Discover 5 fascinating food festivals around the world, from Cheese Rolling in England to The Battle of Oranges in Italy
Food lets you express yourself, share traditions, invite others to experience your culture, and meet new people. Across the globe, numerous countries and cities have ingeniously woven food into their traditions. Ready for a culinary adventure around the world? Join me on a short food tour to explore the five most fascinating food festivals!
Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill, England
Heard of people chasing a 7 pound cheese ? Well, it might be at the Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill in England. The main activity centers around being the first to catch the cheese. Sounds simple, right? But picture this: sprinting down a hill with a gradient exceeding 45 degrees and spanning a length of 100 meters, where keeping your balance is an incredible challenge.
In 2024, the Gloucester Cheese rolling will take place on Monday 27th of May and there will be three races : one for women, men and kids which be an uphill race to be safer. Evidently, if you catch the cheese, you get to keep it and taste it ! In the 1700s, Double Gloucester cheese was a luxurious delicacy, priced at the equivalent of £190 today. Today, you can enjoy this cheese for around £8 per pound.
If you’re considering getting some Double Gloucester cheese for free by participating, beware, this competition comes with its dangers. The 23-time winner, Chris Anderson, might have scored some free cheese, but he also ended up with a broken wrist, a bruised kidney, and a concussion.
Qatar International Food Festival
Are you a food lover ? Let’s test it with Qatar’s longest running food festival. Every year, it’s a melting pot of culinary delights from various countries, showcasing everything from trendy eats to gourmet cuisine and spicy street food. As an initiative by Years Of Culture, this year’s festival highlights the flavours of Qatar and Morocco, offering a feast for both your taste buds and senses with live entertainment.
With more than 100 food and beverage kiosks to explore, there’s something for everyone at this festival. Gather the family and enjoy quality time together with interactive workshops, opportunities to meet world-class chefs, and the chance to watch beautiful fireworks. This event is highly esteemed, as evidenced by the presence of world-class chefs and three football legends. Three players from Paris Saint-Germain attended a live cooking session with Chef Alexandre Guillo.
“Wild Foods” Festival, New Zealand
If you’re looking to try some West Coast local New Zealand food, the Hokitika’s annual Wild foods Festival is ideal to try something new and unique. This festival came to life in 1990 in the West Coast thanks to Claire Bryant who wanted to celebrate local wilds’ food. This festival is held during March in a small village called Hokitika, counting with 3400 inhabitants.
What is this festival all about ? This festival features some of the weirdest dishes in the world, including warms, scorpions, mountain oysters and wasp larvae ice cream. Along to the weirdest food tastings, there are many activities to entertain your day, such as the Feral Fashion competition. To ensure you have the ultimate festival experience, I suggest dressing as creatively as you can, rallying a group of friends, and enjoying each other’s company while exploring new foods and laughing together at any culinary fears or tastes. Last tip , be hungry !
Battle of the Oranges, Italy
Battle of the Oranges, also known as Italy’s craziest festival and the largest organised food fight in Italy. “The Carnival of Ivrea” or the “Battle of Oranges” dates back to a medieval revolt. This revolution was due to an evil marquis, who attempted to rape a young woman in the town, but was instead decapitated by the woman. Each year, this battle marks the end of the Ivrea’s Carnival.
If you decide to attend this battle, know that you’re setting foot in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as Ivrea has been recognised since 2018. Each year, the date of the Battle varies. To ensure you don’t miss out on the action in 2025, mark your calendar for the dates: Sunday, March 2nd through Tuesday, March 4th.
You might ask yourself, what do they do with all the crushed oranges ? The fruits are taken to a plant, where they are transformed into compost and energy.
Noche de Rábanos, Mexico
Noche de Rabanos also known as Night of the Radishes is a tradition of over 100 years in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. The night of the Radishes is held every year on December the 23rd to remind everyone where they come from and keep this tradition alive. As Christmas approaches, the event is embellished with decorations primarily centered around the festive season. Apart from beautiful decorations, food is another important aspect of the Noche de Rabanos.
The Night of the Radishes began at the Christmas Eve market with the aim of stimulating floriculture and horticulture while drawing in additional customers. Yet, over time, it evolved beyond these initial intentions to become a cherished part of Mexico’s state history. As you stroll through the city, you will find radish carvings of animals, dancers and much more. Trying some local food such as buñuelos or esquises is a must if you attend this event.
I can assure you’ll be surprised to see that some of the radishes can be up to two feet long and weigh up to 10 pounds. Certain lands within the city are specifically designated for cultivating the radishes used in Oaxaca’s prominent event.
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