Hey foodies! If you’re in Northern Virginia (or within reach), you have to circle your calendar for October 11–12, 2025 — that’s when Taste of NoVA returns in full force. This two-day festival is shaping up to be the region’s ultimate fall celebration of flavors, culinary creativity, and community. Whether you're a casual eater or a serious gourmand, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of it.
What Is Taste of NoVA?
Taste of NoVA is an annual food & drink festival brought to you by Northern Virginia Magazine. It spotlights over 120+ chefs, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries across the region, offering unlimited tasting, chef demos, panels, and experiences that go beyond “just food.” In 2025, it’s not just about sampling, it’s about tapping into what goes on behind the scenes, from cocktail technique to sustainability, food waste, and ingredient stories.
Dates, Venue & Format
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Dates: October 11 & 12, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)
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Hours: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM both days
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New Venue: NOVA Live, Manassas - the festival field next to MurLarkey
⚠️ The venue change was prompted by a government shutdown temporarily affecting the original site.
Two-Day Format Breakdown
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Day 1 – Signature Sips & Bites (Oct 11)
Focused on beverage explorations: wines, spirits, brews, plus light bites. -
Day 2 – Grand Tasting (Oct 12)
The heavier foodie day: over 50 restaurants will serve up their signature dishes.
You can also opt for a two-day pass to get the full experience across both days. Buy your tickets HERE!
What’s New This Year
2025 is leveling up the experience. Here’s what’s new and exciting:
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Expanded Duration: First time the event runs for two days.
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Live Chef Demonstrations: Watch chefs like Matt Hill (Ruthie’s All-Day) and Bertrand Chemel (2941 Restaurant) work their magic live.
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Speaker Panels & Intimate Conversations: Dive into sessions on wine, distilling, mixology, and more, led by field experts.
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Lifetime Achievement Spotlight: Chef Patrick O’Connell (The Inn at Little Washington) will be honored and will join a conversation about his storied career.
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Local Chef & Restaurant Participation: Many participating chefs represent the Fairfax / NoVA region.
Featured Participants & Highlights
The lineup is stellar. Here are just a few highlights:
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Restaurants to watch: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm, CHIKO, Bastille Brasserie & Bar, and many others.
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Beverage scene: Local wineries, breweries, and distilleries will showcase their best — including Titik Thai, Catoctin Creek, and many Virginia-based spirits.
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Speaker lineups & experiences:
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The Art of Craft Distilling (Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek)
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Decoding Wine Speak (Tracy Waldron, Virginia Wine & Spirits Academy)
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Mixology Master Class with Jeremy Ross from Tiki Thai
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Kitchen Confidential, Global Table, and more themed sessions
Enjoy the Event!
As someone who loves exploring flavors, culture, and local stories, Taste of NoVA is one of those rare events where you get to “walk through” the food scene in a few hours. You get to meet the people behind the dishes, learn about techniques, sip drinks you might never have tried, and come away full and happy.
If you’re visiting from outside NoVA or even just coming from across Northern Virginia - bring your appetite, your curiosity, and your camera.
- Marnie Schaar