8 Las Vegas food and drink festivals to make your palate happy this fall

When fall arrives in Las Vegas, the temperatures finally get cooler and festival season begins. Weekends are full of events, including several devoted to food, beer, wine or all of the above.

Las Vegas is home to a dynamic food scene both on and off the Strip, and the city’s food-forward festivals reflect a wide range of cuisines and styles. The line-up of events ranges from inexpensive food truck festivals to epicurean experiences like the Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience, where Stewart and Vegas chefs will appear, or The Chef’s Table, which features well-known chefs hosting expertly prepared courses.

One of the best features of any festival is its all-inclusive nature, and Las Vegas’ fests are no exception. Guests get to enjoy great food along with demonstrations, classes, vendors or entertainment. Count on a full afternoon or evening when you’re festival-going, and seriously consider taking a ride share — parking at any of these events can be scarce, and many of them are off the Strip.

If you’ll be in Las Vegas this fall, here are a few food festivals to check out:

Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival

Oct. 5-6

The Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival is a two-day event featuring a noteworthy array of cuisine and spirits. Headlining chefs include Francois Payard and Saipin Chutima. Guests can sample dishes from a wide range of restaurants — Las Vegas originals including Leticia’s Cocina will be serving their creations, along with some stars from the Strip, like TAO, Hakkasan and Beauty & Essex. There’s also no shortage of beverage choices, with wine and beer selections as well as top-shelf spirits. Held at Tivoli Village near the Summerlin community, the festival kicks off each evening with VIP admission at 8 p.m. and general admission at 9. Tickets are $100 and up. https://vegasfoodandwine.com

The Great American Foodie Fest

Oct. 4-7

The four-day Great American Foodie Fest brings together a showcase of the best food trucks in Las Vegas. Fuku Burger, which makes one of Las Vegas’ favorite burgers will be there, as will the Picanha Steak Truck, Great American Funnel Cakes, Liams Lemonade and Dude Where’s My Hotdog. No matter what you’re craving, there’s probably a food truck here that will satisfy your appetite. The festival also has carnival rides, a beer garden and eating competitions. Gates at the Sunset Station are open from 5-11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, from noon-11 p.m. on Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. Day-of tickets are $10; packages and VIP tickets are also available. http://greatamericanfoodiefest.com/las-vegas

Grape Stomp at Pahrump Winery

Oct. 6-7

About an hour’s drive away from the Strip, you’ll find the Pahrump Winery. Wines here come from grapes grown in Nevada and California. The winery’s annual Grape Stomp has grown over the years from a small local gathering to an event attracting thousands. In addition to wine tastings, the festival features food and live music. If you want to join in the stomping, sign up in advance. Grounds are open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $10 at the gate. http://www.pahrumpwinery.com/events

Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience

Oct. 13

The 2018 Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience presented by USA TODAY and MGM Resorts International comes to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds as a part of the event’s 12-city tour. The schedule of events is full of cooking demos and classes that cover everything from doughnuts to wine, and a host of talented chefs and mixologists will be leading the sessions. Stewart herself will be on hand for an exclusive meet-and-greet as well as a Q&A session. Guests will enjoy a Grand Tasting featuring Las Vegas’ best restaurants from both on and off the Strip, with a line-up that includes Estiatorio Milos, Andre’s Bistro & Bar, Other Mama, Rivea and Le Cirque, among many other acclaimed eateries. The experience runs from 1-4 p.m. Tasting tickets are $85 for presale and $100 the day of the event. https://wineandfood.usatoday.com/lasvegas

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