SAC TACO FEST
JUNE 3
The beloved handheld meal is the star of this Sacramento event. Come out to the state capital for a packed day of continuous entertainment, arts and crafts, contests and competitions. And tacos, of course. sactacofest.com
MILL VALLEY WINE, BEER AND GOURMET FOOD TASTING
JUNE 4
The 36th annual Mill Valley Wine, Beer & Gourmet Food Tasting attracts guests from around the Bay Area. Here you’ll sample from more than 60 wineries and 30 gourmet food purveyors as well as local restaurants and breweries. millvalley.org
MONTEREY WINE FESTIVAL
JUNE 9–11
Now in its 41st year, the Monterey Wine Festival has established itself as the premier wine and food event in Monterey. The festival also has new features this year like cocktail camp, with an array of craft spirits for thirsty guests. montereywine.com
BREASTFEST SAN RAFAEL
JULY 15
The first version of this fest was held in 2000 and hosted 16 local breweries. Years later, it has grown to more than 60 breweries, local food purveyors and musicians who come together to help women gain access to alternative cancer therapies. thebreastfest.org
GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL
JULY 28–30
Garlicky food, three stages of live entertainment, cooking competitions and demos, and activities for the whole family are among the attractions to find here. Be sure to try the only-in-Gilroy garlic ice cream. gilroygarlicfestival.com
WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
AUGUST 5–6
This two-day celebration in historic downtown Watsonville highlights fresh local strawberries. A family-friendly event, its got a wide variety of food, live entertainment, carnival rides and strawberry-centric contests. cityofwatsonville.org/visitors/strawberry-festival
EAT DRINK SF
AUGUST 24–27
Enjoy unlimited pours of wine, beer and cocktails and tastes from the Bay Area’s top restaurants at this four-day event. Watch cooking demonstrations and mingle with the personalities who make this region a world-class dining destination. eatdrink-sf.com
BODEGA SEAFOOD, ART AND WINE FESTIVAL
AUGUST 26–27
This festival focuses on quality and the bounty of the area. Food purveyors, wineries and microbreweries from Northern California are carefully selected, as are entertainers, to maintain an eclectic variety. bodegaseafoodfestival.com
Kasia Pawlowska loves words. A native of Poland, Kasia moved to the States when she was seven. The San Francisco State University creative writing graduate went on to write for publications like the San Francisco Bay Guardian and KQED Arts among others prior to joining the Marin Magazine staff. Topics Kasia has covered include travel, trends, mushroom hunting, an award-winning series on social media addiction and loads of other random things. When she’s not busy blogging or researching and writing articles, she’s either at home writing postcards and reading or going to shows. Recently, Kasia has been trying to branch out and diversify, ie: use different emojis. Her quest for the perfect chip is never-ending.