1. South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Miami
For four days in February, big-time chefs, celebrities, and foodies from across the U.S. gathered in south Florida for this revered festival hosted by Food Network & Cooking Channel and presented by Capital One. The 21st installment of the annual event drew 50,000 attendees to its 90-plus events, which included an array of intimate sit-down dinners, late-night parties, grand-tasting experiences, festive brunches, and more. Plenty of A-listers also made appearances, such as Guy Fieri, Kate Hudson (pictured), Rachael Ray, and Trisha Yearwood, to name a few. To date, the festival has donated more than $34 million to Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Next: Feb. 23-26, 2023
See more: Cheers to 21 Years: How SOBEWFF Celebrated With Boozy Bashes, Fieri’s Fiesta, and Innovative Activations
For four days in February, big-time chefs, celebrities, and foodies from across the U.S. gathered in south Florida for this revered festival hosted by Food Network & Cooking Channel and presented by Capital One. The 21st installment of the annual event drew 50,000 attendees to its 90-plus events, which included an array of intimate sit-down dinners, late-night parties, grand-tasting experiences, festive brunches, and more. Plenty of A-listers also made appearances, such as Guy Fieri, Kate Hudson (pictured), Rachael Ray, and Trisha Yearwood, to name a few. To date, the festival has donated more than $34 million to Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Next: Feb. 23-26, 2023
See more: Cheers to 21 Years: How SOBEWFF Celebrated With Boozy Bashes, Fieri’s Fiesta, and Innovative Activations
Photo: World Red Eye Productions
2. New York City Wine & Food Festival
New York
The 15th edition of the Food Network & Cooking Channel’s annual event drew 48,000 gastronomes to eat and drink their way through the four-day wine and food festival, which took over 135,000 square feet of Pier 76. This year’s lineup boasted more than 85 events hosted by 400-plus top chefs, mixologists, and wine and spirit producers. From walk-around tastings and late-night gatherings to more than 30 private dinners at a variety of New York’s best restaurants, the event’s programming was packed with myriad memorable moments. Each year, 100% of the event’s proceeds go toward God’s Love We Deliver, New York’s leading provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals living with severe illness. More than $14 million has been donated to charitable organizations since the festival’s inception in 2007. Next: Oct. 12-15, 2023
The 15th edition of the Food Network & Cooking Channel’s annual event drew 48,000 gastronomes to eat and drink their way through the four-day wine and food festival, which took over 135,000 square feet of Pier 76. This year’s lineup boasted more than 85 events hosted by 400-plus top chefs, mixologists, and wine and spirit producers. From walk-around tastings and late-night gatherings to more than 30 private dinners at a variety of New York’s best restaurants, the event’s programming was packed with myriad memorable moments. Each year, 100% of the event’s proceeds go toward God’s Love We Deliver, New York’s leading provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals living with severe illness. More than $14 million has been donated to charitable organizations since the festival’s inception in 2007. Next: Oct. 12-15, 2023
Photo: Courtesy of NYCWFF
3. Tales of the Cocktail
Up from #4
New Orleans
The annual cocktail festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with its first fully in-person event since before the start of the pandemic. Nearly 4,500 attendees from 47 countries gathered in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter to experience more than 330 events, which spanned 208 different brands, 65 seminars, and 202 presenters. Participating bartenders, distillers, and spirits professionals leaned into the theme of this year’s event, "progress," which was selected to highlight the adaptive drinks industry. Next: July 23-28, 2023
New Orleans
The annual cocktail festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with its first fully in-person event since before the start of the pandemic. Nearly 4,500 attendees from 47 countries gathered in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter to experience more than 330 events, which spanned 208 different brands, 65 seminars, and 202 presenters. Participating bartenders, distillers, and spirits professionals leaned into the theme of this year’s event, "progress," which was selected to highlight the adaptive drinks industry. Next: July 23-28, 2023
Photo: Cory Fontenot
4. Vancouver International Wine Festival
Vancouver
Canada’s premier wine and food show returned this year after a hiatus in 2021. Also known as VanWineFest for short, the 43rd annual event drew 12,000 attendees to its 53,000-square-foot tasting room inside the Vancouver Convention Centre. The event featured 100 wineries from 13 countries participating in 27 events at 13 venues in Vancouver. The festival also hosted its signature Bacchanalia Gala + Dinner (pictured), which supports Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. In the last decade, the seven-day festival has raised $1.8 million for the performing arts organization. Next: April 22-30, 2023
Canada’s premier wine and food show returned this year after a hiatus in 2021. Also known as VanWineFest for short, the 43rd annual event drew 12,000 attendees to its 53,000-square-foot tasting room inside the Vancouver Convention Centre. The event featured 100 wineries from 13 countries participating in 27 events at 13 venues in Vancouver. The festival also hosted its signature Bacchanalia Gala + Dinner (pictured), which supports Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. In the last decade, the seven-day festival has raised $1.8 million for the performing arts organization. Next: April 22-30, 2023
Photo: Christine McAvoy
5. Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
St. Catharines, Ontario
For the first time—and to toast its 70th anniversary properly—Canada’s oldest and largest wine festival expanded its programming from two weeks to a month’s worth of festivities in September. The event’s diverse programming included tried-and-true activities and parades with a few new additions: The Pied Piper Family Parade partnered with the Lincoln County Humane Society to include dogs in the show; an In Good Spirits Lounge was set up in Montebello Park’s historic rose garden to offer grape-based spirits to passersby; and six new glamping tents, or VIP Cabanas, popped up in the middle of the action and included a private wine steward. Next: September 2023
For the first time—and to toast its 70th anniversary properly—Canada’s oldest and largest wine festival expanded its programming from two weeks to a month’s worth of festivities in September. The event’s diverse programming included tried-and-true activities and parades with a few new additions: The Pied Piper Family Parade partnered with the Lincoln County Humane Society to include dogs in the show; an In Good Spirits Lounge was set up in Montebello Park’s historic rose garden to offer grape-based spirits to passersby; and six new glamping tents, or VIP Cabanas, popped up in the middle of the action and included a private wine steward. Next: September 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Niagara Grape and Wine Festival/@niagarawinefest
6. James Beard Foundation Awards Gala
New to the list
Chicago
After undergoing an intense audit spurred by criticism in 2020 that questioned the integrity (and acknowledgment of diversity) of its annual awards gala, the James Beard Foundation hosted its new-and-improved program this year for the first time since 2019. This year’s event brought 2,000 of the country’s top chefs, restaurateurs, food media, industry leaders, and culinary enthusiasts to Chicago—marking the event's first time in the city. The ceremony honored 16 BIPOC chefs and restaurateurs with well-deserved awards across 22 categories. Next: June 3-5, 2023
Chicago
After undergoing an intense audit spurred by criticism in 2020 that questioned the integrity (and acknowledgment of diversity) of its annual awards gala, the James Beard Foundation hosted its new-and-improved program this year for the first time since 2019. This year’s event brought 2,000 of the country’s top chefs, restaurateurs, food media, industry leaders, and culinary enthusiasts to Chicago—marking the event's first time in the city. The ceremony honored 16 BIPOC chefs and restaurateurs with well-deserved awards across 22 categories. Next: June 3-5, 2023
Photo: James Vitullo
7. Restaurants Canada Show
Toronto
Produced as a virtual event in 2021 due to Ontario’s strict lockdown, Canada's leading foodservice and hospitality event was reborn as a hybrid experience for its 2022 edition. In April, a month before the three-day in-person show kicked off at Toronto's Enercare Centre, Restaurants Canada launched 365 Marketplace, a virtual buying and selling platform created in partnership with Nextech AR to bring the restaurant industry into the metaverse and provide at-home attendees an equally immersive experience. Fittingly, this year’s theme was "revive your business." Next: April 10-12, 2023
Produced as a virtual event in 2021 due to Ontario’s strict lockdown, Canada's leading foodservice and hospitality event was reborn as a hybrid experience for its 2022 edition. In April, a month before the three-day in-person show kicked off at Toronto's Enercare Centre, Restaurants Canada launched 365 Marketplace, a virtual buying and selling platform created in partnership with Nextech AR to bring the restaurant industry into the metaverse and provide at-home attendees an equally immersive experience. Fittingly, this year’s theme was "revive your business." Next: April 10-12, 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Restaurants Canada Show
8. Chicago Gourmet
Chicago
For the second year, Chicago Gourmet took over the Harris Theater Rooftop in Millennium Park, rather than its usual setup on the park’s Grand Lawn. Despite being produced on a smaller scale, this year’s food festival was sold out and drew crowds to its classic events (Tacos & Tequila, hosted by celebrity chef Rick Bayless; Somm Sessions; and Hamburger Hop, among others). New to the 2022 programming was Prost! in the Park (pictured), which was hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Sarah Grueneberg and featured a selection of Oktoberfest-inspired beers, gourmet German bites, and more. Next: Sept. 21-24, 2023
For the second year, Chicago Gourmet took over the Harris Theater Rooftop in Millennium Park, rather than its usual setup on the park’s Grand Lawn. Despite being produced on a smaller scale, this year’s food festival was sold out and drew crowds to its classic events (Tacos & Tequila, hosted by celebrity chef Rick Bayless; Somm Sessions; and Hamburger Hop, among others). New to the 2022 programming was Prost! in the Park (pictured), which was hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Sarah Grueneberg and featured a selection of Oktoberfest-inspired beers, gourmet German bites, and more. Next: Sept. 21-24, 2023
Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Gourmet/@chicago_gourmet
