chambermaid codded: 5 Great Bay Area Summer Food Fests

Summer time in the Bay Area ? while you may have heard the saying, ?The coldest winter I ever spent was a Summer in San Francisco?, truth be told ? cold weather or not ? it is a pretty amazing time of year around the Bay if you are a food, wine and arts connoisseur. The fog lifts and all regions of the Bay Area are full of amazing music festivals, art and food celebrations, and farmers markets. Here are a few of our favorites, celebrating everything that summer around the Bay has to offer. Go on ? try something new and don?t forget your jacket!

Marysville Peach Festival

Nothing says summer more than juicy, ripe peaches! Check out the Marysville Peach Festival, from July 20-12, 2013 in Marysville, CA. The 14th annual event is free for everyone and there is no cost for parking.

You will find peaches at their best in peach cobbler, peach pie, peach smoothies and milkshakes, ice cream?you get the gist! This is a terrific place for the entire family, complete with a mechanical bull and an amusement park.

This famous festival for garlic lovers marks its 35th year in Gilroy. In addition to the usual offerings of garlic foods, music performances, recipes and ice-cream (yes, I said ice-cream and it?s good!), Carla Hall, the co-host of ABC-TV?s ?The Chew? will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the popular Garlic Showdown, where four professional chefs compete ?iron chef? style for a $5,000 prize.

Don?t miss the Cook-off theater, arts and crafts for the kids, and sightings of Miss Gilroy Garlic, 2013. The event is held at Chrismas Hill Park in Gilroy, 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101, July 26th-28th.

This is the premier food, wine and spirits festival, held in San Francisco?s legendary Union Square and throughout several venues in the city. The highlight of the event, (besides lectures, demos, panels and parties), is the Grand Tasting Tent, located in the center of the city, Union Square, featuring samples from more than 200 restaurants, breweries, wineries from around the Bay Area. The 100% sustainable event supports a number of Bay Area food-related charities, and aims to be a zero-waste event ? creating no items for the landfill. July 28-August 4 2013, San Francisco, CA.

Gravenstein Apple Fair

The Gravenstein Apple Fair bills itself as ?the sweetest little fair in Sonoma County? and we couldn?t agree more! This fair celebrates the Gravenstein apple with live music, cooking demonstrations, petting zoo and pony rides and of course an apple pie baking contest. There is also a wine, beer and cider tent offering some of the best wines and beverages that Sonoma County has to offer. The fair is held at Rangle Ranch Park in Sebastopol on August 10-11, from 10-6 on Saturday, and 10-5 on Sunday.

Fest Italiana

Festa Coloniale Italiana?North Beach Street Festival

If you are looking for an Italian-style street festival, this one cannot be beat! In the heart of North Beach you will find live music and entertainment, Italian-themed arts, crafts, cooking and drinks, wine tasting and a multitude of samples from San Francisco?s greatest Italian restaurants. This event is Free, and is hosted by the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. Saturday, August 17th, 2013 in North Beach.

Coutrenay Miles Guest blogger and Bay Area resident Courtenay Miles splits her time between high-tech public relations consulting, and shuttling her three daughters to and from their various sports. During her free time, she enjoys blogging and writing about the Bay Area?s amazing sights and bites. Recipes, adventures and day-to-day musings may be found at sfsightsandbitesblogspot.com.