WASHINGTON — Whether it’s crabs you crave or wine you want, chances are, there’s a festival to fit your food fixations.
Here are some of the best food and drink festivals in the area this summer. Some are close by, others require a quick road trip.
June 3 and 4, Centreville, Virginia Don’t have the time to visit all the established and emerging wineries in the Commonwealth? Sample several in one spot at the Vintage Virginia Wine Festival. Sip on small pours, purchase your favorite bottles and relax to live music. There will even be activities for young ones. (AP/Chris Tilley)
AP/Chris Tilley
June 2 and 3, Washington, D.C. Calling all craft beer and food aficionados: SAVOR is back, and this year’s event brings together 86 breweries from across the country. Get your taste buds ready for countless beer and food pairings. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
June 3, Sandy Spring, Maryland This event, now in its 36th year, attracts more than 6,000 attendees to the Sandy Spring Museum for live music, food, a beer garden and activities for children, including a petting zoo and pony rides. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via AP)
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via AP
June 3 and 4, Washington, D.C. Expect live music, outdoor games, food and unlimited pours of craft beer, wine and cider. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Photo/John Bazemore
June 9 and 10, Purcellville, Virginia If you’re looking for a more relaxing weekend, check out the Blooming Hill Lavender Festival in Purcellville, Virginia. When you’re done picking your own lavender (perhaps to make lavender ice cream or lavender shortbread cookies), relax with a lavender tea in the garden. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
WTOP/Rachel Nania
June 10 and 11, Annapolis, Maryland Take a day trip to Annapolis and delight in the perfect pairing: art and wine. This festival will also have live music, food and auctions. (Photo by Carlos Barrios/Getty Images)
Photo by Carlos Barrios/Getty Images
June 9 and 10, Mount Vernon, Virginia Watch the sun set at the first president’s estate on the Potomac River while sipping on craft beer, sampling local fare and listening to bluegrass. There will also be historic demonstrations and games at Mount Vernon’s Summer Escape. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
June 10, Winchester, Virginia Old Town Winchester will host this annual beer festival, which features more than 40 breweries, live entertainment and a home-brew competition. (AP/Dean Fosdick)
AP/Dean Fosdick
June 16 and 17, National Harbor, Maryland Head over to National Harbor and celebrate three of the culinary world’s finest products: beer, bourbon and barbecue. There will also be live music and educational seminars at the festival. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
June 24, Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria’s food and wine festival returns June 24 at Oronoco Bay Park. There will be plenty of local food, wine, artisans and entertainment for the whole family. (Courtesy Alexandria Food & Wine)
Courtesy Alexandria Food & Wine
June 24 and 25, Centreville, Virginia Celebrate summer with suds, food, arts and crafts, and live entertainment at the 10th Annual Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
June 24 and 25, Washington, D.C. While some of the best barbecue cooks battle it out, sample food from participating vendors, sit in on a cooking demonstration and cheer on the competitive eaters in the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. (AP Images)
AP Images
June 29-July 4 and July 8 and 9, Washington, D.C. This year’s theme focuses on the art of the American circus. There’s always food, art, culture and entertainment at the annual festival on the National Mall. (AP Images)
AP Images
July 1 and 2, Washington, D.C.
General admission gets you unlimited pours of beer, cider and wine, plus access to food trucks and an artisan market. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
July 15, Washington, D.C. This summer, it’s D.C.’s first Taco, Beer and Tequila Festival, where attendees can sample all of the above while enjoying live entertainment. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
July 15, Purcellville, Virginia It’s a short drive, but this festival, in the heart of wine country, features an array of varietals from nearby wineries and vineyards. There’s live music and plenty of activities for the kids. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
July 20, Washington, D.C. Experience a different side of the zoo this summer at the after-hours Brew at the Zoo event. Sip on beer samples from more than 70 breweries and help support the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute all at the same time. (Getty Images/Allison Shelley)
Getty Images/Allison Shelley
July 22, Washington, D.C. Celebrate some of America’s best beers at The Fairgrounds in Southeast D.C., plus food trucks, live entertainment and games. (Getty Images)
Getty Images
Aug. 5, Frederick, Maryland Maryland’s wineries will show off their products at the second Frederick Wine Festival. Also featured: food from local chefs and live entertainment. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Aug. 19, National Harbor, Maryland It’s an all-you-care-to-taste event with more than 65,000 crabs, beer, live music, arts and crafts, and family fun. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Aug. 19, Charlottesville, Virginia Virginia is for beer lovers and this festival is proof. More than 100 breweries from across the state will pour tastings. The event is family-friendly and includes live entertainment and food. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
