Summer is almost here, and with the great Southern California weather, there will be plenty of things to do, especially when it comes to food.
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Check out night markets, international cuisine, and even learn to make espresso during these events across the region.
ALSO SEE: The best free summer events across Southern California
Los Angeles County
California Watermelon Festival: Few things give you a taste of summer like a slice of juicy, sweet watermelon on a hot day. At this festival, you’ll get a sweet slice of summer with things like watermelon-inspired dishes, watermelon-themed arts and crafts, and, of course, slices of watermelon will be available for purchase, and whole watermelons will also be sold. People can also expect DJs and live bands playing Latin, banda, top 40, and 80s tunes, as well as Bruno Mars, Selena, and The Weekend cover bands. The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. June 6-7 at Hansen Dam Soccer Fields.
Find it: 11480 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, watermelonfest.org
Street Food Cinema: Now in its 15th year, this popular outdoor movie series turns movies into parties as it pairs screenings with food trucks, live bands, games, and other activities at various Los Angeles County locations. It’s a perfect summer evening when you can bring a blanket or lawn chair, listen to a little music, then head over to the food trucks before the film begins. Films on the schedule for this season include “Mamma Mia!” at Grand Hope Park on May 30, and since the World Cup is coming, “Bend It Like Beckham” will be screened on June 6, also at Grand Hope Park. Doors open between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. and films begin between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Runs through Oct. 3.
Details: streetfoodcinema.com
Los Angeles French Fry Festival: The humble but beloved French fry, which usually takes a side spot next to other foods, is getting its own day with the inaugural French Fry Festival. People had better be hungry because they’ll be able to munch on all sorts of fries. Think of waffle fries, curly fries, tornado potatoes, potato wedges, poutine, sweet potato fries, Cajun fries, beef tallow fries, and loaded fries. There will also be a curated sauce bar featuring everything from classic ketchup to truffle aioli to spicy honey mustard, garlic parmesan, chili cheese, BBQ, honey mustard, sriracha, plus wild experimental flavors. The event will take place at The Autry in Griffith Park from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 11.
Find it: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, bucketlisters.com
Long Beach BBQ Festival: There’s no summer without delicious barbecue, and there will be plenty at the Long Beach BBQ Festival Memorial Day weekend. Set seaside at Rainbow Lagoon, this festival will include about 30 pitmasters grilling all sorts of meats, from ribs to brisket to pulled pork, with styles ranging from Texas to California barbecue. And to wash it all down, there will be beer gardens and whiskey tasting, plus live music and vendors between noon and 9 p.m.
Find it: 400 E. Shoreline Drive, Long Beach, longbeachbbqfest.com
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Orange County
Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival: The Tony Balboa Bay Resort leans into Memorial Day weekend with a three-day slate of wine, spirits, and bites. The event begins on Friday with a Justin Vineyards and Winery dinner ($264) featuring a four-course menu by executive chef Diego Bernal, followed by Saturday’s grand tasting ($174 pre-sale, $198 same-day) replete with wines and libations, alongside bites galore. Participating vintners include Angeline Vineyards, Chandon, Clos de la Tech, Hope Family Wines, DAOU, Martin Ray Vineyards, Perrier Jouët, Provence Rosé Group, and Château Sainte-Marguerite, to name a few. Sunday closes out with “Blanc on the Bay” ($72 pre-sale, $96 same-day), a white-party affair with cocktails, appetizers, and live music. And don’t forget to hire a babysitter, mom or dad: This is a 21-and-over event.
Find it: Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 Coast Highway, Newport Beach, balboabayresort.com/nbwinefestival
626 Night Market: Christened after the San Gabriel Valley area code, the 626 Night Market returns to Costa Mesa with its familiar sprawl of Asian-inspired street food, in addition to shopping, arts, crafts, and music. With more than 200 vendors, a good bulk of the merchants will have your food needs covered. Past menu highlights have included ramen, roasted oysters, noodles galore, skewers, bao buns, wontons, smash burgers, karaage, quesabirria tacos, and more. The Orange County edition of the popular night market (which has locations in Arcadia and Pleasanton this summer) goes down May 29 to May 31 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Find it: OC Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 626nightmarket.com.
Taste of Japan: The annual ode to Japanese food returns to Anaheim with three days of ramen, okonomiyaki, yakitori, sweets, sake, suds, and more. The festival’s Oishii Street, a section of the fest designed to mimic a traditional Japanese street food alley, will include Amami-ya Baby Castella, Kashiwa Ramen, Shinsen-Gumi, Wagyu Street, Tokyo Hungry Pizza, House of Ube, and Piggly Piggly Pearl. The drink portion of the event will feature a 21-and-over Kanpai Yokocho beer and sake garden. The Taste of Japan festival is slated for June 19 to June 21, with hours listed from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. General admission is free; the food, however, will cost you.
Find it: STC Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 W Disney Way, Anaheim, tasteofjpn.com
Asian Garden Night Market: Little Saigon’s summer night market returns to the front of Asian Garden Mall for its 16th year, bringing the evening bustle of Bolsa Avenue outdoors on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Guests can expect Vietnamese fare, drinks, live music, and more. Crowds have only grown in recent years due, in part, to TikTok. And Asian Garden Mall (already a culinary marvel) boasts a stunning facade, with green-tiled roofs, bright red paper lanterns, and soaring red pagoda eaves towering above the floor-to-ceiling glass entrance, making it irresistible for your preferred social. While this year’s roster of vendors has yet to be revealed, past offerings have included steaming bowls of pho, lobster, grilled squid, fried rice flour cakes, mini savory pancakes, and more. Starts Friday, June 19, and lasts throughout the summer.
Find it: Asian Garden Mall, 9200 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, asiangardenmall.com/night-market.html.
World Taste of the Packing District: The former Sunkist citrus packing facility turned gourmet food hall in downtown Anaheim plays host to its sixth annual international tasting event, this time with a Disney-adjacent twist, coinciding with D23 Night. Guests can purchase tasting passports – including a seven-taste adventure pass or a four-taste petite pass – and sample bites and libations from an even wider area this year, including vendors across Anaheim MAKE, the Anaheim Packing House, Farmers Park, and the Packard Building. Eateries will include ADYA, Stone Groove Stillhouse, Zabon Ramen and Rolls, Urbana Mexican Gastronomy, Pique-Nique, Ari’s Thai Eatery, Randy’s Donuts, and Georgia’s, to name a few. The event runs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11.
Find it: Anaheim Packing District, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, anaheimpackingdistrict.com
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Riverside County
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week: Dining specials at fixed prices will be available throughout the Coachella Valley during Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, running between May 29 and June 7.
Details: visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
Hendo’s Barrel House Anniversary: The venue will throw a one-year anniversary celebration with music by Michael Ray and Daniel Bonte and The Bona Fide, food and drink specials, vendors, and giveaways. Hours will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 30-31.
Find it: 27901 Jefferson Ave, Temecula, hendosbarrelhouse.com.
Europa Village Dining Experiences: Europa Village in Temecula will hold special evenings throughout the summer, including this Chef’s Kitchen Dining Experience at 6:30 p.m. on June 10. There will be wine pairings and culinary demos. General admission is $259.77. Flavors of Cuba: Havana Nights will include a buffet and cigar lounge at 6:30 p.m. on July 31. General admission is $135.57. And a Sangria Festival, 6 p.m. June 26, will feature Spanish cuisine and flamenco dancers. Admission is $103.49.
Find it: 41150 Via Europa, Temecula, europavillage.com
Cocktails & Canvas: Diners will paint portraits of cocktails by numbers at Cocktails & Canvas, 6-8 p.m. at Downtown PUBlic June 19. The cost is $39.19.
Find it: 24619 Washington Ave., Murrieta, eventbrite.com
Inland Empire Summer Food Festival: Local vendors will be serving up the flavors of summer along with live entertainment. The event will take place from 2-8 p.m. on June 20 at Pikes Peak Park.
Find it: 97 Sixth St., Norco, eventbrite.com.
Whiskey & Wings Festival: The Pechanga Resort Casino’s second annual Whiskey & Wings Festival will benefit Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley. This is a 21-and-older event. Doors will open at 1 p.m. on July 11. Tickets will cover food and beverages. They are $120, $160 for early admission.
Find it: 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, pechanga.com
International Food & Music Festival: The event promises the “Inland Empire’s largest celebration of international cuisine, culture, and community.” Seventy-five food vendors will take over downtown Riverside near the Mission Inn and the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture between noon and 10 p.m. on July 25-26. Plus carnival rides, shopping, a beer garden, and live entertainment.
Details: instagram.com/internationalfoodfestivals
San Bernardino County
Maifest at Big Bear Lake: This scaled-down version of Oktoberfest will take place May 23-24 and 30. Tickets are $15-$34.
Find it: 42900 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake, bigbearevents.com.
Grill & Chill: Big Bear BBQ Festival Grill & Chill goes from noon to 8 p.m. May 23-24. The event includes live music and vendors at Ski Beach Park. Tickets are $10-$85.
Find it: 41216 Park Ave., Big Bear Lake, bigbearbbqfestival.com
Soul Food Party Bus: The bus will visit Black-owned restaurants throughout the Inland Empire. It will depart at 11:30 a.m., May 31, from Big Al’s, 4120 E. Fourth St., Ontario. General admission is $140.
Details: eventbrite.com
Learn to make espresso: A home espresso class taught by experts at Klatch Coffee will take place from 9 a.m.-noon June 6 and July 18. The cost is $150.
Find it: 8767 Onyx Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, klatchcoffee.com
Pick your own fruit: Labor Day weekend is the traditional start of u-pick apple season in Oak Glen, although some varieties ripen earlier, and raspberry picking begins in the summer. The Oak Glen Apple Growers Association maintains a website with information about farms, orchards, dining, shopping, and activities.
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Details: oakglen.net