Doughnuts! Ribs! 18 best foodie events in June

Summer nears, when food festival season is in full swing. Get your fill on delicious treats from Italy, Germany and Japan. Enjoy local fare at events in Broad Ripple and Shelby County. And did we mention ribs? We didn’t need to — you can already smell the barbecues! Eat up at these great June events. 

Doughnut Day Indy

6 to 10 a.m., June 2, 40 Monument Circle, free, (317) 266-9422 or wibc.com.

There’s tough competition in this city when it comes to breakfast — just think of all the new, boutique coffee options brewing in recent years. On June 2, doughnuts get their due as WIBC celebrates National Doughnut Day with a judged tasting. Come by Monument Circle to see local stars such as Titus Bakery, General American Donut Co. and Sweet Temptations take on Dunkin. The whole morning will be broadcast live and hosted by WIBC morning show host Tony Katz as the Salvation Army hands out 2,500 free doughnuts. Sugar rush acquired.

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Taste of Shelby County

6 to 10 p.m., June 2, Downtown Shelbyville Public Square, (317) 398-6647 or shelbychamber.net.

Shelby County may be pretty square on a map, but its food scene is anything but boring. The annual Taste of Shelby County brings food and drinks from many of the area’s best eateries together in one place— it is, indeed, your chance for just a taste of what the county’s got to offer. The beer and wine tent always has been a big draw (who doesn’t love drinking outside?), so this year you’ll find two. Paired with live jazz and a classic car show, Shelby County tastes amazing.

History on Tap

6:30 to 10 p.m., June 2, Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, $15-$55, (800) 966-1836 or connerprairie.org.

Craft beer may be a relatively recent trend, but at Conner Prairie you can travel back to a time when every brew was a small batch. The sixth annual History on Tap will feature a beer brewed on site, old-school style, plus tastings from a handful of more modern brewmasters, access to the full Conner Prairie grounds, a food voucher and commemorative glass. Beer may be more specialized than ever today, but it doesn’t get more special than this.

Return of the Mac

2 to 5 p.m., June 3, Federal Hill Commons, 175 Logan St., Noblesville, $25-$40, returnofthemacfest.com.

It’s back, and it’s even cheesier. In January, the city’s first festival devoted to macaroni and cheese started a rumbling in the bellies of thousands. Demand was so huge that the event moved to a bigger venue. Whether you got a ticket or not, we know that gooey goodness has you wanting more. Return of the Mac will bring more than 20 chefs together, creating their own delicious, cheesy take on this American classic.

The People’s Food Summit

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 3, Riverside Park, 2420 E. Riverside Drive, free, liscindianapolis.org.

It’s an ugly truth, but food security isn’t guaranteed to everyone in Indy. Food — especially healthy, unprocessed food — can be too expensive or inaccessible for many people across the city. Sponsored by Indy Food Council, Purdue Extension-Marion County and the city, this summit is your key to understanding the problem and helping to reach a solution. In the full day of sessions and workshops, learn about urban agriculture, supermarket alternatives, hunger relief and more.

Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival

12 to 6 p.m., June 3, Military Park, W. New York St., $10-$50, (800) 832-9463 or vintageindiana.com.

Indy food. Indy art. Indy music. And, most importantly, Indy wine. The 18th annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival celebrates the finer things about life in the state. Chefs and winemakers will offer workshops throughout the day for those wanting to learn, but you can also simply cruise through Military Park sampling over 200 award-winning, local wines and food from some of the city’s best restaurants.

Chocolate Summer School

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 3-4, 10-11, and July 8-9, 2335 E. PR Wrenbriar Lane, Shelbyville, $300, (317) 518-8842 or chocolateforthespirit.com.

Shelbyville’s Chocolate for the Spirit already packs in all the luxury, artisanal chocolate treats of your most delicious dreams. And with its Chocolate Summer School, you can make those dreams real. Learn about the history of chocolate and become a true connoisseur. Hone your molding, baking and decorating skills and experiment with truffles and bonbons. It’s the only summer school that’s not a drag.

Strawberry Wine Festival

Noon to 9 p.m., June 3, Noon-6 p.m., June 4, Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville, free, (317) 422-1556 or mallowrun.com.

Strawberry wine has inspired some beautiful songs (The Band, Pat Benatar, and Deana Carter are all fans), and it’s time to find out why. Mallow Run’s summer schedule is full of concerts, picnics and festivals, but few are as sweet as the Strawberry Festival. Sip on strawberry wine, share a strawberry shortcake with a date and kick back as Kelleen Strutz, Mike & Joe, and Woomblies take the stage.

How to become a farmer

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 5, Blue Yonder Organic Farm, North Salem, $20, (217) 840-2128, thelandconnection.org/farmdreams

Do you coddle your 10 varieties of peppers? Maybe you should chuck that cubicle corporate lifestyle and start your own farm. If you keeping thinking that, take a day off (or at least leave early) to attend the Farm Dreams workshop. The class includes a handbook, light dinner, farm tours, conversation with local sustainable farmers and self-assessment exercises to help you determine if you are farmer material. The Land Connection hosts the event. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to protecting farmland, training sustainable and organic farmers, and promoting a vibrant local food system. Other Farm Dreams workshops are scheduled in Illinois: June 19 in Champaign, July 10 in Springfield and Aug. 14 in Fairbury. 

Strawberry Festival

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 8, Christ Church Cathedral, 125 Monument Circle, free admission, (317) 636-4577 or cccindy.org.

Christ Church Cathedral’s annual Strawberry Festival is a more family-friendly take on a sweet celebration (no wine here), but that doesn’t make it any less magical. Stop by Monument Circle, slap down a modest $7 and ask for "the works" with shortcake, strawberries, ice cream, and mountains of whipped topping. But don’t wait until your afternoon craving — the festival only lasts as long as the berry supply does.

Italian Street Festival

5 to 11 p.m., June 9-10, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 520 Stevens St., free admission, (317) 636-4478 or indyitalianfest.org.

They’re the staples of the American diet, but they didn’t start here: pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, cannoli. Take a step into Naples with the annual Italian Street Festival. And while the food is certainly the centerpiece, there’s plenty more to do at Holy Rosary: live music from local acts, amusement rides, beers from Sun King Brewery. Swing by at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday for the traditional, Italian religious procession (and stick around for a special Mass).

Kokomo Ribfest

Noon to 10:30 p.m., June 10, Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St., Kokomo, free, kokomosummerseries.com.

Summer means barbecues, and barbecues mean ribs. You won’t get more bang for your buck than Kokomo’s annual Ribfest, where every summer racks and racks of the good stuff are perfectly grilled for hungry Hoosiers. This year, former musical director of "The Tonight Show," Kevin Eubanks will perform with his jazz quartet at 7 p.m. Rob Dixon will open the show.

Sudzfest

4 to 9 p.m., June 10, German Park, 8600 S. Meridian St., $8, eventbrite.com, search: Sudzfest.

The Italian food is on the street, and the German treats are in the park. The Federation of German Societies’ third annual Sudzfest will celebrate all the deliciousness from the Fatherland, including bratwurst, knackwurst, sauerkraut, Bavarian pretzels and strudel. No German ‘fest would be complete without the suds — local breweries will bring their best beers. The Original Alpine Express and Ride that Train will both perform.

Asian Fest 2017

Noon to 5 p.m., June 11, Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., free admission, aaalliance.org.

Italy may own the market on pasta, but the noodle game is truly global. All across Asia, noodles and noodle soups will make your taste buds dance, from Ramen to Pad Thai, Pho, Udon and so many more. The 10th Annual Asian Fest, hosted by the Asian American Alliance, brings the brightest culinary content to Indy, and this year’s featured country, Japan, is a superlative in every sense. Expect music, art, dance and mouth-watering Japanese food.

Brew-Ha-Ha

3 to 7 p.m., June 17, 700 Block of N. Park Avenue, $35-$55, (317) 635-2381 or phoenixtheatre.org.

21. That’s how many times Phoenix Theatre has thrown its epic benefit beer festival/block party. What does that mean? In short, if you haven’t made it yet, you have no excuse this time to miss number 22. Sip through samples from dozens of the best craft breweries from around Indiana, including Broad Ripple Brew Pub, Mad Anthony Brewing and Upland, and jam out to local bands. See you there? Yes, we will.

Taste of Broad Ripple 2017

3 to 10 p.m., June 17, 6300 Block of Guildford Ave., $7, (317) 502-1250 or tasteofbroadripple.com.

Broad Ripple offers a small town feel tucked inside a major city, so you can imagine the annual Taste of Broad Ripple as a town fare right here Indy. New-in-Indy Yuengling will host a beer garden, the perfect place to get lost when your kids dive into the bounce house. Local culinary heroes from Chef’s Night Off will throw a duck cook-off, and you’ve got nearly two-dozen other local food vendors to choose from. They call it a taste, but gulp might be more appropriate.

Tenderloin Throwdown

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 24, 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, free admission, (812) 222-0037 or facebook.com/tenderlointhrowdown.

Pork is not a laughing matter, and no one knows that more than the folks at Main Street in Greensburg. The community building nonprofit is on a search for the best pork tenderloin sandwich in the state. If it’s yours, it better be a part of this year’s Tenderloin Throwdown. If you’re just a fan, all the better — down some of the best ‘loin in the Midwest. Prizes will go to best breaded and grilled tenderloin, people’s choice, and most creative tenderloin.

Hendricks County Rib Fest

June 24, Kingway Christian Church, 7981 E. County Road 100 N, Avon, (317) 272-4333 or avonchamber.org.

Barbecue ribs and long distance running aren’t the most comfortable bedfellows, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying both on June 24. The fifth annual Hendricks County Rib Fest will feature tons of smoky, delicious ribs, as well as a 5K race through Avon. Want even more? Lift off in a hot air balloon and enjoy the festival from above. Stick around for the judges crowning ‘best ribs’ and ‘best sauce’ and even fireworks.

Kids Cooking: Cupcake Wars

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 26, Indy’s Kitchen, 2442 Central Ave., $50, eventbrite.com, search: Cupcake Wars.

War is a terrible thing, unless it ends with a fresh batch of cupcakes baked by your own children. Chef Jenny Fox is hosting her latest kids cooking event, teaching kids ages 8 to 16 how to bake and decorate warm, delicious cupcakes. There will be a competition with prizes, but all warmongers here are expected to be friendly — and hungry.