Food & Drink Events In California

California Wine Month

Location: Statewide

Date: September 2024

Details: California Wine Month is a statewide celebration of the state’s legendary wine industry. From special wine-pairing dinners to vineyard tours and grape-stomping events, this is a month-long experience for anyone passionate about wine. Notable regions such as Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara hold events showcasing their finest varietals.

Highlights: Wine tastings, vineyard tours, harvest festivals, winemaker dinners, and wine workshops.

Gilroy Garlic Festival

Location: Gilroy, CA

Date: July 2025 (TBD for 2024)

Details: Known as one of California’s most iconic food festivals, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is a celebration of all things garlic. It features cooking competitions, garlic-infused dishes, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The event draws garlic lovers from around the world for a unique culinary experience.

Highlights: Gourmet Alley, garlic ice cream, cooking competitions, and artisan food vendors.

Eat Drink SF

Location: San Francisco, CA

Date: August 2024 (annual event)

Details: Eat Drink SF is one of San Francisco’s premier food festivals, where the city’s top chefs, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries come together to showcase their best creations. The event includes walk-around tastings, cocktail parties, and chef demonstrations. It’s the ultimate culinary celebration for food lovers.

Highlights: Grand tastings, cocktail competitions, and live cooking demos from famous Bay Area chefs.

Crush Wine & Culinary Showcase

Location: Temecula Valley, CA

Date: September 2024

Details: Held in the heart of Temecula’s wine country, Crush is a popular event celebrating local wines and regional cuisine. The event brings together more than 30 Temecula wineries and local chefs to offer wine and food pairings, gourmet dishes, and live entertainment. It’s a chance to explore one of California’s emerging wine regions.

Highlights: Wine tastings, gourmet food pairings, and live music.

Paso Robles Harvest Wine Weekend

Location: Paso Robles, CA

Date: October 18–20, 2024

Details: The Paso Robles Harvest Wine Weekend celebrates the wine harvest season with exclusive tastings, winemaker dinners, grape stomps, and educational seminars. Over 100 wineries participate in this annual event, offering wine enthusiasts the chance to taste freshly harvested wines and enjoy the region’s beautiful vineyards.

Highlights: Winery tours, grape stomping, wine and food pairings, and live music.

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Date: August 2024

Details: This multi-day festival brings together world-renowned chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists for a culinary extravaganza in the heart of Los Angeles. Guests can enjoy tastings of gourmet dishes, fine wines, and craft cocktails. The festival also includes special events such as chef showcases, exclusive dinners, and cooking demonstrations.

Highlights: Gourmet food tastings, celebrity chef appearances, and wine and cocktail pairings.

San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival

Location: San Diego, CA

Date: November 10–17, 2024

Details: One of the largest food and wine festivals in Southern California, this event takes place along the scenic San Diego Bay. It offers a week of culinary experiences, including wine and spirit tastings, food truck gatherings, cooking classes, and special dinners with top chefs from across the country.

Highlights: Grand tastings, celebrity chef dinners, wine and beer tastings, and gourmet food trucks.

California Craft Beer Summit

Location: Sacramento, CA

Date: September 2024

Details: Celebrating California’s vibrant craft beer industry, the California Craft Beer Summit is an annual event that brings together brewers, beer enthusiasts, and industry professionals. The event includes a beer expo, educational sessions, and the grand finale—an outdoor beer festival featuring hundreds of breweries from around the state.

Highlights: Beer tastings, educational workshops, and brewer meet-and-greets.

Mendocino Crab, Wine & Beer Days

Location: Mendocino County, CA

Date: January 2025 (exact date TBD)

Details: This winter food festival celebrates the bounty of the sea, particularly the local crab harvest, along with Mendocino’s renowned wines and craft beers. The event includes crab feasts, wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly activities.

Highlights: Crab feeds, wine and beer pairings, and cooking competitions.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Location: Santa Rosa, CA

Date: October 2024

Details: The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is an annual celebration of the county’s agricultural bounty. It features wine competitions, craft beer tastings, farm-to-table cuisine, and hands-on activities for families. This event offers visitors the chance to explore the region’s wine and food culture in a fun and interactive way.

Highlights: Wine tastings, culinary competitions, grape stomping, and artisan markets.

California is a haven for food and drink lovers, offering a rich tapestry of culinary experiences that span from vineyard tours and wine festivals to gourmet food trucks and craft beer celebrations. Whether you’re exploring the wine regions of Napa Valley and Paso Robles, savoring garlic-infused delicacies in Gilroy, or attending a high-end food festival in Los Angeles or San Francisco, there’s always something delicious to discover in California. Keep an eye on the calendar for these and other exciting upcoming food and drink events.