New York state is home to food and drink festivals throughout the year, but fall brings some of the state's biggest celebrations of local food, harvests and culinary traditions.
From the 100th annual Feast of San Gennaro
in New York City's Little Italy to harvest festivals highlighting New York farms, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy food and fall traditions from September through November.Here are five food festivals taking place across New York this fall.
Feast of San Gennaro — New York City
New York City's Little Italy is celebrating the 100th annual Feast of San Gennaro this year. The traditional religious celebration honors San Gennaro, the Bishop of Benevento who was martyred during the Roman Empire.
Immigrants from Naples who moved to New York City in the early 20th
century helped transform the religious celebration into a street festival along Mulberry Street. The festival has been held annually since 1926 and draws thousands of visitors to Little Italy each year. The 2026 festival runs through Sept. 27.
Highlights include food vendors, live music and the Grand Procession of San Gennaro on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Admission is free, though food and other purchases vary by vendor.
Location: Mulberry Street and surrounding streets in Little Italy, Manhattan.
Great Cortland Pumpkinfest — Cortland
Cortland will celebrate the fall harvest Oct. 3-4 with the 29th annual Great Cortland Pumpkinfest.
The festival features live music, carnival rides, a craft show with more than 50 local vendors, pumpkin-themed food and merchandise, and a pumpkin decorating contest.
The Great Cortland Pumpkinfest takes place Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free, though carnival rides and vendor purchases cost extra.
Location: Cortland Courthouse Park, 33 Church St., Cortland.
The Oyster Fest — Oyster Bay
Long Island's Oyster Fest returns Oct. 17-18 in Oyster Bay.
The waterfront festival celebrates the area's oyster-growing history, with oysters served in a variety of ways, including on the half shell, baked, fried and in chowder.
The festival also features local vendors, live music and carnival rides along Audrey Avenue and in downtown Oyster Bay.
Oyster Fest takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is free, though food, rides and other purchases vary by vendor.
Location: 1 Shore Ave., Oyster Bay.
Apple Harvest Festival — Ithaca
The Apple Harvest Festival returns to downtown Ithaca Sept. 25-27 for its 44th year.
The festival transforms the Ithaca Commons into a celebration of apples, local farms and fall food. Visitors can browse local vendors and food stands, listen to live music and take part in family activities.
The festival also features a petting zoo, bounce house, apple-themed activities, a scavenger hunt and the annual apple pie eating contest.
Friday's schedule includes the Ithaca Student Showcase, featuring performances by student groups from local colleges.
The Apple Harvest Festival runs Friday, Sept. 25, from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is free.
Location: Ithaca Commons, Ithaca.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 4 fall food festivals worth visiting in New York in 2026
