Crave Food + Music Festival
Beef and chicken skewers grilling over coals at the festival

The Food · July 31 – August 1

Come Hungry

More than 20 local restaurants and food-makers — fine dining to street eats. Pull up a chair and bring your appetite.

The food lineup reflects a Lexington that continues to grow while staying connected to its roots. Longtime favorites share space with newer voices, showcasing the city's increasingly diverse culinary identity. More than 20 local restaurants and food-makers will be on the grounds — pull up a chair and bring your appetite.

A bowl of creamy grits topped with bacon, parmesan, and chives from Daughter's Southern.
Southern

Daughter's Southern

Tradition honored through locally minded, family-inspired Southern cooking.

Oaxacan dishes from Mazunte.
Oaxacan

Mazunte

The bold flavors of Oaxaca through handmade tacos, tamales, tostadas, and fresh guacamole.

A Thai dish from Jasmine Rice.
Thai

Jasmine Rice

Beloved owner Kukie's Thai kitchen — a gathering place for so many in the community.

Schnitzel and spätzle in a creamy sauce from Spatzle Factory.
German

Spatzle Factory

Owner Mark Vogt draws on the flavors he fell in love with during two decades stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army.

A Caribbean plate from Irie Flavors.
Caribbean

Irie Flavors

The vibrant tastes of the Caribbean brought to the Bluegrass.

A loaded waffle dish from Flying Waffle.
Southern Comfort

Flying Waffle

Kentucky comfort food, bourbon-inspired flavors, and Southern hospitality.

A Colombian plate from Cardira's Columbian.
Colombian

Cardira's Columbian

Homemade chorizo, crispy pork belly chicharrones, patacones, arepas, salchipapas, and sweet, freshly made churros.

A smoked barbecue platter from Hogtown Social Eatery.
Barbecue

Hogtown Social Eatery

Harrodsburg's hometown smokehouse bringing low-and-slow Kentucky barbecue — pulled pork, brisket, and all the fixings — to the festival grounds.

A Cajun dish from Louisiana Passion.
Cajun

Louisiana Passion

Chef Stephen Vaughn's Lexington-based Cajun and Southern food truck — jambalaya, shrimp étouffée, gumbo, and bread pudding with bourbon crème.

Wise Bird Cider.
Cider

Wise Bird Cider

Local cider makers pouring throughout the festival.

A Cannabuzz Champagne Blush mocktail poured into a glass.
Mocktail Bar

Cannabuzz

A pioneering cannabis mocktail bar, on-site all weekend long.

Authentic Mexican ice cream from Panchitos.
Mexican Ice Cream

Panchitos Ice Cream

A taste of Mexico from Lexington's own New Circle Road shop — authentic Mexican ice cream, paletas, and frozen treats to cool you down between sets.

Three Southern-style cheeseburger sliders with fries from Southern Sliders.
Sliders

Southern Sliders

A Kentucky food truck serving up handcrafted sliders with homestyle country sides — small sandwiches, big Southern flavor.

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A tall iced brown-sugar boba milk tea from Bumble Bites.
Bubble Tea & Asian Treats

Bumble Bites

A bite of happiness — Lexington's boba shop pouring fruit teas and milk teas, and rolling out onigiri, taiyaki, egg tarts, ube espresso layered dessert, macarons, and a lineup of cheesecake flavors.

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A homestyle fried chicken bowl on a red doily from Salt Mine Cafe.
American

Salt Mine Cafe of Owingsville

A home-cooked American kitchen tucked into the pocket of Owingsville — fresh-baked pastries at sunrise, comfort classics all day.

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A trio of colorful ube, matcha, and cream swirl pastries from Purple Yum Asian Bakery.
Asian Bakery

Purple Yum Asian Bakery

Lexington's first Asian bakery — ube, matcha, and pork floss pastries, layered cakes, fresh-baked milk bread, and ube lattes.

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A grilled tomato and cheese sandwich on red-checkered paper with a side of dipping sauce from The Sister Shack.
Soul Food

The Sister Shack

A Lexington food-truck favorite turning out grilled sandwiches, mac and cheese, and homestyle soul food with love from the sisters.

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A bowl of butter chicken curry and a plate of Nepalese momos from Everest.
Nepalese & Indian

Everest Nepalese & Indian Cuisine

Lexington's first Nepali restaurant — handmade Himalayan momos, butter chicken, tikka masala, biryani, and curries from the high country.

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Chef Ouita Michel.

Farm-to-Table Pioneer

The Ouita Michel Restaurants

Perhaps no one has done more to shape modern Kentucky food than Ouita Michel, whose commitment to local agriculture and regional identity helped define the farm-to-table movement long before it became fashionable. This year, all of Michel's restaurants will be represented through their beloved side dishes — a reminder that sometimes the most memorable part of a meal isn't the centerpiece, but everything around it.

And More to Come

This is just a taste — more food-makers to be announced.

With 20+ local restaurants and vendors on the grounds, we're still rolling out the full lineup. Follow @cravelexington for the latest vendor drops.

On the Grounds

Grilled oysters at the festival.
Sausage skewers on the grill.
A gourmet slider.
A chicken and rice dish.
A spread of festival dishes.
Food and drinks at Gatton Park.

Vendor lineup subject to change. Follow @cravelexington for the latest.

Tickets · July 31 – August 1

Get Your Tickets

$15 weekend pass · Kids 10 & under free. Two days of food, music, and good times at Gatton Park in downtown Lexington.

Get Tickets