Fall Festivals Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

4. Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, Sept. 29-30, Saugerties, N.Y.
Enjoy garlic-themed culinary creations at this bustling annual festival in the Hudson River town of Saugerties, at the base of the Catskills. Aficionados of the fragrant bulb will enjoy musicians, lectures from chefs and farmers as well as countless food vendors. A dedicated children's area features crafts and entertainment, and there's a rock-climbing wall for older kids.

5. California Avocado Festival, Oct. 5-7, Carpinteria, Calif.
Located amid the third-largest avocado-growing region in North America, the seaside town of Carpinteria hosts this annual event. Known as AVOFEST, it celebrates the creamy green fruit that originated in Mexico and is now as American as apple pie. Thousands come to sample food, live entertainment and "green" family fun at this free, lively fest.

6. National Plantain Festival, Oct. 20-21, Corozal, Puerto Rico
Food, dance and music abound in this island festival celebrating the plantain. It's a fitting tribute to the fruit dubbed nuestro pan ("our bread") in the 19th century and still essential today in Puerto Rican cuisine. Sliced, fried, mashed, boiled or skewered, even the plantain's flowers and leaves appear in regional dishes. There's no better chance to experience its myriad flavors than at this colorful festival in the charming town of Corozal.

Also of interest: Plan a fall potluck! Cornbread, crisps, baked veggies and slow-cooker delights for cooler weather.