Our favorite 2008 California food festivals
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Phone: (707) 422-0103, www.fairfielddowntown.com.
SPRINGVILLE
Apple Festival
Oct. 18-19: Visitors can pile on the calories at the apple-pie-eating contest and then work it off at the Apple Run -- 5K, 10K and kids' runs -- a seven-mile mountain bike race. There's also an apple baking contest, live bluegrass tunes, clowns, kids' rides and more than 200 juried crafts booths.
Where: Most activities at Springville Park, along California 190 in downtown Springville.
Cost: Free.
Info: (559) 539-0619, www.springville.ca.us/applefest/index.html.
BERKELEY
North Berkeley Spice of Life Festival
Oct. 19: In Berkeley's so-called Gourmet Ghetto, home of Alice Waters' Chez Panisse, this foodie event has cooking demos by neighborhood chefs, gourmet food offerings and vendors alongside bistro-style seating, and wine and beer gardens. Businesses will host author appearances and cookbook signings, interactive art projects, and yoga and bodywork demonstrations.
Where: On Shattuck Avenue from Virginia to Rose streets.
Cost: Free.
Info: (800) 310-6563, www.sresproductions.com.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
Nov. 12-15: Billed as one of Southern California's largest wine and culinary events, the weeklong festival has celeb-chef cooking demonstrations, master sommelier wine-tasting seminars and the Reserve & New Release Wine Tasting. To top it off, the Nov. 15 finale, dubbed the Grand Event, showcases more than 160 domestic and international wineries, 60 San Diego restaurants, gourmet fare, live music, a Chef of the Fest contest, an olive oil tasting tent and more.
Where: Various venues.
Cost: Tickets $40 to $450 for a weekend package.
Info: (619) 342-7337, www.worldofwineevents.com.
AUBURN
Mountain Mandarin Festival
Nov. 22-23: Mandarin lovers get a workout hauling home 10-pound orange-mesh bags filled with this late-fall fruit. At the festival, they can sample foods enhanced with mandarins such as ice cream, nuts, barbecue sauce and marinades; and don't miss the chocolate-dipped mandarins. Also: 250 gourmet food, home décor, gift and handcraft vendors.
Where: Gold Country Fairgrounds, 1273 High St.
Cost: Admission $5, parking $5; prices subject to change.
Info: (916) 663-1918, www.mandarinfestival.com.
YUCAIPA
Apple Butter Festival
Nov. 28-30: Help make apple butter at a period encampment set up at Los Rios Rancho. The theme is pioneer days, with demonstrations of tomahawk throwing, archery and cornhusk-doll construction. And visitors can help slice apples, stir the apple butter simmering in a big copper kettle and take home free samples of the results. Saturday night, there's a hoedown in the barn and a harvest supper featuring pumpkin stew served in a hollowed-out pumpkin.
Where: Los Rios Rancho, 39611 Oak Glen Road.
Cost: Free admission; $25 for hoedown.
Info: (909) 797-1005, www.losriosrancho.com.
INDIO
Tamale Festival
Dec. 6-7: Indio's tamale-eating, tamale-judging, folklorico-dancing bash has been ranked by Food Network as among the top 10 All-American U.S. food festivals. In 1999, it made it into the Guinness Records with a 40-foot-long tamale. And big things are also being cooked up for this winter's event.
Where: In the area of California 111 and Indio Boulevard.
Cost: Free.
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