Gastronomic Celebrations on the Continent
From pasta in Perugia to herring in Helsinki, good food helps to break down cultural barriers. Find out the best food festivals that Europe has to offer.
Europe is made up of 51 single countries and so with such a large range of different types of cuisine from each nation, it makes the continent an extremely rich home to gastronomy.
What better way to break down cultural barriers between people from separate nations, than to sit down and share a love of food at one of Europe’s finest food festivals? Here are some of the best.
Prague Food Festival
This food festival in the capital of the Czech Republic will be Prague’s 10th annual food festival. The event is held outdoors in the Royal Garden at Prague Castle and promotes around 25 local restaurants and other produce from the country. Visitors can expect to sample a special festival menu filled with appetisers, main courses and delectable desserts. There are also tasting booths for regional wines, beers, coffee and chocolate.
Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair
The Baltic Herring fair is the longest standing food festival in the Finnish capital. It has been running in Helsinki since 1743, making 2016 its 274th time. The tradition recognises the efforts of Finnish fishermen who work in the Baltic Sea. Salted herring along with herring-based delicacies such as marinades are all on offer here alongside local dark bread and clothes made from the wool of island sheep.
Fête de la Crêpe
The annual Festival of the Crêpe will delight pancake lovers everywhere. It is held in the town of Gourin in Brittany, France and visitors will get to see the extraordinary sight of chefs attempting to make the world’s largest pancake. Crêpes are not the only food on offer, as the festival also serves up the delicious regional ‘galettes’ which are buckwheat pancakes. Live music and dancing in traditional local costumes add to the ambience of this charming festival.
Taste Of London Festival
Focussing our attentions on British cuisine now, the Taste of London festival is held over 5 days in Regents Park. The event showcases a great selection of London’s top chefs preparing their own signature dishes from the capital’s best restaurants. Visitors can expect live demos and masterclasses for those who would like to get a little hands-on. There are also plenty of opportunities for us Brits to sample some exquisite champagne, wines and whiskeys.
I Primi d’Italia
When many of us think about fine food, we think about Italy. I Primi d’Italia is a celebration of rustic Italian fare takes place in the Perugian town of Foligno in the centre of the country. The focus of the festival is very much on Italian staples such as pasta and gnocchi, although there are also specially created medieval dishes that are available for sampling. Pasta sculpting represents the slightly eccentric aspect of this fair.
If this list has got your taste buds tingling, then snap up tickets now for one of next year’s food bonanzas, but remember your European travel cover and get your hotel sorted as soon as possible, because rooms are snapped up very quickly in some of the smaller food festival towns.
Which festival would you like to attend?
Pin it for later?
Lady Fi says
So delicious!
Ruth says
Agree! I’ll be happy if I attend at least one of these festivals.
stephanie@stephsjoy says
Any food festival would do me just fine!
Ruth says
Any would do it for me too! I am already checking which ones I want to attend next year.
Stewart M says
Food is the best way to find a culture – the first ‘overseas’ trip I ever did was through Thailand and Laos – I was eating food I have never even seen or heard of!!!
The Bluefish were eaten by my guide – but everything else was put back to swim another day!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
Ruth says
The same happened to my husband and I went we visited Thailand. Sometimes, we didn’t even know what we were eating but it was delicious. We were going with the flow.
image-in-ing: weekly photo linkup says
I’d love to go to them all! That first shot is so cool – lovely presentation!
Thanks for sharing these photos at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/12/smithsonian-art-museum-west.html.
Photo Cache says
In an ideal world, I will be attending all of them 🙂
Happy Holidays.
Ruth says
I like your vision of an ideal world. Would like to attend all of them too.
Indrani says
I have to attend one of them now!
Thanks for this wonderful post of food, my fav. 😉 😉
Ruth says
Thanks Indrani! Even if you do not live close to any of the places mentioned here, there may me culinary events close to where you live. Hope you can attend one.
Eileen says
I think any or all of these food festivals would be wonderful.
Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!
Ruth says
Thanks Eileen! I am sure any of these festivals would be wonderful too. Some have been going strong for many years. They must be good.
Jackie Smith says
Great overview of European food festivals – we are always amazed at how much better food on this side of the pond tastes compared to the U.S. Maybe the setting has something to do with it!?
Ruth says
Well, I think people in Europe have higher standards for food. They do not compromise on ingredients, techniques or flavors.
budget jan says
The Italian one sounds interesting. It would be a good way of tasting lots of different dishes without having to eat a full sized meal of each.
Ruth says
Exactly, that is why I love food festivals so much. Tons of tastings from different restaurants, chefs and purveyors.
Brooke of Passport Couture says
I can’t say, “No” to food and wouldn’t even know which one to start at. The Prague Food Festival sounds great, especially for the chocolate! 🙂
Marcia says
I can’t believe the Herring Festival has been going on so long! I bet it’s among the oldest food festival. Would be great to try some herring in Helsinki. Thanks for the tour, Ruth!
Ruth says
That puts into perspective how much herring is loved in Finland. My husband would take a flight to attend that festival. He is a herring fanatic.
Kathy Marris says
The I Primi d’Italia food festival sounds like something I would enjoy. However I wouldn’t mind visiting Prague either (more for the scenery rather than the food!)
Ruth says
I haven’t been to Prague but I have heard that the food in there is not bad at all. I think you can get delicious, hearty meals at good prices.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
Reading your posts often makes me hungry. Well, I think I’d much prefer the crepe festival over the herring fair. I don’t know anything about Czech food, so the one in Prague would be especially interesting.
Ruth says
I crepe festival would be super. I can imagine all the flavor combinations that you can have. Plus, I imagine that chefs would get all creative and present things that are unique.
Paula McInerney says
I may well base our entire travel schedule around these food festivals in 2016.
Ruth says
I have heard about people who tour Europe chasing rock bands and music festivals. I do not see why an entire travel schedule can’t be arranged based on food festivals. That would be awesome.
Trekking with Becky says
Wow! I want to go to all of them! 😀
Ruth says
I am with you Becky!
Anda says
Oh, I’d love to attend the Fête de la Crêpe festival! I am a big fan of crêpes. I didn’t go to any of these food festivals, but I’ve been to a few in Budapest, Dresden and Munich over the years. Great post!
Ruth says
Wow! Sounds like you are an European food festival pro. Have you blogged about any of these festivals?
Corinne says
Ruth, What a great list….writing these down. Thanks.
Ruth says
Corine, would be great if you can attend any of these festivals.
Jennifer (Dr. J) says
We love food festivals! I’m going to forward this post to my husband right now so we can plot some weekend trips in 2016. thanks for sharing! #wkendtravelinspiration
Ruth says
Yes, I know you love food. Let me now if you attend any of these festivals. I would love to see photos and a summary of the experience.
Muza-chan says
Delicious…
Ruth says
Oh yes! I know.
Natasha says
Just as you posted this there’s a food festival being held in one of the nearby towns to myself! I do love getting out and about and trying new things and exploring new areas. The Prague Food Festival sounds yummy! Lovely post Ruth. – Tasha
Ruth says
Tasha, we have the same tastes. I am also into going out to different towns and discovering new areas of the city. Los Angeles is pretty big, so, there is always a new place to check out.
Lyndall @SeizeTheDayProject says
Thanks Ruth. Any food festival, anywhere, any time – sounds great to me! 🙂
Ruth says
Lyndall, I agree. I am looking forward to the upcoming food festival season in Los Angeles.
Yvonne @ Lost with Yvonne says
I will have to jot these dates and places down! I love food, so food festivals are probably my heaven! Great post, I mean I believe people do come together best with food : )
Ruth Daly says
Every time I see a food blog I tell myself I’m not looking because I’m always hungry by the time I get to the end. Sigh. And your photos make the food look so delicious, too!
Ruth says
I know what you mean but most of the time I end up taking a look at those wonderful pictures in blog posts. They encourage me to keep exploring the food world. Anyway, I am hungry with or without photos.
TravelWithNanoB says
Oh gosh, all of these sound ah-mazing, but next time I travel to France I will make sure I time it with Fête de la Crêpe! It’s right down my alley!
Ruth says
It would be great if you can visit France during the crepe festival. I wonder if they have something like a crepe tour of Paris (or any other French city). I would not mind going on one of those.
Jen says
What a great collection of lists! It will be quite awhile before I can take advantage of the list, but you’ve done some great work putting it together. Thanks for sharing with us at Photo Friday!
Ruth says
No problem Jen! We still can dream about spending a good amount of time in Europe and visiting food festivals and markets.
Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields says
Great list! I am going to have to come to Europe for a year so I can go to them all – lol.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats says
I haven’t been to any of these but the Taste of London should be easy enough to arrange next year if we are not traveling!
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats says
I haven’t been to any of these, but the Taste of London should be easy enough to get to if we are not traveling at that time this summer. Thanks for the list!
Sadie says
They all sound good! I would probably gain 20lbs if I attended the crepe festival.
Ruth says
I think I will experience something similar in any of these festivals.
Eileen g says
This is a great list! Fun to Read, even if we never get to them.
Ruth says
I know. I would have never thought about a herring festival.
jaklien says
Food is a great way to discover a new country and a new culture. I might go and check out some of these festivals!
Ruth says
That would be great! Let me know if you attend one.
Birgitta says
What a great list! So interesting to read also!
Ruth says
Thanks Birgitta. To me, it is always fun to read about food.
Rachel Ng says
Heavenly food. great crowd. loved it!
Hung Thai says
A festival for crepes? OMG! Say no more – I need to go there now!
Ruth says
I can imagine what a paradise that would be!