Loosened belt? Wet wipes ready? Appetite stimulated? Sounds like you’re ready for CRAVE Food + Music Festival. The beloved Smiley Pete Publishing event is returning to Masterson Station Park on Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug. 27, and we’ve got all the delectable details.
Know before you go
Before pulling into the Bluegrass Fairgrounds ravenous, be sure to go ahead and download the CRAVE app on your phone. Here, you can create an account, browse the event map, as well as buy + reload CRAVE Bucks via a unique QR code (more on that later).
Admission into the festival can either be purchased ahead of time or at the gate entrance for $10 per day or $15 for the whole weekend.
Once in, that’s when you can purchase CRAVE Bucks, which is a digital currency that can be used at any of the booths. Here are some facts:
- Every dollar is equivalent to one CRAVE Buck
- Most menu items will range between $3-$5
- According to the website, an average adult spends $30-$40 + a family of four spends $100.
However, vendors and bars can accept cash or credit payments — CRAVE bucks are only required at food booths. Got it? Now let’s get to the good stuff.
Food
Like we said, come hungry, because around 40 vendors will be there serving up dishes across the spectrum. From fine dining to fried chicken, think of it like a culinary tour de Lexington. Here are some local local favorites to expect:
Activities + music
Along with bites galore, there’s fun for the whole family at CRAVE. Take a dance break during your culinary excursion by catching live music featuring everything from jazz to Latin.
Need more eats? Head to the CRAVE Kitchen stage — hosted by Kentucky native + “Food Network Star” Season 13 winner Jason Smith and directed by Black Soil: Our Better Nature — for live demonstrations and performances.
