Food
Fall isn’t just the season for leaf peeping in New England. From Vermont to the Cape, there are multiple foodie events to eat pumpkin, apples, and more.
In a region where residents actually get to see all four seasons, fall is undoubtedly New England’s favorite.
It’s the time of year when trees cast hues of red, orange, and yellow on towns across the area, bringing tourists near and far on a fall foliage pilgrimage. But it’s also when our fall crops are at their best and most bountiful, giving us something else to celebrate: food and libations.
Autumn is the season for pumpkins, apples, cranberries, and oysters, and in New England you’ll find a festival for those foods and so much more.
Boston.com put together a list of festivals and events that every New England foodie should keep handy this season to celebrate the farmers, chefs, and brewmasters that make the region a food and drink paradise.
Several of the events below haven’t released full line-up information yet, so be sure to visit their websites for the latest.
Sure, it’s more than a food festival, but you could spend an entire day at The Big E bouncing from one vendor to another. All of the state fair food groups are represented: Fried (Oreos, corn dogs, cheese curds), Baked (mac and cheese, pizzas, cream puffs), Smothered (nachos, ice cream waffle bowls, burgers). Stop by the State Houses for regional specialties, like the loaded, baked Maine potatoes and crisp apples from Massachusetts farms. (Friday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept. 28; West Springfield)
Autumnal foods and wine? Yes, please. The Mount Snow Resort in West Dover will host the signature event of this festival weekend, a Grand Tasting featuring more than 70 vendors, including more than a dozen New England wineries and distilleries, plus small specialty food producers, chefs, cheese makers, and farmers. Attendees can also attend a wine stroll and soup contest in downtown Wilmington. Take a tasting break and ride the Bluebird Lift for a summit view of Vermont’s spectacular fall foliage. (Friday, Sept. 19 to Saturday, Sept. 20; West Dover and Wilmington, Vermont)
Archibald Query invented Fluff in Somerville’s Union Square in 1917. Celebrate this sugary white stuff at the What the Fluff? Festival taking place in, of course, Union Square. Festival goers can play fluff-themed games like a marshmallow toss and Fluff musical chairs, listen to live music, and, most importantly, eat lots of Fluff. The rain date is Sept. 21. (Saturday, Sept. 20; Somerville)
The Asian-inspired night market returns to the lively Cambridge neighborhood with 15 food and drink options for one night. Grab kebabs at Silkroad Uyghur Cuisine or quench your thirst with sugarcane juice at the Vietnamese American Community of MA food tent. Other cuisines are represented at Sunset Cantina, desserts from Room4 Sweets, and drinks from Marzae Wine. (Saturday, Sept. 20; Cambridge)
Prefer your festival on wheels? More than 100 food trucks and vendors will park in downtown Salem for the annual Salem Food Truck Festival. Stop by Cheese Louise, Binge BBQ, The Lobster Roller, The Cookie Monstah, and other trucks for a weekend of serious noshing. (Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21; Salem)
At downtown food hall High Street Place, a fall festival starts as a family-friendly event, with pumpkin decorating and other entertainment. But by night, there will be a live DJ and a dance party for the adults. Fall Fest will also feature seasonal bites from High Street’s 20-plus vendors and an outdoor Oktoberfest beer garden. (Saturday, Sept. 27; Downtown Boston)
How many pumpkins can you fit in one festival? Find out in Damariscotta, Maine. This pumpkin fest attracts up to 15,000 visitors for its pumpkin parade, giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin soapbox-style derby, pumpkin hunt, pumpkin pie-eating contests, pumpkin dessert contest, and pumpkin boat-building. During the Pumpkin boat Regatta held the final day, contestants race down the Damariscotta River in 600-pound hollowed-out pumpkins transformed into boats. (Friday, Oct. 10 to Monday, Oct. 13; Damariscotta, Maine)
The Boston Public Market is celebrating two events this year: Autumn, as the market does annually, and its 10th birthday in Boston. A ticket gets guests bites from food vendors, one drink ticket for Pine Bar’s craft beer and cocktails, and a chance to win prizes at the silent auction. (Thursday, Oct. 17; Downtown Boston)
This meat-free event is also admission-free and includes not just food vendors to try, but it’s also an opportunity for guests to explore plant-based fashion and lifestyle businesses. Learn about new products in the vegetarian market, chat with speakers and chefs, and take some goodies home for purchase. (Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19; Roxbury)
Oyster fans should flock to Wellfleet this fall for the annual oyster festival, a two-day celebration of the shellfish and their history in this town. A list of vendors isn’t available yet, but the event usually brings a number of raw bars that serve the slippery bivalves, while other food businesses provide dishes like stuffed clams, lobster rolls, cod, and scallops. The festival lineup also includes culinary demonstrations, educational lectures, a road race, and a “Family Fun” area. (Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19; Wellfleet)
A crisp, fall afternoon spent by the water while digging into New England seafood — it’s just another day in seafood paradise at the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival. As you move among vendors stocked with fish tacos and calamari, shrimp and stuffed quahogs, be sure to take in the sounds of the fest, which so far includes six bands over the two-day festival. (Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19; Newport, Rhode Island)
Walk among glowing jack-o’-lanterns at this Laconia, New Hampshire festival, formerly known as the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. There’s something for everyone to do, like watch costume parades, shop and eat at food and craft vendors, and marvel at the iconic pumpkin tower. (Saturday, Oct. 25; Laconia, New Hampshire)
Two words: apple cider. At this three-day festival in Franklin County, last year’s events included an orchard tour, cider pairings with cheese and other foods, and educational opportunities like workshops and demonstrations. (Friday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 2; Franklin County)
— Kristi Palma and Erin Kuschner contributed reporting
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