Best Fall Food Festivals in New England

Heading into fall means a whole new crop of seasonal food festivals to enjoy before the cold weather sends us inside for the winter. With foliage color on the way, why not plan a road trip and take in one our picks for the best fall food festivals in New England?

Best Fall Food Festivals in New England

Boston Local Food Festival | September 15, 2019 The Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, MA

Boston’s newest and greenest food festival — celebrating the joys of eating local and promoting local farmers, restaurants, and specialty foods. Events include a seafood throwdown competition, chef and instructional demonstrations, music, tastings, and community crop shares.

What the Fluff? | September 21, 2019 Somerville, MA

The annual celebration of all things Fluff honors Archibald Query, who invented what eventually became marshmallow Fluff in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1917. Activities include cooking contests, games of “Blind Man’s Fluff,” a marshmallow toss, Fluff-inspired cocktails, and more. See More: Fluffernutters | History of a Favorite New England Sandwich

Chowdafest | October 6, 2019 Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT

With participants from every New England state and beyond, Chowadfest is one of the largest culinary competitions in the Northeast. Vote for your favorite chowder as 40 award-winning chefs and restaurants compete in four categories—Classic New England Clam Chowder; Traditional Chowders (Manhattan/Rhode Island), Creative Chowder, and Soup/Bisque—with proceeds benefiting local charities. See More: Chowdafest | An Annual Celebration of Chowder in Westport, Connecticut

Cranberry Harvest Celebration | 2019 TBA The A.D. Makepeace Company Headquarters at Tihonet Village in Wareham, MA

This fun family event features cranberry bog tours, helicopter rides, pony rides, cooking demonstrations, juried crafters and artisans, musical performances, games for children and much more.

Glastonbury Applefest | October 18, 2019 Riverfront Park in Glastonbury, CT

A top festival in the nutmeg state, featuring live music, 150+ craft booths, pie eating contest, pie bake-off, amusement rides, pony rides, family entertainment, road races, beer garden, and petting zoo.

Wellfleet Oysterfest | October 19-20, 2019 Throughout downtown in Wellfleet, MA

Featuring local cuisine, educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, a sunset dance party, road races, walking tours and the popular annual Oyster Shuck-Off competition, where hopefuls compete for the $1,000 cash prize and super shucker bragging rights.

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival | October 19-20, 2019 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI

Savor the early autumn harvests of the sea—fresh local lobster, chowder, quahogs, clambakes, shrimp, scallops, oysters and clams—presented by area restaurants and fisherman’s associations, with continuous live music, all beneath the wharf’s colorful tents.

Franklin County CiderDays | November 1-3, 2019 Throughout Franklin County, MA

Calling all apple lovers! Featuring orchard tours, cider-making, fresh and hard cider tastings, workshops, Harvest Supper, amateur cider competition, craft marketplace, and much more of everything apple. See More: CiderDays Harvest Festival | Cider Celebration & Recipes Which fall food festivals in New England are your favorites? This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated. 

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