One of New York City’s biggest music festivals, the Governors Ball (aka Gov Ball), is back soon, with three days filled with concerts, dancing, and general merriment. The 16th edition takes place in Queens at Flushing Meadows Corona Park from Friday, June 5, through Sunday, June 7, with headliners like pop royalty Lorde, rapper A$AP Rocky, and Korean boy band Stray Kids.
Governors Ball’s food lineup offers a bunch of familiar New York restaurants and vendors, some sourced straight from the neighboring Queens Night Market (which is taking place on Saturday, June 6, so check it out at the same time). To help make dining at the three-day Queens music festival easier, use this handy guide on what and where to eat during Gov Ball.
What to eat during Governors Ball
The festival grounds,
near the beautiful Unisphere, feature five main food courts for general admission ticket holders, four in a cluster along the northwest section of the grounds.
For lunch:
Twisted Potato: Okay, so the Queens Night Market vendor’s namesake dish is a food festival gimmick, but it’s fun — and good. Seasonings include ketchup, Buffalo sauce, salt-and-vinegar, and Parmesan garlic, plus there are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Located at Queens Night Market Selects, food court no. 1 in the northwest area
Matylda’s Polish Food: The Queens Night Market vendor is thankfully slinging pierogi. Mix and match vegetarian fillings like potato-cheddar, potato-onions, potato-jalapeños, sauerkraut-mushrooms, and spinach-farmers cheese. For non-dumplings, order up the croquettes with cheese and mushrooms. And for people seeking meat, the stand also has Polish kielbasa. For a touch of sharpness, add a half-sour pickle. Located at Queens Night Market Selects food court no. 1 in the northwest area
Tacombi: The NYC-based taqueria chain is selling tacos with gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly iterations. Located at DoorDash Tasty Row food court no. 3 in the northwest area
La Braza: Another Queens Night Market spot, this one is serving up Ecuadorian meat skewers and roasted corn, with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Located at Queens Night Market Selects, food court no. 1 in the northwest area
For dinner:
Eemas Cuisine: Find really fun musubi at this Hawaiian and Filipino stand, which is also a Queens Night Market staple. Located at Queens Night Market Selects, food court no. 1 in the northwest area
Gotham Burger Social Club: Yes, smash burgers are everywhere (even at this festival), and this Lower East Side/Greenpoint burger joint serves up a really great rendition. There’s the namesake Gotham Smash, a classic smash burger with grilled onions, American cheese, pickles, jalapeño, club sauce, ketchup, and mustard. For vegetarians, there’s the Veg’N-Out, plus a gluten-free option. Located at Center Food Run, food court no. 2 in the northeast area
Potluck Club: The Michelin Bib Gourmand Cantonese American restaurant in Chinatown will be serving food at the festival. Located at DoorDash Tasty Row, food court no. 3 in the northwest area
Piadi: One of Italy’s biggest fast-casual chains made its American debut in New York City earlier this year, and it’s already making its first Governors Ball appearance this summer, too. Expect its namesake flatbread, folded with cheeses, meats, and/or vegetables. Located at DoorDash Tasty Row, food court no. 3 in the northwest area
For desserts:
Fan Fan Doughnuts: The Bed-Stuy doughnut shop creates perfect doughnuts, which will be available at the festival. Flavors include strawberry shortcake, s’mores, passionfruit-coconut, and hibiscus-guava. Plus, there are caramel popcorn doughnut holes. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
La Newyorkina: Fan Fan founder Fany Gerson is also behind this New York City paleta stand. There are fruit paletas and creamy dairy-based ones. Roaming carts
Matcha N’ More: The roaming NYC-based matcha cafe is setting up shop at the festival, serving rich matcha soft serves and parfaits, along with lattes and lemonades. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
What to drink during Governors Ball
Coffee: Ohio-based chain Bru Brothers Coffee is brewing up coffee and cold brews. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
Juices: John’s Juice is churning out pineapple, watermelon, and coconut drinks served in their shells, with refills available. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
Boba: Tea and Milk will have milk teas and the like, with boba add-ons. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
Matcha: Matcha N’ More is whisking up matcha lattes and strawberry-matcha lattes. Located at Sweet Street, food court no. 4 in the northeast area
Mixed alcoholic drinks: For boozy purposes, check out summery cocktails with Hennessy, margaritas by Patron, and others. Throughout the festival grounds
Beer: Find brews by Corona and Kona Big Wave.
General Governors Ball festival tips
- We all know this, right? No outside food or drinks are allowed inside the grounds.
- It’s an outdoor event — wear comfortable shoes!
- Keep hydrated, too — empty plastic or metal water bottles and those hydration backpacks are allowed; there are water refill stations.
- It looks like temperatures will be in the low 80s during the daytime and drop to the high 60s at night. So wear sunscreen — only small containers of creams, lotions, and stick creams are allowed; drink lots of water; and bring a layer, like a cardigan or a light jacket, for when it gets chillier.
- Little bags are fine, but bigger bags need to be clear; double-check your measurements.
- No physical cash is accepted.
Where to eat near Governors Ball
If you wanna venture outside of the festival grounds before/after your shows, here are Eater’s best guides to Queens.
- The Best New Restaurants in Queens
- The Best Restaurants in Flushing’s Chinatown
- Where to Eat in Jackson Heights
Where to eat and drink elsewhere in New York City
For wider NYC dining and drinking needs:
- The 38 Best Restaurants in New York City
- The Best NYC Bars and Restaurants to Celebrate Pride
- The Best Brunch Spots in New York City
- The Best Late-Night Food in New York City
- The Best New Bars in New York City
- The Best Dive Bars in New York City
