Best Festivals to Attend in the USA
Among other things, the USA is known for hosting amazing festivals involving food, films, sports, and more. So if you’re excited about being a part of these festivals, then you should apply for your ESTA in lieu of a USA travel visa.
That’s because the United Kingdom is a part of the Visa Waiver Program, which means that you can spend up to 90 days without a USA visa from the UK. You’ll need to fulfil other requirements to be considered eligible for the ESTA.
If you’ve already applied for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, continue reading to learn about the different festivals below!
Food & Wine Festivals
Food lovers can enjoy a variety of wines and food dishes by visiting the following festivals:
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, Louisiana
One of the defining things about this festival is that it is conducted for a good cause. In other words, the money that people invest in the NOWFE event is distributed to non-profit organizations, like culinary schools and food banks.
This festival will be held from 11th June to 15th June 2024. Some key events you can be a part of are Vinola, Tournament of Rosés, and The Grand Tasting.
During Vinola, you will enjoy stimulating conversations with chefs and winemakers. They will talk about the inspiration behind their food items while you sip on rare wines.
On the other hand, during the Tournament of Rosés, you will get to sample high-end rosé wines and vote for them in the People’s Choice Awards. The rosé wines will be from places like Italy, Spain, USA and France.
Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival, California
When you visit this event, you will get to experience a combination of tastefully cooked food, interactive panels, and seminars.
Like the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience, this festival is organised to let people enjoy a taste of meticulously cooked dishes and elegant wines while benefiting society.
It is organised by the Pebble Beach Company Foundation to raise funds for children’s education in Monterey County and will take place from 10th April to 13th April 2025
You can get to experience a multitude of events like the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Invitational and A Timeless Journey with Abacus ZD Wines Napa Valley. During the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Invitational, you can enjoy a variety of dishes cooked by eminent chefs.
On the other hand, during the Timeless Journey Seminar, you can enjoy a deep discussion about Abacus wine by Abacus ZD.
Remember to carry a physical copy of your ESTA (which will act like your USA travel visa) for this festival, since you’ll have to register separately for some of the events
Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Colorado
During this event in Aspen, you can expect to sample premium wines and bespoke food dishes and engage in discussions about food by a world-renowned panel of experts. You will also get a chance to enjoy mixology sessions where the bartenders will also talk about their drinks.
This event will be conducted from the 20th of June to the 22nd of June, 2025, and will comprise of three public and private Grand Tasting sessions, along with beverage-centric seminars and cooking displays.
We would recommend taking a photo in the Grand Pavilion on your last day and keeping it as a souvenir. Also, don’t forget to engage in some basic altitude training, since Aspen is located in the Rockies at a height of 8000 feet above sea level.
This will ensure that you are able to enjoy a great time there.
Film & Art Festivals
Film buffs can enjoy the following festivals:
Tribeca Film Festival, New York City
This film festival will take place from the 4th of June to the 15th of June, 2024, in NYC. You can expect engaging discussions about current film industry topics, opportunities to connect with leading professionals, and sessions on various aspects of the industry.
Film buffs can enjoy world premieres of their favourite TV shows, films, and more.
Budding filmmakers will also get a chance to boost their careers by learning from industry experts. So if you’ve ever wanted to direct a film, then this will be your chance to make it big!
You can only imagine the scale of the event this year based on last year’s success, as seen from the 145,000 attendees and premieres of films like Jake Gyllenhal’s Presumed Innocent and director Michael Angarano’s Sacramento.
South by Southwest Texas
When you visit this film festival from 7th March to 15th March 2025, you can expect a glamorous lineup of famous films, featuring their favorite actors. Some of the titles that will be screened here are The Accountant 2, Ash, Holland, and Drop.
But that’s not all. That’s because you can also find films and feature documentaries from places like the UK, Italy, and Sweden.
So we would recommend buying all the popcorn and soda that you can and choosing the best seats before the event begins. That way, you can munch your way through stimulating films and have a great time!
4th Annual Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festiva, Virginia
Art lovers can visit this festival to enjoy an engaging display of art, from paintings to sculptures, across media like clay, glass, ceramic, wood, and acrylic. It will take place from 3rd May to 4th May 2025, at 300 John Carlyle St., in the park.
However, you won’t have to carry any snacks there since the event will have food and drink options as well. We would recommend buying some souvenirs here as gifts for your friends and relatives.
If you’re visiting this event with a vehicle, then you will also find options for parking there.
Sports & Outdoor Festivals
If you’re a sports enthusiast, then we recommend visiting these festivals.
Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky
This festival will take place from the 2nd of May to the 3rd of May, 2025, and will feature an exciting horse race. You will be in for a treat when you attend this event, due to the various facilities there, such as the seating, dining facilities, and private suites.
You will get to choose from a selection of seating arrangements, where you can get different views, depending on what you choose. For instance, if you opt for the Spires Terrace, you will be able to see the paddock and the race course.
Apart from that, you can enjoy your meals in their outdoor dining suites and choose your preferred dish from their all-inclusive F&B menu.
On the other hand, you can take your pick from their list of private suites, which are divided into Finish Line, Jockey Club, and Winner’s Circle, to name a few. You’ll have to provide your ESTA (which will act like a USA travel visa) to book the suites here.
NASCAR Cup Series, Kansas
Gearheads, this one’s for you! This event is NASCAR-certified and will take place from the 9th of May to the 11th of May, 2025, on the Kansas Speedway. It will involve three different races, like the Arca Menards Series Race, the NASCAR Truck Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series.
So you can choose any one or all of them depending on your preference. We would recommend carrying self-care items like sunscreen and lots of water since the weather will be sunny.
Apart from that, you can carry a pair of binoculars to view the cars more clearly during the race. Expect a lot of thrills, nail-biting twists and turns, and excitement to last you a lifetime when you visit this event.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (85th Anniversary), August, South Dakota
In this event, you can not only enjoy the sight of powerful motorbikes roaring their way down the road but also other equally exciting inclusions. These are charity races, energy-packed breakfasts, bike shows, and more!
A unique thing about this rally is that you can also go for bike rides on your own bike on several scenic routes like Custer Park and Loop, Spearfish Canyon to Vanocker Canyon, and Galena. That’s why we would recommend carrying your camera to capture these memories.
You can also buy your dream bikes during this event, so you should certainly not miss it!
Some Tips To Make The Most of Your Visit
You should not forget to carry your passport with you, as you’ll have to show that at the immigration counter.
Apart from that, you should have a folder to store the physical printouts of your ESTA (which will act like your USA travel visa), your photos, and so on, as you will require them during the visit.
W would recommend carrying some self-care items like sunscreens and lotions, as it might be sunny on some days. Lastly, don’t forget to take photographs and make memories for a lifetime!