7 awesome -- and free! -- SF Bay Area food festivals to check out this September

Erick Soon and Richard Koenig of Cacoco Drinking Chocolate serves samples at the Eat Real Festival on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 in Oakland, California. Photo by Paul Kuroda
Eat Real Festival on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 in Oakland, California. Photo by Paul Kuroda
Betsy Mcleod and Jon Paupard serve Hangar 1 cocktails at Eat Real Festival at Jack London Square on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in Oakland, California. Photo by Paul Kuroda
JOE WADE PHOTOGRAPHY The Salsa Festival returns to Redwood City this September with lots of music, food and, of course, dancing.
Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group
Diana Valencia, of Walnut Creek, with Wine Thieves, pours wine during the 20th annual Lafayette Art and Wine Festival in Lafayette, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. The event draws more than 80,000 visitors and features four stages of music, a wine and beer tent, vendor booths, kids area of activities, and more. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
Nick Willianson, 31, cooks a batch of crawfish at the 33rd annual Seafood & Music Festival in Pittsburg, Calif., on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2017.
Alfredo Herrera with Aroma Concessions shucks oysters during the Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival in Pittsburg, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

By Lisa Herendeen | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: August 28, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. | UPDATED: August 29, 2018 at 4:23 a.m.

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Looking for some gastronomic fun? Here are seven September celebrations centered around food and wine — and they’re all free.

1 Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Sip wine, sample tasty bites and listen to music at this free festival in Capitola Village from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9. Free admission. http://capitolachamber.com/art-and-wine-festival

2 Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival

Enjoy seafood of every variety, plus beer and wine, live music, jet ski races and amusing rides at this festival along the Pittsburg Marina. The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Free. www.pittsburgseafoodandmusicfestival.com

3 Mountain View Art & Wine Festival:

This annual food fest features wine booths for the grown-ups, a childrens park for the kiddos and plenty of food, arts and crafts and live entertainment on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10 am. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9. Free. mountainview.miramarevents.com

4 Eat Real Festival

Oakland’s 10th annual Eat Real fest takes over the waterfront at Jack London Square with tasty bites from more than 50 Bay Area restaurants and food trucks, plus wine, beer and other libations. The festival runs from 3 to 10 p.m. Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 15, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16. Free. http://eatrealfest.com

5 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

This Summer of Love-themed festival includes 250 arts and crafts booths, live entertainment and children’s activities, as well as food, wine and craft beer booths in downtown Lafayette. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept.15 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 16. Free. http://lafayettefestival.com

6 Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival

Browse more than 175 art and crafts booths, and check out the food, beer, wine and children’s activities at this festival, which runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 15 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept 16 in Santa Clara’s Central Park. Free. www.santaclaraartandwine.com

7 Salsa Festival

Enjoy salsa music, salsa dancing and salsa tasting, plus tequila tasting, hands-on art projects, a children’s play area and more at Redwood City’s annual downtown Salsa Festival, 12-8 p.m. Sept. 29. Free. https://bit.ly/1NPKgJ5