55th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
May 4-6 | Fernandina Beach, Florida
How many ways can shrimp be prepared? Find out at the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, held in Amelia Island's historic downtown since 1964. The fundraiser for Nassau County nonprofits boasts 25 food booths serving shrimp in every way possible. Free and family friendly, the festival also features 300 artisan vendors, 50 antique dealers, kids' activities, live music and plenty of pirates, naturally.
New Orleans Wine and Food ExperienceMay 23-27 | New Orleans, Louisiana
Who doesn't love Sunday brunch? The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, also known as NOWFE, features the world's largest version of everyone's favorite meal of the week. The 2018 event is the 26th annual, and showcases tastings, seminars and dinners with some of the city's and industry's top chefs - all benefiting New Orleans-based nonprofits. More than two dozen local restaurants hold special dining evenings over the festival weekend, which also offers tastings of more than 1,000 local and international wines. Purchase tickets for individual events or packages granting admission to the entire festival, one of the biggest foodie events in the city ranked No. 1 for food in Travel + Leisure's 2017 America's Favorite Places survey.
40th Annual Taste of CincinnatiMay 26-28 | Cincinnati, Ohio
Started in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati is one of the nation's longest-running free culinary arts festivals. More than 40 restaurants preview menu items for the chance to win the festival's prestigious Best of Taste Awards. The foodie fest, which brings 500,000 people to the city each year, also incorporates live music from local and national performers on multiple stages.
Atlanta Food & Wine FestivalMay 31 through June 3 | Atlanta, Georgia
This celebration of Southern food hosts 200 food and beverage professionals from throughout the region. Held in the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown as well as the festival grounds located on the edge of the city's Piedmont Park, the festival features 10 events, 70 classes and three tasting tents. Festival-goers are also invited to exclusive dinners hosted by some of Atlanta's best chefs and restaurants that weekend.
Georgia Peach FestivalJune 1-2 | Fort Valley, Georgia
June 9 | Byron, Georgia
Georgia's fuzzy fruit is the star of Peach County's annual festival, split between two cities. Witness the production of the world's largest peach cobbler, made with 75 gallons of fresh Georgia peaches, along with a parade, concerts and fireworks. Enjoy peach ice cream, arts and crafts, dancing and more at this celebration of the state's cash crop, an event that typically draws 10,000 people a year.