Eat Beat: Spring Food Festivals

Say goodbye to your diets, Richmond, food festival season is finally here.

Of course, spring in general is the time of year that everyone loves. It's the perfect time to get outside and do things … provided there aren't three straight days of downpours.

More importantly, though, spring signals the arrival of the festival season in Richmond. The next few months, through summer, will be jam-packed with every possible configuration of festivals – from summer concerts and film festivals to outdoor sporting events.

But really, who cares about those?

The crowning jewel in festival season is the food … and the festivals that celebrate it. Of course, every upcoming festival includes some offering of food, but the biggest, the baddest and our local favorites are always that ones that put the food front and center.

And it all starts this weekend.

Weekend of May 9

Asian American Celebration: Saturday, May 9, head over to the Greater Richmond Convention Center where Richmonders can sample all of the food, culture and traditions that Asia has to offer. Admission is free.

Weekend of May 16

25th Annual Lebanese Food Festival: West Enders might try to keep this festival to themselves, but it never works. City-dwellers, Southsiders and peeps from The Ville (I mean Mechanicville) are all willing to make the haul out to a little church in Glen Allen for a whole weekend of Lebanese food and fun. It starts the morning of Friday, May 15 and runs all the way through the night on Sunday, May 17. Admission is free.

Weekend of May 30

Greek Festival: I don’t want to play favorites or anything, but there’s no point in denying it; the Greek Festival is Richmond’s favorite. Sorry other festivals. In fact, two years ago when the festival was cancelled due to church renovations, Richmonders still waited in line in the rain for takeout. And the festival ran out of food. You don’t miss the Greek festival in Richmond, you just don’t. The fabulous Greek food, the dancing, the wine, the food, the wine … you have to go. It starts at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 28 and runs until Sunday night, May 31. Admission is free.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival: Didn’t get your fill at the Greek Festival? Of course not, Richmonders’ appetite for food festivals is insatiable. Head over to Richmond International Raceway all day Saturday, May 30 for barbecue, beer and bourbon. Admission starts at $25 and includes all-you-can-taste of beer and bourbon; kids 12 and under (and parking) are free.

Weekend of June 6

Broad Appetit: The fact that Broad Appetit didn’t exist until last year is proof, to me, that Richmond could add a dozen more festivals and we still wouldn’t have enough. Where was this festival before last year? It’s so fabulous that I can’t believe we ever lived without it. Last year it rained and still more than 7,000 people showed up. Broad Appetit is a completely novel food festival concept: food, without all that pesky cultural heritage in the way. And boy is it some good food. You can "sample fare from a variety of Richmond restaurants including Cafe Rustica, Bacchus, Comfort, Julep's, Savor, Six Burner, 1 North Belmont and more" all on Sunday, June 7 (note, Sunday) at noon. Admission is free.

Weekend of June 13

St. Joseph's Italian Festival: You think Church Hill owns the rights to an Italian Festival? Think again. This little church in Bon Air puts on a fabulous, incredibly kid-friendly, festival in its own right, complete with all your favorite Italian fare (food and drinks). It’s all weekend long, June 13 and 14, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Weekend of June 20

Central Virginia Wine Festival: 14 wineries, food, drink, entertainment and, of course, some fabulous wine all day Saturday, June 20. Admission starts at $20; kids 18 and under are free.

Richmond Veggie Fest: Richmond is so good at festivals that even the non-meat eaters get one all to themselves. At this Bryan Park festival some of Richmond’s coolest veggie-friendly restaurants cook up some fabulous vegetarian and vegan fare. Throw in entertainment and music and you’ve got fun for the whole family all day Saturday, June 20. Admission is free.

If you’re in to long-term planning, mark you calendar for the Weekend of July 11.