It is bittersweet that the first day of September was last week. I'm dying inside that summer is coming to an end.
But while I cry (anyone else out there crying with me?) over summer "unofficially" ending, why not take this time to plan out an awesome month filled with food and booze.
You know, the only way to cure the post-summer blues.
Here are six great food festivals happening around New York this September:
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1. New York City Pizza Festival (1082 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn – Sept 9th, Sept 10th)
New York City's Pizza Festival is a day long celebration of dough, cheese, tasty sauces, and delicious toppings. Whether it be pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, sausage, black olives, bacon, green peppers, extra cheese, plain, or even experimental combos, there will be pizza for taste buds of all types! They will even conduct an anonymous vote to settle the NYC-styled Pizza vs. Chicago Deep Dish pizza wars.
...Spoiler alert: NYC always wins.
Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite here.
2. OctFest (Brooklyn Hanger - Sept 9th)
OctFest is a new kind of beer and music festival. From the popular all-beer magazine, October, and creative studio Pitchfork, Octfest is a one-day only music festival featuring over 40 breweries. But get this, while you jam out to music from Guided by Voices, Built to Spill, and Okkervil River (just to name a few of the artists performing), you'll get unlimited tastings from all the beer companies!
Ranging from hometown favorites like Singlecut, Peekskill, and Bronx, to international standouts like Radeberger and Weihenstephen. A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase here. Doors open at 1 p.m. with full concert to follow at 2pm.
3. Vegetarian Vision's NY Veg Health & Wellness Expo (Penn Plaza Pavilion– Sept 9th, Sept 10th)
The Vegetarian Vision NY Veg Health & Wellness Expo will celebrate "compassionate living" at Penn Plaza Pavilion (401 Seventh Ave. at 33 St.) from 10 am to 7 pm. The fun-filled, family-friendly, wellness-inspired weekend will showcase the pleasures of an animal-free, plant-based diet, and its health and anti-aging benefits to both humans and the planet.
Over 100 exhibitors and experts will be featured during the weekend, which will showcase vegetarian, vegan, and raw cooking demonstrations, tastings, lectures, yoga classes, cultural performances, fashion shows, contests and giveaways.
Tickets are $15 a day in advance ($20 at the door) and $25 in advance ($30 at the door) for the entire weekend. Tickets can be purchased by visiting: www.vegetarianvision.org.
4. The Vendy Awards (Governor's Island – Sept 16th)
The Oscars of street food is coming to Governor's Island again this year, offering the best of the best for thousands to eagerly sample food and drinks from publicly nominated vendors. Nominees include prominent members of the New York Food Truck Association (NYFTA) as well.
Tickets can be purchased right here!
5. NYC's Inaugural Taco Takeover (The Well, Brooklyn – Sept 23rd, Sept 24th)
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila... party! The hottest food and drink festival of the year is coming to The Well in Brooklyn (272 Meserole St).
From margaritas to Micheladas, sip unlimited cocktails, beer, and tequila samples. Try original tacos from your favorite local chefs and restaurants. Bob for churros, take a swing at the piñata, dance to a live Mariachi band, and more. Grab your sombrero and get down!
The event is brought to New Yorkers by Cannonball Productions, the producers of the perennially popular Bacon and Beer Classic.
Tickets prices are: GA: $45 Early Bird ($55 Full Price) VIP: $59 Early Bird ($69 Full Price) and can be purchased by visiting: www.thetacotakeover.com
6. 4th Annual Harbor Island International Beer Festival (Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck– Sept 23)
The Harbor Island International Beer Festival (HiiBF for short) is the premier New York International Beer Festival. Each year, HiiBF unites 400 beers and ciders from around the globe with thousands of craft lovers. Add in live music, food trucks, some wild and crazy activities and you've got yourself a beer festival. It's a 1 day, 5 hour, always-sold-out event.
The HiiBF takes place under the Big Tents RAIN OR SHINE on Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, NY– just 40 minutes outside New York City on the Metro North. Hop on the train and go!
The chefs behind the 20 mobile bistros that make up the Food Truck Pavilion are geared up to satisfy even the most discerning taste buds. This year’s line-up to date features NY’s hottest food vendors, like American icon Walter's Hot Dogs (a Westchester institution since 1919), Bareburger, Melt Mobile NYC, Dough Nation, Wafels & Dinges, The Red Hook Lobster Pound, and more.
HiiBF sells out EVERY year. Buy tickets early by visiting their website.
[Feature Image Courtesy TimeOut]