It is possible to combine your love for food with celebration and sunshine.
Let's face it, it's great to enjoy the cultures of different countries, but even better to enjoy them on a full stomach.
Here are a few of the best for you to sample.
Giant Omelette Festival, Louisiana, USA
The townsfolk of Abbeville band together to create one of the largest omelettes imaginable In honour of the large-scale omelette festivals in France. More than 5,000 eggs are piled into a 12-foot stainless steel skillet - along with 52lbs of butter, 50lbs of onions, crawfish tails and more - and they are cooked over a wood fire by a team of select chefs who are part of an omelette sister-city program that spans from France to Argentina. Once cooked to perfection, the omelette is served up for free to festivalgoers. The tradition of the giant omelette originated in the 19th Century, when Napoleon was visiting the town and was treated to a local delicacy called "hens' gift".
Fried Fish Festival, Torremolinos, Spain
Known locally as "Dia Del Pescaito", this seafood festival takes place annually on the first Thursday in June in the fisherman's district of La Carihuela. An astounding 12,000 kilos of fresh fish are given out to thousands of eager visitors. La Carihuela beach becomes a feast for the eyes, nose and mouth as fried anchovies and sardines are on offer for hungry visitors.
International Soup Festival, Krakow, Poland
The Polish are known for their love of soup and in appreciation, the city of Krakow hosts a soup festival. It is the only festival of its kind in Poland, it was first held in May 2002 but loved so much that it has become an annual event. Regional chefs battle to be the king of soups earning themselves the Golden Spoon award. Visitors can taste a wide range of free samples at restaurants and market stalls in the Kazimierz district, from traditional Polish Kapusniak and Zurek to unique variations created especially for the contest. Previous top flavours have included watermelon and mint.
La Tomatina Festival, Bunol, Spain
The La Tomatina - not so much a food festival, more a food fight - takes place this year in August. It has the accolade of being the world's biggest food fight. One hundred tonnes of ripe tomatoes are thrown through the streets of this quaint Spanish town by more than 3,000 participants. Be warned: the fight can sometimes get a little physical, with clothes being torn and people wrestling in a tomato mush. La Tomatina festival has been a tradition in Bunol since 1944, but nobody is certain how the event originated.
Strawberry Festival, Plant City, Florida
In Florida, the peak time to enjoy strawberries is from December to April. The festival serves up a wide range of local produce ranging from strawberry pizza to cocktails. There is a variety of different puddings and desserts on offer to keep your taste buds tingling all day, as well as tombolas and rides for an afternoon of entertainment. If you're conscious of the need to consume your "five a day", you might be happy to hear that you only need to eat eight strawberries in order to have had more Vitamin C than one orange. Worth it for that alone.
