Food and drink festivals are ideal for that very reason: you can have little tastes of everything from all the best restaurants, breweries and liquor brands, all in one place. And lucky for us, NYC hosts tons of them every single year.
From whiskey to wine, from BBQ’s to global cuisines, here are all the top food and drink festivals that will be in NYC!
1. New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF)
Hungry? We’re willing to bet you’ll find a lot to savor at the 17th annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ from October 17th to 20th. The four-day celebration features 80 events and over 500 chefs who are ready to send tastebuds on an extraordinary journey. This year, the foodie extravaganza will expand into Brooklyn — and feature a NYCWFF Ferry powered by Invesco QQQ — truly showcasing the global culinary status of the five boroughs.
Expect run-ins with celebrity chefs, samples of your favorite local fare, and of course, plenty of entertainment. The menu will be as expansive as the cool things to do: Rachael Ray will return to host Blue Moon Burger Bash and Blake Lively will host The Betty BOOze Harvest Happy Hour at The Lawn in The Seaport, to name a few activities.
Plus, the festival’s expansion into Kings County will include a headlining event, Brooklyn Eats & Beats featuring celebrated borough chefs and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, who will serve their premium ready-to-drink cocktail, Gin & Juice. Even better? It’s all for a good cause, as NYCWFF supports God’s Love We Deliver, NYC’s only provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling.
Secret NYC readers can even cash in on a discount: 25% off general admission tickets to any of the festival’s events at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Type in “Secret25” when checking out.
When: October 17th to 20th, 2024
Where: Multiple Venues
2. Smorgasburg
The country’s largest open open-air food market takes over 3 NYC locations on weekends during the summer! From spaghetti donuts to soufflé pancakes, Smorgasburg invites food lovers from all over the cities to try artisanal bites and creative street food from local vendors. Check out the locations and dates below:
- Smorgasburg WTC
- When: Fridays
- Where: The Oculus, Fulton & Church
- Hours: 11 am – 6 pm
- Williamsburg
- When: Saturdays
- Where: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn
- Hours: 11 am – 6 pm
- Prospect Park
- When: Sundays
- Where: Breeze Hill, Brooklyn
- Hours: 11 am – 6pm
3. Japan Fes
Celebrating Japanese cuisine every year since 2016, Japan Fes brings dozens of Japanese vendors like Menya Jiro, Tonkatsu Me to NYC for affordable bites! From authentic food stalls offering sushi, ramen, and matcha treats to captivating performances of taiko drumming, traditional dance, and cosplay showcases, Japan Fes offers an immersive experience for visitors of all ages! See locations below and learn more here.
- 10/5/24 – Japan Fes x Rament Contest at Park Slope
- 10/6/24 – Japan Fes x Rament Contest at Chelsea
- 10/13/24 – Upper West Side
- 10/27/24 – Upper West Side
- 11/9/24 – East Village
4. Dragon Fest
NYC’s first and largest outdoor Chinese food and culture festival is a smashing success, and we highly recommend checking it out. Featuring over 100 varieties of Chinese cuisine, you can find anything from soup dumplings to candied hawthorn sticks. Vendors include Pecking House, MáLà Project, Kopitiam, and so many more!
- 10/5/24 – 4th Avenue, 12th-13th Street
- 10/6/24 – 6th Avenue, 29th-31st Street
- 10/13/24 – Broadway, 80th-82nd Street
5. Thai Fest
After the success of its inaugural event, Thai Fest is hosting a finalizing a summer/fall run with multiple dates across NYC. There will be tons to choose from, as the authentic flavors and vibrant culture of Thailand return to the streets of New York City once again. See the full set of dates below:
- 10/5/24 – 4th Avenue, 12th-14th Street
- 10/13/24 – Broadway, 80th-82nd Street
6. Famous Food Festival, Tanger Outlets Deer Park
Although located slightly outside NYC on Long Island, Famous Food Festival, a traveling food festival, is touching down for their fall rendition. Showcasing over 100 food, art and beverage vendors, the three day festival will consist of all types of food for purchase…while supporting locally. Learn more here.
When: October 11 – 14
Where: Tanger Outlets Deer Park
7. Queens Night Market
This vibrant and diverse outdoor event is one of NYC’s most iconic night markets, and it features a wide array of international cuisine. You can expect up to 100 vendors selling food and merchandise, as well as small-scale cultural performances celebrating the cultural diversity of NYC and Queens. We’re talking everything from Colombian arepas to Salvadoran pupusas. Learn more about Queens Night Market here.
When: Saturdays 4 pm – 12 am
Where: New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
8. Uptown Night Market
The 3rd annual Uptown Night Market in Harlem is any foodie’s fantasy, and their 70+ diverse vendors represent over 20 countries of food and drink. Ranging from African to European to Caribbean, you’ll find just about everything…including vendors like Perros Locos, Brooklyn Dim Sum Co, Harlem Hoopz, The Eggroll Queen LLC, and so many more! Learn more here.
When: Second Thursday each month, 4pm – 10pm, through the fall
Where: Harlem Arches – 12th Ave & 133rd Street
9. Bronx Night Market
This open-air food and drink festival celebrates the best cuisine and culture in the Bronx! Their 60+ vendors serve unique creations like mac & cheese fried burritos, enormous slices of carrot cake, fried chicken cones, and watermelon pizza! There’s also an Instagram Wall-O-Fame, kid zone, and food education booths. Learn more here.
When: First Saturday each month, 4 pm – 10 pm, through October
Where: 1 Fordham Plaza
10. Grand Bazaar NYC
Grand Bazaar is a flea market and food festival that takes the Upper West Side by storm every Sunday! While you shop for thrifted gems, hit their food court which serves all kinds of local gems to power you through your shopping spree. Learn more here.
When: Sundays (10 am – 5 pm)
Where: 100 West 77th St (at Columbus Avenue)
11. Brooklyn Night Market
Open on the last Monday of every month in Industry City is the Brooklyn Night Market, which features 40+ local vendors. Mainstays like Brooklyn Dim Sum Co and Rosie’s Empanadas will be there, including so many more. Learn more about the festival here.
When: Last Monday each month, 4 pm – 10 pm, through October
Where: Industry City, 36th St btwn 2nd & 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn
12. Vegan Night Market
Vegan Night Market takes over Central’s Park Wollman Rink every Tuesday night, all summer long. It features 25+ micro-businesses offering mouthwatering food and drink options, like Secret Vegan Kitchen, Mao’s Bao, Pinche Vegana NYC, and so many more! It’s a vegan’s food heaven!
When: Tuesday nights (4 pm – 9 pm), until October 10
Where: Wollman Rink in Central Park
13. Manhattan West Food Fest
The Manhattan West Plaza is hosting a two day food festival, with vendors including Citizens Market Hall, Zou Zou’s, Midnight By Navarro’s, Daily Provisions, Katsuya, Casa Dani, and Black Fox Coffee! The festival is free to attend, with food available for purchase. There’s also set to be a DJ to perform both nights and it’s even dog-friendly! Learn more about the Manhattan West Food Fest here.
When: October 16 – 17, 4 – 8 pm
Where: Manhattan West Plaza, 385 9th Ave
14. EEEEEATSCON 2024
This two-day food experience curated by popular restaurant discovery platform The Infatuation will feature 2 days of local restaurants, and exciting imports from across the country that you can’t find anywhere else! Plus, there will be live music performances and food panels to go along with it! It’s a foodie’s dream. This year’s lineup includes specical collaborations like Cloudy Donut Co. x Sugar Hill Creamery, Community Goods x Apollo Bagels, plus NYC staples Gotham Burger Social Club, Sappe, and so much more. Learn more here.
When: October 12 – 13
Where: Forest Hills Stadium