The Food Network & Cooking Channel's annual New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) is known for an abundance of food-centric festivities, culinary demonstrations, world-renowned chef dinners, and plenty of tastings—but the dayslong event benefiting No Kid Hungry and Food Bank For New York City has also gained attention for its memorable brand activations.
This year's NYCWFF kicked off Oct. 2 and runs through Oct. 11 as a hybrid event, with in-person events scattered throughout the city plus an entire virtual platform where attendees can be a part of hands-on cooking lessons. While audience-engaging activations are limited this go-around, here's a look back at previous NYCWFF events, filled to the brim with inspiration. Spoiler alert: This roundup may have your mouth watering!
![NYCWFF 2019](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2018_5.5f7dd3019253b.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![At one of the Pier 97 events during the festival, Capital One had a blind taste-test activation, produced by IMG Live, that put cardholders in the spotlight. The booth also had a candy wall where guests could grab colorful candies and guess the flavor at an iPad station.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2019_.5f7dd29d676ef.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Also at Pier 97 events, attendees were given recyclable 'tossware' with illustrations of New York. See more: New York City Wine & Food Festival 2019: 25 Event Highlights You Missed From the City's Biggest Culinary Festival](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2019_1.5f7dd24e6baa8.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![NYCWFF 2018](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/201888.5f7dd55a9d175.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The festival’s title sponsor celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party on Pier 92. The event entrance featured a rainbow balloon installation. The event was produced and designed by Cream (Culinary Related Entertainment and Marketing) and Trigger House in collaboration with the Food Network. The event’s photo booth invited guests to pose in front of a wall of festive party hats.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/201888888.5f7dd5a2f3fc2.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Throughout the weekend, Capital One served what may have been the festival’s most Instagrammable treat: the Cloud Cone. The dessert consisted of an ice cream cone wrapped in blue or pink cotton candy, with a choice of toppings. Attendees could take pictures of their cone in a Capital One-branded box. The cotton candy was wrapped by Spin Spun All Natural Confections. IMG Live produced the activation. See more: New York City Wine & Food Festival 2018: 29 Culinary Highlights From Sponsors and Parties](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2018_2.5f7dd24cee469.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![NYCWFF 2017](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2017_1.5f7dda117a888.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![At Pier 92 events such as the Blue Moon Burger Bash and Rooftop Iron Chef Showdown: Battle Iron Bounty, Mastercard activated a branded recording studio that allowed guests who signed up for Masterpass—the company's digital wallet service—to record a song with a live band. Guests could then take home their song on a custom vinyl record. The studio was produced by Octagon with global events agency First and marketing agency Frukt. See more: New York City Wine & Food Festival 2017: 15 Sponsor Highlights From the Festival's 10th Anniversary](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2018a.5f7dd9a17e79f.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![NYCWFF 2016](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2016_a.5f7dd9ac792e9.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Italian liqueur brand Frangelico offered attendees custom cocktails at a bar that featured the hashtag #LiveItalian made with illuminated greenery. See more: 17 Brand Activities That Stood Out at the 2016 New York City Wine & Food Festival](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/10/2016_1.5f7dd24cbb589.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)