One of the nation’s largest gluten-free food festivals is heading to the area this month.<\/p>\n
The Wicked Gluten Free Expo & Food Festival<\/a> is set for Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, and will bring with it more than 110\u00a0 vendors.<\/p>\n Guests can sample and shop from a wide variety of celiac-safe foods, including baked goods, soft pretzels, pasta, pastries, sandwiches, fried chicken, desserts, beverages, and specialty pantry items. The festival also will boast food trucks, cooking demonstrations, health organizations, family-friendly activities, and free parking, with many vendors offering vegan and other allergen-friendly options alongside complimentary samples.<\/p>\n “Wicked Gluten Free is the biggest gluten-free and celiac-safe food event in the state of Pennsylvania,” says organizer Abby Helman Kelly.<\/p>\n \u201cThirty percent of the American population avoids gluten, which translates to nearly 9 million people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland,” Helman Kelly added. “This event means that these people can come to find healthy and safe foods, enjoy a day of safe eating, find foods and products they will come to use all year round, and discover local restaurants and bakeries that will become their staples every month of the year.”<\/p>\n “It is also a day where the mental burden is lessened knowing we vet the vendors and their products, and that attendees are in a supportive atmosphere. For those new to gluten-free and especially having celiac disease, this event is a great mental boost that is so important.”<\/p>\n This year’s Wicked Gluten Free Expo will showcase a mix of hometown favorites, national brands, and emerging gluten-free makers. Local standouts include Skip’s Chicken, A&A Soft Pretzels, The Greater Knead, The Happy Mixer Gluten Free Bakery, Harvest Seasonal Grill, Settantatre Pasta, Honey Bear Ice Cream, and Dough & Co., while national names include brands like Jovial Foods, Otto’s Naturals, Aleia’s Gluten Free Foods, GeeFree by The Fillo Factory, Queen St. Bakery, and Burtons Grill & Bar.<\/p>\n Beyond the food, attendees can also enjoy live cooking demonstrations and educational presentations from gluten-free experts, including Better Batter’s Patrick Auger and Aquafaba Test Kitchen’s Jennifer Greenhill. Community organizations will also be available with resources and information. The festival will additionally open with a patriotic “Freedom from Gluten” cake-cutting ceremony celebrating America’s 250th anniversary<\/a>.<\/p>\n The custom gluten-free tiered cake, donated by Pennsylvania’s own The Happy Mixer Gluten Free Bakery<\/a>, will be unveiled during the opening ceremony, with complimentary samples available for the first 100 attendees.<\/p>\n “Events like this are so much more than a chance to enjoy great food. They’re an opportunity for people living gluten-free to feel included, discover new products, and realize just how many options are available to them,\u201d says Lisa Mourer, co-founder and operator of The Happy Mixer (and its three locations) along with her husband, Kevin.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a bakery dedicated exclusively to gluten-free baking, it’s incredibly meaningful for us to be part of a day that brings this community together. Our cake celebrates America’s 250th birthday while also recognizing another kind of freedom, the freedom that comes from having safe, delicious food you can trust.”<\/p>\n Tickets for the Wicked Gluten Free Expo in Philadelphia are on sale now for $27.50 for adults and $8 for children 6 to 12 years old (kids 5 and under are admitted free of charge).<\/p>\n As a release notes, new this year, from 3 \u00a0to 5 p.m., the event will feature a GF happy hour with special discounts, promotions and features from vendors. All tickets include a complimentary logo tote bag, plus pre-packaged and prepared samples from vendors.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAttendees spend the day sampling, eating and purchasing items to take home, all safely gluten-free. And for folks who typically can\u2019t eat the food at food festivals, this is a really special day \u2014 we see a lot of happy tears,” says Helman Kelly. “Greater Philadelphia’s event is packed with wonderful gluten-free businesses and a really supportive community.\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more information about the 2026 Wicked Gluten Free Expo & Food Festival at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pennsylvania), visit wickedglutenfree.com<\/a><\/p>\n