Here are the Best Food and Drink Events in the U.S. for 2025
Food, Wine, Spirits, and Beer Festivals
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Best Food and Drink Events showcases the top food and drink festivals across the U.S.
I make finding festivals and events quick and easy with a simple click search to access over 2,000 listings, across all 50 states.
To ensure quality in compiling these festival listings, I focused on recurring annual events, produced locally, that have established a solid track record. Only festivals with dedicated websites are listed and not social media event pages or ticket sales platforms. Event information comes straight from the source.
Generally, I aimed to feature events with at least 1,000 attendees and up, though I made some exceptions for smaller festivals in rural areas. Each listed event has been thoroughly researched to verify its credibility and consistency. This approach was designed to create a comprehensive and dependable guide to established, locally-significant festivals across the country. Get ready to Eat! Drink! Enjoy!
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To Start, Let's Take a Look at 10 Exciting Festivals Across the United States.
1. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience: June
This renowned culinary celebration stands as one of the premier food and wine events in Louisiana. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, hosted at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, welcomes over 7,500 attendees annually to sample offerings from more than 250 wineries and 75 local restaurants. Notable participants include Commander's Palace, Brennan's, and Antoine's Restaurant, serving classic New Orleans cuisine alongside innovative modern dishes. Signature events include the Royal Street Stroll, where attendees wander through the French Quarter sampling wines at antique shops, and the Grand Tasting, featuring cooking demonstrations from celebrated local chefs.
Live jazz performances from local favorites like Trombone Shorty and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band create the perfect backdrop for wine enthusiasts exploring over 1,000 different domestic and international wines. The festival features unique experiences like the Tournament of Roses competition, where sommeliers compete in blind tastings, and specialized seminars teaching food and wine pairing techniques.
2. The Great American Beer Festival: October
Held at the sprawling Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, this premier craft beer event draws 50,000+ attendees annually over this 3 day event. Over 800 breweries from across the nation serve more than 4,000 different beers, including notable participants like Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, and New Belgium Brewing Company. Beyond beer tastings, visitors enjoy food pairings from local food trucks and restaurants, featuring everything from artisanal pretzels to gourmet sliders and international cuisine. The festival incorporates educational sessions about brewing techniques, beer and food pairing seminars, and meet-and-greet opportunities with master brewers.
Live entertainment includes local Colorado bands performing across multiple stages, though specific lineup details vary by year. Special features include the PAIRED pavilion where chefs and brewers collaborate on exclusive dishes, a Silent Disco area where attendees dance with headphones, and the popular Farm to Table pavilion showcasing locally sourced ingredients in both food and beer.
3. Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival: February
This culinary gathering in Miami Beach brings together world-renowned chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirits producers. Over 400 vendors participate in the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, serving everything from artisanal cheeses and rare wines to craft cocktails and gourmet street food. The festival sprawls across multiple venues including the Miami Beach Convention Center, local restaurants, and beachfront tents between 10th and 13th streets. Celebrity chefs like Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, and Rachael Ray host intimate cooking demonstrations and exclusive dining experiences throughout the multi-day event.
Over this 4 day event more than 25,000 attendees enjoy signature events like Burger Bash, hosted by Emeril Lagasse, and the Grand Tasting Village featuring over 50 restaurants and 100 wine and spirit brands. The festival features unique experiences such as late-night parties with live DJ sets, yoga sessions followed by champagne brunches, and specialized masterclasses in wine tasting and mixology.
4. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati: September
America's largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich, takes place at Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove along Cincinnati's riverfront. This year's festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with over 100 food and beverage vendors offering authentic German cuisine and a wide selection of beers to the expected 800,000+ attendees. The new venue allows for expanded entertainment options, including more than 30 performances across multiple stages, highlighted by the Zinzinnati Festhalle, a massive 300-foot tent that can accommodate over 1,000 revelers.
Visitors can participate in beloved traditions such as the World's Largest Chicken Dance, the Running of the Wieners dachshund race, and the Stein Hoisting Competition. With its Bavarian-inspired atmosphere, live music, and family-friendly activities, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati continues to be a cherished celebration of German heritage and culture in the heart of the Queen City.
5. The Charleston Wine & Food Festival: March
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This culinary celebration in Charleston South Carolina held annually, has become a highlight of the city's event calendar. The festival features over 100 events spread across five days, including chef demonstrations, wine seminars, and exclusive dining experiences. The Culinary Village, the heart of the festival, showcases more than 80 food and beverage vendors, offering a diverse array of tastes from local favorites like FIG and 82 Queen, as well as national brands.
Over 20,000 attendees can sample a wide variety of wines, spirits, and craft beers, alongside gourmet food offerings from acclaimed chefs. The festival also includes hands-on cooking classes, workshops, and special excursions that allow visitors to explore Charleston's rich culinary heritage. While the music lineup for the upcoming festival has not been announced, past years have featured live performances throughout the event, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
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6. Windy City Smoke Out BBQ, Beer & Music Fest: July
This premier country music and barbecue festival in Chicago draws over 50,000 attendees to the United Center parking lot each summer. The Windy City Smoke Out features more than 25 pitmasters and BBQ vendors from across the nation, including acclaimed spots like Lewis Barbecue from Charleston, Hometown Bar-B-Que from Brooklyn, and Chicago's own Green Street Smoked Meats. Festival-goers can sample regional BBQ styles while sipping craft beers from a rotating selection of 20 breweries and enjoying bourbon tastings in dedicated whiskey lounges. Country music stars Zach Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Keith Urban headline the three-day event, with supporting acts like Elle King and Flatland Cavalry rounding out the lineup.
The festival offers unique experiences including a late-night dance party, VIP viewing areas, and hands-on pitmaster demonstrations where guests can learn smoking techniques. Special on-site features include air-conditioned restrooms, misting stations for cooling off, and a market area where visitors can purchase BBQ sauces, rubs, and grilling equipment from participating vendors.
7. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: September
This four-day culinary extravaganza is set to tantalize taste buds in September at the picturesque Historic Fourth Ward Park. This year's festival, themed "Big Top Bazaar," promises an expanded experience with over 200 celebrated chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists showcasing the best of Southern cuisine and beyond. Attendees can expect a carnival-inspired atmosphere with gourmet twists, featuring at least 40 chefs participating each day, offering a diverse array of flavors from renowned establishments like Nakato, Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, and Tiny Lou's.
The festival's signature Tasting Tents, presented by Goya Foods, will now include Friday night sessions, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already bustling weekend. With record-breaking ticket sales and an anticipated crowd of thousands, this year's Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is shaping up to be an unmissable celebration of culinary artistry, complete with cooking demonstrations, intimate dinners featuring Food Network stars, and a new VIP tent offering exclusive bites and beverages.
8. Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival: October
Making its debut in Brooklyn's Sunset Park, the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will continue to grow and entertain. Spanning 450,000 square feet at the Invesco QQQ Campus in the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the festival will host over 80 events across four exciting days. More than 500 celebrated chefs, including Bobby Flay, Scott Conant, and Marcus Samuelsson, will be part of the lineup, offering food enthusiasts opportunities to enjoy a range of activities from intimate dinners and cooking classes to wine tastings and late-night celebrations.
With its relocation to Brooklyn, the festival enters a new chapter in its 16-year history, drawing thousands of attendees into a vibrant celebration of food and drink. While the primary events are set in Brooklyn, select activities will continue in Manhattan, ensuring the festival’s presence is felt citywide.
9. Bourbon & Beyond Festival: September
The Bourbon & Beyond Festival, held annually at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, has become a must-attend event for music and bourbon enthusiasts alike. Spanning four days in September, the festival attracts over 120,000 attendees who come to enjoy performances from more than 100 artists across five stages, ranging from rock legends to country stars and emerging talents. Beyond the music, the event features culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs, exclusive bourbon workshops, and a diverse array of food and drink options from over 70 local and regional vendors.
The festival grounds are transformed into a bourbon lover's paradise, with the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar offering a wide selection of Kentucky's finest spirits and The Hunter's Club showcasing rare and hard-to-find bourbons. With its unique blend of music, food, and bourbon culture, Bourbon & Beyond has solidified its position as a premier festival experience in the heart of Kentucky.
10. Austin Food & Wine Festival: November
Austin Food & Wine Festival, a culinary extravaganza set to take place over 3 days at the Auditorium Shores in Austin Texas. This promises to be a feast for the senses. This event will feature over 50 top restaurants and 30+ wine, beer, and spirit makers, offering attendees a chance to indulge in a wide array of flavors and experiences. The festival's lineup boasts an impressive roster of more than 70 chefs, including local favorites and nationally renowned culinary stars, who will showcase their skills through cooking demonstrations, interactive sessions, and mouthwatering tastings.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Fire Pit, where attendees can savor hot bites fresh off the flames while interacting with pitmasters and chefs cooking over live fire. With an estimated attendance of thousands of food enthusiasts, the Austin Food & Wine Festival continues to cement its position as one of the premier culinary events in the country, celebrating the rich tapestry of flavors that define Austin's vibrant food scene.
These events showcase the country's rich diversity of food culture with a plethora of dishes to please the taste buds and a wide array of craft beers, wines, and cocktails to quench every thirst. Have a great time and enjoy!
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