Bacon. Beer. Wine. BBQ. What do all these things have in common? They all have FESTIVALS dedicated to them. Summer food fest season is here and you can be danged sure we are hitting up peach and taco tents to our dark heart’s content.
Here’s a bigass list of food festivals in or around Durango. None of these sweet and savory celebrations is more than a seven-hour road trip away.
Note: Cost is gate entry only. Food is not included in most ticket prices.
COLORADOTaste of Durango
When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, May 21
Where: 800 Main Ave Between 8th and 12th St., Durango
Cost: Free entry
What: Local breweries, artisan cocktails, and piles of delicious dishes you always meant to try while listening to live tunes from the likes of Elder Grown. Event benefits Manna Soup Kitchen.
Details: www.tasteofdurango.com
Taste of Fort Collins
When: Friday, June 9-11
Where: Fort Collins (7 hours from Durango)
Cost: $20
What: Plain White T’s, St. Lucia, and Gin Blossoms headline with food trucks, breweries, and restaurants aplenty to snack attack at.
Details: https://tasteoffortcollins.com
Men who Grill
When: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10
Where: Buckley Park in Durango
Cost: $20 advance, $25 day of
What: An all-you-can-eat grilled foods extravaganza with music by the Kirk James Blues Band and proceeds benefiting the Women’s Resource Center.
Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/men-who-grill-2017-tickets-34037522145?aff=es2
Cochon555’s Heritage Fire
When: 4-7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 17
Where: Snowmass Village (5 hours from Durango)
Cost: $125 to $200 (VIP)
What: 50 chefs and butchers grill heritage-breed, ethically-raised animals with globally-inspired recipes. Boutique wine, craft beers, and artisan ciders will be paired with ingredients that include dry-aged beef, whole pig, squab, and heirloom vegetables.
Details: http://cochon555.com/2017-tour/snowmass/
Colorado BBQ Challenge
When: Thursday, June 15-17
Where: Frisco, (5 hours from Durango)
Cost: $20
What: The 24th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge will feature over 70 BBQ aficionados cooking pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, and whatever else they can get grill marks on. There’ll be seven bands, pig races, a whiskey tour, a Bacon Burner 6K, and a hellton of eats.
Details: www.townoffrisco.com/play/colorado-bbq-challenge/general-info/
Keystone Bacon and Beer Festival
When: Saturday, June 24-25
Where: Keystone (7 hours from Durango)
Cost: $4 for a-la-carte items to $55 package deals
What: Get your bacon salted, dried, smoked – however you want it, they got it. Wash it down with the Jim Beam Bourbon Tour, specialty bloody Mary’s, and a rock and country lineup featuring bands like Panda’s and People and Hell’s Belles.
Details: www.keystonefestivals.com/festivals/bacon-and-bourbon-festival
ARIZONATaco Festival
When: Noon-6 p.m., Saturday, July 1
Where: Flagstaff, AZ (5 hours from Durango)
Cost: $12 general entry, plus $2 tacos inside
What: How many tacos can you eat? Find out in Flagstaff while watching a Chihuahua beauty pageant and swilling tequila.
Details: https://thetacofestival.com
CornFest
When: Friday, July 14- 15
Where: Camp Verde, AZ ( 6 hours from Durango)
Cost: Free entry
What: Cornhole tournament, craft fair, birding excursion, river rafting, and all the dang corn you can eat awaits you.
Details: http://www.campverdepromotions.org/events/cornfest
NEW MEXICOVintage Albuquerque
When: Wednesday, June 21-25
Where: Albuquerque (4 hours from Durango)
Cost: $125 and up
What: Posh-tastic wine and food tastings in varied locations will cater to your oh-my-god-it’s-like-the-Food-Channel dreams.
Details: www.vintagealbuquerque.org
Mac and Cheese Festival
When: 1-5 p.m., Saturday, June 24
Where: Farmington (1 hour from Durango)
Cost: $35 plus tax
What: Berg Park along the Animas River will be packed with MAC! Get a lovely form of too-full, eating every variety of mac and cheese imaginable. And hooch it all down, at this 21-plus event.
Details: www.themacandcheesefest.com/
Rio Rancho Pork and Brew
When: Saturday, July 1-3
Where: Rio Rancho, NM (3.5 hours from Durango)
Cost: $0 to $6
What: A hog heaven of BBQ, beer, and live music that draws 15,000 visitors a year.
Details: http://www.visitriorancho.org/
Taste and Toast of Albuquerque
When: Noon-5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13
Where: Albuquerque (4 hours from Durango)
Cost: $20
What: More than 20 eateries and eight breweries raise money for charity through delectable fest food with live music all day in the heart of Albuquerque’s premium shopping district.
Details: www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-and-toast-of-abq-tickets-25359431743#
Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights
When: Wednesday, Aug. 16-19
Where: Red River, NM (4.5 hours from Durango)
Cost: TBD
What: Munch all day on BBQ while watching the New Mexico State Green Chile Championship and the Lone Star BBQ Society cook-off then chill out all night to roots and rock tunes.
Details: http://www.larryjoetaylor.com/red_river.htm
UTAHStrawberry Days
When: Saturday, June 10-18
Where: Pleasant Grove, UT (6 hours from Durango)
Cost: TBD
What: A freakin’ carnival, a rodeo, a tea party, pie eating contests, car show, and strawberries up the WAZOO!
Details: www.strawberrydays.org
Park City Food and Wine Classic
When: Thursday, July 6-9
Where: Park City, UT (7 hours from Durango)
Cost: $95 to $265
What: Destination deliciousness for winelovers and foodies, featuring more than 100 food artisans, wineries, breweries, and epicurean eateries. 21-plus.
Details: https://parkcityfoodandwineclassic.com
Wasatch International Food Festival
When: Friday, Aug. 18-19
Where: West Valley City, UT ( 6.5 hours from Durango)
Cost: $5
What: This international food fest mixes haute cuisine and street food, plus arts, live music, and beer garden, with proceeds benefiting local arts programming.
Details: www.foodfestutah.org/about.html
Peach Days
When: Thursday, Aug. 31-Sept. 2
Where: Hurricane, UT (6.5 hours from Durango)
Cost: TBD
What: Peaches EVERYWHERE! A peach cook-off, food booths, a rodeo, 12K run, live entertainment, and a quilt and craft show.
Details: www.cityofhurricane.com/categories/about/events/peach-days/
Patty TempletonDGO Staff Writer
