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Break out the napkins, Hudson Valley! Mark your calendars for burgers, beer, strawberries, and more at the region’s tastiest culinary fests.
By Greta Stuckey and Sabrina Sucato
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and Hudson Valley food festival season is in full swing. After a long winter of sweaters and so much soup, we’re exchanging hats for sunglasses and comfort food for…oh wait, we’ll keep that. After all, spring marks the return of burgers, ice cream, and all the warm-weather treats you know and love.
So what are you waiting for? Make the calls to your foodie squad and get ready to savor the best of springtime food fests in the Hudson Valley. P.S. You might want to break out the stretchy pants before you hit the road.
Did we miss a festival? Email us at edit@hvmag.com so we can add it.
The Bloody Mary Festival
Senate Garage, Kingston
April 16, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Everyone’s favorite brunchtime cocktail gets the spotlight it deserves during Kingston’s booze-filled festival this April. Tickets run $49.50 apiece and include tastings of all Bloody Marys onsite, plus access to food and beverage tastings from local companies. After drinking all the drinks, everyone can vote for the People’s Choice Award winner.
Hudson Valley Mac & Cheese Fest
Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville
April 23-24, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
More cheddar is better when it comes to the Valley’s mac and cheese festival. Brotherhood Winery hosts the afternoon of cheese pulls and sauce-slathered noodles, so expect quite a bit of wine to go with that elbow macaroni. This is the sixth year of the cheesy festival and, in addition to the many local food vendors, the wine village will be open for shopping. It doesn’t get much better than wine and cheese, after all.
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Dirt Farmer Festival
Arrowood Farms, Accord
May 21, 12-9:30 p.m.
The Dirt Farm Festival is returning this year and will provide the community with live music, food, and drinks. The Saturday festival will feature artists performing on two stages in addition to local food vendors, craft beer, and other activities. The artists being featured will include the Midnight Ramble Band & Friends, Mavis Staples, and Amy Helm. The food vendors and more entertainment events will be announced soon.
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TAP New York
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
May 21-22
As any true beer lover knows, no festival in the Hudson Valley quite compares to the hoppy paradise that is TAP New York. A two-day to-do, this annual shindig takes over Bethel Woods for its 23rd year. Get ready to check out the brews from 100 breweries across the state, with unlimited sampling from more than 200 beers. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also an all-you-can-eat food court and live music from The Wallflowers and The Nude Party on Saturday and Almost Queen and Black Dog on Sunday. Epic is an understatement.
Hudson Berkshire Wine & Food Festival
Columbia County Fairgrounds, Chatham
May 28-29, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Take a trip to Columbia County for the region’s annual wine and food fest. The occasion features vendors from the Hudson Berkshire beverage trail along with a number of other regional cideries, distilleries, and wineries. To pair with your sips, take time to snack on the variety of gourmet cheese, baked goods, and jams available. In addition to the drinks and snacks, the festival will also have artisans, crafters, and exhibitors.
Farm to Fork Fondo
Ulster County Fairgrounds, New Paltz
June 3-5
Farm to Fork Fondo is not exactly a food festival, at least not in the traditional sense. If we’re getting down to it, the late-spring event is a full-day bike ride and fest that interweaves food with Hudson Valley views. Registrants can choose their own adventure, with different packages available on the website. Pick and choose between an afternoon warm-up ride, a guided bike tour and farm dinner, or the full Farm to Fork Fondo experience. The fest caters to bicyclists of all levels, so bring your wheels and get ready to have a blast.
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PLUS Polish Festival
89 Western Hwy, Tappan
June 4-5, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
PLUS Polish Festival shines a light on the vibrant Polish culture in the Hudson Valley. Throughout the first weekend of June, Polish performers and entertainers take the stage in Tappan, while family rides and competitions keep the fun going all day long. As for eats, Polish classics like kielbasa, stuffed cabbage rolls, and bigos tempt visitors to try something new. For anyone who’s really hungry, the pierogi and paczki (Polish donuts) eating contests are just the thing to cure your cravings…and then some. Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 get in for free.
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Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival
Various locations
June 6-11
If you’re looking for the ultimate foodie event, Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival is a no-brainer. The annual festival honors the leading chefs, sommeliers, and tastemakers who shape Westchester’s cuisine. This year, the festival will once again hold events like the Burger & Beer Blast and the Grand Tasting Village. The weeklong celebration will feature some of the county’s top restaurants and food vendors, including Fortina Pizza, Hudson Social, Mobile Pie Truck, Rye Roadhouse, The Taco Project, Whiskey River, and much more.
Eat Drink Beacon Food Crawl
Main Street, Beacon
June 11, 3-7 p.m.
Featuring a variety of local restaurants, this food crawl will leave you feeling full and satisfied. The event will feature 20 or more restaurants, eateries, businesses, and shops offering a sampling of food and drinks. Some of the restaurants and bars that will be at the festival include Baja 328 Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill, Carters Restaurant, Hakan Chocolatier, Liquid Fables, Beacon Creamery, The Chocolate Studio, The Roosevelt Bar, and more. Ticket sales will end on June 5, and tickets cost $40 per person.
Strawberry Festival
Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, Beacon
June 12, 12-5 p.m.
At this festival, get ready to have your spring taste buds satisfied. This riverfront festival offers picturesque views of the Hudson River as well as delicious strawberry dishes and sweets. At the center of the festival is the Strawberry Tent, where fresh-made strawberry shortcakes, strawberry smoothies, and chocolate-covered strawberries are available. In addition to the strawberry-centric fare, the festival will also feature craft vendors selling handmade goods and food vendors offering a variety of lunch options.