Maybe you're heading to Kaaboo this weekend to check out a Kings of Leon set or to hear throwback hits from Sublime, Duran Duran, and Boyz II Men. Or maybe you're there to laugh with Bob Saget (remember him!?), Tom Green, and Wayne Brady. Maybe you're going for the art and fashion shows.

Whatever your reason, rest assured you're going to get hungry, and this year, there are a few culinary experiences we're particularly excited about.

Courtesy Bling Bling Dumpling

Grab-and-Go Eats

Calzones from Pizzamaniac

Locals in Vista love Pizzamaniac for the pies, calzones, and garlic knots, and we can think of no better grab-and-go option when you need to soak up the craft beer or cocktails you've been downing all day.

Grilled Cheese from Bread & Cheese Catering

This San Diego-based company is all about, you guessed it, grilled cheese. They make their own sauces and source bread from local bakeries to create melty sandwiches ranging from a classic cheddar on white to grilled rubens and something called the Burn-A-Nater made with pepper jack and salami on a jalapeno-cheddar bread.

Dumplings from Bling Bling Dumpling

Taiwanese chefs Pei Yen and Cindy first learned to cook at their grandmothers' sides. Inspired by the street foods of Taiwan and the amazing local bounty of California, the pair launched a dumpling operation that uses local, organic ingredients to make traditional and modern takes dumplings, including ginger pork, thai chicken basil, and a raved-about vegan version stuffed with shiitake mushrooms.

Courtesy JuneShine
The Baked Bear by @hanneats
Courtesy JuneShine
The Baked Bear by @hanneats

Local Sips That Aren't Beer

We love craft beer, but at an outdoor festival, we like to have options. Local favorite Cutwater Spirits will be serving canned cocktails and our very own JuneShine will be slinging their signature hard kombucha.

San Diego Sweets

Locally made ice cream sounds like a good way to cool down, and this year we have two local options to choose from.

Located in Normal Heights, Mariposa Ice Cream was founded 16-years ago by the grandchildren of a dairy farmer. They make small batch ice cream and sherberts in flavors like mint chip and Mexican Chocolate. All their flavors are naturally gluten-free and egg free, and they offer some vegan options, including creamy peanut butter.

The Baked Bear gets bonus points for smashing their super-premium, craft ice cream made with r-BGH-free cream, pure cane sugar, and all natural stabilizers between chewy, freshly baked cookies. They also offer a vegan ice cream flavor or two, and sometimes a vegan cookie option.

Courtesy of Richard Blais

Celebrity Chef Demos

This year there are some pretty heavy hitters doing demos in the PALATE area of the festival, including many hometown heros like Richard Blais, the James Beard-nominated cookbook author, television personality, and chef-owner of Juniper & Ivy and Crack Shack.

Award-winning celebrity chef Michael Mina, who recently opened International Smoke here in Del Mar, will also be on site sharing his uniquely modern Middle Eastern style.

Other culinary stars like Antonia Lofaso, Eduardo Garcia, Nyesha J. Arrington, Ryan Gilbert, and Travis Swikard will also be giving demos and tastings over the weekend.

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