Tag: Food festivals

View All Tags

/ / / / / /

Chipotle Goes Beyond Burritos to Host Festivals in Chicago and Denver

June 12, 2012 at 3:18 PM | by | Comments (0)

After the success of last year's Cultivate Festival, Chipotle Mexican Grill is curating two more festivals this year.

The first Cultivate Food, Ideas & Music Festival will be held September 15 in Lincoln Park in Chicago followed by a second event on October 6 in Denver's City Park.

Both festivals will be completely free and include cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs like Richard Blais, Amanda Freitag and Zak Pelacci, live music from acts including G. Love & Special Sauce and Allen Stone, an Artisans’ Tent with goods from local artists, a Tasting Tent with local beer and wine, and much more.

more ›

/ / / / /

Stalking the Empire Asparagus Festival: Long Live the Queen!

May 25, 2012 at 5:26 PM | by | Comments (0)

Here at Jaunted, we spend considerable time and (virtual) ink drooling over weird food festivals. So, this summer, we've decided to visit a few. All this week our Michigan embed Lara Zielin will report back from the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Everything about this year’s Asparagus Festival parade was green—from the clothes to the hats to the face paint, all the way to the parade’s commitment to the environment. No cars or trucks or lawn mowers or greenhouse-gas-emitting anythings were allowed. Other than that, as long as you celebrated the stalk, you could join the fray.

Twice.

more ›

/ / / / /

Stalking the Empire Asparagus Festival: Cupcakes and Poetry

May 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM | by | Comments (0)


Blueberry and asparagus cupcakes

Here at Jaunted, we spend considerable time and (virtual) ink drooling over weird food festivals. So, this summer, we've decided to visit a few. All this week our Michigan embed Lara Zielin will report back from the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Empire, Michigan’s ninth annual Asparagus Festival hosted a cook-off with sixteen entries that showcased, if nothing else, myriad ways in which people will meld asparagus with just about anything. Red lentil dahl, blueberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, smoothies, pesto; just add “and asparagus” and you’ve got…well, you’ve got something.

Festival attendees can taste all the entrants’ dishes for free. The only requirement is that you stay long enough to hear the top three announced, since eating and bolting is bad form in these parts. And it’s worth it to taste the standouts like winner Janet Golenberg’s asparagus cashew miso dip. A pop of garlic and a fresh, crunchy veggie to scoop it with (not an asparagus spear, thank you very much) made it an easy favorite.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Stalking the Empire Asparagus Festival: Kick Ass-paragus

May 23, 2012 at 4:22 PM | by | Comment (1)


Two runners who got their Ass-paragus kicked

Here at Jaunted, we spend considerable time and (virtual) ink drooling over weird food festivals. So, this summer, we've decided to visit a few. All this week our Michigan embed Lara Zielin will report back from the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Ron Zywicki, this year's winner of Empire, Michigan’s “Kick Ass-paragus” 5k may have finished the race in 17:39, but the participants who ran more slowly—perhaps because they filled up on the asparagus beer the night before during the town’s annual Asparagus Festival kickoff—probably weren’t phased. It’s not as if the race is all that competitive, especially considering they don’t begin it with an actual clock, but rather by dropping a single asparagus spear on the ground: when it lands, you go.

The real bummer of running the 5k at a leisurely pace is that you get to the Asparagus Festival’s food tent later than everyone else, lengthening your wait time for a slice of asparagus pizza, or an asparagus boule, or get a brain freeze on some asparagus ice cream.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

Stalking the Empire Asparagus Festival: OMG. ASPARAGUS BEER

May 22, 2012 at 3:44 PM | by | Comment (1)

Here at Jaunted, we spend considerable time and (virtual) ink drooling over weird food festivals. So, this summer, we've decided to visit a few. All this week our Michigan embed Lara Zielin will report back from the Empire Asparagus Festival.

I’ll be honest: If I were going to an asparagus festival and they didn’t have asparagus beer, I’d be pissed. After all, the tangy, bright flavor of asparagus is an ideal complement to beer’s bready body. So good thing Right Brain Brewery agrees with me and stocked Empire, Michigan’s ninth annual Asparagus Festival with an asparagus beer that gives you the best of a good beer without losing the flavor—and flare—of the weekend’s favored vegetable.

Right Brain Brewery’s asparagus ale is light and potable. Maybe even a little too potable, judging from the numbers of people who quaffed a glass (or five) at the festival’s Friday night kickoff, then grooved to the sounds of local musicians, The Benzie Playboyz. The band’s name is possibly awful, but you don't need another pint to appreciate the fact that they have not one but two members who play a washboard. And one of the players is under age twelve.

more ›

/ / / / /

Stalking the Empire Asparagus Festival: Welcome to Piss-Happy Michigan

May 21, 2012 at 4:16 PM | by | Comments (0)

Here at Jaunted, we spend considerable time and (virtual) ink drooling over weird food festivals. So, this summer, we've decided to visit a few. All this week our Michigan embed Lara Zielin will report back from the Empire Asparagus Festival.

Empire, Michigan may host the only food festival where people talk extensively about pee. A necessary conversation cornerstone, perhaps, when you dedicate an entire weekend to asparagus, the vegetable that can transform a “humble chamberpot into a bower of aromatic perfume,” as Marcel Proust once put it.

Embracing funky pee is just part of the whole asparagus experience trumpeted by Empire residents, from root to shoot. Each year, the 400-person village on the white-sand shores of Lake Michigan swells to hold thousands, all coming together for asparagus beer, the asparagus parade, an asparagus cook-off, the “Kick Ass-paragus” 5k, and (of course!) the asparagus poetry contest.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Cheese, Beer, Spam and Grits Festivals Will Fill Your April Full of Indigestion

April 5, 2012 at 3:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

It’s officially spring, and April has been doing its thing for a few days now. That means the seasonal festivals have started to move outdoors and the warmer weather guarantees a good time no matter where you decide to spend the weekend. Of course overindulgence on one particular food is always a great way to pass the time, so here’s a few picks of where to taste and treat this month:

World Grits Festival - St. George, South Carolina

We’re just a week or so away from the World Grits Festival in St. George, South Carolina, so if you’re looking for a little slice of the South now’s the time to make your plans. They’ve been throwing this party for the last 27 years, so at this point we’re thinking that they really know what they’re doing. All kinds of arts and crafts will be on display, there’s a chance to grind your own grits, plenty of live music, and of course a grits eating contest. Things run between April 13 and April 15—check the full schedule here—and admission is totally free. Just be sure to schedule your time accordingly, as we wouldn’t want you to miss the chance to see attendees rolling around in a pool full of grits—yes, that’s a real thing.

Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival – Kenosha, Wisconsin

Nothing is as delicious as some beer and some cheese, and thankfully there’s one festival in Wisconsin getting ready to celebrate both. The Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival is getting ready to go on Saturday, April 21 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Tickets will set you back around $40 per person, but that will get you access to plenty of samples from the state’s best cheese producers and brewers. Local breweries will be on hand to show off their latest sudsy creations including Big Bay Brewing Company and their Long Weekend IPA. All the overindulgence goes down at the The Brat Shop, so we’re even thinking they’ll be an opportunity to partake in a sausage or too as well.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

Three March Food Festivals to Get You in the Mood for Spring

March 1, 2012 at 11:36 AM | by | Comments (0)

It’s finally March and that means that spring is right around the corner. The warmer weather brings us plenty of outdoor opportunity, but it also means that Mother Nature is ready to grow some tasty goodies. So get ready for spring with a few food festivals that show off the seasonal harvest:

Yuma Lettuce Days - Yuma, Arizona

It’s definitely a sort of BYODressing event, as Lettuce Days arrives in Yuma in just a little more than a week. This year’s lettuce festival—known as Yuma Lettuce Days—runs its course over a Saturday and Sunday through March 10 and March 11. Sure a festival dedicated to leafy greens might not exactly excite the taste buds, but of course there’s way more than just lettuce at this month’s food festival. There’s ice carving, vegetable carving, and even a really huge salad bar where you can get your fix of farm fresh fixings.

Tickets are just $5 per person, and if you’ve got little ones under the age of 5 they’ll get in for free. Celeb chefs will be in attendance along with the 40,000 lettuce fans that organizers are expecting. Brian Malarkey from Top Chef will be there to do his thing with all the lettuce, and when you’re sick of feasting on vegetables there’ll be some live music to keep you going. Our only complaint is that there doesn’t seem to be a lettuce eating contest, because that would be hilarious—especially with a side of ranch dressing.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Three January Food Festivals for Forgetting Your New Year's Resolutions

January 11, 2012 at 10:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

January is kind of a slow and sleepy month, but even if it’s not quite harvest time that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of foods to celebrate. There’s spicy stuff, sweet stuff, and everything in between...so here’s our picks for three fun food festivals that might be worth your time this month:

· Kumquat Festival – Dade City, Florida:
Of course the Sunshine State is known for oranges and grapefruits, but they’re also pretty darn awesome at growing kumquats. Dade City wants to share their love for the little orange fruits, and each year they invite like 40,000 friends to come check things out. This year’s festival is scheduled to run from 9am to 5pm on January 28—that’s a Saturday—and it’s free for all to enjoy.

Kumquat ice cream, kumquat pies, and kumquat cookies are just some of the special delicacies on display for sampling and snacking. Organizers are expecting around 350 different vendors to set up shop in the city’s downtown, so expect the usual arts, crafts, car shows, and entertainment in addition to all the tasty treats. There’s recipe contests too, and there’s even a chance to do your thing in hopes of scoring the title of Miss or Mister Kumquat.

more ›

/ / / / / /

It's South Beach Wine and Food Fest Tix Time

Where: Miami Beach, FL
October 13, 2011 at 12:01 PM | by | Comments (0)

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival may be four months away, but the date to mark on your calendar—the day tickets go on sale to the general public—is much sooner: October 24.

And if you're an AMEX card holder, you can go ahead and start plotting your February gluttony now, via the American Express pre-sale. After standing on many a line and overhearing many a desperate plea for spare tickets at this year's fest, we recommend making your plans for February 23–26 pronto.

Here's what's new for 2012:

more ›

/ / / / / /

Three Upcoming Pumpkin Festivals to Help Celebrate the Season

October 5, 2011 at 10:50 AM | by | Comments (0)

Somehow it’s already October, and while we’re still working on selecting a Halloween costume it’s definitely time to start planning for pumpkin season. There’s seasonal stuff all over the country, but here’s three picks to get your fill of jack-o-lanterns:

· Pumpkin Festival 2011 – Keene, New Hampshire:
This one might be the best of them all, and it’s up to you to help the festival retain its glory. There will be thousands of jack-o-lanterns on display as the night approaches, but organizers encourage—if not demand—that you bring your own to share and display as well.

The fun takes place on Saturday, October 22, between noon and 8:30 in the evening. You’ll want to get there early to enjoy all the different food and entertainment offerings including pumpkin bowling at 2pm, as well as to score a good seat to see all the pumpkins illuminated in the town’s Central Square. Admission is free, but they would appreciate a $10 donation—you know, to keep things running smoothly.

more ›

/ / / /

Cranberries, 'Kraut, and Pumpkins: Three Fun Fall Food Festivals

September 21, 2011 at 10:10 AM | by | Comment (1)

Even though it feels like summer has been over for a few weeks, fall doesn’t really arrive until later this week. To celebrate we’ve been looking for a few good fall food festivals here and there, and here are just three that we found to be well worthy of the season:

· Warrens Cranberry Festival:
Although its starring role as a Thanksgiving side dish is still a couple months away, it’s already time to celebrate and honor the mighty cranberry in Warrens, Wisconsin. Things kick off this weekend, as the fun is scheduled for to run on September 23, 24, and 25. It’s the world’s largest cranberry festival, so if you only have time for one cranberry festival this year—make it this one.

Get there early, as lots of the booths open right at 7am. You don’t want to miss the biggest berry contest, 350 flea market booths, or 850 arts and crafts tables. There were well over 100,000 cran-fans in attendance last year alone. Besides all the food and fun the best part are the marsh tours. Only $6 will get you a ride out into the middle of an active cranberry marsh along with plenty of options to buy some samples to bring back home. Other than the tours, admission is free, so make sure to bring the whole family along.

more ›

Previous
Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices