Local foodie Beth Ann Wolcott remembers a time when food festivals in Chattanooga meant nothing more than funnel cakes, cotton candy and corn dogs. But all that’s changed through the years, and now the Scenic City is home to dozens of food festivals. Wolcott, for one, couldn’t be happier.
“I love going to food festivals because you get to try so many different foods all in one place,” she says.
When it comes to indulging in the pleasures of food, few events are as all-encompassing as the food festival, a gastronomic experience that serves to introduce people to a diversity of cultures and culinary traditions — whether it’s the Taco Festival held at Camp Jordan each fall, celebrating the food of our neighbors from south of the border; or gathering at First Horizon Pavilion for Chattanooga Market’s Bacon and Barrel Festival, a hoedown of good Southern ‘cue and some distilled spirits to sip alongside. Join other culinary enthusiasts as you ignite your palate with a symphony of flavors.
“Food is a common denominator for most people,” says Melissa Lail, Chattanooga Market manager. “In many parts of the world, including Chattanooga, it’s what brings people together. And I think, as we have all embraced ‘local is better,’ it’s given way to the celebration of local food. We’re all looking for any good reason to gather, so why not food and drink?”