10 Best Food Festivals in France

From fresh seafood to fine wine, France is known for its gastronomic delights. A French food festival is the ideal place for celebrating locally sourced and produced specialties. Some events are held at the beginning of a season or the end of a harvest, while other food festivals in France recognize the various cooking styles for their unique flavor combinations, masterful preparations and artistic presentations. The 10 best food festivals in France also offer travelers the perfect excuse to plan a trip.

The Best Food Festivals in France

Fête de la Truffe
Location: Sarlat-la-Canéda
Month: January
Fête de la Truffe is hosted by Sarlat-la-Canéda, a medieval town located in southwest France, and the Black Périgord Truffle Producers’ Group. A truffle, sometimes referred to as a black diamond because of its high value, is a type of fungus that grows in regions throughout France. This event celebrates the truffle’s rich flavor and its influence on local cuisine. In addition to sampling truffles, festival goers can learn how to hunt and identify them, meet local truffle-growers and buy fresh truffles and truffle-based products.

Courtesy of Sarlat Tourism

This weekend-long event also features a cooking competition for students taking a vocational baccalaureate with the cookery option or a BTS (HND equivalent) at apprentice training centers in France. Eight finalists are selected to prepare two dishes using foie gras and black Périgord truffle, and the winner is presented with the prestigues Jean Rougié Award.

Courtesy of Sarlat Tourism

________

Lyon Bière Festival
Location: Lyon
Month: April
Organized by Bieronomy et l’Agence Tintamarre, in partnership with Le Petit Bulletin Lyon, the Lyon Bière Festival has established itself as an essential gathering for beer connoisseurs in France and Europe. Attendees have the chance to sample a wide variety of craft beers and ciders. Brew masters are available to answer questions about the brewing process, new trends and food pairings. With more than 100 breweries in attendance, the event features beer from France, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium and England, among others. The event is held at La Sucrière, a large building dedicated to contemporary art located in Lyon’s 2nd arrondissement.

Photo by Evan Dvorkin

________

Fête de la Coquille Saint-Jacques
Location: Erquy, Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Paimpol
Month: April
Thousands of people gather in the Côtes-d’Armor region of France each year to honor the most elegant shellfish, the scallop, also known as the crown jewel of St-Brieuc Bay. Located in northern Brittany, the fishing ports of Erquy, Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Paimpol take turns each year hosting the Fête de la Coquille Saint-Jacques. The event marks the closing of an intense 6-month fishing season, which restricts fishing to 45 minutes twice a week to protect the species.

This two day event offers visitors the chance to sample a wide variety of scallop-inspired recipes at local restaurants and food stalls set-up near the port. Fête de la Coquille Saint-Jacques also features specialty food vendors, wine and entertainment. Don’t miss the parade featuring the Knights of the Scallop. Visitors can even follow the trawlers out to sea as they search for the very last scallops of the season. Scallops are available for purchase, either fresh in their shells or ready-to-eat.

Photo by Marika Sartori

________

Taste of Paris
Location: Paris
Month: May
Taste of Paris, held at the Grand Palais, showcases the capital city’s best restaurants, and it is one of the most popular food festivals in France. This four-day event features food tastings, cooking demonstrations and celebrity chef appearances. Attendees have the chance to sample signature dishes served by the chefs themselves. From Michelin-starred chefs to new talent, Taste of Paris is a great way to explore the Parisian food scene. For a special treat, check out the Premium Lounge. This area is open to visitors with VIP passes, which includes a fast track entry into the event, a birds eye view from the mezzanine and Laurent-Perrier champagne bar, among other benefits.

Photo by Vincent Nageotte

________

Bordeaux Fête le Vin
Location: Bordeaux
Month: June
For four days, Bordeaux hosts one of the country’s biggest wine-themed events of the year. This event may not be a French food festival exactly, but there are plenty of food samples to accompany the wine tasting. More than 1,200 winemakers gather in Bordeaux to celebrate the fruits of their labor at the Bordeaux Fête le Vin. Attendees can learn, taste and purchase some of the best red wines available in France. The Tasting Pass comes with a wine glass, around-the-neck glass holder, wine samples and access to one wine tasting workshop at the Pavillon de l’Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux. In addition to wine, the festival features food stands, entertainment and fireworks. The event also includes the Tall Ships Regatta, a race that draws large sailing ships to port on the Garonne River in the heart of Bordeaux.
Read more: Top 5 Red Wine Regions in France

Courtesy of Bordeaux Fête le Vin

________

Les Étoiles de Mougins
Location: Mougins
Month: June
Mougins, a village located near the French Riviera, organizes an annual international festival dedicated to gastronomy. Launched in 2006 as a tribute to Roger Vergé, the chef at Moulin de Mougins, the event draws more than 25,000 attendees each year. For three days, a hundred chefs gather at the event to share their skills and passion with the public. The event also features cooking lessons, demonstrations and competitions. One day is dedicated to families with special food-themed activities and workshops designed just for children.

Courtesy of Les Étoiles de Mougins

________

Fête du Ventre et de la Gastronomie Normande
Location: Rouen
Month: October
Since in 1935, Rouen’s Fête du Ventre et de la Gastronomie Normande, or Festival of the Stomach and Norman Gastronomy, has been a popular food event in northern France. Set in the historic town center, this Rouen food festival is centered around the Place du Vieux Marché and Rue Rollon. For two days, crowds gather to celebrate the region’s top chefs, artisans and local food producers. Visitors can sample a wide range of locally farmed and produced foods, such as apples, cheeses, ciders, meats, dairy products, jams and sweet treats. Many locals wear traditional costumes to honor Normandy’s heritage.

Courtesy of Rouen Conquérant

________

Fête Du Piment
Location: Espelette
Month: October
Each year, the Basque village of Espelette hosts a festival that marks the end of the pepper harvest. According to Anglet’s tourist office, peppers were first brought to this region by a Basque navigator sailing with Christopher Columbus around 1650. Since then, peppers have been a celebrated staple in many local dishes. Once picked, the peppers are hung along houses to dry creating a beautiful backdrop for the event. Attendees can purchase peppers, in addition to other regionally produced foods. Food festival activities include dance performances, traditional music, a parade and pelota games.

Courtesy of Fête Du Piment

________

Lyon Street Food Festival
Location: Lyon
Month: October
The Lyon Street Food Festival is a recent addition to the French food festival calendar. Since 2016, this four-day party attracts thousands of attendees, as well as hundreds of chefs from all over France and Europe. The event features pop-up restaurants, food trucks, outdoor bars, live music and free cooking workshops. Regional chefs prepare savory food samples, while discussing cooking techniques with hungry audiences. The event takes place at the Old Fagor-Brandt Factories in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement.

Courtesy of Lyon Street Food Festival

________

Les Sarmentelles
Location: Beaujeu
Month: November
Les Sarmentelles is a wine festival held in Beaujeu, a village located in eastern France near the city of Mâcon. The event celebrates the limited edition release of that year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. Available to the public for the first time each year on the third Thursday in November, this red wine is made using Gamay grapes and is only fermented for a few weeks before it is consumed. For decades, this five-day French wine festival has featured tastings, dinners, live music, dance performances and art markets. Visitors can also book trips to the local vineyards and meet the winemakers.
Read more: Top 5 Red Wine Regions in France