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Food Festivals in San Francisco: 15 Top Events for Foodies
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: July 2, 2024
Sample oysters or savor gourmet goodies from local food trucks at one of these 15 food festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area. These top events offer a full day (or more) of food, fun, and a chance to try something new.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. SF International Chocolate Salon
Chocolate lovers will swoon over this annual SF food event. First your eyes will feast on the variety of shiny, colorful, luxurious chocolate delights, then you'll be able to sample those pieces of art.
The salon brings together a variety of top chocolatiers and other culinary artists, and you are sure to discover new products you like.
There's a little something for everyone: milk, dark, vegan, creamy, as well as people who want to sample spirits while admiring the chocolate structures large and small.
Location: San Francisco County Fair Building
Date: April
2. Outside Lands
Outside Lands is an annual three-day music festival, but with so much emphasis on providing gourmet food it has also become one of the hottest annual food festivals in town.
The event features nearly 80 local vendors, including top SF restaurants and food trucks.
They will be serving up a wide array of unique tasty treats, including donut cheeseburgers, Nepalese dumplings, lobster rolls, and more.
Location: Golden Gate Park near the Polo Field
Date: August
Learn More: Visit the Outside Lands Festivals page for more information
3. SF Cheese Fest
Cheese lovers, get ready: this is your chance to taste incredible artisan cheeses alongside delicious bites from over 20 California cheesemakers.
During the walk-around tasting, you'll also get to sip on local wines, ciders, and beers while listening to live music.
This is a favorite event for foodies, as the second day usually includes seminars and mingling with the chefs.
Location: Ferry Building
Date: September
4. Soy & Tofu Festival
The Northern California Soy and Tofu Festival is a Japantown favorite. This annual event gives you the chance to sample the latest soy and tofu products and learn more about these healthy ingredients.
There is also a tofu eating contest, a dessert competition, live music, and cultural entertainment, including internationally-renowned AAPI artists.
Location: Saint Mary's Cathedral in Japantown
Date: June
Learn More: Visit the June calendar for more details
5. Eat Drink SF
One of the largest food festivals in San Francisco is Eat Drink SF. It used to be a gathering of 100+ restaurants at the Fort Mason Center with culinary samples and cooking demonstrations.
Post-pandemic, it has become a "decentralized festival" with smaller ticketed events across the city. It coincides with Fall Restaurant Week, offering deals for guests to check out the wonderful and diverse array of culinary delights SF has to offer.
Location: Restaurant venues all around SF
Date: October/November
6. SF Coffee Festival
When you think about food festivals in San Francisco, coffee may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
But for many of us, coffee is the first thing we put into our bodies every morning, and it's certainly such a popular ritual in this city that a unique culture has developed around specialty roasters and coffee shops.
Accompanying the gourmet brews, you'll find tasty bites provided by SF's best bakeries, along with some live entertainment.
Location: Fort Mason Center
Date: November
7. A Taste of Greece
Enjoy a weekend of Greek food, drink, and entertainment at the annual A Taste of Greece event. It is held every September at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Mission district.
It's a wonderful opportunity to sample homemade Greek pastries, Greek wine, and other delicious traditional dishes.
Location: Annunciation Cathedral
Date: September
8. Napa Truffle Festival
Truffles are one of the most exclusive and elusive delicacies in the world. That's why attending this one-of-a-kind wine country event, together with other enthusiasts, experts, and curious foodies, is an unforgettable experience.
This food festival highlights the magic of the black truffle, giving you the chance to meet truffle-hunting dogs, learn about harvesting them, and taste how Michelin-star chefs bring them to the table, among other events.
Location: Various locations (wineries, orchards, restaurants, and markets) in Napa
Date: January
9. Burger & Brew Fest
The annual Burger & Brew Fest offers a great sampling of cold beers and tasty burgers and sliders, perfect for a summer afternoon.
In addition to the local craft brews, there's even more: spirits and wine from Bay Area producers, as well as a variety of gourmet food trucks.
The event is held in Fremont, a diverse and vibrant city just 45 minutes southeast of San Francisco, at the edge of Silicon Valley.
Location: Downtown Fremont
Date: May
10. Oakland Greek Festival
If you're a foodie, you might come here for the irresistible Greek culinary delights—including the lamb shank, mousaka, and kouloura bread—but this weekend-long cultural festival and community event also offers live authentic Greek dancing and music.
This immersive experience in the beautiful Oakland hills has been running for more than 50 years.
Location: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, in Oakland
Date: May
11. Armenian Food Festival & Bazaar
This annual food festival has been taking place in San Francisco for over 50 years to celebrate the delicious cuisine of the Armenian culture. Get your fill of shish-kebab, veggie plates, and more.
In addition to tasty authentic dishes, you'll find live cultural entertainment that includes music, dancing, and art.
Location: St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, near Lake Merced in San Francisco
Date: September
12. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
If you're a fan of fall traditions, you can't miss this opportunity to attend one of the oldest harvest festivals in California.
This coastal region just 45 minutes south of San Francisco is home to many pumpkin patches, so every year the community comes together to show off their beautiful squash.
At the annual weigh-off, you'll find world record-breaking gourds weighing over 2,000 pounds! You'll also have the chance to try delicious pumpkin flavored pie, pancakes, ice cream, and more.
Location: Half Moon Bay
Date: October
13. Festa Italia
Calamari, pasta, sausage sandwiches, cannoli and more... and you can't beat the fresh seafood from this California coastal town with a long fishing legacy in which the Italian immigrants took part.
In addition to delicious Italian bites, get ready for a weekend full of great music and dancing and the celebration of Italian-American traditions old and new.
Location: Custom House Plaza in downtown Monterey
Date: September
14. Pittsburg Seafood & Music Fest
At this fun weekend-long Bay Area food festival, you'll find an incredible array of different types of seafood, from crab sandwiches to alligator on a stick, from lobster mac n' cheese to fish tacos.
Several vendors serve southern cajun-style, but the main idea of the event is to promote the seafood industry on this coast, while of course entertaining guests with fantastic live music performances.
You'll find this festival in historic Old Town Pittsburg, about 1.5 hours northeast of San Francisco, on the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta.
Location: Pittsburg
Date: September
15. Bizerkeley Food Festival
About 30 minutes east of San Francisco in free-loving Berkeley, you'll find one of the best vegan food festivals out there.
This gathering of food and animal lovers has grown in recent years to feature over 100 vendors, live entertainment, games, and more.
The vegan culinary treats represent cuisines from all over the globe, from southern soul food to Latin and Asian delights.
Location: MLK, Jr. Park in Berkeley, CA
Date: September
Other Annual Events You Will Enjoy
North Beach Street Fair: Head over to the North Beach District to celebrate summer at this annual event. For two days, you can enjoy gourmet goodies, live music, and beautiful street art. You can also wander through the creations from several local and international artists. This street fair is in June.
Cherry Blossom Celebration: One of my favorite events every year is the celebration of spring and the cherry blossoms. Held in Japantown, it's a time to learn more about Japanese traditions by sampling food, listening to music, and enjoying other fun activities. This event is every April.
Stern Grove Concerts in the Park: Listen to live music every summer at the Stern Grove Concerts in the Park. From mid-June through mid-August, there are free live performances in Stern Grove Park every Sunday at 2pm. The event draws internationally recognized names as well as popular local performers.
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