Wine, Beer, & Food Festivals to Look Out for This Fall

For food lovers, fall is one of the best times of year. It’s harvest season, the weather cools, and many cities in the greater Sacramento area host festivals to showcase the ingredients produced in the region. Sacramento is surrounded by farms, orchards, ranches, and vineyards, so it comes as no surprise that food and drink take center stage at many community events.

 Whether you want to sample dishes from the area’s top chefs, try international cuisine, or sip local wine or beer, there are plenty of opportunities to do so this fall. From wine and beer tastings to harvest festivals and Oktoberfests, there’s no shortage of great events slated in the greater Sacramento area. Best of all, many of them are family friendly, with live music, entertainment, and artisan markets. Following are some of the best food, wine, and beer festivals to look out for this fall.

 Yolo Wine Night | Aug. 15 | Clarksburg

Photo Courtesy of Yolo County Wines | IG: @yolocountywines

Yolo County turns out some of the best wines in the region, and you can sample them all at this annual tasting event held at the Old Sugar Mill, which has 14 tasting rooms under one roof. There will also be food trucks and live music.

 El Dorado Hills Brewfest | Sept. 5 | El Dorado Hills

If you’re a lover of craft brew, you can sample some of the best at this annual brewfest in El Dorado Hills. Brewers from across the region will be pouring their IPAs, lagers, and stouts, plus there will be food available from local vendors. Not into beer? Cider, sake, and kombucha will also be on tap.

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 Roseville Greek Food Festival | Sept. 5–6 | Roseville

Photo Courtesy of Roseville Greek Food Festival

It’s all about the food at this annual event in Roseville! Dolmathes, souvlaki, gyro, and baklava are just a few of the Greek specialties you’ll find here. Plus, you can wash it all down with Greek wine or ouzo, an anise-flavored aperitif. You can also listen to Greek music, enjoy Greek folk dancing, and shop at the Greek specialty food market.

 Grand Tasting | Sept. 11 | Downtown Sacramento

Sacramento’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival has shifted a bit. It has merged with Terra Madre Americas, which is held every other year. This year is an off year, and while they aren’t hosting a festival, they will still be putting on the Grand Tasting, a sampling of dishes prepared by the region’s best chefs. The Grand Tasting will also incorporate the Legends of Wine event, a showcase of the region’s best wineries. And, as always, the famed Tower Bridge Dinner will still take place, this year on Sept. 6.

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 California Brewers Festival | Sept. 12 | Sacramento

Photo Courtesy of California Brewers Festival

Taste the best craft brews from California and beyond at this lively event held at Discovery Park. One ticket will get you unlimited sips of beer as well as cider, hard seltzers, kombucha, and wine. There’s also a beer relay, food trucks, and a vendor fair with beer-related merch.

 Global Feast Fest | Sept. 12 | Elk Grove

This free community festival is a celebration of cultures from across the globe. Naturally, a big part of any culture is its food, and you can sample international cuisine while sipping craft beer and local wine. There will also be live music, an artisan marketplace, and family-friendly activities.

 Placerville Oktoberfest | Sept. 19 | Placerville

This free, all-ages event in Placerville highlights the spirit of Bavaria with German food, craft beer, and local wine. There’s a kid zone for the little ones, and a stein holding contest for moms and dads. There’s also a dachshund dash and costume contest, and a giant zucchini contest, which also includes a costume contest for the best-dressed zuke!

 Hoes Down Harvest Festival | Oct. 3 | Guinda

Put your hoes down and taste true farm-to-fork cuisine at this popular event held at Full Belly Farms in Guinda. Not only can you indulge in dishes from local eateries, but you can also learn about sustainable farming practices, watch a sheep shearing demonstration, and enjoy a yoga class. For kids, there will be a nighttime story walk and a puppet show. You can also camp overnight.

 Taste of Davis & Yolo | Sept. 27 | Davis

Photo Courtesy of Taste of Davis & Yolo

Food, wine, and beer are on the menu at this event held at the Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Davis. Local purveyors include Buckhorn Meat Co., Davis Creamery, Dunloe Brewing, and Turkovich Family Wines, among many more. 

 Fruit Shed Fest | Oct. 3 | Loomis

The town of Loomis was known for its acres upon acres of orchards, with its fruit being shipped across the nation via the trains that stopped near the fruit sheds in the center of town. Fruit built the town, so it’s no surprise that heritage is celebrated each year with this family-friendly event. Here you’ll find local food, live music, and artisan vendors. There’s also a kids’ market for young entrepreneurs.

 Greek Festival | Oct. 3–4 | Sacramento

Don’t know the difference between spanakopita and tiropita? Moussaka and pastitsio? Find out at this long-running event featuring Greek food and culture. There will also be live music, folk dancing, and cooking demonstrations. Plus, you can pick up Greek gifts, jewelry, and specialty food at the marketplace.

 Oktoberfest | Oct. 9 | East Sacramento

Raise a stein at the Turn Verein’s annual Oktoberfest, one of the largest and longest running in the region. You can enjoy German beers and food such as brats, schnitzel, and of course, giant Bavarian pretzels. Live entertainment includes traditional music, dancing, and kids’ activities.

 Auburn Wine, Ale & Food Festival | Oct. 10 | Auburn

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

You can sip and stroll in historic Auburn during this festival, which celebrates local wine, craft beer, and farm-to-table cuisine. Dozens of local wineries, breweries, and restaurants are participating, and VIP tickets get you a curated food and wine pairing.

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 Wine & Food Affair | Oct. 24 | Great Bear Vineyards

Held at Great Bear Vineyards in Davis, this annual event showcases everything Yolo County has to offer. The event features a dozen Yolo County wineries pouring their 90+ point wines, Best of Class wines, and Double-Gold wines, all paired with small bites from local chefs. There will also be live music for a relaxing evening under the stars.

 Fair Play Harvest Wine Festival | Nov 7–8 | Fair Play

Photo Courtesy of Fair Play Harvest Wine Festival

The Fair Play region of El Dorado County turns out some of the best wines in the region, especially bold reds like Zinfandel, Syrah, and Barbera. You can explore the area’s lovely estate wineries, sample their best vintages, and enjoy live music during this annual event. There will also be harvest demonstrations, food, and artisan vendors.

 Mountain Mandarin Festival | Nov. 20–22 | Roseville

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Mandarin Festival | IG: @mandarinfestival

Did you know Placer County grows some of the sweetest, juiciest mandarins around? A celebration of the sweet little citrus will be held at the Grounds in Roseville. Not only will you find fresh-picked mandarins from local growers, but also mandarin-centric food like mandarin donuts, mandarin beef jerky, and mandarin barbecue sauce. Local vendors will also be on hand with mandarin products like lotion, soap, and candles. There’s also a Miss Mandarin pageant, live music, and dance performances.