Your Guide to All the NYC Food Festivals and Markets
- Sidney Marie
- Aug 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 12
Updated: Sept 12, 2025
Editor's Note: This article is updated periodically as new festivals and markets are announced or brought to our attention.
These NYC food markets and festivals are here for a good time not a long time.
This is your ultimate guide to the vibrant food festivals and bustling markets that make the city a foodie's paradise. We're talking everything from sizzling street tacos to endless sushi, all in one city. So put on your comfy shoes and get ready to eat your way through the five boroughs, because the only thing better than seeing NYC is tasting it.
Mar 29 – Nov 8
Japan Fes is your passport to Tokyo street food—no flight required. From sizzling takoyaki to fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes, this outdoor fest pops up across the city with mouthwatering bites and a packed crowd of food lovers. If you're craving a taste of Japan in NYC, this is where you find it.
Apr 4 – Oct 26
Smorgasburg is the city’s biggest open-air food market, taking over NYC every weekend through the end of October with three stacked locations: World Trade Center, Williamsburg, and Prospect Park. It’s a rotating feast of local vendors and yes, it’s totally worth planning your weekend around.
Apr 10 – Oct 9 (final night)
Uptown Night Market brings serious flavor to Harlem’s 12th Avenue with a monthly lineup of global eats, live music, and unbeatable vibes under the arches. Back for its final season, this open-air fest is the perfect Thursday night plan—whether you're craving oxtail sliders, fresh empanadas, or just a good time.
Pop Up Girls NYC Food Festivals Top Pick:
Apr 12 – Aug 16 & Sep 13 - Oct 25
Affordable eats, live music, and nonstop good energy. Now in its 10th season, this Flushing staple brings together 90+ cultures through cheap bites, local makers, and global flavors. It’s the kind of night that feels like a food tour and a summer hang all in one.
Dragon Fest
Apr 13 - Oct 12
Dragon Fest is basically your dream day of dumplings, noodles, and nonstop bites, served with a side of lion dances and cultural flair. This roving outdoor festival brings together the best of Chinese street food and traditions, turning NYC blocks into mini night (and day) markets where you can snack, shop, and soak it all in.
Apr 26 – Oct 25 (final night)
The Bronx Night Market is going out with a bang! This is its final season, and the last one ever lands October 25 at Fordham Plaza. Come celebrate the legacy with one more round of iconic bites, live music, and that unbeatable Bronx energy. It’s your last chance to taste your way through one of NYC’s most beloved night markets.
May 29 – Oct 18
Union Square Night Market turns one of the city’s busiest park into a food lover’s playground. It’s the perfect spot to grab quick, crave-worthy bites while soaking up that classic NYC energy.
Next: August 10
Sizzling street food, K-pop beats, and a vibe that’s all about flavor and fun. With no set schedule, this pop-up series moves between Queens and Manhattan, so keep an eye on their socials to catch the latest drops.
Aug 15 (final night)
Chinatown Night Market is wrapping its final season with one last round of late-night bites, traditional crafts, and community magic under the Manhattan Bridge. Hosted by Think!Chinatown, this beloved summer series turns Forsyth Plaza into a vibrant hub for local food, folk art, and live performances.
Aug 23 - 24
With fresh seafood from Blue Island Oyster Company and Claws Seafood Market, live music, kids' activities, and historic boat exhibits, it's a must for seafood lovers and families alike.
Sep 6 - 7
Exclusive tastings, chef showdowns, and endless rolls under one roof. It’s part food fest, part cultural deep dive, bringing together top sushi chefs, vendors, and fans for a weekend that’s equal parts delicious and deliriously fun. Come hungry, leave with a new obsession.
Sep 11 - 21
Every year Mulberry Street transforms into a 10-day celebration of Italian-American culture. There's zeppole, sausage and peppers, live music, and the iconic Grand Procession. It’s become a full-on NYC tradition, worth visiting at least once in your life.
Sep 13
Get ready to munch your way through NYC’s ultimate pizza showdown at Dave Portnoy’s One Bite Pizza Festival. Honestly, "All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Tickets" was all we needed to know.
Sep 13 - 14
Latin Food Fest isn’t just a foodie event, it’s a full-on cultural block party with bites, beats, and chancla-throwing glory. Between scoring goals at the Penalty Corner, watching influencers try to win Abuela’s approval, and stepping into your own telenovela scene, there’s no shortage of drama (or deliciousness). Come for the food, stay for the chancla crown.
Sep 27
Taking over Citi Field for one day only, this festival brings together stacked vegan eats, bold merch, and a crowd that knows how to have fun. Whether you’re fully plant-based or just curious, it’s a flavorful, no-rules kind of day.
Oct 10 - 13
Famous Food Festival is your long weekend excuse to eat everything. With over 120 vendors, live beats, and cooking demos, it’s the kind of food fest that turns your snack cravings into a full-on adventure. Bring stretchy pants and an appetite for all the flavors.
Oct 15 - 19
NYC Wine & Food Festival is basically a five-day taste marathon for anyone who lives for good wine and even better food. Taking over the Seaport in October, it’s packed with chef dinners, tastings, and parties that make you feel like you’re dining with the city’s culinary elite.
Now that you're armed with this guide, all that's left is to go out there and get a little messy. Whether you're a devoted foodie or just looking for a fun weekend activity, these festivals and markets are where the city's heart—and stomach—truly come alive. Happy eating!
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