Few things make a long journey feel as worthwhile as good food and good company. Almost everyone loves food. Around the world, food festivals are one way we celebrate our culinary cultures. In America, it shows in the nearly endless number of food festivals around the country. So, if you are hungry, and if you are looking for a fun RV adventure to embark on, here are five road-trip worthy food festivals in the U.S.
1. Gilroy Garlic Festival
Where: Gilroy California
When: Last weekend of July
The magical culinary treasure in the form of a flower bulb, garlic! This ancient plant has become part of nearly every food culture on Earth. The Gilroy Festival is one of the largest food festivals in the U.S. You can watch a televised Iron Chef garlic battle, take in a concert, or just eat garlic-infused deliciousness all day long. The most famous attraction at the 40-year old festival is gourmet alley where a cadre of famous chefs cooks up the official fair food using dramatic pyrotechnics.
You can’t camp directly at the festival, but there are a large number of RV parks nearby. There are also plenty of RVs for rent in the area. The weather and driving in Northern California are almost always great. You also aren’t too far from Yosemite National Park, so you may want to consider a longer trip to take in both.
2. Norsk Hostfest
Where: Noth Dakota State Fairgrounds
When: Last weekend of September
Have you ever said to yourself, “I’d like to feast like a Viking!” You absolutely can, at Norsk Hostfest in North Dakota. Hostfest is both a food festival and a cultural festival celebrating the Nordic heritage of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. You will find traditional food and drink from all these nations as well as crafts, cultural demonstrations, and live performances of Nordic song and dance. Much of the action takes place in the “Great Hall of the Vikings” where you can imagine you are in glorious Valhalla while feasting and celebrating.
For Hostfest, you can park right at the fairgrounds where they have space for up to 1,000 RVs. The site offers partial hookups and sewer/water service on call. They also set up an RV hospitality center and host dances each evening where you can learn and enjoy Nordic dance while mingling with your fellow travelers. Grab an RV and make your plans to conquer boredom.
3. American Royal World Series of Barbecue
Where: Kansas Speedway
When: Second Weekend of September
Savory Barbecue, it’s one of the great American cultural traditions. Curiously, there are a great many different world barbecue championships every year, nearly all of them in the southern U.S. American Royal started their barbecue events in the 1980s as part of their long-running rodeo events. As a result, rodeo and livestock performances play a big role in their World Series of Barbecue. For authentic cooking and a truly western experience, it’s hard to beat. So saddle up and bring your appetite!
Due to the popularity of this event, it’s a good idea to book a camping spot early. Fortunately, there are many to choose from right at the track and more in the surrounding area. Once you have your spot picked out, book an RV in the Kansas City area to get started on this tasty adventure.
4. Key Lime Festival
Where: Key West, Florida
When: 4th of July Weekend
There are many key lime festivals in the sunshine state. If you want the best, I’d recommend the Key Lime Festival in Key West. This is more of a city-wide celebration than a single event, so you will want to research and plan out which events you want to attend. All-in-all, the Key Lime Festival and Key West itself are party-centric, so expect eating and drinking to go hand in hand here. Since it is held on the 4th of July, a grand fireworks celebration is part of the festivities.
The drive to Key West is fantastic. But keep in mind, the city of Key West itself is not a great place to be maneuvering an RV. Plan on taking a shuttle or other transportation from your RV park to Key West itself. Even if you rent a trailer, your tow vehicle may be hard to park in Key West on such a popular day. The nice thing about the Keys is that there really aren’t any places to park that aren’t a short walk from the beach.
5. National Morel Mushroom
Where: Boyne City, Michigan
When: Mother’s Day Weekend
For a smaller and more intimate festival, you might want to try out the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, Michigan. Held on Mother’s Day weekend, it is a culinary celebration of the mysterious mushroom loved by chefs and foodies the world over. it’s not only about eating Morel Mushrooms, but also about hunting for them in the forests and fields of Michigan. This makes for a great hands-on adventure where you can work up an appetite and then enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Most RV travelers stay at the Chandler Hill Campground which is close to the action and where you may even happen upon a mushroom or two. Though if you are a web designer, you may want to brace yourself before visiting their website. And like everywhere in this fine nation, there are plenty of RVs to rent in the area.
Are you getting hungry yet? Get started on your next road trip, rent a great RV from outdoorsy today!
