After an extremely successful first year in Centennial Park (thanks, weather gods!) The Music City Food & Wine Festival is ready to announce the details of year two, coming up April 24-26.
Brought to you by our friends in at FW Publishing Events (that's the events department here at Scene ownership company FW Publishing), this year’s iteration of the festival will shine a spotlight on even more of your favorite local food stars through special chef dinners hosted in Nashville restaurants (Monday, April 20, through Thursday, April 23), the return of the Big Gay Brunch at venues around town (Saturday, April 24) and three days and nights of events at Centennial Park.
We’ll continue to share the news as even more talent signs on to participate in the coming weeks, but there are already plenty of details in place to make you want to mark your calendar and snatch up those tickets before they sell out. Just to give you an idea of some of the James Beard-nominated, Michelin-recognized and Nashville-beloved culinary rock stars who have already signed on to participate, check out this all-star roster:
Vivek Surti, the creative force behind Michelin Guide Recommended restaurant Tailor; 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists Julio Hernandez of Maiz de la Vida and Dung “Junior” Vo of Noko Hospitality; Jess Lambert of etch; Marcio Florez of Limo Peruvian; Kristin Beringson of Henley; Brian Riggenbach and Mikey Coronado of Tio Fun and The Mockingbird; Mark Grimes from A. Marshall Hospitality; Frank Pullara of Culaccino and Culamar; Steven Agosto of Prime + Proper; Marcelo Han of Superica; Shane Nasby of Cledis Burgers; Mike Parhm of The Optimist; Jeffrey Martin from UP Hospitality Partners; Julie Oku from O-Ku Sushi Nashville; Chris Espanol from Oak Steakhouse; CJ Jacobson from Aba; Matt Needle from Little Rey; Omar Bernal from The Sicilian Butcher; Andrew Rodriquez from Blue Aster; Chris Ayala from Indaco Nashville; Ty Palms from GATHRE at Hotel Fraye.
Waldo's tent at Music City Food & Wine 2025
Even within that list of heavy hitters, Mark Waldo of Waldo’s Chicken & Beer will gather his own A-Team to host his Waldo Chicken & Chefs experience, where some of the South’s favorite chefs will cook on Friday and Saturday on the festival grounds in Centennial Park. Waldo has invited a special lineup of regional and local chefs, including Ben Brainard from Waldo’s, Leigh Kingsbery from The Sauce Boss and Andrew Dodd from Little Hats Italian Market. This was a really fun activation last year, so be sure to drop by and watch them cook. (And eat their food!)
The party in the park will kick off on Friday night, April 24, with a new event called the Southern Fried Hootenanny, a tasting event featuring soulful Southern food from more than 25 local restaurants, along with craft cocktails shaken and stirred using regional ingredients, a dedicated whiskey and beer garden and musical entertainment curated and provided by the kings of honky-tonk, Robert’s Western World. Tickets for the Hootenanny are already on sale at the festival website.
Friday night will be great, but Saturday night will be grand, as in the Grand Tasting in Centennial Park with tastings from more than 50 different wine and spirits purveyors, plus small bites from more than 40 of the best restaurants in town.
To wit:
Aba, Acme, A-Roi, Blue Aster, Chauhan Ale & Masala House, Cledis Burgers & Beers, Culaccino Nashville, Daddy’s Dogs, Deacon’s New South, Decker & Dyer, Dos Santos, etch, etc., Five Points Pizza, GATHRE at Hotel Fraye, Germantown Café, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, HEARTS Nashville, Henley, Indaco, Joyland, Karrington Rowe, Kase x Noko, LA Jackson, Limo Peruvian, Little Rey, Mesero, The Mockingbird, Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku, The Optimist, Park Café, Prime + Proper, Puckett’s Restaurant, Ricey & Co., Ruby Sunshine, Saffire Restaurant, The Sicilian Butcher, Soho House Nashville, The Southern Steak & Oyster, Superica, Sushi | Bar, Tio Fun, Villa Castrioti, Waldo’s Chicken & Beer and more names to come.
Saturday attendees can enjoy live culinary demos, educational experiences, the Mixology Competition, wine seminars and live music throughout the night.
(You may have noticed that we're not talking about the annual Iron Fork culinary competition, which was a part of the Saturday festivities last year. Don't worry — Iron Fork will be back in the fall. We decided it deserved its own spotlight.)
Like Woodstock after the horde of hippies crashed the fences at Max Yasgur’s farm in Woodstock, on Sunday, it’s a free festival! From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., MCFW will throw a Food Faire where attendees can sample, browse and purchase items from more than 50 vendors and food purveyors stretched across the Great Lawn at Centennial Park. There will also be live music and fun demos and seminars throughout the day.
Arnold Myint at Music City Food & Wine 2025
There is still plenty of info to come, especially with the full announcements of Intimate Dinners and Big Gay Brunch participants, so keep your eyes on this space. In the meantime, tickets are already on sale for the individual Friday and Saturday events, or for a combo general admission or VIP ticket package for the Southern Fried Hootenanny and Grand Tasting. Get yours before they’re gone, and we’ll see you in the park!
