Food festivals in Boston worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Boston worth planning a trip around, by month.
Daniel Bruce's Boston Wine and Food Festival has run an annual chef-and-wine series at the Boston Harbor Hotel since 1989. The country's longest-running wine-and-food pairing series; runs January through March.
Focus: Wine, chef-led tastings, master classes
Tip: Opening Reception in late January kicks off the multi-week programme. Book the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti tasting six months out.
The Feast of Saint Anthony fills Endicott and Hanover Streets in Boston's North End every August since 1919. New England's largest Italian festival; sausage and peppers, zeppole, the Sunday grand procession.
Focus: Italian American street food
Tip: Saturday-night zeppole competition pulls the public crowd. Saturday tug-of-war at 20:00. The Sunday procession runs 10 hours; arrive by 11:30.
The Feast of Saint Agrippina di Mineo runs on Hanover Street in Boston's North End every August since 1914. Sicilian American street food, the grand procession with a life-size Saint Agrippina statue.
Focus: Sicilian American street food
Tip: Sunday afternoon procession at 12:30 is the centrepiece. Sunday tug-of-war at 20:00; arrive by 14:00 for the food stalls.
Boston Local Food Festival runs every September on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston since 2011. 100 local food vendors, chef demonstrations, family activities; free entry.
Focus: Local New England food vendors
Tip: 11:00 to 17:00. Free to attend; food sold individually. The Greenway runs from the North End to South Station; the festival fills the Wharf District section.
Dine Out Boston runs the city's twice-yearly restaurant week in Boston since 2001. 140 restaurants offer multi-course prix fixe; winter edition February, summer edition August.
Focus: Boston-area restaurant prix fixe
Tip: Lunch $27-$36, Dinner $38-$55. Book three weeks ahead on Resy or OpenTable. The marquee restaurants book out fastest.
Boston Seafood Festival runs at the Boston Fish Pier in Boston's Seaport since 2010. Day-long event of New England seafood vendors, oyster-shucking competition, raw bar, beer garden.
Focus: New England seafood vendors
Tip: Oyster-shucking competition starts at 14:00. Ticket included in general admission; food sold by individual vendors.
Lowell Folk Festival runs in Lowell, MA, 45 minutes from Boston, every July since 1987. Non-profit community food vendors serve Polish pierogi, Filipino lumpia, Laotian papaya salad and more.
Focus: Global community food vendors
Tip: Free to attend; food sold by community non-profit vendors. The Armenian lamb burgers pull the longest line. Drive or commuter rail from North Station.
Peak food season in Boston is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Boston rewards trust.