Swedish chefs duel; vegans unite

Garry Roark, maker of Ubon's Champion's Choice barbecue sauce in Yazoo, Miss., joins the crew at the Big Apple barbecue. (zach stovall)

It's time to crank up your festival-going. May and June are perfect months to explore: not too cold, usually not too hot, and crammed with food and wine in unexpected places. Sample the barbecue . . . in New York, of all places. Take a drive to the wurst festival in New Hampshire. Think it's off-season in Belize? Not if you love lobster. Or if you like all things Scandinavian, try a taste of Stockholm.

Wurst Festival

DANBURY, N.H., May 25-27

For a fourth year, the "Best of the Wurst" Festival in Danbury, N.H., will showcase everything German . Such foods as weiner schnitzel, warm potato salad, red cabbage, spaetzle, apple cake, and beer, of course, will be served at dinners Friday and Saturday, and lunch Sunday, to the accompaniment of live (yes, German) music. The events are at the Alphorn Bistro and the Inn at Danbury. The cost of the three-course meal will range from $24 to $29 . For information, visit innatdanbury.com .

Eat, think vegan

Amphitheatre and Waterfront Square BRISTOL, England, June 9-10

Britain's a great place to be for the Bristol Vegan Fayre, the world's biggest such event. Vegan dishes will be offered at 170 stalls; there will be nutrition talks, cooking demonstrations, and special offers on vegan products. Entertainment for children, a fashion show featuring cruelty-free designs, and music will round out the events to promote and encourage a vegan lifestyle. Daily admission about $6. Visit bristolveganfayre.co.uk , visitbristol.co.uk .

"A Taste of Stockholm" is a week of festivities culminating in Sweden's National Day, June 6 . In its 15th year, this is the largest annual event in the country with more than 650,000 visitors expected. Chefs from Stockholm restaurants and elsewhere in Sweden will offer tastes of their best creations. The Chefs Theatre will spotlight two cooking duels every day with chefs from all over the country competing. A variety of music and other cultural events are on the menu, too. The duels, music, and other entertainment are free; food prices vary. Visit smakapastockholm.se .

Who says city folks don't know barbecue? The 5th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party might prove naysayers wrong with pit masters from Texas, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Blue Smoke restaurant in New York offering their tangy tastes. Demonstrations, seminars, and lots of live bluegrass and jazz will fill the air around Madison Square Park, and cookbook writers and TV stars will speak about barbecue. The event is sponsored by Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns Blue Smoke and other restaurants, and will benefit the Madison Square Park Conservancy, which supports the park's horticulture, maintenance, and year-round cultural offerings. Prices for food, drink, seminars, and other events vary. For information or to purchase a $100 Bubba FastPass, visit bigapplebbq.org .

Belize celebrates June with lobsterfests all over the Central American country and its islands, or cays . San Pedro on Ambergris Caye will throw an eight-day party June 15-22: all the lobster you can eat, lobster pizza, fresh shrimp, barbecues, music, and contests. Visit sanpedrolobsterfest.com . From June 24 to 26, the fest will be in Placencia to mark the beginning of lobster season. Boiled , barbecued , fritters, and more lobster variations will be served. Visit placencia.com . Prices vary. For more information, visit travelbelize.org .

Events sometimes are canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Alison Arnett can be reached at alacarte59@aol.com.