Food and drink festivals are not new to the circuit, and fairsn across the country pop up serving various cuisines from all around the world. But the following six festivals are a little different in that they pick one dish — or ingredient— and run with it.
Tater Tot Festival, Oregon
In the town where the tiny fried treats were invented, patrons will celebrate the first-ever Tater Tot festival in Ontario, Oregon, this weekend. Food and Wine reported that the festival will include a taste test to determine the winner of the Tater Tot Cooking Competition and Tater Tot Eating Contest. One of the event’s sponsors is Ore-Ida, which was founded in Ontario almost 70 years ago.
BugFest, North Carolina
This festival, out of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, has gone virtual the past two years due to COVID. Previous editions featured much more than food, which might be expected from an event called “Bugfest.” In 2019, the festival included Café Insecta, a place for guests to try treats made out of bugs themselves.
Gilroy’s Garlic Festival, California
The Gilroy Garlic Festival has taken place in Gilroy, California, for over 40 years. As the story goes, Rudy Melon, who was the president of Gavilan College at the time, read an article about a small town in France that claimed to be the “garlic capital of the world” and hosted an annual garlic festival. Melon disagreed as he viewed that Gilroy’s garlic production and processing were far greater, according to the festival’s website. And thus, Gilroy’s own garlic celebration was born.
West Virginia Roadkill Cook-Off, West Virginia
This one is not for those with weak stomachs—but if you have a strong constitution, read on. Each year, teams gather together in competition for the top honor. Though some of the meat used has been shot and killed, one team in a 2017 video posted to YouTube by Delish shows a team who says they actually hit the animal they were grilling. According to Atlas Obscura, it’s not required that the ingredients are actual roadkill, but they must be animals that are commonly victims of traffic accidents. Though the event was cancelled this year, it is set to return in September 2022.
Ellsworth’s Cheese Curd Festival, Wisconsin
For those who’ve never had a cheese curd, think of a tiny mozzarella stick — sort of. Legitimate Wisconsin cheese curds must be sold within one day of production without being refrigerated, according to Allrecipes.com. The result is essentially a young cheese that is often fried. The Ellsworth’s Cheese Curd Festival takes place in what is known as the cheese curd capital of Wisconsin. The 2022 event is set to have 6,000 pounds of cheese curds.
Waikiki Spam Jam, Hawaii
Spam is an infamous ingredient in many kitchens. But at this festival in Waikiki, Hawaii, it’s the main event. Spam is a staple in Hawaii and this festival showcases unique ways to prepare the canned meat. The restaurant lineup from the 2019 event shows all the menu items from various vendors, including Spam tacos to Spam mochi waffles.
