If there’s one thing that brings the diverse people of the world together, it’s great food! And since food is often the key to unlocking insights about other cultures, why not take a trip to discover food festivals around the world? From celebrating unique dishes to turning food into a sport, these interesting food festivals should be on every traveller’s bucket list!
Read on to discover Expat Explore’s list of cultural food festivals that you might not know about. From street food to traditional cuisine, these food festivals are a must-visit for anyone looking to discover the adventurous side of culinary travel.
Related: Explore Europe’s must-visit festivals and events.
Take a look at the craziest food festivals around the world:
Fête du Citron
Menton, France
Say “yellow” to one of the world’s most interesting food festivals; the Fête du Citron is a celebration of all things citrus! So, if you’re a fan of the acidic side of fruits, this Lemon Festival is for you.
Visitors can look forward to an array of exciting events, including citrus parades, craft markets, citrus statue exhibitions and more! Simply head to the commune of Menton in France around the last two weeks of February and join in on the quirky, citrus-themed fun.
Related: Don’t leave without exploring one of the top wine regions in France.
Carnival of Ivrea
Ivrea, Italy
Heading to Italy, our next quirky food festival still stays within the citrus sphere but focuses the celebrations on oranges. For one weekend in March, thousands of pounds of Sicilian oranges are used in an epic food fight to remember!
Organised groups get together to participate in the annual orange-throwing war, where the aim is to hit your opponents with oranges. Luckily, however, visitors can choose to rather spectate than participate, as some bruising could occur during battle.
Related: Fancy more Italian festivals? Take a look at a local’s favourite festivals in Italy.
Vilnius Pink Soup Fest
Vilnius, Lithuania
Lithuania brings us our next bizarre food festival that is sure to tickle any visitor pink. That’s because its capital, Vilnius, hosts an annual event celebrating the country’s beloved šaltibarščiai, a pretty, pink, creamy beetroot soup – yes, it’s quite literally pink soup!
Among the many entertaining attractions at this unique festival are pink concerts, crowds of pink fashion, pink water slides, and, of course, enough pink soup to feed a crowd (roughly 42,000 people attended in 2024). So, join the pink soup lifestyle and experience this unique festival that’s pretty hard to beet…
Related: Speaking of traditional food, try the top local Lithuanian dishes.
Krakow Pierogi Festival
Krakow, Poland
Up next, we head to Poland for another epic food festival. Each year, the Krakow Pierogi Festival draws crowds of Polish citizens and visitors alike to taste the top pierogi dumplings in the country. Skilled and inventive pierogi makers gather in Krakow behind the Rynek Główny main square to compete for the title of best pierogi maker.
Visitors can expect to experience a whole new world of pierogi, including traditional flavours, plus more unique variations like strawberry or even Italian carbonara. And with live music and folk dancing, what better way to get a taste of Polish culture?
Related: While you’re at it, why not visit the top 5 destinations in Poland?
Baltic Herring Festival
Helsinki, Finland
Herring is a wildly popular dish across the Baltics and Nordics, so it should come as no surprise that an annual Herring Festival takes place in Helsinki, Finland. While it might be considered an acquired taste, this festival showcases a variety of pickled products and the wonderful ways in which pickled herring can be incorporated into various delicious recipes.
So, visit Finland in early October for a chance to taste the freshest herring straight off the fishermen’s boats from the south of Finland.
Related: Take a look at some of the world’s most beloved pickled foods.
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling
Gloucestershire, England
The next popular food festival is a cheesy one and takes us to the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, England – Cooper’s Hill, to be exact. Each year, on the Spring Bank Holiday, participants chase a rolling ring of cheese down Cooper’s Hill in the hopes of making it to the bottom first.
That’s right; this centuries-old tradition entails rolling a huge ring of cheese down a hill and sending participants chasing after it. If you think about it, though, what cheese fan wouldn’t chase after a taste? That’s just how we roll…
Related: Get ready to try the top cheeses around the world.
Tokyo Ramen Festa
Tokyo, Japan
Speaking of food fanatics, there is arguably no dish in the world with as many global supporters as ramen noodles. While originating in China, this dish has become synonymous with Japan, its culture and cuisine, and is enjoyed all over the world!
So, it just makes sense that Tokyo hosts an annual Ramen Festa to celebrate and show off its ramen-making. Vendors from across the country bring their best ramen dishes for hungry visitors to slurp up. And if you visit Tokyo around the end of October, you could be one of them.
Related: Want to know the best times to visit Japan?
La Tomatina
Buñol, Spain
Last but certainly not least on our list is a famous food festival that remains unique to this day. La Tomatina is a festival in Spain where crowds of people gather to throw tomatoes at each other in the streets. Attracting thousands of annual visitors, the Valencian streets of Buñol become lined with tomato mush.
Visit Spain and be sure to align your Valencia itinerary days with the last Wednesday of August to see a sight unlike any other by experiencing one of the world’s largest street food fights, all in the name of fun!
Related: Feel the Spanish spirit at Spain’s top annual events.
And there you have it – the most unique and interesting food festivals around the world. Pack your buffet pants, and join us on the road as we visit each of these unmissable destinations.
If you’d like to visit any of the countries on our list comfortably and affordably, book a guided group tour today! Simply show up and experience the world hassle-free with Expat Explore.