Food Festivals: September culinary events showcasing local flavors

Photo: Wix Media

September is a prime month for food lovers. As summer fades and autumn begins, communities across the globe celebrate their unique culinary heritage with festivals that spotlight local flavors, seasonal ingredients, and vibrant food cultures. From the heart of Chicago to international venues, September’s food festivals offer an array of tastes, smells, and experiences that delight both locals and visitors alike.

Here are five standout September food festivals showcasing regional and international flavors that you won’t want to miss.

1. Taste of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, USA

Few events capture the city’s rich culinary diversity quite like Taste of Chicago, the largest food festival in the city and one of the nation’s premier culinary celebrations. Held annually in Grant Park, this event typically runs for 5 days in mid-September and attracts over a million attendees.

Photo: Taste Of Chicago 2025 (Chicago History Instagram)

Featuring hundreds of food vendors, from iconic deep-dish pizza makers to cutting-edge gastropubs, Taste of Chicago offers a snapshot of the city’s food scene. Beyond classic Chicago staples, the festival highlights emerging local chefs, ethnic cuisines, and artisanal producers. Live music, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly activities add to the festive atmosphere.

Whether indulging in Italian beef sandwiches or vegan street tacos, visitors get to savor the authentic tastes that define Chicago’s dynamic food culture.

2. New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) — New York, New York, USA

Celebrating fine dining and wine culture, the NYC Wine & Food Festival in late September is a highlight for gourmands and industry professionals alike. Hosted by the Food Network and Cooking Channel, NYCWFF is a multi-day extravaganza featuring tastings, seminars, celebrity chef appearances, and grand tastings at iconic venues.

Photo: NYCWFF Instagram

The festival’s mission extends beyond indulgence, supporting hunger relief organizations and food education. Attendees can sample everything from artisanal cheeses to innovative street food, exploring the vibrant and eclectic culinary scene that New York is famous for.

This event is perfect for those looking to experience cutting-edge trends and classic dishes elevated by some of the nation’s top culinary talents.

3. Dublin Bay Prawn Festival — Dublin, Ireland

A shining example of a local food festival with an international flair, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival celebrates one of Ireland’s prized seafood delicacies: the Dublin Bay prawn, also known as the langoustine.

Held throughout September in various Dublin seafood restaurants and pubs, the festival features special menus and tasting events that highlight this sweet, tender crustacean. Visitors can enjoy classic preparations alongside creative, modern dishes inspired by local chefs.

Beyond the food, the festival celebrates Ireland’s maritime heritage and sustainable fishing practices. For seafood lovers, this festival offers a true taste of Ireland’s coastal bounty.

4. Melbourne Food & Wine Festival — Melbourne, Australia

Down under, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most anticipated culinary events, spanning several weeks in September. The festival showcases the rich agricultural diversity of Australia and the unique fusion of indigenous and multicultural influences on the local food scene.

From intimate dinners on vineyards to street food markets in the city’s laneways, the event offers an impressive lineup of tastings, cooking classes, and masterclasses by renowned chefs.

Highlights include farm-to-table experiences featuring native ingredients like wattleseed and finger lime, along with robust wines from the Yarra Valley and Barossa regions. The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is a celebration of innovation, sustainability, and regional pride.

5. Fête de la Gastronomie — Paris, France (and nationwide)

Although technically held in late September, Fête de la Gastronomie is France’s annual nationwide celebration of culinary arts and culture, featuring thousands of events across Paris and the country.

This festival emphasizes France’s gastronomic heritage while encouraging experimentation and new culinary expressions. Farmers’ markets, pop-up dinners, cooking workshops, and food tastings abound, offering locals and tourists alike a chance to savor regional specialties—from the creamy cheeses of Normandy to the rich cassoulet of the Southwest.

In Paris, special events are hosted at historic venues and modern culinary hotspots, making it a perfect time to indulge in French cuisine’s timeless elegance and vibrant innovation.

September’s food festivals are more than just opportunities to eat they’re cultural celebrations that honor local traditions, foster community connections, and support sustainable food practices.

Whether you find yourself wandering through Chicago’s bustling Taste of Chicago, sipping wine alongside chefs in New York, or savoring fresh Dublin Bay prawns in Ireland, each festival offers a unique window into the culinary soul of its region.

As the season changes, so too does our appetite for diverse flavors and authentic experiences. These festivals invite everyone to come together around the universal language of food—one bite at a time.