September 2011
Food & Wine Events Calendar
Seasonal
Tip:
Grape harvesting begins
this month, which means tastings and celebrations in
California's wine-growing areas. |
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September 1-5
Morgan City, LA — 76th Annual Louisiana Shrimp
and Petroleum Festival
Now in its 76th year, the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival honors the workers who keep
the region's two lifeblood industries going strong — even through hurricanes. What better way to
celebrate than to eat the fruits of their shrimping labor? The Cajun Culinary Classic features home-style
Cajun cooking with jambalaya, fried alligator and, of course, shrimp. The festival will feature music of
different genres and include other highlights such as a regional crafts show and a "Children's Village"
for kids. Admission to the event, held in the Morgan City Downtown Historic District, is free. For more
information, call 985-385-0703 or visit www.shrimp-petrofest.org.
September 2-4
Sonoma County, CA — Sonoma Wine Country Weekend
Previously known as the Sonoma County Showcase Weekend of Wine & Food, this fourth-annual gala
event features three days of fantastic wine and food presented by world-renowned winemakers and
Sonoma's top chefs. Taste of Sonoma at the MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg and the Sonoma Valley
Harvest Wine Auction at Cline Cellars in Sonoma are the highlights of the Labor Day weekend event. The
festivities kick off on Friday at noon with a Winemaker Lunch Series. Proceeds from the event support
Sonoma County non-profits. Tickets, which go on sale on June 1, range from $85 to $500 per person. For
www.sonomawine.com.
September 2-5
Los Angeles, CA — THE TASTE
The inaugural Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine's THE TASTE is set to bring together last year's most successful Southern California gastronomic events and the creators behind them. THE TASTE will feature the nation's foremost culinary talent, a carefully curated list of L.A.'s best restaurants, and notable personalities, all converging for a festival expected to attract more than 20,000 guests throughout the course of Labor Day weekend, September 2-5, 2011. For more information, including programming and event updates and tickets, visit www.latimes.com/THETASTE
September 3-4
Millbrae, CA — 41st Annual Millbrae
Art & Wine Festival
Every year, the last official weekend of summer brings massive crowds to Millbrae for one of the Bay
Area's biggest Labor Day weekend events, transforming Broadway Avenue into a moveable Mardi Gras-style feast of people and colorful tents. Festivalgoers can expect a vibrant street scene with food,
wine, family entertainment, live music and arts and crafts. The full schedule has yet to be determined.
The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more
www.miramarevents.com.
September 8-11
Traverse City, MI — The Epicurean Classic
A three-day food festival that features dinners, tastings and classes taught by top-level chefs from across the country and around the world, The Epicurean Classic will be held September 8-11 at a sprawling indoor/outdoor venue in Traverse City's bayfront Warehouse District.
As before, it will include classes and talks by celebrity chefs like Ted Reader, Jennifer McLagan, Maxime Bilet and Martha Hall Foose. But the most intriguing new event is the Tour de Terroir, which will combine eating and drinking with bicycle touring. For more information, visit www.epicureanclassic.com.
September
10
Santa Rosa, CA — 15th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival
More than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in every size, shape and color imaginable have been
featured at this event, picked fresh from Kendall-Jackson Winery's own culinary gardens. Attendees experience selections from gourmet food purveyors, wine education seminars, a
tomato growing contest, tomato-inspired art show garden tours and live entertainment — all paired with
Kendall-Jackson wines. The event will
take place on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 800-
769-3649 or visit www.kj.com.
September
10-11
Mountain View, CA — Mountain View Art & Wine Festival
Silicon Valley's art & music celebrates its 40th birthday with festive food and drink, premium wines, microbrews, sangria, mojitos and margaritas; artisan specialty food purveyors; an organic and green products showcase; health and wellness displays; home and garden exhibits; 600 professional artists and craftmakers showing handcrafted wares; stellar live music on stage and street throughout downtown; the Comcast Pigskin Party Lounge with giant screen TV; the new Cuda Lounge; a special remembrance ceremony to honor the heroes from 9/11; and action-packed Kids' Park. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.miramarevents.com/mountainview/index.html
September
13-18
Bardstown, KY — 2011
Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Celebrate a classic American spirit at the 2011 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky —
the Bourbon Capital of the World. The festival offers six days of Bourbon tastings, delicious food,
and entertainment. This year's official drink will be Lexington's Azur Restaurant and Patio's "Bluegrass
Sunrise." Also in the mix will be black-tie galas and historical tours. Some events are free while others are
priced separately. For more information, call 800-638-4877 or visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.
September
15-18
Grapevine, TX — 25th
Annual GrapeFest
This four-day festival invites guests to tour the wineries of Grapevine, an area named for the abundance
of its namesake. This festive city will introduce you to award-winning wines of the region. Enjoy a
rousing good time among Texans eager to show you the fruits of their city. Highlights traditionally
include the People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic, GrapeStomp, Vintner's Auction and Texas Wine Tribute. For more information, visit
www.grapevinetexasusa.com or call 817-410-3185.
September
16-18
Abbotsford, BC, Canada — EAT! Fraser Valley Food + Cooking Festival
Celebrity chefs, popular local restaurants, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans and many others from the culinary world will come together for a three-day public extravaganza, September 16-18, at the Tradex Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford, BC. EAT! Fraser Valley encompasses unique food experiences, opportunities to learn behind-the-scenes culinary magic from professional chefs, celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, and diverse food, beverage and cooking related exhibits. Enjoy some of the best wines, beers and spirits from British Columbia and around the world, offered for tasting by the vintners and producers themselves. For more information, visit www.eat-fraservalley.com.
September
16-18
Los
Angeles, CA — Port
of Los Angeles Lobster Festival
Lobster is king at the annual Port of Los
Angeles Lobster Festival, one of Southern California's great
food events. The feast is held at Ports O' Call Village on San Pedro Harbor's picturesque waterfront
overlooking colorful commercial fishing boats and giant ocean-going ships. The festival features a
seafood fiesta of Maine lobster, coleslaw, potatoes, sweet bread, lemon wedges and buttery dipping
sauce (non-seafood items will also be available). Hours are as follows: Friday, September 16, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.;
Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tickets cost $9 per adult or $7 per
person with a coupon printed from the event website. Kids younger than 12 years of age get in free. For
more information, call the lobster hotline at 310-798-7478 or www.lobsterfest.com.
September
17-18
Westminster,
MD — Maryland
Wine Festival
Enjoy Maryland's ambience and offerings at the 28th annual Maryland Wine Festival, featuring tastings
from wineries, live music, foods from local restaurants, arts and crafts and wine education seminars. A silent
auction is also usually held. Admission for adults is $22 in advance (or $25 at the gate). The festival will
take place Saturday and Sunday from noon-6 p.m. at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster,
Carroll County. For more information, call 800-654-4645 or visit www.marylandwine.com.
September
17-October 3
Munich, GERMANY — Oktoberfest
"It's tapped!"
roars the Lord Mayor of Munich when opening the first
keg of Oktoberfest beer — the first
of six million! This ritual inaugurates the world's largest beer fest along with a parade of bar owners
and brewers on horse-drawn carriages. One of Europe's most visited cities, Munich is the home of this
annual beer and sausage blowout. Each beer tent boasts its own entertainment, and parades, carnivals
and food stalls provide endless fun. Certain events are a must for Oktoberfest visitors; for example, the
parade of tent proprietors, the Trachten und Schützenzug (folklore parade) and the Böllerschießen (gun
salute). Visit www.oktoberfest.de for all the details. See our list of Top 2011 U.S. Oktoberfest Celebrations for more locations of this fabulous festival.
September
21-25
Santa
Fe, NM — Santa
Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
This year marks the 21st annual spicy event! Last year, activities included guest chef luncheons, wine
seminars, winemaker dinners and the Grand Food and Wine Tasting. Acacia, Banfi, Vintners, Beronia,
315 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Del Charro and Coyote Café will be working together to pair delicious
foods with fine wine. Tickets go on sale July 5. For more
information, call 505-438-8060 or visit www.santafewineandchile.org.
September
24-25
Tri-Cities, WA — Catch the Crush
Join the Columbia Valley wineries in celebrating the harvest and crush in the heart of Washington's
wine country. Member wineries will open their doors for world-class wine tasting. Activities traditionally
include grape stomping, observing the harvest activities, tasting hors d'oeuvres and relaxing to live
music while enjoying the last of the Indian summer in the Columbia Valley vineyards. Passes cost $30 per person online or $35 per person at the door. For more information, visit
www.wineyakimavalley.org.
September 29-October 1
Denver, CO — Great American Beer Festival
The 30th edition of the Great American Beer Festival returns to Denver's Colorado Convention Center.
More than 2,000 beers will be served to an expected 49,000 participants. As per
tradition, the beers served at the festival will be evaluated by premier beer judges in different beer-style
categories. This annual reunion is a chance for the nation's craft brewers to share advice and knowledge,
network with distributors and retailers, and connect with beer enthusiasts. Tickets will go on sale to American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association
members on June 28, and they will be sold to the general public on July 1. For tickets and information, call 888-822-6273 or visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
September 29-October 2
Kansas City, MO — American Royal Barbecue Contest
If you take your barbecue skills seriously or even if you don't and just like to feast on grilled, sauced
meats, this event at the American Royal complex is for you. This year marks the 32nd annual "World
Series" of barbecue, where contestants from all over the U.S. and Canada descend upon Kansas City to
battle for the title of Grand Champion. Launched in 1980, The American Royal Barbecue is the season
finale for the competitive circuit. Tickets are $13 person. For more information, visit
www.arbbq.com.
September 29-October 2
Greenough, MT — Montana Master Chefs 2011
The 5th annual Montana Master Chefs at The Resort at Paws Up will feature cooking seminars, not to
mention outdoor activities such as fly-fishing with an internationally renowned chef and horseback
riding with world-class vintners. Participating chefs include Dale Levitski and Tiffani Faison, who were
both contestants on Bravo TV's "Top Chef." Gerard Bertrand Wines and Charles Krug Winery will also be
in attendance. All-inclusive package rates start at $4,323 per
couple. For more information, visit www.montanamasterchefs.com or call 800-473-0601.
September
30-November 13
Lake
Buena Vista, FL — Epcot International Food
and Wine Festival |
It's a small world at the fifteenth annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival held at Walt Disney
World Resort in Florida. A two-week, all-day extravaganza of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations,
cultural experiences, sophisticated parties and Eat to the Beat live concerts will entertain guests
throughout the festival. Epcot Theme Park admission is required and some festival events require
separate ticket fees. For tickets and information, call 407-WDW-FEST or visit www.disneyworld.com. |
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