Missouri Best Food and Drink Festivals 

Missouri, with its diverse culinary scene and rich brewing and distilling traditions, is a haven for festival enthusiasts seeking a taste of the good life. From the bustling streets of Kansas City to the iconic Gateway City of St. Louis and the charming town of Springfield. Let's take a flavorful journey through some of the best festivals these cities have to offer.

 

Missouri Beer Festivals:

 

St Louis Micro Fest: May

 

Set in the historic Rhone Festival Grounds, this premier beer tasting festival draws over 2,000 enthusiasts each spring. Featuring more than 125 craft breweries including local favorites like 4 Hands Brewing, Urban Chestnut, and Schlafly alongside national brands, visitors can sample from over 500 different beers. The festival includes educational sessions with certified beer judges and brewing experts who lead tastings and discuss beer styles and brewing techniques.

 

Local food trucks and vendors serve festival fare ranging from artisanal pretzels to gourmet sliders, while live music from regional bands keeps the energy high throughout the weekend. Proceeds from the St. Louis Microfest benefit Lifting Up Communities, a local non-profit focused on community development projects. The festival features unique touches like the Home Brewers Village where amateur brewers showcase their creations, and a dedicated Belgian beer garden offering rare and imported Belgian ales.

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Ozarks BeerFest: April

 

The annual celebration unites over 1500 craft beer enthusiasts at the Springfield Exposition Center, offering a vibrant mix of nearly 30 regional breweries showcasing their finest creations. The Ozarks BeerFest features notable local favorites like Mother's Brewing Company, Springfield Brewing Company, and White River Brewing Company, alongside an impressive array of regional craft beer makers serving more than 100 different brews. Attendees enjoy food pairings from local food trucks serving everything from artisanal pretzels to gourmet bratwurst, with The Wheelhouse, London Calling, and Heavy Smoke BBQ as regular vendors.

 

Live music fills the expansive indoor space with performances rotating between local bands on the main stage throughout the festival hours. Designated driver tickets include specialty craft sodas and kombucha, while VIP ticket holders receive early entry and access to exclusive beer tastings. The festival incorporates educational components including brewing demonstrations, beer and food pairing seminars, and meet-and-greet sessions with master brewers.

 

Missouri Spirits Festivals:

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​St. Louis Bourbon and Brews Festival: June

 

A premier celebration of fine spirits and craft beer has become one of the most anticipated autumn events in the St. Charles County area. Frankie Martin's Garden's Food Truck and Beer Garden in Cottleville transforms its sprawling three-acre outdoor space into an immersive tasting venue, showcasing an impressive collection of over 400 distinct craft beers, bourbons, and whiskeys. Industry leaders including Beam Suntory, Four Roses, High West Distillery, and 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co. set up throughout the expansive garden grounds, with master distillers and brand ambassadors sharing their crafting processes and signature flavors with enthusiastic guests.

 

Food trucks line the perimeter of the garden, serving hearty fare designed to complement the extensive beverage selection while visitors explore the venue's unique landscape features. The garden's natural beauty provides an ideal backdrop for guests to sample drinks and socialize, with multiple covered seating areas strategically placed throughout the grounds. Live music fills the air as attendees wander through the thoughtfully designed space, discovering new flavors and enjoying the casual outdoor atmosphere.

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Kansas City Whiskey Expo: November

 

The premier spirits gathering in Missouri welcomes enthusiasts to sample over 200 rare and premium whiskeys from across the globe. The Kansas City Whiskey Expo, hosted in the elegant main ballroom at Harrah's Kansas City Casino, typically draws more than 1,500 attendees for an evening of sophisticated tasting and education. Attendees have direct access to master distillers, master blenders, and brand managers from local craft operations to international powerhouses like Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and Four Roses, who share detailed knowledge about their production methods and unique characteristics.

 

The comprehensive tasting experience spans every whiskey category imaginable from small batch and single malt to cask strength and peated varieties - with experts explaining the distinct qualities of each style. Live jazz performances from the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra create an atmospheric backdrop as guests explore specialized bourbon, scotch, and rye stations throughout the venue. The festival features distinctive experiences including a vintage whiskey tasting vault, professional cigar rolling demonstrations, and artisanal cocktail-making workshops using locally sourced ingredients, while local restaurants provide upscale food pairings.