Work

Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival

What began as a two-day tasting event at The Ritz-Carlton in White Plains has grown into a week-long, county-wide celebration—now recognized as the Hudson Valley’s premier culinary festival. For over 15 years, Thompson & Bender has proudly partnered with Westchester Magazine to manage and grow this iconic event, which now features seven signature experiences and draws thousands of food and wine lovers from across the region.

From intimate wine dinners to large-scale outdoor gatherings like Party on the Playland Pier, Burger & Beer Blast, and the Grand Tasting Village at Kensico Dam Plaza, the festival showcases the best in local cuisine, craft beverages, and culinary talent—all while supporting the Westchester Parks Foundation and hundreds of small businesses.

PROJECT INFO

Challenge

Back in 2010, Westchester Magazine’s late publisher, Ralph A. Martinelli, had a vision: to create a signature event that would celebrate food, wine, and community. Inspired by a similar festival previously managed by Thompson & Bender for The Journal News/LoHud.com, he saw the potential to build something even more dynamic under the Westchester Magazine brand.

The challenge was clear—to build a standout culinary event from scratch and grow it into one of the region’s most anticipated annual traditions.

Solution

From inception to execution, Thompson & Bender has served as the festival’s strategic event management and public relations partner. Our scope of work includes:

  • Event Planning & Management: Securing venues, coordinating logistics, recruiting chefs and restaurants, managing vendors, and ensuring smooth execution across multiple events.
  • Program Development: Crafting event programming, managing chef demos, curating wine dinners, and organizing competitions.
  • Publicity & Media Relations: Generating awareness through press releases, media pitching, interviews, and press events.
  • Advertising & Promotions: Developing and managing multi-channel advertising and promotional campaigns while ensuring maximum sponsor visibility.
  • Sponsor & Vendor Coordination: Partnering with Westchester Magazine to attract and manage sponsors, vendors, and participating culinary talent.

From 20 restaurants and a few hundred guests in 2010 to more than 6,750 attendees today, the festival has expanded to include:

  • Party on the Playland Pier—A high-energy waterfront event drawing over 1,200 guests.
  • Burger & Beer Blast—Westchester’s largest burger competition, with 3,000+ attendees.
  • Grand Tasting Village—The signature event welcoming 3,500+ guests for gourmet bites, wine, and chef demos.
  • Plus exclusive wine dinners, chef-led tastings, and a Sunday Bubbly Brunch.
Westchester Magazines Wine Food Festival 1

Over the years, the festival’s scale and flavor have grown exponentially. In 2024 alone, the festival delivered an unforgettable experience—here’s a taste of what we served up:

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Restaurants and food trucks featured
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Glasses poured at Grand Tasting alone
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Live chef demos