By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Festivals across Upstate New York feature all sorts of food
In addition to the great weather, summer brings a bevy of food-based events. Taste the flavors of the season at these food fests across the state. Each features the expected vendors, local food and live entertainment. Some include a midway or special events like a parade or fireworks, and they all focus on a notable food raised locally. Dig in!
Finger Lakes Wine Festival
Watkins Glen
www.flwinefest.com
It offers tastings of 90-plus wines, seminars, cooking demonstrations, toga contest, live music, fireworks, and, for those who plan to stay the weekend, on-site camping. July 7-10.
Taste of Buffalo
Buffalo
716-249-1189
www.tasteofbuffalo.com
It offers a sample of Buffalo’s best eateries. July 9-10; Aug. 6.
Lyons Peppermint Days
Lyons
www.lyonstown.com/peppermint-days
It commemorates when Lyons produced more peppermint than anywhere in the world. Visit the nearby H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Museum, which chronicles Lyons’ minty history. See who will be crowned Baby Mint and stay late enough for the fireworks show—one of the best in the region. July 15-17.
BurgerFest
Hamburg
www.hamburgburgerfest.com
It is not just about burgers, but numerous kinds of foods, plus food trucks. Bring along the children for activities and inflatables. Explore crafts, the car show and the beer tent. July 16.
Phelps Sauerkraut Festival
Phelps
www.phelpsny.com/sauerkraut-weekend
It celebrates everything sauerkraut and cabbage. Phelps was once lauded as the sauerkraut capital of the world. See who will be crowned the Sauerkraut Festival Prince and Princess. Aug. 4-7.
Eden Corn Festival
Eden
www.edencornfest.com
It highlights one of the region’s top crops and includes the Agricultural and Community Showcase, and plenty of corn on the cob. Aug. 4-7.
Avon Rotary Corn Festival
Avon
www.avonrotary.org
Festival includes an annual corn eating contest. Aug. 13.
The Glorious Garlic Festival
Geneva
www.genevadowntown.com
It had been held in Penn Yan at Fox Run Vineyard but this year will be at the Geneva Lakefront. The event includes wine tasting, cooking demonstration and the chance to sample and purchase freshly harvested garlic of several varieties. Aug. 6-7.
National Buffalo Wing Festival
Buffalo
www.buffalowing.com
Inspired by a Bill Murray character attending the fictitious National Buffalo Wing Festival in the film “Osmosis Jones,” the real event was founded by local Drew Cerza in 2002 to promote Buffalo. Attendees flock from each U.S. state and 50 countries for eating wings, cooking and eating competitions and bobbing for wings from a kiddie pool of bleu cheese dressing—no hands allowed. Sept. 3-4.
Niagara County Peach Festival
Lewiston
www.lewistonpeachfestival.org
Enjoy the midway, peach treats and see who is crowned the Peach Queen. Sept. 8-11.
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Check the venue’s social media page in advance for event guidelines. Bring along cash for purchases, as some food festivals do not accept cards or app-based payments, and totes to bring home local purchases.