Food, Wine, and Beer Events to Look Out for This Fall

Autumn means different things to different people, but for foodies, it means festival season! After the excitement of summer has passed, comes the time to celebrate all things food, wine, and beer. Throughout the Sacramento region, you’ll find several events that highlight the farm-to-table heritage of the area. From food-centric festivals to wine tastings, these events are a great excuse to get out and explore everything Sacramento has to offer. Following is a chronological list of the best food, wine, and beer events to look out for this fall in the greater Sacramento area.

Fair Play ZinFest | Aug. 30–31

Photo Courtesy of Fair Play Zin Fest | IG: @fairplay_zinfest

This epic food and wine adventure, held on Labor Day weekend in the mountain town of Fair Play in El Dorado County, celebrates all things Zinfandel! Tickets get you tastings at participating wineries as well as food pairings. There’s also live music!

Legends of Wine | Sept. 4

The Sacramento area’s premier wine event, this tasting features varietals from regional wineries from Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, and Amador counties. In addition to wine, there will also be chefs on-site from local restaurants providing delicious farm-to-fork cuisine.

Sacramento County Farm-to-Fork Homes

Placer Sips & Suds Festival | Sept. 6

Held at The Grounds in Roseville, this lively event is designed for wine, beer, and music lovers! There are wine and beer tastings along with cooking demonstrations and food trucks. You can also enjoy live music all day, from country to classic rock.

Yolo Wine Night | Sept 6

Photo Courtesy of Yolo County Wines | IG: @yolocountywines

More than a dozen local wineries from throughout Yolo County are joining forces for this annual event, held at Heringer Estates in Clarksburg. Tasting is included, or you can upgrade your ticket for a VIP experience with reserve and small-lot wines. There will also be food trucks and live music.

El Dorado Hills Brewfest | Sept. 6

Lagers, IPAs, stouts, and sours from 40 craft breweries. Not a beer lover? No worries, you can also sample cider and wine. In addition, there’ll be local food trucks on hand. Afterwards, visit the wind-down zone for games, music, and live entertainment.

El Dorado County Wine Country Homes

California Brewers Festival | Sept. 13

Now in its 30th year, this celebration of local brews will be held in Sacramento’s Discovery Park. There will be adult beverages of every kind, including beer, wine, cider, seltzer, sake, and kombucha. In addition, there will be a beer relay, food trucks, an adult fun zone, and a marketplace featuring local makers.

Terra Madre Americas | Sept. 26–28

Photo Courtesy of Terra Madre Americas

The newest iteration of Sacramento’s iconic Farm-to-Fork Festival, Terra Madre Americas, is a global showcase of slow food, food education, and much more. Held at the Safe Credit Union Convention Center, the free event features celebrity chef demonstrations, live music, and local vendors. There will also be a marketplace featuring gourmet food from across the Americas, including wine, coffee, cheese, seafood, and more. The event kicks off with a Grand Tasting highlighting Sacramento’s culinary scene, an Enoteca with wine from both North and South America, and educational panels and hands-on workshops on food-related topics.

Fruit Shed Fest | Oct. 4

For more than 35 years, the town of Loomis in Placer County hosted an annual Eggplant Festival in honor of the purple fruit (yes, it’s a fruit, not a vegetable). But they’ve since transitioned to the Fruit Shed Fest, which honors the town’s agricultural heritage, growing all types of fruit and vegetables. The event will showcase local produce and other food, beer, and wine. There’ll also be live music and activities for the kids.

Find Placer County Harvest Homes

Sac Town VegFest | Oct. 11

If you love animals and don’t eat them, this annual vegan festival is for you. Held at Cosumnes River College, the event features speakers, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, and of course, FOOD — all of which is plant-based and free of any ingredient derived from an animal source.

Auburn Wine, Ale & Food Festival | Oct. 11

Photo Courtesy of Auburn Wine, Ale, and Food Festival | IG: @auburnwinealeandfoodfestival

Held in the charming Placer County town of Auburn, this annual event allows you to sample wines, beer, and food from dozens of local purveyors. You can sip and stroll while you browse the quaint shops and boutiques, and a complimentary shuttle takes you from venue to venue.

Yolo Wine & Food Affair | Oct. 18

Why stop at wine? This celebration of all things wine and food will be held at Great Bear Vineyards in Davis. More than a dozen Yolo County wineries will be pouring their wines, which will be paired with small bites from local chefs.

Yolo County Vineyard Living

Mountain Mandarin Festival | Nov. 21–23

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Mandarin Festival | IG: @mandarinfestival

Mandarin donuts, mandarin wings, and mandarin cocktails are just a few of the citrusy delights you’ll find at this popular festival held in Roseville — not to mention bags of plain ole mandarins grown by Placer County farmers. The event features live music and entertainment, as well as local vendors selling everything from mandarin earrings to mandarin-infused olive oil.