Food is sometimes an afterthought at festivals, taking a back seat to the big headline acts and whatever’s on offer at the bar. But that's not the case with these fun, food-filled events, which are firmly focused on edible delights. From fiestas celebrating culinary traditions to wonderfully specific showcases of ingredients such as strawberries and catfish, we've hunted down the best food festivals in every US state, counting down to the most fabulous of all.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our ranking of America’s greatest food festivals – how many have you heard of?

We've based our ranking on the popularity of each festival in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

Where to find the best food festivals in every state