There are two surefire cures for cabin fever: road trips and food festivals.

So why not combine the two?

Colorado’s edible bounty stretches to every border, across diverse terrains and ecosystems. From Olathe’s sun-kissed cornfields to the monsoon-swept ridges of Telluride’s mushroom country and the myriad other flavors that flourish in the state, food fetes are a perfect excuse to navigate the landscape.

This guide to some of Colorado’s delicious destinations can help adventurous (or just plain hungry) travelers eat their way across the state. Just one note: Admission and event packages vary, so check each festival’s website for the particulars.

And for more agrotourism ideas, check out the listings on the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s website, colorado.gov/ag.

1. Friday-May 7

Colorado Chocolate Festival

Christen a season of food festivals (and score major mom points) with one sweet event. The Colorado Chocolate Festival, held Mother’s Day weekend, packs the Denver Merchandise Mart with sinful confections boxed, melted, sprinkled and sold to quell even the hardiest Mother’s Day chocolate lust. Chocolatieres battle over best fudge, toffee and truffle, while cake competitions award top birthday, wedding, theme and cup- cakes. Best part: the no-hands- allowed chocolate pudding eating contest. The event is so popular it spawned a Winter Park version, on June 25. 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver; chocolate-festival.org

2. May 20-21

Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

Mike was a Depression-era chicken that just wouldn’t die. Even after decapitation, he and his severed brain stem lived on for 18 months. This most famous of Fruita’s fowl was fed through a hole in his neck, and landed a spot in Guinness World Records. Today, Mike’s hometown honors his fighting spirit with an annual headless-chicken theme party. There are friendly activities like a chicken dance contest, 5K run and blindfolded lawnmower race. But the real emphasis is on the commemorative grub. Ice creams adopt Mike-centric monikers, cookies resemble severed chicken heads and sizzling poultry abounds. East Aspen Street in downtown Fruita; miketheheadlesschicken.org

3. June 3-4

Snowmass Annual Chili Pepper & Brew Fest

What better way to chase an afternoon of world-class chili and salsa tastings than with ice cold samples of the beer belt’s finest treasures? This annual celebration of spice and suds honors a few of Colorado’s greatest flavors. Best red chili, chile verde and salsa awards are given by the International Chili Society. There’s also a People’s Choice award. Local beer-offs and taste tours offer interactions with more than 75 microbrew varieties. In July, this town also hosts a Culinary and Arts Festival, featuring art, wine and celebrity chefs. Fanny Hill and Snowmass Village Mall, Snowmass; snowmasschiliandbrew.com

4. June 16-18

Frisco’s Colorado BBQ Challenge

More than 65 teams from around the country converge on Frisco every year for this barbecue competition, and many sell samples of their savory creations. Sponsored by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, this three-day event kicks off with a Hot Buttered Rum concert and features food, fun and pig races. An as-yet unannounced “Top Chef” personality also will display some high-end barbecuing techniques. Main Street in Frisco; townoffrisco.com/events /bbq-challenge

5. June 17-19

Strawberry Days Festival

This started in 1897 as a friendly neighborhood picnic to celebrate the strawberry harvest and has blossomed into a community affair. Thousands rendezvous at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs each year for a taste of the action, which includes a carnival, farmers market and shameless affinity for all things strawberry. Miss Strawberry is crowned on Friday. Saturday, wipe the berry juice from your chin and take the kids to see the Strawberry Days Parade. Sayre Park, Glenwood Springs; 970-945-6589; strawberry daysfestival.com

6. Aug. 5-6

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival

This festival chews through roughly 70,000 ears of freshly picked Olathe sweet corn and 500 pounds of butter over its three-day stint. A growing community tradition since 1992, this year’s bash also includes two concerts (the Guess Who and Aaron Tippin), a carnival and fireworks display, and an air- band contest. The event’s website hasn’t yet been updated for 2011’s festivities, but organizers say it will be ready well before August, so check back. Olathe Community Park; Olathe; olathesweetcornfest .com

7. Aug. 12-13

BBQ at the Summit

That eternal question among grilling perfectionists — sauce versus spice rub — is addressed at this late-summer gathering of barbecue lovers. The sweet, smoky smell of fired meat envelops Dillon’s village plaza during this fest boasting a delicious combination of live music and finger-licking eats, all of which are consumed with Lake Dillon’s placid views as a backdrop. Between Buffalo and Labonte streets and Lake Dillon Drive, Dillon; summitrotaryevents.com /BBQ-at-the-Summit

8. Aug. 18-21

Palisade Peach FestivalPalisade takes a deserved pride in its homegrown peaches, and nowhere is that aplomb so expressly shown than in the town’s yearly peach festival. The revelry includes a contest for the biggest peach, a car show, parade, peach cuisine competitions and demonstrations, a “Feast in the Fields,” and 3- and 5-mile runs to burn off the few innocent calories the event is sure to deliver. Visitors also relish the peach-centric menus from many area restaurants. Riverbend Park and Peachbowl Park, Palisade; palisadepeachfest.com

9. Aug. 18-21

Telluride Mushroom Festival

Colorado has more than its plateful of fungal treasures. Plucky foragers and wise chefs already know the local abundance of edible mushrooms like oyster, cremini, porcini and chanterelle. Arguably more of a mushroom university than a traditional food festival, Telluride’s 31st annual Shroomfest will feature field experts and guest speakers, educating everyone from the novice home cook to the veteran mycophile. Vendor booths sell varieties of tasty take-home packages and area restaurants feature unique mushroom infused and inspired dishes. The party kicks off Friday at the Sun Palm Theater and cuts loose on Saturday with a grand, costume-clad mushroom parade. Elks Park and various locations throughout Telluride; shroomfest .com

10. Sept. 10

Monte Vista Potato Festival

Whether you like them mashed, fried, baked, loaded or skinned, this spud spectacular has you covered. Colorado has roughly 55,000 acres dedicated to this versatile crop, most of which are in the San Louis Valley. Agricultural enthusiasts can geek out on the potato-farm tour, while the tots will relish the potato- sack races, hot-potato toss and the tallest-mashed-potato-tower contest. Music, shopping, recipe competitions and cooking demonstrations happen throughout the day.

Fullenwider Park, Monte Vista; coloradopotato.org

11. Oct. 1-2

Cider Days Harvest Festival

Haul your grannies down to Lakewood’s 35th annual Cider Days Harvest Festival, and watch vintage cider presses turn them into liquid gold. Visitors are invited to bring their own apples from home — Granny Smith, Red Delicious or otherwise — and walk away with freshly squeezed cider. Fruitless patrons can stock up on locally grown organic apples, apple butter, applesauce or freshly baked offerings of America’s signature dessert. Not only will kids keep the doctor away for a day, they’ll dig the barrel train, hay ride and petting zoo. 801 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood; lakewood.org/comres/page .cfm?ID=549