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Enjoy the fantastic foods in September food festivals Californians enjoy. Culinary adventures heat up the season with spicy tastes ranging from locally grown fruits and vegetables, to specialty drinks served along with great samples and meals.

Be sure to check out California Beer Festivals !

Sept. 7 - 9, 2012   Taste of the World Festival
Los Angeles, California
tasteoftheworldfestival.com
Travel the world in a single day and celebrate the food, drink, music and dance from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. This delicious event will be a true feast for the senses and an apt reflection of the multicultural diversity of Los Angeles, held in the heart of the city.
 

Sacramento Greek Festival   September 2 - 4, 2011
Sac Convention Center
1400 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
sacramentogreekfestival.com  |  Category: Greek

September 2-5, 2011  LA Times and Food & Wine's The Taste  
Los Angeles, California
events.latimes.com
Cost: $125 - up
Featuring 9 signature events during 4 days taking across Los Angeles, from Beverly Hills to Hollywood to Downtown, THE TASTE will showcase the burgeoning and dynamic culinary scene represented in LA and includes everything from local restaurant tastings and cooking demos from celebrity chefs, to wine tastings and cocktail seminars with some of the world's top vintners and mixologists.

September 9-11, 2011  Oakley Almond Festival  
Oakley , California
oakleychamber.com
Oakley's biggest event of the year celebrates the almond. Always held during the second week of September.

September 9-11, 2011 LA BBQ Festival
Santa Monica Pier
1550 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA
Cost: $60
labbqfest.com

The three day event  features authentic BBQ from  Kansas City, Chicago, Santa Maria and more, in addition to live entertainment, award winning desserts, and over 30 beers on tap, as well as wine. In previous years, one ticket got you admission for the afternoon, but you then had to pay for plates of BBQ separately. This year, an all inclusive ticket gets you unlimited BBQ & sides, desserts, 24 beers on tap and wine. 

In 2011 the foods include Southside Market & BBQ of Elgin, TX serving Elgin Hot Sausage and BBQ Brisket; Chicago BBQ Company of Burr Ridge, IL serving St. Louis Ribs & Coleslaw; L.C.'s BBQ of Kansas City, MO serving Kansas City Spare Ribs and Baked Beans; Susie Q's Brand of Santa Maria, CA serving Santa Maria Style Tri Tip Sandwich and Pinquito Beans; Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ of Mt. Laurel, NJ serving Beef Brisket and Coleslaw; Texas Thunder BBQ of Dallas, TX serving Pulled Pork Sandwich and Coleslaw. Bands performing include Country Western, Beatles Tribute and Rock.

Sept 9, 2011   4:30pm-7:30pm   $64.29
Sept 10, 2011   11am-2pm             $64.29
Sept 10, 2011  4pm - 7pm             $64.29
Sept 11, 2011   11am - 2pm           $64.29
Sept 11, 2011   4pm - 7pm             $64.29

September 10 - 11, 2011 Tracy Dry Bean Festival
Downtown Plaza
Tracy, California
(209) 835-2131
tracybeanfestival.com
Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday
25 Years of Beans at the Annual Tracy Dry Bean Festival is held in Downtown Plaza, with Kids Carnival on 10th Street near the Tracy Press building; Multi-Cultural stage near 10th & B Street and two additional stages with music and entertainment at the corner of 10th & Central. Bean Pavilion gives festival goers an opportunity to truly celebrate dry beans via bean samplings, variety of specialty dry beans for purchase, bean give-aways and cooking demonstrations. On Sunday, local chefs will compete for the prestigious title of  Best Chili in Town  at the annual chili bean cook off.  Bean Run 5K/10K and the  Show-N-Shine  Car Show features over 75 classic cars on display. 

September 10 - 11, 2011 Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
900 N. Point St.
San Francisco, CA
ghirardellisq.com
Time: Noon - 5 p.m.

Chocolate delicacies, wine and chocolate inspired family activities include  Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contest, Chef demos, and more. Tickets must be purchased to taste chocolate; $20 gets you 15 samples.  Chocolate Festival is a San Francisco tradition.

September 15, 2011 Taste and Tour of Little Saigon

Authentic Eight Course Vietnamese Dinner & Entertainment  plus pre-event Reception and Limousine Tour of Little Saigon.  Black Tie or Vietnamese Attire Optional
Reception 5 -  6:30 pm
Limousine Tours Depart: 6:30 pm  Dinner Served: 7:30 pm
Asian Garden Mall
9200 Bolsa Avenue
Westminster, California 92683 Grand Garden, 8894 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster, California 92683 - 
Cost: $75/person, RSVP required (714) 898-9648

September 11-17, 2011   SOM 2011 Spirits of Mexico  
San Diego, California
polishedpalate.com
The largest, most comprehensive festival of agave-based spirits in North America, and will be packed with seminars discussing the finest spirits, tequila tastings, cocktail challenges, authentic Mexican dishes and an awards ceremony.

Pasadena Greek Fest (Arcadia)  September 16 - 18, 2011
pasadenagreekfest.org  |  Category: Greek

September 16, 2011 Pinotfest
Del Monte Beach House
Monterey, CA
6 to 10 p.m.
$55, $60 at door
pinotfest.com

2nd Annual Pinotfest features over 20 vintners offering tastings of their classic pinot noirs, with white and rose wines. The goal of Pinotfest is to present, highlight, and promote Pinot Noir wines of Monterey County and beyond. Monterey County is home to over 7,500 acres of Pinot Noir, the most planted red grape varietal. Tri-tip BBQ, beach party festivities, music, dancing, and a silent auction, plus the world famous coastline are the highlights of this event. Donated prizes from participating vintners and businesses for the silent auction help Ag Against Hunger  nonprofit organization.   

September 16, 2011    Martinis on the Plaza  
Martinez, California
themartinifestival.com
Enjoy a magical evening under the enchantment of a starry sky, a babbling plaza fountain, graceful white tents & dancing twinkle lights as you travel back in time to the elegance of the 1940's Rat Pack era. Partake of specialty martinis, epicurean delights from regional restaurants, and live big band swing music as we celebrate Martinez's heritage as the birthplace of the Martini.

September 17 - 18, 2011 Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival
Central Park
Santa Clara, CA
(408) 615-3140
santaclaraca.gov

The Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival features nearly 175 booths, 25 community groups serving international foods, food vintners pouring fine wines, micro-brewed beer, live entertainment on three stages, and the ever-popular Kids Kingdom. Picturesque Central Park  sprawls over 52-acres and comprises a beautiful lake, hundreds of trees, several picnic areas and acres of green grass. Cost: Free admission.

September 20, 2o11  A Taste of Old Pasadena
20th Annual  - A Taste of Old Pasadena  
Old Pasadena
5:30 -  9  pm. 
Ticket $25 
(626) 795-2455

Sample your way through over 30 of Old Pasadena's finest restaurants on a self-guided walking taste tour. Tickets available at Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors, 1060 E. Green Street #100, Pasadena, CA or sold the day of the event in front of select restaurants.

September 20, 2011   Taste of Downtown Visalia

5 PM - 8 PM Wine and Beer Tasting
5 PM - 9 PM Food Tasting
$40 Regular Price Per Ticket
$35 Discounted Price until August 31

Restaurants in Downtown Viaslia open their doors and offer a taste of their favorite menu items in this once a year event. A ticket admits you to all of the participating Downtown restaurants as well as entrance to wine tasting by the Bank of the Sierra and beer tasting hosted by Visalia Community Bank. Spend the night strolling the streets enjoying culinary treats and live music or jump on the Visalia Towne Trolley for a lift to your favorite restaurant. Guests from all over the United States have come to this popular event that some have dubbed  a grown up's trick or treat. But there are never any tricks, only treats. The challenge is to visit all of the participating restaurants.  To reserve tickets with a Visa or Master Card over the phone call the Downtown Visalia Alliance at (559) 732-7737.  E-mail info@downtownvisalia.com

September 22-25, 2011    Walnut Festival  
Walnut Creek, California
thewalnutfestival.org
Celebrates the history of growing walnuts in the area and raises money to benefit the community.

San Francisco, A Taste of Greece September 23 - 25, 2011
annunciation.org/festival  |  Category: Greek

September 24, 2011    California Candy Festival  
Fairfield, California
californiacandyfestival.com
Over 10,000 candy lovers are expected to attend. Activities include candy sampling, candy-themed music & entertainment, candy making competition, parade, wine & chocolate pairing pavillion, and candy art contest. Takes place at the 15-acre Jelly Belly Visitors Center.

September 24-25, 2011  Sonoma County Farm Trails  
Windsor, California 
farmtrails.org
Join local farmers for a weekend of tours, artisan foods, wine tasting, hands-on activities, cooking, pick-your-own, agricultural demonstrations, music and harvest. From hay rides to cheese-making, Weekend Along the Farm Trails offers a chance to experience Sonoma County's agricultural heritage.

September 25, 2011 11th Annual Malibu Family Wines Grape Crush and Harvest Festival  
Malibu, California
cityhearts.org  
Benefiting City Hearts, Kids Say Yes to The Arts. Savor delicious samplings from over 20 local restaurants, and taste the heralded Semier Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Rose and Saddlerock Wines. Entertainment, crafts, grape crush and music for all ages

September 30-Oct 2, 2011   Sonoma County Harvest Fair  
Santa Rosa, California
harvestfair.org
A celebration of harvest featuring three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, chef demonstrations, microbrew tasting (Saturday only), farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, continuous live jazz, an art show, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more.