A global food movement is arriving in Sacramento. This September 26-28, Slow Food International and Visit Sacramento are bringing Terra Madre Americas, its signature festival featuring food traditions from across the western hemisphere, to California’s capital. With incredible artisan food, coffee and wine to taste, a marketplace to shop, celebrity chef demonstrations, live music and family-friendly activities—plus free admission—the inaugural Terra Madre Americas promises to be one of the year’s cultural highlights. The Terra Madre Americas festival is not to be missed. As the only festival that gathers food from North, Central and South America’s indigenous traditions as well as modern slow food champions all in one place, Terra Madre Americas is the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. “The whole idea of Terra Madre is food can’t be described in words,” says Darrell Corti, owner of Sacramento’s renowned Corti Brothers grocer. “You have to experience it.”

Global Food Movement Terra Madre Americas Debuts in Sacramento

The unique thing about Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento is how much this can touch people of all ages. What’s exciting is to be able to learn, connect and grow together.

From indigenous food presentations to wine and coffee tastings with celebrity chefs to live music from some of the hottest local and national bands to the Grand Tasting event that kicks off the weekend—there’s so much going on at Terra Madre Americas. From Sept. 26-28, Terra Madre Americas will provide families, couples, and solo food adventurers the rare and delectable opportunity to sample cuisine from destinations across the Americas. “Terra Madre America is going to be accessible to everybody—not just foodies,” says Ravin Patel, Executive Chef at The 7th Street Standard. “Whether you’re interested in meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and how they eat—it’s all just as important as the food they produce.”

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By Ryann Swift on August 20, 2025

Your Terra Madre Americas Guide

Great food and the artists who curate it are at the center of the festival. The star-studded lineup of culinary experts, celebrity chefs, sommeliers, coffee connoisseurs, and spirits aficionados taking the stage at Terra Madre Americas includes Alice Waters, Jeremiah Tower, Sean Sherman, Crystal Wahpepah, Elizabeth Falkner, Drew Deckman, and Matthew Beaudin. These culinary masters will not only shepherd festival goers through unique culinary experiences that reflect cultures from across the Americas—they'll use food as a bridge to deeper cultural understanding, as Amber Stott, Founder, CEO, Chief Food Genius at Food Literacy Center, explains. "Folks are going to learn that food isn't just about eating and being a foodie,” she says. “We want people to eat and have fun and also understand the meaning behind the food they're eating."

they'll use food as a bridge to deeper cultural understanding, as Amber Stott, Founder, CEO, Chief Food Genius at Food Literacy Center, explains. "Folks are going to learn that food isn't just about eating and being a foodie,” she says. “We want people to eat and have fun and also understand the meaning behind the food they're eating."

For those craving an upscale tasting experience, head to the Terra Madre Americas Bistro powered by SMUD, which offers an intimate three-course tasting experience curated by celebrity and acclaimed chefs from across the Americas. For adults, don’t miss the Enoteca presented by Bank of America, the festival’s wine tasting hotspot. At the Enoteca, festival goers can sip and savor wines from North and South America while exploring the stories and flavors behind each pour.

The festival offers multiple ways to explore and purchase artisanal foods from across the Americas. At the Terra Madre Americas Marketplace presented by UC Davis Health, visitors can sample and buy coffee, meats, cheeses, seafood, and other specialty items from premier local and international vendors. The event continues outside with a local street festival featuring fresh food, local beers and wines, handmade goods, and interactive exhibits—showcasing Sacramento's farm-to-fork culture alongside indigenous ingredients from vendors throughout the Americas.

Slow Food is a grassroots global movement dedicated to good, clean, and fair food for all. Founded in Italy, Slow Food International has cultivated a worldwide network of local communities and activists who defend cultural and biological diversity through food education while influencing public and private policy in the hopes of transforming food systems. Slow Food International’s flagship event, the world-renowned Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, held annually in Turin, Italy, gathers farmers, chefs, producers, and food lovers from around the world to celebrate and promote good, clean, and fair food for all.

Sacramento and the Slow Food Connection

“There’s another reason Slow Food International chose Sacramento to host the first Terra Madre Americas. It’s about access to good, clean, fair food, yes, but it’s also about Sacramento’s unique location and culinary scene, says Brad Cecchi, Executive Chef at Canon and Co-founder of Food Frontier. “There’s so much indigenous culture here,” he explains. “From the North Pole to the tip of South America and all the cultures that make up the United States, we are able to celebrate such diversity. That’s why Slow Food wants to invest Terra Madre Americas in this place.”

With Sacramento's culinary reputation drawing food enthusiasts from around the globe, visitors planning to attend should secure accommodations early. Sacramento offers a comprehensive hotel scene with rooms just steps from the festival grounds, and many hotels are offering exclusive deals for Terra Madre Americas attendees—details available at terramadreusa.com/visit. Slow Food is a movement. Terra Madre Americas is your chance to be part of its inaugural appearance in the United States. Anyone who cares about eating well, exploring new cultures, having one-of-a-kind experiences and enjoying connecting with people from around the world should make Terra Madre Americas a must-do. Sacramento can’t wait to welcome you. Need more info? All the details await at terramadreusa.com.

Now the celebrated festival is coming to the Western Hemisphere. Slow Food International chose Sacramento as the home of its inaugural Terra Madre Americas because America’s farm-to-fork capital reflects the movement’s goals. Surrounded by 1.5 million acres of farmland, Sacramento stands at the forefront of sustainable agriculture and food innovation, making it an ideal destination for food enthusiasts from around the world. With so much to do, see, and savor, Sacramento is the logical choice for a food festival of Terra Madre’s scope.

“Attending Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento gives you a taste of what we’re doing with our food programs locally,” says Santana Diaz, Director of Culinary Operations and Innovation and Executive Chef of Food and Nutrition Services at UC Davis Health, one of Terra Madre Americas’ sponsors. “The unique thing about Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento is how much this can touch people of all ages. What’s exciting is to be able to learn, connect and grow together.

Stay tuned for culinary programming announcements soon. Demonstrations will take place on The Confluence Stage presented by Wilton Rancheria with plenty of seating and standing room, as well as translations into Spanish and Portuguese. Some workshops that take a deep dive into issues of sustainability and food culture require advance-purchased tickets, but much of the festival—including the live music, marketplace, and outdoor vendor zone—is free. Music definitively enhances the Terra Madre Americas experience. The Golden 1 Live Music Stage Lineup is packed with national talent, featuring performances by The War on Drugs, Spoon, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Jade Bird, Passion Pit (solo acoustic set), plus tons of the best local bands in Sacramento.

Folks are going to learn that food isn't just about eating and being a foodie. We want people to eat and have fun and also understand the meaning behind the food they're eating.

Credit: Francisco Chavira

Your Terra Madre Americas Guide

Folks are going to learn that food isn't just about eating and being a foodie. We want people to eat and have fun and also understand the meaning behind the food they're eating.