The best autumn food and drink festivals in Prague and beyond

Autumn in Prague brings cooler days, changing leaves, and a packed calendar of food and drink festivals. From Czech craft beer and international street food to specialty coffee, wine harvests and traditional Czech goose, here are the food-focused events worth putting on your calendar this fall.

Whether you love or hate burčák, wine harvest season is upon us, and with it, vino tasting fests all around the city in the coming weeks. As early as this weekend, the Prague Castle Harvest Festival will bring connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts to the Royal Garden.

Keep a lookout also for Vinohradské vinobraní on Jiřího z Poděbrad (Sept. 11-12), the Troja Wine Festival (Sept. 12), and Wine Harvest at St. Clare’s Vineyard (Sept. 12-13), as well as successive wine fests at Grébovka, Kunratice (both Sept. 18-19) and at Villa Richter (Sept. 28).

Wine harvest celebrations take place throughout Czechia in September, with South Moravia the country's major wine region. For a weekend trip, consider the Znojmo Historical Grape Harvest Festival (Sept. 11-13) or Mikulov's Pálava Grape Harvest Festival (Sept. 11-13), both combining wine and burčák with food, music, folklore and other festivities.

Throughout September.

More than 25 Czech craft breweries will gather at Vítězné náměstí for a day dedicated to small-scale brewing. Expect hundreds of specialty beers, street food, live music and a farmers' market at this Prague 6 event.

Sept. 12, Vítězné náměstí, more info here.

Mussels take over participating restaurants across Prague during Czech Mussel Week, when chefs put their own spin on the seasonal seafood. It’s a chance to try everything from classic preparations to more creative mussel dishes at restaurants around the city.

Sept. 12 to 20, various Prague restaurants, more info here.

Think you can handle the heat? Smíchovská náplavka will be serving up chili peppers, hot sauces and spicy dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. Admission is free, making this a low-stakes way to test your tolerance for fiery food.

Sept. 19, Smíchovská náplavka, more info here.

Pickle lovers get their own festival in Prague, celebrating fermented and preserved vegetables with food, vendors and creative takes on the humble pickle.

Sept. 19 to 20, Prague Exhibition Grounds, more info here.

Prague's largest vegan event returns to Rašínovo nábřeží with plant-based food, lifestyle products and a full day of programming focused on vegan gastronomy and sustainable living. There will also be music and dedicated family and pet zones.

Sept. 20, Rašínovo nábřeží, more info here.

You don't have to travel to Munich for a Bavarian beer garden this fall. Prague's Oktoberfest returns with beer, traditional food and music, bringing a taste of Bavaria to the Czech capital.

Sept. 16 to 20, Prague, more info here.

Manifesto Market Anděl will devote two days to Czech craft brewing, with experimental beers from smaller breweries alongside an international food lineup.

Sept. 18 to 19, Manifesto Market Anděl, more info here.

Celebrate one of autumn's most iconic fruits at Ctěnice Chateau, where the annual apple harvest festival brings together seasonal produce, food and family-friendly activities.

Sept. 19, Ctěnice Chateau, more info here.

Head to Chodov Fortress for a combination of two autumn favorites: street food and Czech wine. The one-day event brings food vendors and winemakers together with music and the historic fortress as a backdrop.

Oct. 3, Chodov Fortress, more info here.

Head to Prague's New Town Hall for a day dedicated to food and drink, with vendors and culinary specialties filling the historic venue.

Oct. 4, New Town Hall, more info here.

Nothing says autumn quite like a bowl of soup. Karlín's annual soup festival brings warming dishes alongside international options, with live music and other entertainment rounding out the day.

Oct. 4, Karlínské náměstí, more info here.

Chocolate takes over Galerie Harfa for a three-day festival featuring exhibitors selling chocolate, pralines and desserts from Czechia and abroad. There will also be children's activities, competitions and other sweet surprises.

Oct. 16 to 18, Galerie Harfa, more info here.

Nothing says autumn quite like a bowl of soup. This annual soup festival brings warming seasonal dishes to Hořejší náplavka, making it an easy way to sample different soups while taking in the riverfront atmosphere.

Oct. 17, Hořejší náplavka, more info here.

Prague's specialty coffee scene comes together for two days of tastings, workshops, talks and demonstrations. Expect Czech and international roasters, cuppings, live podcasts, DJs, competitions and other programming connecting coffee with culture.

Oct. 24 to 25, Prague Exhibition Grounds, more info here.

Czech craft brewery Sibeeria celebrates its 10th anniversary with a major beer festival bringing together Czech and international breweries. More than 200 beers will be available across tasting sessions, with unlimited sampling included in the ticket price.

Oct. 30 to 31, Holešovice Market Hall, more info here.

Whisky lovers can sample bottles from around the world at this annual festival, with tastings, masterclasses and plenty of opportunities to discover something new. You don't have to be a whisky expert to enjoy it.

Nov. 6 to 7, New Town Hall, more info here.

One of the most distinctly Czech traditions of the autumn calendar arrives on St. Martin's Day, when roast goose is served alongside the year's first young wines.

Traditionally, Svatomartinské wine is opened at 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11. Restaurants, wineries and public celebrations across Prague mark the occasion with goose, wine, music and other festivities.

Nov. 11, city-wide.

Take a trip to Litomyšl for a food-focused weekend at the town's UNESCO-listed castle. Around 30 vendors serve Czech and international specialties, with live entertainment and family activities adding to the atmosphere.

Sept. 12 to 13, Litomyšl, more info here.

Travel to Uherské Hradiště for one of the region's biggest celebrations of wine and local culture. Wine, burčák, regional specialties, folklore and live music fill the historic town during this annual festival.

Sept. 12 to 13, Uherské Hradiště, more info here.

Head west to Plzeň for a street-food market at the city's former transport-company complex. Food trucks and vendors serve international and Czech dishes alongside beer, wine, coffee and sweets.

Sept. 28, DEPO2015, Plzeň, more info here.