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Food Festivals in San Francisco: 15 Top Events for Foodies

Jill on a windy day at the Golden Gate Bridge

by Jill Loeffler  •

Updated: June 25, 2022

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.

Food on the grill during a food festival in San Francisco.

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 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.

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, and live entertainment by well-known Asian American performers.

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 features samples of amazing culinary treats, unlimited pours of wine and spirits, a cheese monger cave, pro cooking demonstrations, and more. Most of the activities will be held at the Festival Pavilion in the Fort Mason Center.

Location: Fort Mason Center and other small venues in SF

Date: August

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. Every September, the Annunciation Cathedral in the Mission district holds this event.

It's a wonderful opportunity to sample homemade Greek pastries, Greek wine, and other delicious traditional dishes.

Location: Annunciation Cathedral in the Mission District

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 tasty burgers and cold beer, 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. Halal Fest

The largest halal food and Eid festival in the US brings together Muslims from diverse backgrounds to celebrate their love for great food. You'll find a range of cuisines offered here, from kebabs to Indian curries, all halal of course. 

As a community event, the food festival also involves live entertainment, carnival rides and games for children, craft vendors, and more.  

Location: Town Fair Plaza in Fremont

Date: May

12. Hayward Zucchini Festival 

This decades-long East Bay tradition features one particular ingredient in most of the food and drink for sale: you guessed it—zucchini!

In addition to the gastronomic adventures, you and your family can enjoy live music, arts and crafts, and entertainment for kids.

There is even a zucchini-growing contest, in which prizes go to the heaviest, most unusual shape, and best color variation, among others.

Location: Kennedy Park in Hayward

Date: August

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 are 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. 

Location: Pittsburg

Date: September 

15. Chocolate and Chalk Art

Across the bay from San Francisco in free-loving Berkeley, CA, artists come together to brighten the sidewalks around Shattuck and Cedar Streets. Each year, people gather in this area to leave their best chalk art in their designated spot, according to the year's theme.

At the same time, local businesses offer a Chocolate Menu for those who show their chocolate tasting ticket. 

Location: Berkeley

Date: August 

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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