Millions of people attend at least one festival in the U.S. per year — and those numbers are on the rise.

With so many events to choose from (and ticket prices in the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for some festivals), it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time and money. That's why USA TODAY 10BEST teamed up with a panel of festival experts to nominate the top events across eight categories. Then, we asked readers to cast their votes to decide the winners, and the results are in.

Best Art Festival: Orange Beach Festival of Art in Orange Beach, Alabama

Each spring, Orange Beach Festival of Art celebrates the artistic talent within Alabama's Gulf Coast with an impressive showcase of fine art, crafts, and performances. Featuring both local and regional artists, this waterfront festival highlights diverse media, including painting, pottery, glasswork, and woodcraft.

Attendees can enjoy live music, interactive demonstrations, and even a culinary arts section, blending creativity with coastal flavors. The festival also offers family-friendly activities, making it a perfect outing for all ages.

Best City Food Festival: Queens Night Market in Queens, New York

New Yorkers know that the borough of Queens is culinary catnip, a smorgasbord of global goodies that makes a ride on the subway an ambrosial proposal. The weekly, seasonal Queens Night Market is modeled after the popular open-air night markets of Asia, offering street food that showcases the ethnic and cultural diversity of the borough — all at wallet-friendly prices.

Best Cultural Festival: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in San Juan, Puerto Rico

If a trip to Puerto Rico is on your bucket list, consider timing it to the annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián in January. Old San Juan becomes one massive street party where bomba dancers, artisan vendors, mofongo (mashed plantains), and local rum drinks take over the cobblestones.

Multi-stage concerts entertain and spontaneous pop-up jam sessions break out in the streets while local artists display their work and bartenders pour rounds of pitorro (moonshine rum) that'll have you dancing until dawn.

Best Film Festival: Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana

Every October, Indianapolis rolls out the red carpet for the 11-day Heartland Film Festival. According to the organization, "The films we select and exhibit — whether they inspire conversation, ignite imagination, or shift perspectives — all have one thing in common: they are films that do more than entertain."

Award ceremonies spotlight emerging voices and present $60,000 in cash prizes, while mixers and nightly filmmaker after hours keep things refreshingly unpretentious.

Best Flower Festival: Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia

Spring begins at the Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens as over 20 million daffodil blooms adorn 50 acres of valleys, hillsides, and fields across its 376 acres. Named one of “The World’s 10 Best Places to See Daffodils" by Flower Magazine, Gibbs Gardens offers more than 60 daffodil varieties for six weeks of blooms in shades of yellow, orange, white, peach, and deep gold.

The huge number of daffodils is enhanced by intricate planting designs, vibrant color contrasts, easy walking paths, and dramatic mountain vistas.

Best Music Festival: Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

This 10-day summer Musikfest is the nation's largest free, non-gated music festival. Expect over 500 performances across some 16 stages (15 being free) and every genre from polka to metal mariachi. Beyond the music, festivalgoers can sample pierogi and craft beer, catch cultural demonstrations, and browse artisan vendors throughout Bethlehem's historic district. 2026 headliners include Train, John Mulaney, and AJR.

Best Renaissance Fair: Ohio Renaissance Festival in Waynesville, Ohio

Every weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival brings a new and exciting theme, like Highland Weekend (bagpipes and haggis included); Romance Weekend, where you and your sweetheart can renew your vows; and the Feast of Fools, complete with a messy pumpkin-versus-watermelon war you won't want to miss.

Washing Well Wenches, comedy knife-throwing acts, storytelling mermaids, and a mud show are also on the docket at this whimsical autumn fair, which has been entertaining the masses since 1990.

Best Specialty Food Festival: Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi

As the "Hot Tamale Capital of the World," Greenville proudly pays homage to its signature dish, the Delta-style hot tamale — a traditionally Latin dish infused with African, Italian, and Native American influences — with the annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival.

The October festivities feature a ticketed Welcome Dinner, plenty of live music, 150-plus food and craft vendors, a hot tamale eating contest, a cooking competition, and the ever-popular Flavors of the Festival tour. It’s a weekend full of flavor, fun, and family — full of Southern hospitality!