Spiedie Fest

Spiedie sandwich. Littlelago123 / wikimedia / 2020 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Spiedie Fest happens on the first weekend in August every year in Binghamton, New York.

It celebrates the tangy and smoky taste of the marinated and grilled meat sandwich known as a “spiedie“.

What’s your favourite meat in a spiedie? Beef, bison, chicken, goat, lamb, pork, venison? You can get vegan and tofu ones now, too.

The annual event about 500 volunteers and attracts around 80,000 people over the four days.

#SpiedieFest #Spiedies

See also: Spiedies

Activities include:

• a cooking competition;
• food and craft vendors;
• beer and wine garden tent;
• games;
• festival and concert;
• balloon rally;
• drone competition.

Website: https://www.spiediefest.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/binghamtonspiediefest/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spiediefest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiedie_fest

History

The Spiedie Fest started in 1984. ^[1]The history of Spiedie Fest. Binghamton, New York: WBNG-TV. 3 August 2018. Accessed September 2021 at https://wbng.com/2018/08/03/the-history-of-spiedie-fest/

It has changed locations several times since then. It started in Otsiningo Park ^[2]Festival History. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.spiediefest.com/festival-info/ , moved to the airport from 1996 to 1999, then back to Otsiningo Park. ^[3]The history of Spiedie Fest. Binghamton, New York: WBNG-TV. 3 August 2018. Accessed September 2021 at https://wbng.com/2018/08/03/the-history-of-spiedie-fest/

It was not held in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. For 2021, it was shortened to three days, and the dates moved to be later in the year: 8th to 10th October, inclusive, with the event starting early in the days to compensate for the earlier sunsets at that time of the year.

Sources

Binghamton’s Spiediefest Announces Dates For 2021 Comeback. Binghamton, New York: WHMK FM Radio. 7 May 2021. Accessed September 2021 at https://981thehawk.com/spiediefest-is-coming-back/

Birdsall, Rich. The 2018 Spiedie Fest Concert Line-Up Has Been Announced! Johnson City, New York: WLTB Radio. 2 May 2018. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.magic1017fm.com/2018/05/02/the-2018-spiedie-fest-concert-line-up-has-been-announced/

Gilroy, Maggie. Spiedie Fest ends with cooking contest, concert. Binghamton, NY: Press Connects. 7 August 2016. Accessed September 2021 at http://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/2016/08/07/spiedie-fest-ends-cooking-contest-highest-attended-concert-history/88363636/

Hinchey, Maurice D. Hinchey. Spiedie Fest. Accessed September 2021 at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/loc.afc.afc-legacies.200003393/

Murray, Jeff. After a year off, popular Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally to return to Binghamton. Binghamton, NY: Press Connects. 12 August 2021. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2021/08/12/binghamton-spiedie-fest-returns-october-balloon-rally-live-music/8107514002/

Sullivan, Katie. Classic rockers to perform at Spiedie Fest. Rochester, New York: The Democrat and Chronicle. 31 May 2017. Accessed September 2021 at https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/entertainment/2017/05/31/classic-rockers-perform-spiedie-fest/102209324/