Events Planner: Food and drink festivals

Eat and drink your way from Mexico to Singapore. By Sophie Lam

MEXICO

MEXICO

17-23 July, Mezcal Festival, Oaxaca

If every country is famous for a particular tipple, Mexico's is tequila. But if you think that this worm-pickling firewater is a simple concoction, a trip to the annual Mezcal Festival in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico will open your eyes.

For while all tequilas are mezcals, not all mezcals are tequilas. Both tequila and mezcal are made from agave plants, but distillation methods and the areas in which each is produced are the crucial differences. The festival celebrates mezcal's history with a series of tastings and specialist stalls, accompanied by traditional music and dance, which will no doubt continue well into the night. As the saying goes: "For everything bad there is mezcal, and for everything good, too."

The festival takes place at venues across the town. For details: Mexican Tourist Board 020-7488 9392; www.aoaxaca.com

ITALY

9-19 September, Pizzafest, Naples

This annual event honours the birthplace of one of the world's favourite foods. Pizza was created in Naples in the 19th century by baker Raffeale Esposito. He was subsequently commissioned to make one for the Italian queen, Margherita, and from this, the ubiquitous Margherita pizza was born.

Many Neapolitan pizzerias lay claim to being the birthplace of the pizza, but a good contender is the Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, which opened in 1830.

At the festival, local producers will display hundreds of pizzas at the Mostra d'Oltremare accompanied by live music, theatre, cabaret, and of course, pizza-throwing demonstrations. Admission prices will be announced shortly. For details: 00 39 081 725 8000; www.pizzafest.info

SINGAPORE

1-31 July, Singapore Food Festival

Singapore celebrates its cultural diversity with a food festival in venues across the country. Visitors can taste Chinese, Malay, Thai and Indian foods at the "Taste our Colourful Exotic Flavours" event, which will be held at the Orchard Road venue from 1-4 July.

To splash out, buy a ticket for a special five-hour journey aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, during which a four-course meal and five different wines will be served for the princely sum of 310 Singapore dollars (£100).

Workshops such as suitable wines to pair with Asian food and how to prepare ayurvedic cuisine will also take place, as well as themed events such as a wild rice and a yeast parade. Visitors will even get the chance to take a picnic on the Mount Faber Cable Cars. The cost of events varies according to date and venue. A programme is available at www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg. For more details: 00 65 6278 2467.

PORTUGAL

10-15 August, Festival do Marisco, Olhao

The Algarve is famous for its beaches and its seafood, particularly its sardines. In August, the Jardim do Pescador Olhanense hosts the fishing port of Olhao's annual seafood festival. Hundreds of stalls will display fresh fish and shellfish, complemented by food stalls serving up local delicacies such as fried shrimps with garlic, and cataplana, a traditional dish of clams, mussels, bacon, chorizo, garlic, onions and olive oil.

Live music and dancing accompany the festival, with bands from Portugal and Brazil encouraging visitors to eat, drink and be merry. The event takes place from 7pm-1am each day. Admission is €10 (£7) for adults and free for children up to the age of 12. For details: 00 351 289 700 100; www.rtalgarve.pt/en

SPAIN

25 August, La Tomatina, Buñol

Throwing tomatoes, rather than eating them, is the focus of this hugely popular festival, which sees large crowds descend on this small town to hurl the fruit at each other. The hazy origins of the festivities are thought to date back to 1945, when a fight broke out in the town square during a carnival procession and a nearby vegetable stall provided ammunition for the combatants.

The following year, the same people met again on the same day for a rematch and did so for several years, each time being apprehended by the local police. Several of the perpetrators were subsequently imprisoned, but were released following protestations by the local community. And so, the annual festival was born, bringing new meaning to the term "painting the town red".

Now protocol must be followed, which includes crushing tomatoes before throwing them, and not throwing them after the final horn has been sounded. For details: 00 34 96 250 0151; www.lahoya.net/tomatina

USA

23-25 July, Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California

The Gilroy festival was inspired by a similar festival in Arleux, France, and has been running since 1979. Huge quantities of garlic are to be found at the event, either in one of the 32,000 slices of garlic bread that are usually served or in the "Great Garlic Cook-Off", the winner of which is fittingly crowned with a wreath of garlic cloves.

Other attractions include a "Gourmet Alley" full of food stalls, a children's play area with magicians, puppeteers and jugglers, and an arts and crafts area. For many locals the main event will be the Gilroy Garlic Queen Pageant, where the parade will feature local lovelies including the crowned "Belle of the Bulb".

The festival takes place at Christmas Hill Park and is open from 10am-6pm. Tickets cost $10 (£6) for adults and $5 (£3) for children. For details: 001 408 842 1625; www.gilroygarlicfestival.com