12 Can’t-Miss Food Festivals Happening In Georgia This Year

Georgia’s food festival scene is the stuff of legend — think flavors that echo from the coast to the farms, all wrapped in community, laughter, and a whole lot of deliciousness.
From down-home BBQ throwdowns to seafood boils and sweet treat celebrations, there’s a festival for every craving and curiosity.
Expect live music, friendly crowds, and plates bursting with local pride. Mark your calendar, because these events are where Georgia’s heart truly meets its flavor.
1. Georgia Peach Festival (Fort Valley & Byron)

Nothing screams summer in Georgia quite like biting into a juicy peach while standing in the sunshine!
Split between two weekends in Fort Valley and Byron, this fruity celebration honors the state’s most famous crop with cobbler contests and the world’s largest peach cobbler (weighing over 11 tons!).
Live music sets the backdrop as vendors showcase peach-inspired everything – from ice cream to salsa to barbecue sauce. Don’t miss the parade with its peach-themed floats and the crowning of the Peach Queen.
2. Georgia VegFest (Cobb County)

Plant-based paradise awaits at Georgia VegFest, where even dedicated carnivores find themselves pleasantly surprised!
This green gathering transforms Cobb County into a veggie-lover’s dream with cooking demonstrations that’ll have you rethinking what’s possible without animal products.
Between sampling impossibly delicious meat alternatives and creamy dairy-free cheeses, visitors can attend talks by nutrition experts and environmental advocates.
The festival’s zero-waste initiative means you can indulge guilt-free while discovering local plant-based businesses.
3. Pigs & Peaches Barbecue Festival (Kennesaw)

Smoke signals rise over Kennesaw each summer, guiding hungry visitors to barbecue nirvana at the Pigs & Peaches Festival.
Competition teams huddle over smokers through the night, perfecting their secret rubs and sauces while competing for serious bragging rights and cash prizes.
The air becomes thick with hickory smoke as judges evaluate perfectly charred ribs and tender pulled pork.
Between bites, festival-goers rock out to live bands, browse handmade crafts, and watch cooking demonstrations from pitmasters who’ve turned barbecue into an art form.
4. Atlanta Ice Cream Festival (Piedmont Park)

Cones, cups, and creative concoctions take center stage at Atlanta’s sweetest gathering!
Sprawled across the green expanse of Piedmont Park, this frozen treat extravaganza balances indulgence with wellness through its unique “health is wealth” approach.
Kids squeal with delight during ice cream eating contests while adults sample artisanal flavors like lavender honey and bourbon caramel.
Between brain freezes, participants join yoga sessions, health screenings, and dance competitions – making this perhaps the only ice cream festival where you might actually burn calories!
5. Grand Tasting Alpharetta (Avalon)

Champagne flutes clink against the backdrop of Avalon’s upscale ambiance during Alpharetta’s most sophisticated food soirée.
Well-dressed attendees stroll between white tents, collecting small plates from the region’s most celebrated chefs who transform local ingredients into bite-sized masterpieces.
Sommeliers pour generous samples of rare vintages while mixologists craft Instagram-worthy cocktails.
The festival transforms food tasting into performance art, with chef demonstrations revealing culinary secrets and techniques you’ll be attempting at home for months afterward.
6. Taste of Soul Atlanta (West Downtown)

Soul food gets its well-deserved spotlight at this vibrant celebration of Black culinary traditions!
Smoky collard greens, crispy fried chicken, and mac and cheese that’ll make your grandma jealous line the streets of West Downtown Atlanta, where cooking techniques passed through generations are on full display.
Between plates piled high with comfort food classics, festival-goers groove to R&B and gospel performances.
Cultural exhibits honor the history behind the dishes, celebrating how African American food traditions have shaped Southern cuisine while supporting Black-owned restaurants and food entrepreneurs.
7. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (Atlanta)

Southern culinary prowess shines during this multi-day feast that transforms Atlanta into the epicenter of elevated eating!
Unlike your typical food festival, this sophisticated gathering brings together James Beard winners and rising star chefs from 13 Southern states for intimate learning experiences and tasting tents.
Guests can dive deep into workshops on everything from proper biscuit technique to the art of bourbon distilling.
The evening parties become legendary affairs where industry insiders mingle with passionate foodies, creating connections over shared plates and craft cocktails.
8. Taste and Brews Festival (Canton)

Beer enthusiasts rejoice as Canton transforms into a hoppy heaven!
This festival pairs Georgia’s exploding craft beer scene with mouthwatering local cuisine, creating perfect matches that’ll make you question why you ever settled for plain chips with your IPA.
Brewmasters proudly pour limited edition creations while explaining fermentation processes to curious drinkers.
The festival’s intimate setting allows conversations with the passionate people behind your favorite pints, all while local bands provide the soundtrack for this celebration of Georgia’s liquid craftsmanship.
9. JapanFest (Metro Atlanta)

Ramen, takoyaki, and matcha treats transport visitors straight to Tokyo without leaving Metro Atlanta!
This cultural immersion goes far beyond food, but let’s be honest – the eating is what you’ll remember most as you navigate through stalls offering authentic Japanese street food rarely found elsewhere in Georgia.
Between bites of fluffy taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries) and savory okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), visitors marvel at traditional performances.
Cooking demonstrations reveal the precise techniques behind perfect sushi rice and delicate tempura, while sake tastings introduce Georgia palates to Japan’s national beverage.
10. Atlanta Greek Festival (Atlanta)

“Opa!” echoes through the air as the Atlanta Greek Festival transforms the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral into a Mediterranean paradise!
Generations of Greek families share their culinary heritage through hand-stretched phyllo dough, spit-roasted lamb, and honey-soaked baklava that takes days to prepare.
Volunteer yiayias (grandmothers) work tirelessly in church kitchens, creating authentic dishes from family recipes.
Between feasting on spanakopita and gyros, visitors learn traditional dances, tour the cathedral’s stunning Byzantine architecture, and shop for imported Greek products you won’t find at your local grocery.
11. Taste of Tucker (Tucker)

Small-town charm meets big-time flavors at this community celebration that showcases Tucker’s surprisingly diverse food scene!
Unlike massive city festivals, this neighborly gathering feels like a giant block party where local restaurant owners serve their signature dishes while actually remembering regular customers’ names and orders.
Main Street transforms into an outdoor dining room where families spread blankets on the grass between trips to collect Caribbean jerk chicken, authentic Vietnamese pho, and Southern biscuits with gravy.
The festival supports local schools while highlighting how this tight-knit community has become an unexpected culinary destination.
12. Grand Tasting Midtown (Atlanta)

Midtown’s sleek high-rises provide a metropolitan backdrop for this sophisticated sampling event where Atlanta’s culinary innovators showcase their most creative bites!
Unlike its Alpharetta counterpart, this urban edition captures Midtown’s energetic vibe with DJ beats and interactive food stations.
Chefs push boundaries with fusion creations that reflect Atlanta’s international influences.
Bartenders compete in mixology showdowns, crafting elaborate cocktails with locally distilled spirits and unexpected ingredients.
The festival perfectly captures Atlanta’s evolution into a serious food city while maintaining its signature Southern hospitality.