National Apple Harvest Festival, Arendtsville, Pa.
Every autumn, the small Pennsylvania towns of Arendtsville and Biglerville join to honor the apple at the annual National Apple Harvest Festival. Hosted on the South Mountain Fairgrounds, the festival boasts treats like apple-bobbing, fresh-pressed cider, apple dumplings and apple sauce, and bundles of fresh apples for you to take home. It’s held during the first two weekends in October.
Harvest on the Harbor, Portland, Maine
This yearly festival attracts morethan 5,000 visitors looking to taste Maine’s best, locally sourced foods, experience the top chefs and pick up some Maine-made products. The festival showcases Portland’s booming culinary scene, with competitions like Best Farm-to Table Restaurant and Lobster Chef of the Year. Visitors can experience multiple tastings, including wine, beer and barbecue from hundreds of chefs.
German Village Oktoberfest, Columbus, Ohio
One of the most authentic Oktoberfests outside of Munich, this one takes place in a 100,000-square-foot pavilion complete with beer gardens, stages for live bands, and dance floors for you to do the polka. Along with the beer, you’ll find dozens of craftspeople selling their goods in the Art & Craft Giant Eagle Marktplatz, along with a parade and signature German dishes like frankfurters with sauerkraut.
Wellfleet OysterFest, Wellfleet, Mass.
This two-day festival honors the town’s nationally renowned shellfish via shucking competitions, tastings and cooking demonstrations. On top of the hoards of shellfishermen showing off their catches, the festival has artisans selling handcrafted jewelry and other items. Don’t miss the shuck-off, during which contestants are given 24 oysters to shuck and are graded not only on speed but also on precision.
Wine and Chile Fiesta, Santa Fe, N.M.
This five-day autumn event celebrates the strong presence of Santa Fe cuisine, which, of course, means a lot of chiles. Earning a name for itself as one of the best small-town culinary destinations, the town struts its stuff at this festival with the area’s 75 best restaurants, as well as 90 national wineries, offering cooking demos, tastings and special luncheons and dinners. The festival culminates in the grand tasting, held at the Santa Fe Opera House and featuring tastings from 75 of the area’s finest restaurants and 100 national wineries.
Bayfest Music Festival, Mobile, Ala.
During October, the streets of Mobile become a constant concert venue. For three days, between the historic buildings, nine stages are set up where hundreds of musical acts play to crowds larger than those found at Mardi Gras! Big name acts are known to drop in each year, but there is also a stage dedicated just to aspiring new artists.
Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival, Port Angeles, Wash.
In celebration of the end of Dungeness crab season, the town of Port Angeles hosts a Grab a Crab Tank Derby. Volunteers are there to help participants catch, clean and prepare the crabs. Anyone who catches one is entered to win a prize. Along with the unconventional contest, attendees enjoy fresh seafood and wine tastings from local award-winning wineries, a beer garden and cooking demonstrations. Products are also available for you to take home from retailers from all over the Olympic Peninsula.
Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival, Santa Barbara, Calif.
As if you need an excuse to visit this picturesque beach town featured in many popular coastal living TV shows, here is another one. Every year in October, when the sea bass and prawns run, the fishermen bring their catches directly to the pier where you can handpick your meal, and have a local chef prepare it in any style you can think of. When you’re done dining, you can enjoy one of the many free boatrides, diver demonstrations, tours of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and live entertainment.
Stormy Weather Arts Festival, Cannon Beach, Ore.
This three-day festival features artists showing off unique works of art made from raw materials, and completed, from start to finish, in one hour. Around the masters and their masterpieces are music, literary events, an art walk, photography exhibits and gallery receptions. The artwork is auctioned off towards the end of the event.
Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival, Bluffton, S.C.
Every October for a week, the charming historic town of Bluffton brings the best of the best from its food scene, rich history, artists and more. The festival begins with a gospel concert on Sunday, and then on Monday attendees can enjoy the tour and oyster roast at Waddell Mariculture Center. Other activities include a 5K oyster run, family night and boat tours.
