10 top festivals for food lovers

Head to Regent’s Park, London’s green get-away in the middle of the city, for the annual Taste of London food festival. The festival features more than 50 restaurants and more than 200 unique food vendors. You’ll chow down on traditional British dishes and international fare. “Make sure to try the famous beef Wellington, fish and chips and locally brewed ales,” writes headout. You can also learn about top food and drink trends from cooking demonstrations and top chefs.

When: Annually in June 

Consider visiting the city of Ubud, known as a cultural center in Bali, for the Ubud Food Festival, which celebrates Indonesian cuisine. You can taste traditional Balinese cuisine such as satay and nasi goreng. Learn about Indonesian cuisine from workshops, demonstrations and talks from experienced chefs and food experts. Tour a traditional marketplace and pick up some local goods and crafts.

When: Annually in June

Every summer, around 22,000 people descend on the town of Buñol, Spain to attend La Tomatina — the biggest food fight in the world! It is said that La Tomatina started in August 1945 during a parade on People’s Square, after youngsters made one of the participants fall. In response, the crowd became angry and started throwing tomatoes. Six trucks are used to throw 160 tons of tomatoes onto the streets during the entirety of the festival. Swimming goggles are not a must, but may help keep tomatoes out of your eyes!

When: August 27, 2025

Grant Park features some of Chicago’s most iconic attractions and is home of the annual Taste of Chicago food festival.  A staple of the Windy City for more than 40 years, the food festival features dozens of Chicago’s favourite vendors. “Each year, food vendors will dish out not just tastes of Chicago’s classics — like hotdogs, pizza, and cheesecake — but also bites that represent the international influences tied to the city’s history as a melting pot of cultures,” writes Choose Chicago.

When: September 5 - 7, 2025   

With an average of 6.3 million visitors over more than two weeks, Oktoberfest is one of the largest food festivals in the world. Oktoberfest is famous for its beer but also showcases German culture with parades, music, food, and revelers in Bavarian clothing.

When: September 20 - August 5, 2025 

A fresh seafood lovers paradise, the annual Oyster Festival in Galway celebrates Ireland’s robust oyster industry.  You can enjoy freshly shucked oysters with a variety of toppings, other seafood dishes and live music. The festival also features a renowned oyster shucking contest with competitors from around the world.  

When: Annually the last weekend in September

Known as one of the best food festivals in the world, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans. Over ten days, vendors offer dishes made from vegetables, fruits, soybean, and protein products. Revelers celebrate with parade, music and delicious vegan dishes.

When: October 21 - 29, 2025

Consider taking in views of the stunning Victoria Harbor while you stroll through the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival. You may try the fine wines and spirits from China and other nations from over 400 vendors. Snack on street food and other dishes local to Hong Kong and beyond. As the night falls, you may be serenaded by live jazz and classical performances from Chinese and international artists. Expand your knowledge of food and drink with classes for sommeliers, tastings and cooking demonstrations.

When: Annually in October

This 10-day Montreal food festival celebrates the culinary diversity of Montreal’s restaurants by offering three or four-course fixed menus at $35, $45, $55, and $75. The festival offers a variety of food including African, Asian, Mediterranean, North American cuisine. 

When: November 1 - November 16, 2025

This biennial event is a quirky delight. Held in Chinchilla, Australia, the festival celebrates the region’s melon farming industry with a bonanza of melon-loving activities. Consider trying melon skiiing, melon bungee, and melon chariot racing! Eat traditional Australian cuisine and sway to live music. 

When: Next biennial festival will be held from February 16 - 19, 2025

Consider booking your accommodations and flights early! Major food festivals can often draw visitors from around the world, so you want to make sure your plans are solid well before the date. Also, it may be a good idea to rely on public transportation, walking or bicycling to get to the festival grounds. Driving in an unfamiliar, international city can be stressful on high traffic days during major events.

Be sure to pack for the weather, your comfort and safety. If it is cold, dress in easily removable layers that can stow away in a small backpack. Don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat on bright, hot days. Consider bringing antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer along for public restrooms. A small, portable chair can be a good idea for muddy and wet festival grounds. And consider bringing plenty of bottled water!

Before you go, be sure you are up to date on food and drinking water advisories for your destination. 

At the outset of any culinary adventure, consider purchasing travel insurance in the form of emergency medical coverage or comprehensive travel insurance coverage, which may come in handy if your unfamiliar food experiences unexpectedly take you from the chef’s table to the local medical clinic.

You should know that your Canadian government health insurance plan may not fully cover you if you experience a medical emergency outside of your home province. Also, many health facilities abroad ask for upfront payment for services. Emergency medical benefits by Allianz Global Assistance may help you fill insurance gaps by reimbursing eligible non-refundable expenses if you experience a medical emergency abroad.

Allianz Global Assistance also provides trip cancellation and interruption benefits. Let’s say a hurricane is forecasted to occur during your trip, after you purchased travel insurance. Travel insurance may be the difference between cancelling your trip and losing money, or postponing for a better day. We may also reimburse eligible non-refundable expenses if your baggage is lost or stolen, up to the amount listed in your policy. We offer both annual and single-trip polices.   

Just in case you have one serving too many of your favourite dish, cut yourself during a knife skills workshop or your wine tour gets rained out, travel insurance may be the essential ingredient you’ll be glad to have at your destination.

Important note: Before planning your food travel itinerary, always consult the Canadian Government website for further advisories on your destination.

Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.

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