JUNE 23
DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine
The Maine Whoopie Pie
Festival: Derided by a legislator as a mere “frosting delivery vehicle,” the humble whoopie pie nonetheless secured the title of “official state treat” and even has its own festival. About 30 whoopie pie bakers will be handing out samples and competing for honors. Festival judges select the best traditional and unique (think piña colada or peanut butter) pies, while visitors vote for the People’s Choice. That’s a lot of whoopies to taste, but other fair food will be available to help you cleanse your palate. Downtown, $5 admission includes four samples, additional samples 25 cents. Children under age 12 free. 207-564-8943, ext. 411, www.mainewhoopie
piefestival.com
JUNE 15-16
MONTICELLO, Fla.
62nd Annual Watermelon
Festival: Start practicing now if you want to compete in the seed-spitting contest at this festival that celebrates the region’s most famous crop. Farmers east of Tallahassee began growing watermelons in the late 19th century and soon were supplying seeds around the world. If seed-spitting is not your forte, consider the watermelon-eating contest, or enjoy the barbecue, parade, street dance, and arts and crafts exhibits. Downtown, free admission, food for sale. 850-997-5552, www.monticello
jeffersonfl.com
JUNE 23-24
TUCKERTON, N.J.
20th annual Baymen’s
Seafood & Music Festival: The folks at Tuckerton Seaport, a maritime museum village along Tuckerton Creek, know that one of the best ways to appreciate the maritime way of life is to chow down on seafood. At this two-day event, visitors can meet local fishermen, taste clams, crabs, scallops, and shrimp, and take a clam-shucking class. They can explore the village of 17 historic and re-created buildings, and watch boat builders and decoy carvers at work. 120 West Main St., adults $8, seniors $6, ages 6-12 $3, food for sale. 609-296-8868, www
.tuckertonseaport.org
JULY 12-14
CORINTH, Miss.
Slugburger Festival:
For the first time in this 25-year-old festival’s history, professional eaters will vie for top honors in a chowdown. For the uninitiated, the unfortunately named burger is a deep-fried patty of beef mixed with breading (these days, usually soybean meal). The golden brown patties are topped with mustard, pickle, and onions. Vendors will make sure there are plenty of slugburgers to go around for the hobbyist eaters. The burgers are so tasty that several eateries in town serve them year-round. Downtown, admission $10, food for sale. 662-287-1550, www.slugburg
erfestival.com
PLAN AHEAD
JULY 25-29
NEW ORLEANS
Tales of the Cocktail:
Be prepared for anything at the 10th anniversary of the self-proclaimed “world’s premier cocktail festival.” You could take a guided cocktail tour and tasting in the French Quarter, attend a seminar on making your own vermouth (led by the crew from Boston’s own Eastern Standard), or observe the hand-shaken daiquiri competition. This being New Orleans, some events are considerably more quirky. You can enjoy cocktails while riding an airboat through a swamp, attending a workshop on “how to strip for your man,” or watching a demonstration on the Italian technique of butchering a pig. We are not making this up.
On Sunday, food trucks will offer cocktails with their eats. Various locations, tickets $40-$100. www.talesof
thecocktail.com
PATRICIA HARRIS AND
DAVID LYON