While it’s hard to believe it’s almost summer, we’re not complaining about the warmer weather and plethora of outdoor events! Every summer, Pittsburgh shows off its food and drink scene by hosting (many) festivals all over the city.
From bloody mary bars, to taco trucks and cocktails at PNC park, there are plenty of summer events you don’t want to miss. Luckily, we’ve laid them all out for you below!
Be sure to bookmark this page – we will be updating it all summer as we find more events!
Attending any of these summer festivals? We want to see your pictures – tag @goodfoodpgh and #goodfoodpgh in all your food pictures this summer!
2018 Pittsburgh Summer Food Festival Guide
MAY
Millvale Music Festival
May 12
Head to Millvale this weekend to enjoy over 100 musical acts! The mission of this festival is to create a community organized day-long event, to support and showcase local musical acts of many genres, at the fun and unique venues of Millvale. There are 23 stages all over Millvale, as well as food and drink vendors. You don’t want to miss this event!
The Neighborhood Flea 2018
May 13
The first Neighborhood Flea of the 2018 summer season is happening on May 13 in The Strip District. Enjoy thrift finds, food trucks, arts & crafts, workshops and more.
Northside Sandwich Week
May 17-27
For the 7th year in a row, the North Side is hosting the “Tastiest Event in Town.” Sample signature sandwiches at participating restaurants throughout the week, or try them all at once on May 17th at the Sandwich Week party. Over a dozen Northside restaurants are participating. Who will be crowned the tastiest sandwich on the North Side? More information can be found online.
Pittsburgh Taco Festival
May 19
After taking a year-long hiatus to reorganize the event, the Pittsburgh Taco Festival is back and better than ever. Head to Highmark Stadium to and sample tacos from over 20 local vendors. There will also be beer, tequila, and live music.
Taco Festival at Wigle Whiskey
May 25
We’re teaming up with Wigle Whiskey to host a Taco Festival celebrating the release of two new tequila-finished whiskeys! Pittsburgh favorites like Edgar’s Best Tacos, La Palapa, Casa Reyna and Millie’s Homemade will be on hand, serving up some seriously good tacos and treats. Tickets can be purchased online.
2018 Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival
May 26
Head to The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, PA, for a two-day food truck extravaganza with over 50 trucks! Trucks include The Coop Chicken and Waffles, Nakama, Pittsburgh Tortas, Crunch Roll Factory, Wicked Ribs N’at, Vagabond Taco Truck and many more! There will also be live music and children’s activities.
Kayafest
May 27
Each year, everyone’s favorite island restaurant in the Strip, Kaya, hosts a start-of-summer block party. Kaya promises that Smallman Street will erupt with music, Caribbean inspired food, and great vibes. The party lasts 11 hours and is free and open to all ages.
JUNE
The 2018 Beers of the Burgh Festival
June 2
Celebrate local beers at the 4th Annual Beers of the Burgh Festival at the Carrie Furnace! Over 40 of the area’s best breweries will be in attendance, serving ales, ciders and more, all unique to the Three Rivers regional area. Tickets can be purchased online.
Smicksburg Strawberry Saturday
June 9
The town of Smicksburg, PA (located an hour outside of Pittsburgh), hosts a massive strawberry festival every year. Smicksburg, an Amish town, is known for their homemade goods – from pottery, to quilts and wooden furniture. The festival is a great opportunity to visit the town and its shops. In honor of the festival, Smicksburg will be serving strawberry wine, strawberry jam, strawberry ice-cream, and will be selling berry bowls and serving plates. More information can be found online.
Old Allegheny Home and Garden Tour
June 22
The Allegheny West Civic Council is hosting a home and garden tour through the former millionaires row of Pittsburgh in the North Side. The tour starts at Holmes Hall, and then works its way through additional homes. At each stop, wine and tapas will be served. More information can be found online.
Sunday Best Bloody Mary Festival
June 24
The first annual Pittsburgh’s Sunday Best Bloody Mary Festival is coming this june! Enjoy local breakfast vendors, a DJ, local vendors & more. For this event, local bars and restaurants will meet in the courtyard at Heinz lofts to provide guests unlimited samples of their house-made Bloody Mary mix and best garnishes! In the name of friendly competition, guests will vote on Pittsburgh’s Best Bloody Mary! Tickets can be purchased online.
Festa di Limoncello
June 30
Vallozzi’s is transforming their lounge and sidewalk patio into a “breezy scene from the Amalfi Coast” for their second annual Festa di Limoncello! Tickets to the event will include homemade limoncello tastings, cocktails, small plate pairings, fun, and music.
JULY
Deutschtown Music Festival
July 13-14
Get ready for a two day music festival featuring over 200 bands, 28 stages, 8 outdoor stages, 20+ food vendors, and a beer garden. Entrance to this event is free. A full schedule of events and activities can be found online.
American Cheese Society Conference
July 25-28
This summer, Pittsburgh is hosting the 2018 American Cheese Society conference at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center. This three-day festival is one of the premier cheese festivals in the world. The event includes speakers, activities, trivia, cheese tastings, pre-conference tours of Pittsburgh, educational sessions, and a gigantic “Meet the Maker” event, where attendees can meet the fromagers behind their favorite cheeses (and try their goods!) More information can be found online.
Picklesburgh
July 20 – 22
Head down to the Roberto Clemente Bridge where the city has been transformed into a pickle paradise. From pickle cocktails, to pickle ice cream, canning stations, pickle egg rolls, pickle pretzels and so much more, this festival is a big dill! Check out our write up for more information.
2018 Lamb Festival
July 22
For the second year in a row the Western PA Lamb Cook-Off is returning to the Ace Hotel. The event, which is hosted by Table Magazine and Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, features an all-star lineup of chefs from around region. The chefs work together in teams to prepare creative lamb dishes. Attendees taste their way around the event, tasting all of the different lamb creations. After trying all the lamb offerings, guests vote for their favorite. Tickets can be purchased online.
AUGUST
BrunchBurgh Festival at Hitchhiker Brewing
Date TBD
This August, Good Food Pittsburgh and Hitchhiker Brewing are teaming up for BrunchBurgh – Pittsburgh’s premier brunch food festival! Enjoy a selection of local coffee, tea, breakfast, and pastry vendors. Follow our instagram for up-to-date information on the event.
Three Rivers Regatta
August 3-5
You gotta regatta! Every August the city of Pittsburgh hosts the Three Rivers Regatta. This event features food and drink vendors, as well as jet ski stunt shows, powerboat races, and more. This year, musician Easton Corbin will be performing at the Friday concert. Don’t miss what is sure to be a monumental regatta.
VegFest
August 4
Celebrate all things vegan at one of Pittsburgh’s favorite summer food festival. Now in their fourth year, VegFest in Allegheny Commons Park, brings in some of the best vegan food suppliers, as well as animal wellness organizations, and cruelty free vendors. Famously, the first guests at the festival get loaded vegan swag bags. For more information on what to expect, check out our post about the event.
PNC All Star Craft Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival
August 11
xperience the ballpark like never before with hundreds of craft beer, wine, and cocktail brands, as well as live music, outdoor games, giveaways, food vendors, and more! Ticket holders receive admission to the event, a keepsake glass for sampling, voucher for two tickets to a Pirates game at PNC Park during the 2018 season, and a chance to get a professional photo in the Pirates dugout after walking the bases. Tickets can be purchased online.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week
August 13-19
The summer edition of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week will take place during the third week of August. Dozens of local restaurants will participate in the “most delicious time of the year,” providing a special, discounted menu for restaurant week. More information on the deals can be found online.
Little Italy Days in Bloomfield
August 16 – 19
Four days, three stages, and over 30 acts! The dates for the 2018 Little Italy Days have already been announced. Stop through for activities like celebrity bocce, Miss Little Italy pageant, Italian Idol singing competition, and much more. Tons of Italian food and drink will be available for purchase during the event. Now a Pittsburgh tradition, Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days started in 2002 as a way to celebrate Bloomfield’s Italian heritage, and create a destination for Italian-themed entertainment and food in Pittsburgh. Little Italy Days.
Corks & Kegs in Washington County
August 25-26
Get ready for two days of beer, wine, spirits, and food at the Meadows Racetrack for Washington County’s premiere craft beer festival.The dates for the 2018 Corks & Kegs festival have already been announced. Over sixteen breweries, six wineries, and two spirit companies will be at this event. Multiple food trucks will also be in attendance, as well as tons of regional vendors. Admission to this event is free. Corks & Kegs
Mountaineer Brewfest
August 19
Celebrate West Virginia’s finest craft and microbrews at the fourth annual Mountaineer Brewfest in Wheeling, West Virginia. General admission tickets include ten beer samples, and VIP tickets include a special beer and food pairing. The event will also feature a “Beer Garden” with live entertainment, and beer and food for purchase. Follow the festival on Facebook for updates.
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival
Weekends August 18 – September 23
Here ye, here ye! A true sign of the arrival of Fall in Western PA is the return of the annual Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. Stop through for Renaissance themed games and shows (jousting, archery, fire breathing, fortune telling, ect.) There will also be a lot of classic Renaissance festival food and drink (giant drumsticks and beer). Tickets can be purchased online.
SEPTEMBER
Pittsburgh Irish Festival
September 7 – 9
Pittsburgh Irish Festival is returning in September for its 28th year! Stop by for plenty of Irish entertainers, vendors, activities, and more. In the past, bands like Gaelic Storm and the Screaming Orphans have been in attendance, and restaurants like McCarricks, Kells Bay, Craig’s Fine Irish Food, Mairin’s Irish Kitchen served dishes like Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage dinner, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. More information can be found online.
Steel City Big Pour
September 15
Drink local beer at one of Pittsburgh’s biggest craft beer festivals! The date for the 2018 Steel City Big Pour has already been announced. Tickets includes samples from all food and drink vendors. Hosted by Construction Junction, the proceeds from the event support material reuse. There will also be live music and art. Steel City Big Pour.
Brews in the Park at Kennywood
September 22
Enjoying a beer at Kennywood Park? Sounds like a pretty good time. Listen to live music and sample dozens of different craft beers for Brews in the Park. More than 100 different beers are available for sampling, with food trucks, live music and entertainment setting the scene. More information can be found online.
Butler Fall Festival
September 22
Main Street in Butler, PA, transforms for their annual fall festival. Attendees can expect food, crafts, two stages of live music, and a kids zone with a petting zoo, barrel train, face painting food vendors, and more. More information can be found online.
Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival
September 23
Kennywood is hosting the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival – an event dedicated to one of Pittsburgh’s most popular foods, and a symbol of the city. Eat specialty pierogis from dozens of vendors, paint your own pierogi with Paint Monkey, and ride a select number of rides. 2017’s Pierogi Fest featured 40 vendors offered dozens of different pierogi styles, great music and entertainment, and the ability to ride some of Kennywood’s most popular attractions. A beer garden will be available for 21+ guests.
Soergel’s Fall Festival
Weekends September 23 – October 31
Soergel’s typically celebrates the season with six weekends of fall festivals! Each weekend will feature food from Sorgel’s BBQ and food bar (including roasted corn while supplies last), as well as desserts from their Sweet Saloon. There will also be hayrides, a pumpkin patch, kettle corn, pick your own apples, face painting, games, and so much more! For the 21+ crowd Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, Arrowhead Wine Cellars, Arsenal Cider, and Aurochs Brewing Company have all been on site in the past. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
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