Taste of the Seaport, the yearly food festival that raises money for two Lower Manhattan public schools, is set for this Saturday, Oct. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. on Piers 16 and 17 at the Seaport. The festival had been planned for late September; its organizers now list Oct. 24 as the date across their ticketing pages.

Restaurants, music and a free KidZone

The festival brings together restaurants from across the Seaport and the Financial District, which the organizers describe as ranging from chef-driven dining rooms to neighborhood spots, along with live entertainment and family activities. The 2026 list of participating restaurants had not been posted on the festival site as of Friday morning.

The KidZone is free and open to every family, with no festival ticket required. The South Street Seaport Museum runs activities there, including programming aboard Wavertree, the museum's tall ship built in 1885 and berthed at the Seaport.

Where the money goes

Proceeds support two neighborhood elementary schools: Spruce Street School, P.S. 397, and Peck Slip School, P.S. 343.

Tickets

Entry to the tasting area is ticketed, with general and VIP options sold through the festival's website. The VIP ticket includes six tastes, three drinks, chef demonstrations, access to a separate bar and entry into premium raffles. A VIP table for four adds a reserved table, a welcome pour and extra bites.

The VIP raffle prizes listed by the organizers include a Nexus Club membership, a staycation at the Gild Hall hotel with dinner at Felice, and dining certificates for Crown Shy and Delmonico's.

How to go

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 4 p.m.
  • Where: Piers 16 and 17, the Seaport, off South Street at Fulton Street
  • Tickets: At tasteoftheseaport.org; the KidZone is free
  • Beneficiaries: Spruce Street School (P.S. 397) and Peck Slip School (P.S. 343)

The closest trains are the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J and Z at Fulton Street, about a 10-minute walk east to the water. The M15 bus runs along Water Street and Pearl Street, and the NYC Ferry stops at Pier 11/Wall Street, a short walk south along the East River Esplanade.

Sources