Albany Chef’s Food & Wine Fest
Graze and quaff your way through this three-day culinary extravaganza that features 70 Albany restaurants and chefs. Put together an à la carte schedule that includes events like a barista competition, a slider slam, and a six-course dinner featuring innovative cuisines. Proceeds go to support Albany’s nonprofit arts community. (January; Hilton Albany, 40 Lodge St, and Albany City Hall, 24 Eagle St.; www.albanywinefest.com)
Best of the Hudson Valley Party
Celebrate the winners of Hudson Valley magazine’s Best of Hudson Valley contest at our annual affair. While the competition and party may not be all about area eats (you’ll also find the top services and samples from other categories, including shopping, health and beauty, and more), the best part of Best Of may just be the opportunity to sample savories, sweets, suds and spirits from the Valley’s top food and drink purveyors. (Oct 12, 2017; Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, 40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie; www.bestofhudsonvalley.com)
Hudson River Craft Beer Fest
Sample more than 180 releases from 90+ breweries and cideries while you mingle with some 3,500 other fellow beer fans. This popular event also features live music, local food vendors, and brew-themed games. (Sept 16, 2017, Beacon Riverfront Park, 1 Flynn Dr, Beacon; www.facebook.com/americaontap)
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Some 30,000 garlic heads descend on this two-day event presented by the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties. Meet garlic farmers from around the state and try food vendor specialties like garlic burgers and garlic ice cream. (Sept 30 and Oct 1, 2017; Cantine Field, Pavilion St, Saugerties; 845.246.3090; www.hvgf.org)
Hudson Valley Magazine’s Burger & Beer Bash
Eat, drink, dance, and vote on your favorite burger at our fifth annual summer event. Non-carnivores are welcome, too: Chefs feature all types of burgers, not just beef-based, and there are plenty of side dishes and desserts to go around! (Aug 17, 2017, Dutchess Stadium, 1500 NY-9D, Wappingers Falls; www.hvmag.com/burgerbash)
Hudson Valley Rail Trail Winterfest
Oh what fun it is to roast chestnuts — and marshmallows — over an open fire, not to mention take a tractor hayride down a stretch of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. Arts and crafts activities and fun games amuse the kids. Sample meat and vegetarian chili from local restaurants and vote for your favorite. All proceeds go right back into trail improvements and expansions. (Mid-January, Hudson Valley Rail Trail Depot, 12 Church St, Highland; 845.691.8880; www.hudsonvalleyrailtrail.net)
Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
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Indulge in multicourse prix fixe lunches on the cheap at more than 200 Valley restaurants. The event emphasizes New York sustainable, seasonal products. This epicurean event happens twice a year: once in March/April, and again come October/November. (www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com)
Hudson Valley Ribfest
This official New York State Championship barbecue contest offers a lot more than just mouth-watering meat: there’s live music, cooking demonstrations, and plenty of other food choices. Friday-only festivities include all-you-can-eat barbeque favorites, exclusive samplings, and a variety of craft beers (Aug 18–20, 2017; Ulster County Fairgrounds, 844.RIBFEST; www.hudsonvalleyribfest.org)
Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival
Raise a glass to autumn and sample wines from more than 60 New York State wineries, not to mention craft beer, spirits, and hard ciders. Some 100 gourmet food vendors offer tastes of cheeses, salsa, baked goods, and other delectables, but you can also check out food trucks and concessions. Soak up kitchen wisdom from celebrity chefs, attend a wine education seminar, and browse the vendors, too. (Sept 9–10, 2017; Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Springbrook Ave [Route 9], Rhinebeck; 845.658.7181; www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com)
Hudson Valley Wingfest
Cure cabin fever by attending this sellout event where restaurants compete to be King of the Wings. Sample innovative, finger-licking treats while you listen to bands, play games, and win prizes. (January; Mid-Hudson Civic Center, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie; www.hvwingfest.com)
Maple Weekends at Crown Maple
On weekends in March, Crown Maple welcomes guests to take a sugarhouse tour followed by a syrup tasting. Walking trails, tree-tapping demos, complimentary marshmallows to roast on the patio fire pit, and an on-site store offering maple-infused goodies and other Hudson Valley-produced goods that put maple front and center make this a fun family-friendly outing. (47 McCourt Rd, Dover Plains; 845.877.0640; www.crownmaple.com)
Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery Vinegar Festival
Restaurateurs and foodies pucker up for this two-day fest featuring organic, artisanal red, white, and rose wine vinegars from the fragrant cellars of this rural monastery. Strictly crafted from medieval recipes, these batch-made specialties can only be purchased at the monastery and a limited number of gourmet shops. Pantry items from the monastery’s kitchen are also available. (July 15 and 16; Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery, 246 Barmore Rd, Lagrangeville; www.ourladyoftheresurrectionmonastery.webs.com)
Putnam County Wine and Food Fest
Quaff vinos from around the state while you feast on savories and listen to live music. Bring the whole family (and some lawn chairs and blankets): There will be arts and crafts and other activities for the little ones. (Aug 12 and 13, 2017, Iron & Wine Restaurant and Westview Golf Driving Range, 3191 Route 22, Patterson; 800.557.4185, ext. 3; www.putnamcountywinefest.com)
Rosendale International Pickle Festival
In a tented village surrounding Rosendale’s community center, some 7,000 visitors shop for spicy products and munch on chocolate-covered gherkins, deep-fried dills, and other addictively weird treats. The centerpiece of the event is a pickle competition, but non-picklers compete in eating, tossing, and juice drinking competitions. (November; Rosendale Recreation Center 1055 Route 32 South, Rosendale; 845.204.8827; www.rosendalechamber.org/pickle-festival)
Sangria Festival
Get your fruit on by sampling not the same-old sangria (they change each year, but we’ve seen blueberry, raspberry, jalapeno merlot, watermelon basil…just to name a few) to liven up the dog days of summer. Caterers and food trucks are also on hand to offer Mexican-themed foods like fish tacos and guacamole. Get a henna tattoo or have your tarot cards read while you’re at it. (Aug 12, 2017; Hudson-Chatham Winery, 1900 Route 66, Ghent, 518.392.WINE; www.hudsonchathamwinery.com)
TAP New York Craft Beer & Fine Food Festival
What’s billed as New York’s largest craft beer festival — and the largest single-state craft beer festival in the nation — showcases brewpubs and small breweries, and features hard-to-find pilsners, pale ales, porter, stouts, and more. Brewers compete in various categories. Feast on a smorgasbord of beer-friendly nibbles. (April; Hunter Mountain/Village of Hunter, 518.263.4223; www.tap-ny.com)
Taste of the Hudson Valley
Take in the Hudson River view while you sample international wines and culinary offerings from Hudson Valley purveyors. Proceeds benefit MidHudson Regional Hospital. (Nov 5, 2017; Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd, Poughkeepsie; 914.493.5787; www.events.westchestermedicalcenter.com)
Traubenfest
Crowds wedge in stein-to-stein at this popular, long-running German festival featuring music, food and, naturally, imported beer. There are also rides and activities for the children. (Oct 1, 2017; German Masonic Fairgrounds, 89 Western Hwy, Tappan; www.traubenfest.com)
Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival
Meet the chefs, restaurants, sommeliers, wine and spirit makers, specialty food purveyors, and food trucks that give Westchester its distinct culinary sizzle at this much-anticipated, sellout fete. On the menu this year is a Wine Tour of Italy at the Italian Cultural Center in Tuckahoe; the Beer & Burger Blast and Grand Tasting Village at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, and An Evening with Westchester’s Tastemakers at the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains. (June 6-11; www.westchestermagazine.com/winefood)
Wine and Chocolate Festival
Sip vino while you graze on divine desserts, cheeses, honeys, and more at this twice-yearly, two-day fundraiser for people with disabilities. Check out the chef and mixologist demos and make a few impulse buys from vendors — chardonnay-scented candles, anyone? (November, also in April; Patterson Recreation Center, 65 Front St, Patterson; 845.278.7272; www.partnerswithparc.info)
Some dates were not available at press time; please check events’ websites for more information.