fair tradition you won’t see anywhere else.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring cash—some food stalls don’t accept cards.
📍 Nearby: Explore the East Village neighborhood for boutique shopping and coffee shops.

🥳 Final Bite

From lobster races in Maine to garlic ice cream in Minnesota, August is a month when America eats big, bold, and without apology. Whether you’re into fiery chiles, sweet melons, or cheesy burgers, there’s a festival calling your name.

Read More: 6 Big Cities in the USA That Come Alive in August Month