August Events to Watch Across the Country

August 06, 2013

Bartender Scott Tipton of The Kill Devil Club, a first-time finalist in the PopFest Bartending Competition.

Food and drink enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to this August. From a West Coast celebration of all things tiki to a Kansas City cocktail festival co-founded by Imbibe’s Bartender of the Year, Ryan Maybee—there’s no shortage of events to get you through the summer. Here’s what’s on our radar this month:

Tiki Oasis

August 15-18 | San Diego, CA

Nothing says summer like a tiki drink packed high with crushed ice and fresh fruit. Tiki Oasis in San Diego promises a tiki celebration that would make Don the Beachcomber proud. This year’s theme? Hawaii’s influence on American music. The line-up includes seminars, art shows, tons of live music and no shortage of fun.

Midtown Cocktail Week

August 21-25 | Sacramento, CA

Watch out San Francisco—Sacramento’s drinks scene is on the rise! Much of this is thanks to Midtown Cocktail Week, now on to its sixth year and just a few weeks away. Co-founded in 2008 by Erick Castro, who recently opened San Diego’s Polite Provisions, the festival has given rise to a new generation of Sacramento bars, such as The Red Rabbit and Pour House. Be sure to stop by the The Kabuki Show at Hook and Ladder Manufacturing Company and The Best Dam Show at Grange.

Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival

August 21-25 | Kansas City, MO

Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival (PopFest) was co-founded by Imbibe 75 Bartender of the Year Ryan Maybee in 2012 with the goal of promoting the thriving cocktail talent, dining culture and music talent of the Kansas City area. PopFest has become a national draw, and this year’s event is generating a ton of buzz. We have our eye on the PopFest Bartending Competition, which attracts bartenders from as far away as St. Louis, Denver, Chicago and Philadelphia. The seminar lineup is also impressive, with big-name industry vets like Paul Pacault and Steve Olson taking the stage. Plus, any excuse to visit The Kill Devil Club marks for a worthwhile trip in our book.

Asheville Wine & Food Festival

August 21-25 | Asheville, NC

This year’s Asheville Wine & Food Festival brings together chefs, winemakers, distillers and other tastemakers that make Asheville a culinary destination. Don’t miss Elixir, an elaborate cocktail party and mixology competition on Thursday night; Sweet offers a decadent evening of desserts on Friday; and the Grand Tasting on Saturday offers a smorgasbord of food, wine, beer and spirits, plus cooking demos, the WNC Chefs Challenge finale, and a chance to meet cookbook authors, farmers, chefs, winemakers, brewers, and much more.

Northwest Tequila Fest

August 24 | Seattle, WA

Northwest Tequila Fest is the largest Tequila and Mezcal tasting event in the Pacific Northwest, celebrating agave spirits and Mexican culture. With more than 100 tequilas and mezcals to sample—plus cocktails—NW Tequila Fest is the perfect place to raise your tequila IQ while discovering new small producers. Even better, the event benefits the Benevolent Guild, a Puget Sound organization committed to assisting children, charities and support groups in the communities they serve.