NYC Food Events This Weekend: September 18–20, 2026

Quick Access: This Weekend’s Top Food Events

Use this section as your fast-start guide. These are the headline events shaping the weekend across the city.

First Taste 001 — Saturday, Sep 19, 2:00–8:00 PM · LilliStar Rooftop, 353 Bedford Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn · Tiered ticket pricing with limited tickets available at the door · 21+ · Tickets at posh.vip
Feast of San Gennaro (Centennial) — September 17–27, 2026, daily from 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM, with hours extended until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays · Mulberry Street in Little Italy, Manhattan, between Canal and Houston Streets, and also on Hester Street between Baxter and Centre Streets and Grand Street between Baxter and Centre Market Place · Free
JapanFes — Saturday, September 19, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM · 3rd Avenue between 83rd and 84th Streets, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Billed as the world’s largest Japanese food festival
Queens Night Market (Fall Opening) — Saturday, Sep 19, 4:00 PM–midnight · Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Corona, Queens · Free
LoxFest — Saturday, Sep 19, two sessions: 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–3:30 PM · Pier 17, 89 South St, Seaport, Manhattan · Tickets start at $28 per person and include one food token; additional tokens are available on-site or online at $36 for three tokens

Secure your spot at First Taste 001

Day-By-Day: The Full Weekend List

Once you know the headliners, use this day-by-day breakdown to plan your route and stack events without backtracking.

Friday, September 18

First Taste 001 — Advance Tickets Still Available · Friday is the final day to grab the lowest advance tier before pricing increases on Saturday. The event itself runs Saturday only at LilliStar Rooftop in Williamsburg. Tiered ticket pricing applies, and only a limited number of tickets are available at the door. Every dish, drink, DJ set, and drop happens exclusively at First Taste 001 on September 19. Nothing repeats before or after.
Field-to-Fork with Katchkie Farm · Friday, Sep 18, 6:30 PM · Platform by the James Beard Foundation, Market 57, Pier 57, Manhattan · Ticketed. This late-summer harvest dinner centers peak-season produce from Katchkie Farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. It ranks among the more intimate chef-driven experiences on the calendar this weekend. Verify before you go.
Feast of San Gennaro · Friday, Sep 18, open until midnight · Mulberry St, Little Italy, Manhattan · Free. The centennial edition of NYC’s longest-running Italian street festival is in full swing. Friday nights draw the biggest crowds, so arrive early for shorter lines at sausage-and-pepper and zeppole vendors. The festival sits a short walk from the Canal St stations on the 6/J/N/Q/R/W/Z lines.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “Field-to-Fork with Katchkie Farm”, “startDate”: “2026-09-18T18:30”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “Platform by the James Beard Foundation, Market 57, Pier 57”, “address”: “Pier 57, Manhattan, NY” }, “offers”: { “@type”: “Offer”, “availability”: “https://schema.org/InStock” } }

Saturday, September 19

First Taste 001 — 8it’s #1 Pick This Weekend · Saturday, Sep 19, 2:00–8:00 PM · LilliStar Rooftop, 353 Bedford Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn · Tiered ticket pricing with limited tickets available at the door · 21+ · 500 tickets, first come first served. This rooftop food-and-culture drop features a full lineup of debuts created for one afternoon only. Three exclusive chef collaborations anchor the food. Potluck Club × Ace’s Pizza serves a Chinese Sausage & Peppers Detroit-style pie. Titi’s Empanadas × After Eden offers a Bánh Mì Empanada. Loser’s Eating House × Oreo presents The Big OREO Roll. At the bar, Gelo of After Eden pours cocktails, including a new Hennessy Ready-to-Serve cocktail created for the event, and every 21+ guest receives a complimentary Hennessy welcome sip. DJ sets from Sunny Cheeba b2b Curly Nez, Just Dimy, Rae Sada, and Dos Flakos feature unreleased music. Designer New York Penn drops a limited-run jacket, personalized onsite. Take the L train to Bedford Ave and walk about eight minutes.
JapanFes · Saturday, Sep 19, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM · 3rd Avenue between 83rd and 84th Streets, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Billed as the world’s largest Japanese food festival. Now in its 10th NYC year, JapanFes brings ramen, yakitori, karaage, handroll sushi, kakigori, and Nama Chocolate from ROYCE’ CHOCOLATE. A special $5 menu makes grazing across multiple stalls easy. Origami and calligraphy workshops run throughout the day.
Feast of San Gennaro · Saturday, Sep 19, 11:30 AM–midnight · Mulberry St, Little Italy, Manhattan · Free. The Solemn High Mass at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood runs 2:00–4:00 PM. Saturday nights are the festival’s busiest. Early hours work better for anyone who prefers lighter crowds before heading to Williamsburg.
Queens Night Market — Fall Season Opening · Saturday, Sep 19, 4:00 PM–midnight · Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Corona, Queens · Free. The Queens Night Market fall season runs Saturdays behind the New York Hall of Science with free entry. More than 70 food vendors represent over 30 countries, and most bites stay at $6 or under. It ranked as the #7 night market globally in 2026. Take the 7 train to 111th Street, about a four-block walk south of the market.
LoxFest · Saturday, Sep 19, sessions at 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–3:30 PM · Pier 17, 89 South St, Seaport, Manhattan · Tickets start at $28 per person and include one food token; additional tokens are available on-site or online at $36 for three tokens. This one-day celebration of NYC’s bagel-and-lox culture gathers local bagel shops, smoked-salmon purveyors, waterfront tastings, drinks, and entertainment.
Latin Food Fest · Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, 12:00 PM–8:00 PM · Uptown/The Bronx (exact location still to be determined) · Free to enter, with RSVP required via thelatinfoodfest.com. The 2026 NYC edition features 70 food vendors serving tacos, ceviche, arepas, and pupusas, plus two stages and 14 musical acts. Confirm the exact address before heading out.
Smorgasburg Williamsburg · Saturday, Sep 19, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Marsha P. Johnson State Park, Williamsburg, Brooklyn · Free entry, with individual food items typically priced around $6–$22 depending on the vendor. This flagship Smorgasburg location runs Saturdays with roughly 80–100 vendors in September. Arrive at opening for the shortest lines. It sits about an eight-minute walk from the L train at Bedford Ave, the same stop as First Taste 001.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “First Taste 001”, “startDate”: “2026-09-19T14:00”, “endDate”: “2026-09-19T20:00”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “LilliStar Rooftop, Moxy Williamsburg”, “address”: “353 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211” }, “offers”: [ { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “15”, “priceCurrency”: “USD”, “name”: “Advance”, “url”: “https://posh.vip/e/first-taste” }, { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “20”, “priceCurrency”: “USD”, “name”: “Door” }, { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “500”, “priceCurrency”: “USD”, “name”: “Table” } ] } { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “JapanFes New York — Upper East Side”, “startDate”: “2026-09-19T10:00”, “endDate”: “2026-09-19T18:00”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “Upper East Side”, “address”: “3rd Avenue between 83rd and 84th Streets, Manhattan, NY” }, “offers”: { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “0”, “priceCurrency”: “USD” } } { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “Queens Night Market — Fall Season Opening”, “startDate”: “2026-09-19T16:00”, “endDate”: “2026-09-20T00:00”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “Flushing Meadows–Corona Park”, “address”: “Corona, Queens, NY” }, “offers”: { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “0”, “priceCurrency”: “USD” } } { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “LoxFest”, “startDate”: “2026-09-19T10:00”, “endDate”: “2026-09-19T15:30”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “Pier 17”, “address”: “89 South St, Seaport, Manhattan, NY” }, “offers”: { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “28”, “priceCurrency”: “USD” } }

Sunday, September 20

Smorgasburg Prospect Park · Sunday, Sep 20, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM · Breeze Hill in Prospect Park, Brooklyn · Free entry. This Prospect Park edition feels calmer and more family-friendly than the Williamsburg market, with a similar vendor count. Reach it via the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza or the B/Q/S to Prospect Park.
Feast of San Gennaro · Sunday, Sep 20, 11:30 AM–11:30 PM · Mulberry St, Little Italy, Manhattan · Free. Sunday afternoons offer one of the more relaxed windows of the festival’s run. Many vendors remain cash-only, so plan a quick ATM stop before you arrive.
FAD Market at Open Streets on Montague · Sunday, Sep 20, 12:00–6:00 PM · Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn · Free. This car-free market features over 70 local vendors, including handmade jewelry, apparel, and artisanal food, across two blocks between Clinton, Henry, and Hicks Streets. Leashed pets are welcome.
Latin Food Fest · Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, 12:00 PM–8:00 PM · Uptown/The Bronx (exact location still to be determined) · Free to enter, with RSVP required via thelatinfoodfest.com. Sunday repeats the full vendor and music lineup, with 70 food vendors, two stages, and 14 musical acts. Confirm the address before heading out.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Event”, “name”: “Feast of San Gennaro — 100th Annual”, “startDate”: “2026-09-17T11:30”, “endDate”: “2026-09-27T23:30”, “location”: { “@type”: “Place”, “name”: “Mulberry Street”, “address”: “Little Italy, Manhattan, NY” }, “offers”: { “@type”: “Offer”, “price”: “0”, “priceCurrency”: “USD” } }

Claim your advance First Taste tickets

Additional Mentions: Free And Low-Cost Street Fairs

Several neighborhood fairs and parades add extra food stops to your weekend, especially if you want to stay outdoors and roam.

German-American Steuben Parade + Oktoberfest at SummerStage · Saturday, Sep 19 · Fifth Ave from 68th to 86th St, Upper East Side, then Rumsey Playfield, Central Park · The 69th German-American Steuben Parade on Fifth Avenue is free to attend. The related SummerStage Oktoberfest carries a $37 general admission for adults and features steins, brats, and oompah bands.
African American Day Parade · Sunday, Sep 20, 12:30–6:00 PM · Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd in Harlem, with the route running from 111th Street to 136th Street · Free. The 57th annual parade, led by Grambling State’s Tiger Marching Band, passes a stretch of Harlem lined with food vendors and restaurants.
Mexican Independence Day Parade · Sunday, Sep 20 · Madison Ave from 38th to 27th St, NoMad, Manhattan · Free. Mariachis, charros on horseback, and folklórico dancers fill the route, and the surrounding blocks offer standout Mexican food options for post-parade eating.
FAD Market at Open Streets on Montague · Sunday, Sep 20, 12:00–6:00 PM · Montague St, Brooklyn Heights · Free. Artisanal food vendors share space with handmade goods across a car-free two-block stretch.
Grand Bazaar NYC · Sunday, Sep 20, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM · 100 W 77th St, Manhattan · Free. The “Ready for Fall Vintage Bazaar” edition features curated vintage and artisanal food vendors, with proceeds supporting local public schools.
Columbus Circle Fair · Sunday, Sep 20 · Broadway from 60th to 61st St, Manhattan · Free. This central street fair lines Broadway with food vendors and classic fair stalls.
Bryant Park Area Fair · Sunday, Sep 20 · 41st Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan · Free. A Midtown street fair with food stalls a short walk from the 42 St–Bryant Pk station on the B D F M lines.
Sunset Park BID Street Fair · Sunday, Sep 20 · 5th Avenue from 44th Street to 59th Street in Brooklyn · Free. A neighborhood fair with a strong food vendor presence along one of Brooklyn’s most food-rich corridors.
Fall Arts & Crafts Fair On City Island · Saturday–Sunday, Sep 19–20, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM · City Island Avenue from Bay Street to Schofield Street, Bronx, NY · Free. Local art, crafts, and food fill one of the Bronx’s most distinctive waterfront neighborhoods.
Albanian Festival Of Staten Island · Saturday, Sep 19 · South Beach Boardwalk, Staten Island, NY · Free. Albanian music, dance, and grilled food line the waterfront for a true neighborhood event.

Join the First Taste rooftop debut

What This Weekend Reveals About NYC Food

Saturday, September 19 carries the heaviest concentration of events. First Taste 001, JapanFes, the Queens Night Market fall opening, LoxFest, Latin Food Fest, Smorgasburg Williamsburg, and the Feast of San Gennaro all run at overlapping times. Manhattan hosts the Feast of San Gennaro, JapanFes, and LoxFest. Brooklyn anchors First Taste 001 and Smorgasburg. Queens opens the Night Market, and the Bronx welcomes Latin Food Fest.

The weekend leans heavily toward free events, while the ticketed options deliver scarcity and one-time experiences. First Taste 001 caps attendance at 500 tickets and focuses on world-debut dishes, drinks, and drops. LoxFest limits access through timed sessions that often sell out in advance. The centennial Feast of San Gennaro marks a once-in-a-generation milestone for a 100-year-old institution. New concepts and legacy traditions share the same three-day window and give you a wide range of ways to eat through the city.

Reserve your First Taste experience

Practical Weekend Planning Tips

By budget: Free events on this list cost little beyond a MetroCard swipe. For ticketed options, First Taste 001 uses tiered ticket pricing, with the lowest advance tier delivering a full afternoon of debut food, a welcome sip, DJ sets, and a fashion drop for about the price of a delivery order. LoxFest tickets start at $28 per person and represent the next price tier.

By timing: Saturday deserves top priority. Pair First Taste 001 from 2:00–8:00 PM with a morning run through Smorgasburg Williamsburg, since both sit near the L train at Bedford Ave. JapanFes on the Upper East Side runs 10:00 AM–6:00 PM and works well as an early stop before you cross to Brooklyn.

By transit: First Taste 001 and Smorgasburg Williamsburg: L to Bedford Ave, then an eight-minute walk. Feast of San Gennaro: 6/J/N/Q/R/W/Z to Canal St, about a three-minute walk. JapanFes: 3rd Avenue between 83rd and 84th Streets, near the 86th Street station on the 4/5/6 lines. Queens Night Market: about a five-minute walk from the 7 train’s 111th Street station; Mets–Willets Point requires a longer walk through Flushing Meadows Corona Park. LoxFest at Pier 17: roughly a seven- to eight-minute walk from the 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z trains at Fulton Street.

Cash notes: Many Feast of San Gennaro vendors accept cash only, and ATM lines build quickly on Friday and Saturday evenings. Plan to withdraw before you arrive. First Taste 001 and LoxFest run on tickets, so keep confirmations handy at entry.

Advance ticket urgency: First Taste 001 caps capacity at 500 tickets, and tiered ticket pricing means the lowest advance tier disappears first. Only a limited number of tickets are available at the door. LoxFest sells out its 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM sessions regularly, so advance purchase protects your spot.

Lock in First Taste before it sells out

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There A Food Festival In NYC This Weekend, September 18–20, 2026?

New York City packs several food-focused events into this weekend. Highlights include First Taste 001 on Saturday at LilliStar Rooftop in Williamsburg, the centennial Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, JapanFes on the Upper East Side, the Queens Night Market fall opening in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, and LoxFest at Pier 17 in the Seaport. Saturday stands out as the busiest single day.

What Is First Taste 001 And How Do I Get Tickets?

First Taste 001 is a one-day food and culture festival produced by 8it, held Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at LilliStar Rooftop at 353 Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The event is 21+ and capped at 500 tickets. Tiered ticket pricing applies, with limited tickets available at the door. The full lineup focuses on world-debut dishes, drinks, DJ sets, and drops created for this event.

Get your First Taste ticket

What Food Is At The Feast Of San Gennaro This Year?

The 100th Annual Feast of San Gennaro runs September 17–27, 2026, in Little Italy, NYC. The festival stretches along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Streets and extends onto Hester Street between Baxter and Centre Streets and Grand Street between Baxter and Centre Market Place. Admission is free. Traditional offerings include sausage-and-pepper heroes, zeppole, and cannoli from more than 300 street vendors. Hours run daily from 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM, with closing extended to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The Solemn High Mass takes place Saturday, September 19, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, and many vendors accept cash only.

What Is Free To Do In NYC This Weekend That Involves Food?

Free food-forward options include the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy all weekend, JapanFes on the Upper East Side on Saturday, the Queens Night Market fall opening on Saturday evening in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Smorgasburg Williamsburg on Saturday, Smorgasburg Prospect Park on Sunday, Latin Food Fest in Uptown/The Bronx on both days with free entry and RSVP, and FAD Market at Open Streets on Montague in Brooklyn Heights on Sunday. The German-American Steuben Parade on Saturday and the African American Day Parade and Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sunday also pass through neighborhoods with strong food vendor presence.

How Does 8it Help Me Find Food Events And Drops Like These?

8it is a map-based app that surfaces food recommendations, pop-ups, and limited-time drops from vetted sources such as chefs, food media, and industry professionals. The Pop-Ups & Drops section highlights live and upcoming pop-ups and collaborations across NYC and focuses on time-sensitive food events rather than a single festival. You can save any event or dish to a list, share it with friends, and use the Add to Calendar feature so you do not miss a drop. Every pick in the app comes from a trusted source, which keeps the focus on what is worth seeking out.

How To Use 8it This Weekend

Every event and dish in this guide appears in 8it’s Pop-Ups and Drops section. Open the app, filter by this weekend’s dates, and you will see First Taste 001 alongside the city’s other active drops, all vetted and time-stamped. Save Smorgasburg and Feast of San Gennaro entries to a shareable list for your group, then map everything by neighborhood so you move efficiently between boroughs. The app keeps recommendations curated by trusted sources, which makes planning faster and more focused.

Add it to your list on 8it