Food Festivals Around the World

Mid-Autumn Festival, China

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon-cake Festival, is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar (this year falling on September 27th). Families come together to celebrate the year's harvest and pray to the Goddess of the Moon, Chang'e. Sweet moon-cakes made from lotus paste are commonly eaten and children carry lanterns to celebrate the event. People celebrate this festival across Asia, in countries like China, Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan.

Pizzafest, Italy

Set in the birthplace of pizza itself, the Naples Pizzafest is a four-day celebration of one of the world's favourite snacks. Watch pizza makers show off their dough-throwing skills, enjoy live music and performances, and of course, enjoy the many varieties of freshly-baked pizza.

Maslenitsa Pancake Festival, Russia

The Maslenitsa Festival is a traditional Russian holiday and possibly the yummiest way to celebrate the end of winter and welcome spring. Thin golden pancakes or crepes symbolize the sun in shape and colour. People eat them all week with jams, butter, fruits and even caviar. Sweet rounds of bread called sushki are also on the menu. People string these together to make delicious, edible necklaces.

La Tomatina, Spain

Every August, thousands of people from across the globe make their way to the Spanish town of Bunol to take part in the "World's Biggest Food Fight." Participants paint the town with hundreds of tons of over-ripe tomatoes they throw at each other. The festival started over an argument in 1945 at a marketplace; angry people started throwing tomatoes they took from an unlucky farmer’s stall. The police had to be involved to stop the fight. Over the years, the tomato-throwing event grew in popularity and officially became a festival in 1975.

Salon du Chocolat Festival, France

Calling all chocoholics, this five-day event in Paris is dedicated to all things chocolate. There are over 220 chocolatiers, pastry chef and confectioners. They demonstrate their chocolate-making skills. There are also a chocolate marketplace and even a fashion show of clothes made entirely from, you guessed it, chocolate!

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, England

With over 250 stalls selling delights such as garlic seafood and even garlic ice cream, this festival is a garlic lover's dream come true. The two-day event takes place on the Isle of Wight, just off the southern coast of Hampshire, to celebrate the island's booming garlic industry. Watch cooking demonstrations and enjoy the live music. Just remember to bring along a pack of gum or two.