CRAVE Festival returns with 40-plus food vendors, live music, bourbon tastings and more.
The CRAVE Food and Music Festival is returning to Lexington for its ninth year and is welcoming more food vendors than ever, according to organizers.
The festival, produced by Smiley Pete Publishing, will be July 30-31 at the Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masterson Station Park. More than 40 participating restaurants and vendors will be serving special entrees and samples at price points ranging from $2-5 and up.
As in previous years, festival-goers can purchase CRAVE Bucks, a digital currency that is used to purchase food and drinks from vendors, on CRAVE’s website, cravelexington.com.
CRAVE recommends buying CRAVE Bucks prior to the festival but they can be purchased at the festival using the festival web site or app.
Food vendors will only accept CRAVE Bucks, and bars will accept CRAVE Bucks, cash and credit/debit cards.
The popular festival will be taking place during another favorite local foodie event, Lexington Restaurant Week which runs July 21 to July 31.
List of restaurants at CRAVE Festival 2022
Here’s the lineup of restaurants who will be serving at the festival:
Aunt Peaches Catering Company, Bae’s Bakery, Bourbon n’ Toulouse, The Catered Dog, C & J Foodbar, Condado’s Taco, Cotton & Cone, The Cuban Corner, Drake’s, Eddie’s Roasted Corn, El Patron, Empanada Queen, The Flying Waffle, Goodwood Brewing, Griffin’s Kitchen, Graze with AK, Habibi’s, Holly Hill Family of Restaurants (Holly Hill Inn, Wallace Station, Midway Bakery, Zim’s Cafe, Windy Corner, Smithtown Seafood and Honeywood), Hogtown BBQ Social Eatery, Inebriated Baker, Jasmine Rice, J&T’s Italian Ice, Kona Ice, LaRosa’s, Louisiana Passion Catering, Maty’s Authentic Peruvian Cuisine, Mister Softee, Mi Pequena Hacienda, Nathan’s Taqueria, Old Kentucky Kettle Corn, Papa Pretzel, Pho Kytchen, The Pie Queen of BG, Piggin’ Out, Rolling Oven Pizza, San’s Healthy Choices, Sav’s Chill, Stoner’s Pizza Joint and Thea’s Bass & Biddy.
New food vendors this year include Maty’s Peruvian Cuisine, The Flying Waffle and Condado Tacos.
Award-winning Kentucky chef Ouita Michel will also be at the festival doing a cooking demonstration, as will Food Network chef and Kentucky native Jason “Lord Honey” Smith. Other culinary events will include Lady Remoulade, Black Soil, a Bloody Mary Drag Demo hosted by Uma Jewel, a bourbon and cheese pairing, a charcuterie demonstration and a Heaven Hill whiskey tasting with brand ambassador Bernie Lubbers and bourbon steward Tom Wilmes.
Music, cars, family activities
Along with a variety of food options, there will also be live music from 10 acts including the Restless Leg String Band and Hot Brown Smackdown; the CRAVE Classic Car Show; cornhole tournaments and other activities for people of all ages.
“The restaurant and entertainment industries were among the top hit by the pandemic, and we are thrilled to celebrate their incredible contributions to our community,” said festival director Amy Eddie.
CRAVE Food + Music Festival
When: July 30, noon to 11 p.m., and July 31, noon to 7 p.m.
Where: Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masteron Station Park, 3051 Leestown Road
Tickets: $10 admission fee per day or $15 weekend pass for both days. Kids aged 10 and under get in free. To buy food, you must purchase CRAVE Bucks online in advance or on the app at the festival.
Online: cravelexington.com
This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 6:00 AM.