As late summer fades to fall there are a handful of food festivals to check out in central Pennsylvania.

They celebrate ethnic foods, wine and even competition chili. We're here to help you find a festival suited to your tastes.

Think fresh ears of corn on the cob dripping with melted butter, authentic Indian cuisine and a piping hot bean soup made from suet, hamburger and beans.

Whatever you do, bring your appetite.

India Day

This ethnic celebration of food, entertainment and vendors takes place Aug. 8 at Harrisburg Area Community College. The community event is sponsored by the Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania. Check out the live stage performances of Indian folk and Bollywood dances, a variety of ethnic food, cooking demonstrations, vendors of Indian items, crafts and community information.

It runs 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Free admission and parking.

Info: www.IndiaDayPA.org.

Shippensburg Corn Festival

Corn is the star Aug. 29 at this festival which fills the streets of Shippensburg.

More than 250 vendors will sell crafts, food and antiques. Entertainment will fill three stages and there will be children's activities, crafts demonstrations, an antique car show and a corn eating contest. Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission is free. Parking is available for $3 at the Shippensburg Fairgrounds off South Fayette Street with free shuttle service. Info: www.shippensburgcornfestival.net.

Keystone Regional Chili Cookoff

The 36th annual Keystone Regional Chili Cookoff is taking a new direction this year from its roots in Harrisburg. The precursor to the International Chili Society's World Chili Championship will be held Sept. 5 at Flinchy's Restaurant in Lower Allen Township. Sample award-winning chili from competition cooks or take part in one of three fun contests - jalapeno eating, hands-free chili eating or hot wing eating competition. For more: www.chiefchili.com

Capital City Invitational Beer Festival

Appalachian Brewing Company at 50 N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg will host this beer lover's festival on Sept. 12.

You'll be able to sample beers produced around the mid-atlantic region, and fill your plate off an Oktoberfest-style buffet. Live entertainment will take place.

Must be 21 or older. There will be two sessions: 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

Tickets: $35 in advance/$40 at the door. $15 designated drivers. Info: www.abcbrew.com or 717-221-1080.

Dauphin County Jazz and Wine Fest

Love wine? This wine focused festival is worth a stop.

Sample wines from about 18 central Pennsylvania wineries at this three-day event, Sept. 11-13, at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St. in Susquehanna Twp.

Participating wineries include Buddy Boy Winery & Vineyards in Duncannon, Cassel Vineyards at Hershey and Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery in Wrightsville.

There also will be craft and food vendors and daily live musical performances.

Band schedule: Friday -- Dred "Perky" Scott featuring the Steve Rudolph Quarter with Spanish Harlem Orchestra; Saturday -- Jazz in Pink featuring Gail Johnson and Mariea Antionette, Jeff Bradshaw and Richard Elliot; Sunday -- Rita & Class Act, Avery Sunshine and Nick Colionne.

Hours: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday; 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Weekend passes: $30 in advance; $40 at the door. Ages 12 and younger are free. Parking is free.

Info: www.dauphincounty.org/parks-recreation or www.forthunter.org.

The Hotel Hershey Wine & Food Festival

It's a big wine weekend in central Pennsylvania. The Hotel Hershey will present the sixth annual festival celebrating wine Sept. 11-13.

If you can, go noon-4 p.m. Sept. 13 for the Grand Tasting.

You'll stroll the hotel's gardens while sipping from a selection of more than 60 international and domestic wines as well as local beers. Food samples will be provided by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts' chefs and restaurants.

In the two days leading up to the Grand Tasting there will be events including a dinner/comedy show by Laurie Forster, local winery tour and a Bordeaux blending class.

Reservations required. Must be 21 or older.

Grand Tasting tickets: $65 per person; $20 designated drivers.

Info: www.thehotelhershey.com/dining/wine-food-festival.php. Reservations: 717.534.8800.

Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival

Yet another opportunity to sip Pennsylvania wine.

Sample hundreds of wines from 25 Pennsylvania wineries and enjoy live music Sept. 12-13 at the Gateway Gettysburg Complex, 95 Presidential Circle.

Check out the celebrity grape stomp and vendors selling food, art, wine accessories and handmade jewelry.

Event runs noon-6 p.m.

Tickets: $20 in advance/$25 at the gate. $30 2-days-advance purchase only; $12 designated driver and ages 13-20. Ages 12 and younger are free. Details: www.gettysburgwine.com or 800-830-3976, ext. 108.

McClure Bean Soup Festival & Fair

If you've never visited the Bean Soup Festival, it's worth the trip just for the famous soup.

Piping hot bowls of traditional soup made from beans, hamburger and suet prepared in oversized pots are served daily at noon.

The 124th annual country-style fair also includes amusement rides, free nightly concerts of country and oldies music, garden tractor pulls, a horse show, baking and other food contests, a quilt auction and a parade.

The festival runs Sept. 13-19 at the fairgrounds, 30 E. Ohio St., McClure. Concessions open at 4 p.m. daily.

Admission and entertainment are free. Pay a nominal fee to park.

Rides operate from 6-9 p.m. Sunday; 6-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6-11 p.m. Friday; 1-11 p.m. Saturday. Pay one price to ride the rides: $12 Sunday-Thursday; $14 Friday-Saturday.

Info: www.mcclurebeansoupfair.com, 717-543-5467 or info@mcclurebeansoup.com.

Hinkelfest Chicken Festival

The place for chicken whether it be pot pie or chicken fried rice.

The festival will fill the Fredericksburg Fireman's Park Sept. 18-20.

Activities cover a Chicken Cooking Contest (new this year is a kids cooking contest), a midway for games, rides and bingo, petting zoo, pony rides and evening concerts. Evening concerts include The Cramer Brothers Band, Pentagon and Andy "Elvis" Svrcek. A craft show is held Saturday and Sunday.

Hours are 5-9:30 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to the festival, entertainment and parking are free.

Info: www.hinkelfest.com.

Janet Krajcsik contributed to this story.