New York State comes alive with vibrant food and drink festivals that tantalize the senses, celebrating everything from iconic pizza to craft beers and fine wine & spirits. Let's take a look at a few examples.
New York Wine Festivals
From the Finger Lakes to the Hudson Valley, these annual celebrations of wine, food, and culture are a delightful journey through the state's flourishing vineyards and wineries.
​
Finger Lakes Wine Festival: July
Held at the scenic Watkins Glen International racetrack, this event celebrates New York's Finger Lakes wine region with over 90 wineries showcasing their best selections. Known for its Rieslings, the region's vineyards like Glenora Wine Cellars, Wagner Vineyards, and Dr. Konstantin Frank are among the featured participants, offering tastings of their signature wines. Food options range from artisanal cheeses and charcuterie to gourmet hot dishes, providing ideal pairings for the wines.
Thousands of attendees gather each year, enjoying not only wine but also live music and entertainment. Bands perform throughout the day, enhancing the festival's lively atmosphere. Special features include cooking demos, wine seminars, and even a toga party, adding to the festival's interactive and fun-loving environment.
​
Hudson Valley Wine and Food Fest: September
The Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival, hosted annually at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, gathers over 100 wineries, distilleries, and breweries, creating a paradise for food and drink lovers. Popular vendors include Brotherhood Winery, the oldest winery in America, and Harvest Spirits, offering tastings of their locally crafted applejack and vodka. Guests enjoy diverse food options from artisan cheeses and gourmet chocolates to wood-fired pizzas and savory barbecue.
The event draws thousands of attendees, providing a lively atmosphere filled with wine connoisseurs and casual foodies alike. Live music performances add to the ambiance, with local bands and artists playing throughout the weekend. Special features include educational wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, and the New York State Craft Beer Pavilion, where visitors can sample a range of local brews.
New York Food Festivals
One of the best ways to experience New York's culinary diversity is by attending the numerous food festivals that take place throughout the year. From artisanal street eats to international delicacies, New York's food festivals offer something for every palate.
​
New York City Wine and Food Festival: October
The largest food and wine gathering in New York City brings together world-renowned chefs, culinary personalities, and wine experts at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint. Over 4 days and 80 events 500 vendors, including local favorites like Roberta's Pizza, Momofuku, and Peter Luger Steakhouse, offer tastings of their signature dishes and specialty cocktails to more than 50,000 attendees throughout the weekend. Guests can experience hands-on cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Marcus Samuelsson, while enjoying live music performances by local Brooklyn bands including The Brighton Beat and Red Baraat.
The festival features unique experiences such as intimate chef-hosted dinners, late-night parties, and a grand tasting pavilion where visitors can sample dishes from more than 100 restaurants in a single session. Multiple wine seminars led by master sommeliers offer educational tastings of rare vintages and emerging wine regions, while mixologists craft innovative cocktails using premium spirits. A highlight of the festival is the rooftop garden party featuring panoramic views of Manhattan, where guests enjoy farm-to-table dishes prepared by rising star chefs while master gardeners showcase urban farming techniques.
​
This outdoor food celebration on Long Island attracts over 15,000 attendees at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, New York. The Famous Food Festival features more than 75 local and regional food vendors, serving everything from traditional festival fare to innovative culinary creations. Notable vendors include Mac Truck NYC with their gourmet mac and cheese variations, Empanada Papa's authentic Latin treats, and Long Island's own Cousin's Maine Lobster food truck. Live entertainment keeps the energy high with performances by local bands such as The 90's Band and Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute group.
Festival highlights include cooking demonstrations by regional chefs, a craft beer garden featuring local breweries, and a dedicated dessert pavilion showcasing artisanal ice cream makers and bakeries. A special kids' zone offers face painting, balloon artists, and interactive cooking classes designed specifically for young food enthusiasts.
New York Beer Festivals
The Empire State has become a haven for beer enthusiasts, with an array of exceptional breweries and an ever-growing list of beer festivals that draw thousands of visitors each year.
​
New York City Craft Beer Festival: May
Beer enthusiasts gather annually in Brooklyn's iconic Brooklyn Expo Center for one of the city's most anticipated tasting events. The New York City Craft Beer Festival features over 75 craft breweries including notable names like Other Half Brewing, Grimm Artisanal Ales, and SingleCut Beersmiths. More than 2,000 attendees sample over 150 different craft beers while enjoying artisanal food pairings from local vendors serving gourmet pretzels, wood-fired pizzas, and specialty grilled cheese sandwiches. Live entertainment includes performances by local indie bands The Heavy Duty Horns and Brooklyn Beat Box, along with DJ sets throughout the day.
This event offers unique experiences including a homebrew demonstration area, beer and cheese pairing workshops, and meet-and-greet sessions with master brewers. VIP ticket holders gain access to exclusive barrel-aged and limited-release beers in a dedicated tasting room, along with a commemorative tasting glass.
​
TAP New York Craft Beer and Food Festival: November
The largest craft beer festival in New York State draws thousands of beer enthusiasts to Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in the Catskills each spring. More than 120 breweries, including standouts like Barrier Brewing, Industrial Arts, and Fifth Frame, serve over 400 different craft beers ranging from traditional lagers to experimental sours and barrel-aged stouts. Local food vendors dish out artisanal fare including wood-fired pizzas from Mama's Boy, smoked barbecue from Lost & Found BBQ, and gourmet pretzels from The Pretzel Factory. Live music keeps the atmosphere lively with performances by regional bands like The Lustre Kings and The Refrigerators on the main stage.
The two-day gathering typically hosts around 8,000 attendees who can participate in beer education seminars, meet-and-greets with brewers, and guided tastings in the VIP tent. A highlight of the festival is the prestigious TAP New York Cup competition, where brewers compete for medals in various beer categories, judged by certified beer experts.
New York Spirits Festivals
New York is not only the city that never sleeps but also a state that never stops celebrating its love for spirits. With an ever-growing community of craft distilleries and a deep-rooted appreciation for artisanal beverages, New York has become a hub for spirits enthusiasts.
​
The New York Whiskey Festival: April
The annual celebration of fine spirits has become a cornerstone event for whiskey enthusiasts in Manhattan. The New York Whiskey Festival, hosted at Metropolitan Pavilion, welcomes over 2,000 attendees to sample premium pours from 70+ distinguished distilleries including Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace, and Glenfiddich. Guests can indulge in gourmet food pairings from local vendors, featuring artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and chocolate truffles specially curated to complement the whiskey selections.
A live jazz quartet, led by renowned saxophonist James Carter, provides sophisticated ambiance throughout the evening. The festival features exclusive masterclasses taught by master distillers, where participants learn the intricacies of whiskey production and proper tasting techniques. VIP ticket holders gain early access to rare whiskeys and a specially designated lounge area offering vintage selections not available to general admission guests.
​
The Long Island Spirits Craft Beverage Festival: July
The summer festival in Long Island offers attendees the opportunity to sample over 100 different beers, wines, and spirits from local, national, and international brands. Held at Tanger Outlets Deer Park, the event features a diverse lineup of vendors, including Roundtable Brewing, Profanity Wine & Spirits, Root Out Whisky, and Supreme Clientele Vodka. Visitors can enjoy live music while indulging in food offerings such as authentic empanadas from Chava's Empanadas, pretzels from Knot of this World, and cheesy arepas by MozzArepas.
Festival-goers receive a souvenir tasting glass to use as they explore the various drink options and interact with the creators behind these beverages. As a special feature, the event includes interactive games for attendees to enjoy between sips and bites, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere for all.
Whether you're a seasoned spirits enthusiast or just curious to learn more about the art of distillation, these festivals provide an excellent platform to taste, learn, and appreciate the craft behind your favorite spirits.