Loopy about lobster? Crazy for corn? Goofy for garlic? Thanks to the region's vibrant agricultural industry, California is chock-full of food-themed festivals. Foodies may want to clip out this culinary tour of the region's best food festivals.
American Food & Wine Festival: Started by Wolfgang Puck in 1982, this is the state's most prestigious food event, featuring the world's top chefs and winemakers gathered for a culinary celebration Sept. 25 at L.A.'s Universal City Walk and Sept. 26 at Puck's Spago Restaurant in L.A. Visit awff.org .
California Avocado Festival: Upward of 100,000 people pack this hilly North San Diego County community each April to celebrate the pear-shaped green fruit. Besides guacamole and avocado-cooking contests, the fest includes an avo-car-o race (with tiny plastic wheels inserted into the fruits) and the crowning of an avo king and queen. This year's festival is April 18 on Fallbrook's Main Street. Call 760-728-5845 or visit fallbrookca.org .
California State 36th Annual Chili Cookoff: State finalists brew up their best chili, salsa and menudo for a shot at a slot in the 45th annual World Championship Chili Cookoff in Las Vegas in December. The state festival fires up May 1 in Perris Hill Park, 1001 E. Highland Ave. in San Bernardino. Call 909-883-3596 or go to chilicookoff.com .
California Wine Festival: The annual festival features tastings of more than 400 California wines, more than 40 food vendors, international food and wines, and live music. Two festivals are held each year, April 22-24 in Orange County and July 15-17 in Santa Barbara. Visit californiawinefestival.com .
National Date Festival: An annual tradition since 1936, the festival, also known as the Riverside County Fair, was created to celebrate the date harvest in Indio each year (to honor Algeria, the date palms' native country, camel races and Arabian plays are presented daily). This year's festival ran Feb. 12-21 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Highway 111, Indio. Visit datefest.org or call 760-863-8247.
Julian Apple Days: Created years ago to celebrate the fall harvest of tart apples grown in this North San Diego County mountain community, the festival has grown so large that most of the apples need to be trucked in to fill the fresh-baked pies that are in every downtown store window from Sept. 15-Nov. 15. Events include an Oktoberfest at Menghini Winery, craft shows, live entertainment and more. Visit julianappledays.com .
La Habra Corn Festival: Hosted by the La Habra Lions Club, this event began as a dance/cookout to celebrate the city's summer corn crop and has since grown into a three-day celebration with food booths, rides, a parade and marketplace and the crowning of a corn queen. Farming attire is expected. This year's 62nd festival runs Aug. 6-8 at El Centro-Lions Park at 201 N. Cypress St. in La Habra. Visit thecornfestival.com or call 562-691-3482.
Lemon Festival: Chula Vista, billed in the 1920s as the "Lemon Capital of the World," celebrates its agricultural heritage with this 14th annual street fair that draws 40,000 a year. This year's festival runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 8 and 10 at Third Avenue, between E and G streets, Chula Vista; 619-422-1982 or go to thirdavenuevillage.com .
Long Beach Crawfish Festival: As much about Cajun food as it is about music, this 17th annual festival returns Aug. 7-8 to the Rainbow Lagoon for a full plate of Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans music, along with tons of crawfish and barn dancing. Visit longbeachcrawfishfestival.com .
Pacific Rim International Wine Competition: Wines from North and South America, New Zealand and Australia are judged by an international panel over five days. The 25th annual contest is scheduled for April 21 and 22 at the National Orange Show Events Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino. Call 909-888-6788 or www.nationalorangeshow.com/events/wine_competition.htm .
Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival & Music Weekend: This three-day seaside festival features live music, a parade, family entertainment, children's activities and lots and lots of Pacific lobsters from Sept. 17-19 at Redondo Beach's Seaside Lagoon. Call 800-282-0333 or visit lobsterfest.com .
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival: Scheduled for Nov. 17-21, this four-day program of dinners, wine tastings and cooking classes culminates in the Grand Event, featuring 70 restaurants and 170 wineries and a local chefs' cooking competition at Embarcadero Marina Park North, San Diego. Visit worldofwineevents.com .
Strawberry Festival: Dick's Sporting Goods hosts the 2010 Strawberry Festival 5K & Kids Run from 6:30 to 10 a.m. May 30 at 101 Wave Drive in Vista. The event includes a 5-kilometer race for adults, a 1-mile children's run and strawberry sales, vendor booths, art displays, a health and fitness expo, and more at the finish line. Cost to register is $20-$30. Visit www.kinanevents.com .
Family Winemakers of California Tasting 2009: This one-day gathering of more than 200 California wineries held each March (it was March 14 this year) at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is mostly a trade event for wine buyers, but in the afternoon, it opens to the public. From 3 to 6 p.m., come and taste to your heart's content for $55. Visit familywinemakers.org .
World of Wine Weekend: The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association hosts a weekend of barrel and reserve tastings, dinners and events each March in the Temecula Valley. Tickets are $79-$89. Visit temeculawines.com .
Still hungry? Don't miss these:
Napa Valley Mustard Festival ---- Jan. 30-March 27. Call 707-938-1133 or mustardfestival.org .
Spam Festival ---- Every February at Isleton Joe's, 212 Second St., Isleton. 916-806-2498.
Clam Chowder Cookoff ---- Every February at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Call 831-420-5273.
Capa Valley Almond Festival ---- Every March in Esparto, Guinda and Rumsey. Call 530-787-3242 or espartochamber.com .
Asparagus Festival ---- Nearly 100,000 turn up for this three-day fest April 23-24 in downtown Stockton; asparagusfest.com .
Castroville Artichoke Festival ---- Try it every which way. Festival runs May 15-16. Visit artichoke-festival.org .
California Strawberry Festival ---- May 15-16, Strawberry Meadows, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard; strawberry-fest.org .
Cherry Festival ---- Known statewide for its cherry pie contest, this San Leandro event marks its 100th anniversary on June 5; visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/cherryfest.html .
Patterson Apricot Festival ---- The Apricot Queen will be crowned at this popular agricultural festival June 4-6. Visit http://patterson-ca.com/fiesta/fiesta1.htm .
California Peach Festival ---- The 11th annual festival returns July 16-18, the peak of peach season in downtown Marysville. Visit marysvillepeachfest.com .
Gilroy Garlic Festival ---- More than two tons of Gilroy's prized crop is cooked up or sold raw at one of the state's largest food festivals. It returns July 23-25. Visit gilroygarlicfestival.com .
