Outdoor food & beer festivals this weekend

CTvisit’s weekend guide for May 15-17 put outdoor food and beer events at the center of its Connecticut lineup this week, steering readers to a craft beer festival in Willimantic and a three-day food truck gathering in Wolcott. The state tourism site framed the weekend around “Spring Beer Fests” and outdoor activities, with event listings that also included concerts, markets and historical commemorations. Two of the clearest food-and-drink draws are Thread City Hop Fest on Sunday and the CT Food Truck Battles Festival running Friday through Sunday. Both are listed with times, locations and ticket details on CTvisit’s event pages. ### Which Connecticut food and beer events are on the weekend list? May 17 is the date for Thread City Hop Fest at Jillson Square in Willimantic, according to CTvisit. The event page says the festival runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and marks the 11th annual Hop Fest. CTvisit’s listing says tickets are limited and priced at $50 plus fees in advance, or $65 plus fees at the gate if any remain. (ctvisit.com) May 15-17 are the dates for the CT Food Truck Battles Festival at Woodtick Rec Area in Wolcott, CTvisit says. The state tourism listing describes it as a spring event spread across more than three acres, with food vendors, crafters, carnival rides, live music and food-eating contests. ### What does the Willimantic beer festival include? Thread City Hop Fest is described by CTvisit as a gathering where “the brewers are signing up and the food trucks are getting on board.” The event page says the festival is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at Jillson Square, 645 Main Street in Willimantic. (ctvisit.com) BeerFests, which handles ticketing for the event, says the 2026 festival runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Willimantic. (ctvisit.com) A separate event listing says the festival is organized by Willimantic Brewing Company under the fiscal umbrella of Willimantic Renaissance Inc. and is a fundraiser. ### What can visitors expect in Wolcott? CTvisit says the CT Food Truck Battles Festival will feature 50 mobile food vendors and more than 100 crafters. (ctvisit.com) The event page also lists a giant carnival with more than 15 rides and games, a petting zoo, two live music stages and brewery competitions. Friday, May 15, includes a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., according to the CTvisit event page. (events.beerfests.com) Saturday’s program includes a ticketed concert appearance by HUGO The Ultimate Journey Tribute, while comedian Dave Reilly is listed as host of the food-eating battles. ### How much do these festivals cost? Thread City Hop Fest lists general admission at $50 plus fees in advance and $65 plus fees at the gate, if tickets remain, according to CTvisit. (ctvisit.com) The event page says the festival runs only on Sunday. CT Food Truck Battles lists general admission at $10 for adults, with children 10 and under admitted free and seniors and military admitted free, CTvisit says. (ctvisit.com) The same page says Saturday concert seating starts at $30 and includes festival entry for the day. ### Where else is CTvisit pointing readers for food-focused plans? CTvisit’s broader upcoming-events page also lists “Girl Dinner” at Dockside Brewery through May 26 and a Friday dinner event in Litchfield on May 15 under its foodie category. (ctvisit.com) The weekend roundup itself places the food and beer events alongside other statewide activities rather than as a standalone festival package. May 15-17 remains the key window for the outdoor festival push on CTvisit’s guide. (ctvisit.com) Readers can find the full weekend lineup on CTvisit’s “This Weekend” page, while tickets for Thread City Hop Fest and CT Food Truck Battles are linked from the individual event listings for Willimantic and Wolcott. (ctvisit.com) (ctvisit.com)