{"id":234083,"date":"2026-05-16T19:14:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/234083\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T19:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:14:24","slug":"chow-time-nycs-2026-summer-food-festivals-are-a-tasty-trip-around-the-world-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/234083\/","title":{"rendered":"Chow time! NYC\u2019s 2026 summer food festivals are a tasty trip around the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here comes the summer fest foodie quest.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s officially the season to eat outdoors in New York City and sample a smorgasbord of food festivals \u2014 featuring many cultures and cuisines \u2014 across the boroughs.<\/p>\n

From beloved staples like Smorgasburg<\/a> and Taste of Tribeca to newer food events like The Great Nosh and From Sea to SEA, here are some of the best fests that both locals and visitors can take a bite out of.<\/p>\n

\"Some<\/p>\n

Some of the food festivals, like The Great Nosh (above), include stunning views of the city, plus live music and more. Jason Riveria<\/p>\n

Saturday, May 16 | Taste of Tribeca<\/p>\n

Taste of Tribeca<\/a> is more than just an outdoor food festival \u2014 it\u2019s a fundraiser, founded in 1994 by parents of students at NYC\u2019s PS 234 and 150. The annual event brings in chefs from more than 50<\/a> neighborhood restaurants from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"Taste<\/p>\n

Taste of Tribeca welcomes vendors and visitors to Lower Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The festival offers \u201ctastes\u201d from various local eateries.<\/p>\n

Guests can check out the Kids\u2019 Zone for arts and crafts, participate in games at the Sports Zone, and enjoy live music at the festival, which spans Duane Street, from Hudson Street to Greenwich Street, and from Jay Street to Chambers Street. Tickets in advance for six tastings are $65<\/a>, or $75 day-of.<\/p>\n

Visitors not planning to eat can attend the event for free.<\/p>\n

Funds raised help support music, science, chess and dance classes, field trips and more at the two schools.<\/p>\n

Saturday, May 16 | 11th Annual Crawfish Boil<\/p>\n

A long-standing, \u201cno-frills, high-energy\u201d tradition in Harlem, Saturday\u2019s 11th Annual Crawfish Boil<\/a> will bring a taste of Louisiana to NYC from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. via At The Wallace<\/a>, 3612 Broadway.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Crawfish Boil has brought a Louisiana vibe to Harlem for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

Guests can expect \u201ca mess\u201d of fresh crawfish, corn, potatoes and more at the shindig \u2014 a staple for more than a decade \u2014 in a setting that gives off the vibe of a backyard feast.<\/p>\n

Saturday, May 23 | Rib King NYC<\/p>\n

The biggest Rib King NYC<\/a> yet \u2014 an all-inclusive fest featuring over 20 chefs, restaurants and BBQ experts vying for the titular crown \u2014 kicks off at noon at Industry City\u2019s Courtyard.<\/p>\n

Besides ribs, guests will find award-winning hot sauces, desserts, spirits, wine, hard cider, craft beer and more.<\/p>\n

\"Numerous<\/p>\n

Numerous chefs want to claim dibs on the title of king of the ribs. Food Karma\/ Rib King NYC by Kareem Black<\/p>\n

\"More<\/p>\n

More than 20 culinary creatives are expected to show off their rib-making skills. Food Karma\/ Rib King NYC by Patty Brown<\/p>\n

General admission tickets<\/a> are $55.49; $82.74 VIP tix come with early admission, all-inclusive food and drinks, mixing and mingling with the chefs, and a Rib King NYC T-shirt.<\/p>\n

The 2026 competitors\u2019 roster is still being finalized.<\/p>\n

Sunday, May 24 | The Cookout Party<\/p>\n

The Cookout Party<\/a> will sizzle Memorial Day Weekend \u201cback to where it belongs\u201d at Brooklyn\u2019s Prospect Park for a day full of music, food, games, drinks and \u201ccommunity vibes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExpect good people, beautiful energy, cookout classics on the grill, lawn games, dancing, blankets on the grass, and the kind of summer day NYC does best,\u201d the event page touts, with free burgers and hot dogs, plus music by DJ Savage, Billy Cheesesteak, Musical Mixx and DJ Franchilla, hosted by Jay Juss Vibes.<\/p>\n

The exact park location will be announced<\/a> a day prior to the event, which will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sunday, May 31 | From Sea to SEA: The NYC Southeast Asian Festival<\/p>\n

The second From Sea to SEA: The NYC Southeast Asian Festival<\/a> will close out AAPI Heritage month at The Chocolate Factory in Brooklyn, in partnership with over a dozen community organizations.<\/p>\n

The lineup will feature about 30 vendors and small businesses. Among the many cultural activities, visitors can learn and write greetings in different languages, plus try Ketupat Weaving, an art typically done during Eid in Malaysia; Batik Making, a wax-resist fabric art; and Dreamlink, a Filipino-inspired weaving tapestry.<\/p>\n

General admission tickets start at $10.<\/p>\n

Sunday, June 7 | The Oxtail Off<\/p>\n

The Oxtail Off<\/a> started as a friendly backyard party in Los Angeles, challenging chefs to make the best meat dish. Now the viral cooking competition is hitting the road to four more cities, with the inaugural New York event bringing together chefs from restaurants, bars and food trucks.<\/p>\n

Watch for Caribbean performers, live music and a whole lot of food from 2-7 p.m. at 99 Scott Ave., Brooklyn. General admission and VIP tickets<\/a> are $20 to $85.<\/p>\n

Saturday, June 20 | KokoFest 2026<\/p>\n

KokoFest<\/a> is all about culture, flavor and rhythm.<\/p>\n

NYC\u2019s premier Caribbean celebration, back for its fifth year, boasts food, cocktails and rum tastings, live performances and more, all set against the city skyline along the Brooklyn waterfront.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the event, from noon to 10 p.m. at Brooklyn Navy Yard\u2019s Building 77, start at $33.28 and level off at $179.93 for a VIP experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday, June 21 | The Great Nosh<\/p>\n

The Great Nosh<\/a> is returning for its celebration of Jewish culinary heritage at Governors Island next month.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Great Nosh is returning to Governors Island after the success of last year\u2019s event. The Great Nosh<\/p>\n

Presented by the non-profit Jewish Food Society<\/a>, the day-long picnic will feature immersive art, live music and \u201cunexpected Jew-ish cultural connections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch for demonstrations of traditional family recipes featuring inter-generational pairs of cooks at \u201cThe Grandmas Tent,\u201d plus once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, including Bonnie\u2019s x Russ & Daughters serving steamed turnip cakes with everything bagel seasoning and smoked salmon; NARO x Thea Bakery cooking up a Korean fried chicken sandwich on challah; and Santo Taco x Katz\u2019s Deli combining Katz\u2019s pastrami, pickles escabeche, habanero, and avocado salsa on an heirloom corn tortilla.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $36<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28 | Taste the Caribbean<\/p>\n

ONSA Foundation\u2019s two-day Taste the Caribbean<\/a> celebration at Brooklyn\u2019s Restoration Plaza will feature over 50 vendors cooking up roti, jerk chicken, chicharr\u00f3n, mofongo and much more.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The two-day Taste the Caribbean is a June highlight.<\/p>\n

Admission is free, and it will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days.<\/p>\n

Sunday, June 28 | To\u00f1ita Fest<\/p>\n

To\u00f1ita Fest returns for its third year as Brooklyn-based host Caribbean Social Club \u2014 which, owned by 2026 Super Bowl \u201cstar\u201d Maria Antonia \u201cTo\u00f1ita\u201d Cay<\/a>, counts Bad Bunny<\/a> as one of its biggest fans \u2014 celebrates its 52nd anniversary. The annual festival honoring To\u00f1itas NY<\/a> celebrates Puerto Rican roots and highlights the role the cultural space holds in New York City.<\/p>\n

\"To\u00f1ita<\/p>\n

To\u00f1ita Fest honors longtime Caribbean Social Club owner Maria Antonia \u201cTo\u00f1ita\u201d Cay. stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n

The event, open to the public, will run from noon to 6 p.m. at Grand Street between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Aug. 15 | Blues BBQ Festival<\/p>\n

A Hudson River Park staple and one of NYC\u2019s longest-running free festivals, the Blues BBQ Festival<\/a> will feature plenty of food and two stages with both popular locals and accomplished artists alike, curated by the Jazz Foundation of America.<\/p>\n

\"Tunes<\/p>\n

Tunes complement tastes at the Blues BBQ Festival.<\/p>\n

The event is slated for 1-9 p.m. at Pier 76.<\/p>\n

Through October | Smorgasburg<\/p>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be a New York City summer food roundup without Smorgasburg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The beloved market is officially back for its 16th season across multiple locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, featuring over 70 vendors<\/a> and global bites. Admission is free at every location.<\/p>\n

\"Smorgasburg<\/p>\n

Smorgasburg features numerous cross-borough opportunities to sample the popular foodie gatherings. Stefano Giovannini<\/p>\n

Central Park<\/p>\n

For the first time, Smorgasburg is in Central Park<\/a> this summer, bringing more than 25 vendors to Manhattan\u2019s backyard. Having kicked off on Thursday, May 14, the open-air food market will operate from noon to 8 p.m. near the park\u2019s Columbus Circle entrance every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Sept. 8.<\/p>\n

Prospect Park<\/p>\n

In partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, the outpost is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25. Head to Breeze Hill near the park\u2019s Lincoln Road Entrance for a variety of food options.<\/p>\n

Williamsburg<\/p>\n

The popular fest\u2019s original location \u2014 \u201cSmorgasburg\u201d being a portmanteau of \u201csmorgasbord\u201d and \u201cWilliamsburg\u201d \u2014 is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. No pets are allowed.<\/p>\n

\"Brooklyn\u2019s<\/p>\n

Brooklyn\u2019s Humos Smokehouse \u2014 featuring its legendary pork belly lollipop (above) \u2014 is among the Smorgasburg vendors this year. Humos BBQ<\/p>\n

World Trade Center<\/p>\n

The fan-favorite outdoor market opened its World Trade Center location<\/a> \u2014 on Fulton Street between Church and Greenwich streets \u2014 last month, operating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and it will remain open through Sept. 4.<\/p>\n

Eco-friendly vendors and customers can use two compost stations for service ware and food scraps.<\/p>\n