This is one of my favorite times of the year: festival season. One of my favorite festivals to take the family to is the Michigan Bean Festival in Fairgrove, Michigan. It’s a great time to honor the hardworking farmers and what the bean industry means to the region along with spending time with the family.
And there are so many beans and rice festivals throughout the country to do this. Here is a listing of some of the most amazing festivals out there that celebrate beans and rice.
Some like to travel around the country to visit the different sports stadiums, I would love to visit all of these festivals! So, let’s take a trip around the country together and visit some of the great Beans and Rice festivals!
DISCLAIMER: This is not a comprehensive list of all of the festivals, so if you know of one, please let me know so I can add it to the list. And my travel itinerary…Â
If you have a favorite beans or rice festival or have been to one of the ones listed, let me know in the comments below or tell me on social media. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
MICHIGAN BEAN FESTIVAL
Fairgrove, MI
The Michigan Bean Festival takes place every Labor Day weekend and celebrates the state’s rich history in the bean industry. The state of Michigan is number 2 in producing beans in the country!
This festival offers many events including the crowning of the Michigan Bean Queen, tractor pulls, demolition derby, a carnival, live entertainment, craft shows, flea markets, a petting zoo, and free bean soup! Plus, so much more!
I’ve followed this festival for a few years and it’s a great bean event that highlights the red bean!
The BankPlus Red Beans and BBQ Fest is an annual festival where competitors from local businesses, restaurants, and community congregations compete to see who has the best beans and the best BBQ in town. The awards for the Best BBQ, Best Beans, Best Dessert, Best Presentation, Best Cook Team Tent, and the coveted: People’s Choice Award.
Besides the amazing food, there is also live music, cold drinks, activities for the kids, and so much more!
But best of all: all the proceeds from this event go to a good cause. The event helps to support the Stewpot Community Services.
LOUISIANA RED BEANS AND RICE HERITAGE & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Baton Rouge, LA
This festival celebrates one of Louisiana’s most iconic dishes: red beans and rice. The festival aims to share in the importance of preserving the cultural aspect of red beans and rice for future generations.
The famous pot of comfort food already brings the community together every Monday, but this festival will bring everyone together to enjoy live music, local vendors, and a red bean cook-off over one amazing weekend!
You’ll also find Zydeco dance lessons, a New Orleans Style Jazz Brunch, and more!
The IRF is the oldest and largest agricultural festival in Louisiana and is held in downtown Crowley – the rice capital of the world! It is held annually on the third full weekend in October.
The festival is held to honor the rice industry and all of the hardworking farmers. It also brings attention to the importance of rice and its place in the world.
There are so many events held over the weekend. You’ll find music stages, a classic car show, the Rice Queen contest, a Rice Eating contest, parades, and even a Rice & Gravy cook-off!
Bring the family and enjoy the weekend in Crowley!
This is the region’s largest festival that not only highlights beans and Nebraska’s history in the bean industry but also the local beef industry and music!
You’ll find plenty of music, food, fun and games, and more at this festival. They also bring in guest speakers, educational workshops, and cooking classes.
The smell of cooking beans and cornbread fills the air around Mountain View, AK as large antique cast iron pots of pinto beans simmer as participants compete for the title of Best Beans. At noon, the dinner bell rings, and cups of beans and cornbread are served – all free!
After 1 PM, it gets real with The Parade of Outhouses. The crowd watches transfixed as these wheeled outhouses, that have steering devices set up with a driver and team of pushers, line up to see “who has the fastest privy in the Ozarks.”
The festival also features an Artisans market with homemade crafts, music, and more.
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Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.
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