Fall For Festivals

by Bridget Levin, Tastemaker in Residence

Fall is my favorite season and a great way to stretch it out a little is to hop in the car and follow the fall festivals that take place in small towns surrounding the metro. Festivals are a great place to taste heritage foods handed down from immigrants that settled in the area.

Pine City, Minnesota is known for its annual Czech Booya Festival, featuring a huge pot of meat and vegetable stew cooked outside over a roaring fire. Drive up to Northern Wisconsin and indulge in everything apple at the renowned Bayfield Apple Festival. 

Eagles spotted on the islands around the waters of Bayfield, Wisconsin

There are autumn music festivals all over the midwest that also feature great food (Hyde Park Jazz Festival in Chicago and Fall Festival of the Arts in Red Wing,MN come to mind).

Or you can just wing it and take a country drive to see the blaze of fall colors on any weekend and keep your eyes open for the numerous church fall festivals that feature grilled chicken, homemade pie and craft beers.