Any occasion that brings people together to eat is joyous. So part of me must encourage you to head to the annual Bite of Seattle for Jones Barbeque's rib tips and coleslaw basket with a side of spicy mac and cheese. But I can't lie: Bite of Seattle terrifies me. Well, the Comcast Bite of Seattle (presented by Emerald Queen Casino), featuring a comedy club, family fun zone, and six outdoor concert stages terrifies me. Wandering crowd feeds are an invitation to sensory overload (all those white people getting sunburned, food falling out of their mouths) and vomiting.

I like to think that the people behind this weekend's Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere Dinner & Fair planned their event as the perfect alternative to Bite of Seattle. The goal of the dinner, made entirely of fair-trade foods and foods produced by local vendors committed to sustainable practices and prepared by local chefs, is to educate people on "how to support alternatives to corporate-led globalization in Seattle and everywhere."

Bite of Seattle at Seattle Center on Fri-Sat July 20-21, 11 am-9 pm and Sun July 22, 11 am-8 pm, www.biteofseattle.com, free.

Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere Dinner & Fair at Polish Home, 1714 18th Ave on Sat July 21, 4-9 pm, www.brownpapertickets.com, $35.