1. South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Miami
The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival draws the world’s best chefs, along with 65,000 hungry guests, to Miami for five days of delectable programming. In February 2020, the festivities included more than 100 events, including signature favorites, intimate dinners, kid-friendly programming, cocktail-driven events and more. This year, for the 20th anniversary, organizers once again planned an in-person event, but with even more outdoor programming, COVID-19 safety protocols and reduced attendance of 30,000. Next: Feb. 24-27, 2022
See more: How the Milestone 20th Annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival Celebrated Post-Pandemic Success
The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival draws the world’s best chefs, along with 65,000 hungry guests, to Miami for five days of delectable programming. In February 2020, the festivities included more than 100 events, including signature favorites, intimate dinners, kid-friendly programming, cocktail-driven events and more. This year, for the 20th anniversary, organizers once again planned an in-person event, but with even more outdoor programming, COVID-19 safety protocols and reduced attendance of 30,000. Next: Feb. 24-27, 2022
See more: How the Milestone 20th Annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival Celebrated Post-Pandemic Success
Photo: World Red Eye
2. New York City Wine & Food Festival
New York
After hosting some 50,000 people at the 2019 Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival, in 2020, organizers swapped the large in-person events and on-site cooking demonstrations for a mostly virtual iteration including interactive cooking and mixology classes with chefs, bartenders and food personalities, as well as a sprinkling of intimate dinners. This year, the four-day festival returned to an in-person format, with more than 65-plus events, including walk-around tastings, intimate dinners, parties and brunches taking place at locations around the city. The festival also welcomed a new partner, God’s Love We Deliver, joining Food Bank For New York City as the beneficiaries of the event’s proceeds. Next: October 2022
See more: How the New York City Wine & Food Festival Plans to Host 65 In-Person Events
After hosting some 50,000 people at the 2019 Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival, in 2020, organizers swapped the large in-person events and on-site cooking demonstrations for a mostly virtual iteration including interactive cooking and mixology classes with chefs, bartenders and food personalities, as well as a sprinkling of intimate dinners. This year, the four-day festival returned to an in-person format, with more than 65-plus events, including walk-around tastings, intimate dinners, parties and brunches taking place at locations around the city. The festival also welcomed a new partner, God’s Love We Deliver, joining Food Bank For New York City as the beneficiaries of the event’s proceeds. Next: October 2022
See more: How the New York City Wine & Food Festival Plans to Host 65 In-Person Events
Photo: Courtesy of New York City Wine & Food Festival
3. Vancouver International Wine Festival
Vancouver
About 25,000 attendees gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the 2020 festival, which typically features more than 162 wineries from 15 countries. The corresponding gala dinner and auction, attended by more than 400 guests, raised $233,000 for charitable partner the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Usually, the festival is held in late February/early March, but organizers decided to push next year’s event to May in order to allow them more time to plan and complete the winery selection process. Next: May 16-22, 2022
About 25,000 attendees gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the 2020 festival, which typically features more than 162 wineries from 15 countries. The corresponding gala dinner and auction, attended by more than 400 guests, raised $233,000 for charitable partner the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Usually, the festival is held in late February/early March, but organizers decided to push next year’s event to May in order to allow them more time to plan and complete the winery selection process. Next: May 16-22, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Vancouver International Wine Festival
4. Tales of the Cocktail
New Orleans
Since it began in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has expanded from a walking tour of historic New Orleans bars into a world-renowned cocktail festival. Typically, 30,000 bartenders, distillers and other alcohol professionals participate in seminars, tastings, networking opportunities and special events over the course of a week. But in 2020, the pandemic forced organizers to cancel the in-person event, opting instead for a schedule of online events, including seminars, live Q&As and panel discussions covering topics such as hospitality, health, innovation and social issues. In September 2021, the event returned with a hybrid format, featuring more than 50 digital seminars, activations and a new preconference event, called Diversity Distilled Career Fair, in response to widespread industry labor shortages. Next: TBD
Since it began in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has expanded from a walking tour of historic New Orleans bars into a world-renowned cocktail festival. Typically, 30,000 bartenders, distillers and other alcohol professionals participate in seminars, tastings, networking opportunities and special events over the course of a week. But in 2020, the pandemic forced organizers to cancel the in-person event, opting instead for a schedule of online events, including seminars, live Q&As and panel discussions covering topics such as hospitality, health, innovation and social issues. In September 2021, the event returned with a hybrid format, featuring more than 50 digital seminars, activations and a new preconference event, called Diversity Distilled Career Fair, in response to widespread industry labor shortages. Next: TBD
Screenshot: Courtesy of Tales of the Cocktail
5. Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
St. Catharines, Ontario
In September 2020, Canada's oldest and largest wine festival, which is sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, rolled out new options for socially distanced sipping, along with a new brunch event. Organizers also revamped its Discovery Pass touring program, allowing guests to bypass lines and busy tasting rooms. Pass holders were also able to access a collection of self-guided virtual winery tours. The 70th-annual festival, which was held this September over the course of two weekends, featured a new outdoor concert series and the return of the Discovery Pass, which included wine and food pairings at 20 participating wineries. Next: September 2022
In September 2020, Canada's oldest and largest wine festival, which is sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, rolled out new options for socially distanced sipping, along with a new brunch event. Organizers also revamped its Discovery Pass touring program, allowing guests to bypass lines and busy tasting rooms. Pass holders were also able to access a collection of self-guided virtual winery tours. The 70th-annual festival, which was held this September over the course of two weekends, featured a new outdoor concert series and the return of the Discovery Pass, which included wine and food pairings at 20 participating wineries. Next: September 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
6. Restaurants Canada Show
Toronto
In early 2020 at the Enercare Centre, 20,000 chefs, owners, managers and buyers gathered for Canada’s top foodservice and hospitality event. It boasted a trade show floor with seven stages hosting over 150 speakers, six competitions, three leadership conferences and four networking events. This year, the show went virtual, with programming including seminars, culinary demos and network events happening online. It was a necessary pivot because of Ontario’s strict lockdowns and travel policies. Next: Feb. 27-March 1, 2022
In early 2020 at the Enercare Centre, 20,000 chefs, owners, managers and buyers gathered for Canada’s top foodservice and hospitality event. It boasted a trade show floor with seven stages hosting over 150 speakers, six competitions, three leadership conferences and four networking events. This year, the show went virtual, with programming including seminars, culinary demos and network events happening online. It was a necessary pivot because of Ontario’s strict lockdowns and travel policies. Next: Feb. 27-March 1, 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Restaurants Canada Show
7. Chicago Gourmet
Chicago
After a year hiatus, Chicago Gourmet returned with a pared-down in-person version that mostly took place on the Harris Theater rooftop, tucked away in Millennium Park, including two sessions of the VIP Grand Cru tasting. Now in its 14th year, the event offers a place where the city’s best chefs host cooking demonstrations, panel talks and high-end dinners. Festival organizers also brought back the popular Hamburger Hop event, with chefs creating special burgers in a judged competition. Next: Sept. 23-25, 2022
After a year hiatus, Chicago Gourmet returned with a pared-down in-person version that mostly took place on the Harris Theater rooftop, tucked away in Millennium Park, including two sessions of the VIP Grand Cru tasting. Now in its 14th year, the event offers a place where the city’s best chefs host cooking demonstrations, panel talks and high-end dinners. Festival organizers also brought back the popular Hamburger Hop event, with chefs creating special burgers in a judged competition. Next: Sept. 23-25, 2022
Photo: Jimmy Vitullo
8. Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
Aspen, Colo.
High-profile chefs, wine makers and epicurean experts headline the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, one of the most rarified food-related gatherings in the country. After a yearlong break, guests returned to the Colorado mountains this September to partake in events such as seminars, tasting, demos and exclusive offerings, with celebrity chefs, including Martha Stewart, Guy Fieri, Kwame Onwuachi, Brooke Williamson, Andrew Zimmern and more. Due to the festival’s reduced capacity and COVID-19 restrictions, organizers leaned on the town’s hospitality pros and venues to host events. Next: June 17-19, 2022
High-profile chefs, wine makers and epicurean experts headline the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, one of the most rarified food-related gatherings in the country. After a yearlong break, guests returned to the Colorado mountains this September to partake in events such as seminars, tasting, demos and exclusive offerings, with celebrity chefs, including Martha Stewart, Guy Fieri, Kwame Onwuachi, Brooke Williamson, Andrew Zimmern and more. Due to the festival’s reduced capacity and COVID-19 restrictions, organizers leaned on the town’s hospitality pros and venues to host events. Next: June 17-19, 2022
Photo: Rising Sun Photography/FOOD & WINE
