Restaurant Food Festivals in May 2014

From Bigfork, Montana to Phoenix, Arizona, food festivals take place all around the country in May. Whether you love mushrooms or chocolate, there’s a spring celebration catered to you! Here are a few great food festivals coming up soon:

Taste of Bigfork, May 1: At this Montana food festival, 20 local chefs offer their finest recipes as a showcase of the area’s finest eats. Other highlights include wine, beer and music.

Mushroom Festival, May 1-3: Dubbed one of the state’s best festivals by Rural Missouri, this annual festival is held in Richmond, Mo., a town that calls itself “The Mushroom Capitol of the World.” Included in the festival are more than 125 craft and food booths, a carnival, a 5k/10k walk/run, a talent show, a parade and more. Fresh morels are available for purchase and there’s a contest for the largest morel, sponsored by The Richmond News.

Big Island Chocolate Festival, May 2-3: Held at the Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii, the Big Island Chocolate Festival is made to promote the cacao industry. Some of the events include a student chef competition, a professionally judged taste-off, a gala fundraiser and a silent auction.

Long Grove’s Chocolate Festival, May 2-4: In the northern suburbs of Chicago, a beloved three-day chocolate festival is held each year in the downtown streets of Long Grove, Ill.

Ramp Fest, May 3: This celebration of the wild onion, the ramp, takes place at the Basilica Hudson in New York. Filled with food, drinks and live music, this four-hour festival is all about showcasing the pungent pleasure of the forageable spring delicacy — the ramp.

National Harbor Wine & Food Festival, May 3-4: A waterfront culinary event set in National Harbor, Md., this festival celebrates the chefs, craftsmen and food professionals throughout the D.C. metro area.

The Big Nosh, May 4: Held in Columbia, S.C., The Big Nosh is a Jewish cultural festival filled with classic Jewish food like challah, latkes, brisket, chicken soup, chopped liver and knishes.

Vegas Uncork’d, May 8-11: Restaurant hot spot Las Vegas, Nev., makes the perfect setting for a food festival showcasing all-star chefs. Events include Master Series dinners, lively after parties, demonstrations and more.

Flavors of Denver, May 15: Designed to support the American Liver Foundation Rocky Mountain Division, Flavors of Denver is a chef showcase, featuring food from professionals such as Simon Purvis (EDGE Restaurant), Jon Robinson (Oceanaire), and Tom Coohill (Coohills), among others.

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, May 21-24: From wine dinners to grand tastings, this Louisiana food festival features dozens of the area’s best restaurants, as well as a long list of wineries and exhibitors.

Flavors of Phoenix, May 22: At this Phoenix dinner, attendees taste food that “goes above and beyond the usual restaurant fare.” Featured chefs include Cullen Campbell (Crudo), Montez Crane (Cartwright’s Sonoran Ranch House), Chad McDonald (Province) and more.