Skirting the Gulf of Mexico along its southernmost border and reaching north to Tennessee, Alabama offers Southern food at its best. It seems that each region and city in the state has its own favorite spot and style for barbecue, and traditional dishes are made even better by having farm-fresh ingredients aplenty. Besides beef, the state produces bumper crops of corn, peanuts, peaches, blueberries and much more. Sample some of the best flavors the state has to offer at these seven appetizing Alabama food festivals. 

Alabama Blueberry Festival

Brewton

With a deep purple-pink color and a fresh, sweet flavor, you won’t want to miss out on the blueberry ice cream at the Alabama Blueberry Festival. Pair it with a big helping of blueberry cobbler. Part of the fun at this early summer festival is checking out all the arts and crafts, live entertainment, activities for kids and antique cars. You can also pick up plenty of fresh blueberries and even blueberry bushes to grow some of your own berries at home.

See more: Babydolls, Blooms and Beauty: A Trip to 1818 Farms in Alabama

National Shrimp Festival

Gulf Shores

Butterflied, fried, coated with coconut, drenched in butter, wrapped in bacon – shrimp come in all sorts of mouthwatering varieties at the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. While there are plenty of activities to enjoy, the real star of the festival is its namesake crustaceans. Walk back and forth on the Food Boardwalk to get your fill of delectable shrimp dishes. Held the second full weekend in October since 1971, this end-of-the-beach-season shrimp party has grown to attract about 250,000 each year. 

National Peanut Festival

Dothan

Known as “The Peanut Capital of the World,” most of the country’s peanuts are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan, Alabama. No wonder the city holds the 10-day National Peanut Festival each November to celebrate the harvest. With over 200 acres of attractions, exhibits, concert stages, livestock shows and food vendors, there’s plenty to see – and eat!

While peanuts may be the cause for the celebration, most of the food you’ll find is classic fair food and inventive new concoctions, like fried elephant ears dusted with powdered sugar, peach cobbler in a cone, Walking Tacos (all the taco fixings are added right into a snack-sized corn chip bag) and one vendor, The Corn Dog Man, who boasts the world’s best corn dog.

See more: Peanut Production Thrives in Alabama Soil

Our Lady of Sorrows Fourth of July Barbecue and Festival

Birmingham

For almost 70 years, Our Lady of Sorrows Fourth of July Barbecue and Festival has been serving up tangy ribs, slow-cooked chicken, juicy sausages and more to hungry festivalgoers. Volunteer grillers turn out smoked meats from a 50-foot grill. Pork sandwich, anyone? The community get-together is one of the longest-running food festivals in the state. Besides barbecue, there’s plenty of family-friendly games to play between licking your barbecue-sauce-covered fingers.

Peach Jam Jubilee

Clanton

Welcome to Clanton, the Peach Capital of Alabama. (You might notice even the town’s water tower is painted to look like a giant peach.)  Each year, on the last Saturday of June, the city comes out to celebrate this sweet harvest as part of the Peach Jam Jubilee. Booths line the park, while stage acts keep the music going into the night. Come hungry – there’s everything from grilled lobster tail to pulled pork sandwiches, and of course, peaches!

West Alabama Food & Wine

Tuscaloosa

Local chefs and restauranteurs serve up their best at the West Alabama Food & Wine Festival. Southern flavors are the backdrop of this springtime event where you’ll be able to try some of the region’s finest flavors and delicacies, like hickory-infused pork barbecue with a tangy sauce. Or try upscale pub food that pairs perfectly with local brewery fare. Expect to sample everything from stronger spirits like whiskey to lip-puckering ginger beer.

See more: Alabama Agritourism Offers Unique Fun

WhistleStop Weekend

Huntsville

Barbecue isn’t just a passion in Alabama – it’s an art form. That’s why barbecue aficionados from across the country converge on the grounds of the Historic Huntsville Depot in May for the WhistleStop Weekend. Each year professionals, amateurs and even kids compete for bragging rights as the top barbecue master. Festivalgoers can get in on the sampling (and the voting) through the People’s Choice Awards where attendees can cast their ballots on the best ‘cue. For even more finger-licking sampling, try the WhistleStop Wing Thing contest to decide the best chicken wings.