BQFF's Opening Sizzle

Where: Sweet Cheeks Q

When: 6-9PM

Tickets: $50

Kicking off our inaugural week with an unforgettable opening night hosted by the one and only Tiffani Faison — James Beard finalist, Top Chef alum, and one of Boston’s most celebrated culinary voices at her restaurant Sweet Cheeks Q in Fenway. There’ll be incredible food, expertly crafted drinks, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass as we cut the ribbon on a citywide celebration of queer talent, taste, and community.

Big Queer Beer Meet-Up

Where: Dorchester Brewing Co

When: 6-9PM

Free, but RSVP if possible

Dorchester Brewing, known for its stunning rooftop views of the Boston skyline and its bright, welcoming taproom, is throwing open its doors for a fun and vibrant evening with Big Queer Food Fest. Come hang with fellow queers over expertly brewed beers, tasty bites, and good vibes. Whether you’re sipping something hoppy, malty, or alcohol-free, it’s a great excuse to gather, mingle, and toast to community.

Free RSVP link coming soon!

Big Queer Celeb Chef Dinner

Where: Bar Volpe

When: 6PM for VIP, 7PM for Dinner

Tickets: $250 - 500

James Beard Award–winning chef Karen Akunowicz opens the doors to her acclaimed South Boston restaurant, Bar Volpe to host a truly immaculate dinner party with celebrated guest chefs Melissa King and Gabe Bertaccini for a one-night-only collaboration. Enjoy an exquisite multi-course meal showcasing bold, soulful flavors—each dish thoughtfully paired with craft cocktails and curated wines.

Mon, April 28th
Tue, April 29th
Wed, April 30th

An Incredible Week of Events Across Boston

BQFF's Cocktail Wars: The Finals

Where: Shore Leave

When: 9pm - late

Free, but support your local bartender!

Boston’s fiercest queer bartenders go head-to-head one last time in a no-holds-barred battle of booze and brilliance. With surprise ingredients, a rowdy crowd, and a panel of powerhouse judges from the city’s food, drink, and queer scenes, the finalists from two wild qualifier rounds are back to claim the title. Who will shake, stir, and slay their way to victory?

Sponsored by Absolut and Palm Bay

Girl, PEAS! Why Queer Food Matters

Where: 100 High Street, 9th Floor

When: 5:30pm, starts promptly at 6pm

Tickets: Free but RSVP required

In Automats and tiny studio apartments, at big-city hotspots, small-town diners, Sunday potlucks, and in the pages of cookbooks, queer people in America have been carving out a culinary identity for decades.

Join authors John Birdsall, Justin Burke, Melissa King, Jon Kung, and Erik Piepenburg for a spirited conversation about the chefs, recipes, restaurants, home kitchens, bathhouse snack bars, and unexpected places that have built queer community, fostered family, preserved our history, and changed the way everyone eats.

Books will be available for sale at the event by All She Wrote Books.

The Big Queer Tea Party Throwing Tea to the Sea!

Where: The Boston Tea Party Museum

When: 7-10PM

Tickets: $40

Sick of taxation without representation, our revolutionary forebears tossed tea into the harbor. Now, we’re making waves of our own—with high heels, sharp wit, and a whole lot of queer joy. Hosted by Boston's own queen royalte, Jujubee, this unapologetically fabulous takeover of The Boston Tea Party Museum in the Seaport District is all about sipping tea, serving tea, and throwing tea into the sea, honey!

Expect dazzling drag, an effervescent, high-camp vibe, and high tea bites by pastry chef Mai Nguyen, paired with delicious tea-infused cocktails and a fabulous selection of wines. A night of queer rebellion never tasted so sweet.

Wed, April 30th
Thur, May 1st
Thu, May 1st
WBUR's Curated Cuisine: Celebrating the LGBTQIA+ culinary community with Big Queer Food Fest

Where: WBUR CitySpace

When: Doors at 6pm, Begins at 7pm

Tickets: $10 - $30

WBUR senior arts and culture reporter Cristela Guerra moderates a conversation highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices shaping the food and wine industry with Mavis-Jay Sanders (James Beard Leadership Award winner), Karen Akunowicz (James Beard Award winner and chef-owner of Fox & the Knife and Bar Volpe), and Arnold Myint (James Beard Award semi-finalist and co-owner of International Market in Nashville).

The evening also features a live cooking demonstration from Sanders and a post-conversation bite for all guests.

Hosted by WBUR at CitySpace at 7pm.

BQFF's Grand Tasting - Day 1!

Where: High Street Place

When: 1PM - 4PM (VIP @ 11:30, EA @ 12PM)

Tickets: Starting at $95

The whole week leads up to our flagship two-day event! The Grand Tasting: Presented by Food Network.

It's an all-out, flavor-packed, high-energy celebration of the LGBTQIA+ culinary scene, where dozens of chefs, restaurants, distillers, winemakers, brewers, and more serve up signature bites and inspired specialties.

Enjoy DJs, legendary talent, and sickening surprise guests.

BQFF's Grand Tasting - Day 2: Drag Brunch Edition!

Where: High Street Place

When: 1PM - 4PM (VIP @ 11:30, EA @ 12PM)

Tickets: Starting at $95

The final day of our festival, and day 2 of our flagship event! The Grand Tasting: Presented by Food Network.

With a slew of new and exciting participating chefs and restaurants, we're serving up brunch vibes for a whole new culinary ballgame. Plus a HUGE roster of incredible queens performing will make this the largest drag brunch in HERSTORY!

Enjoy all new DJs, legendary talent, and sickening surprise guests.

Fri, May 2nd
Sat, May 3rd
Sun, May 4th
Big Queer Social Hours: Cute Mix & Mingle Moments Across Boston that Give Back

BQFF is sprinkling a little extra queer magic across the city with a series of pop-up social hours at beloved local venues. These cozy-cute gatherings are perfect for mixing and mingling, while enjoying special sips and bites. Each Social Hour features a curated menu with a charitable twist, benefiting our nonprofit partners BAGLY and Community Servings.

Venues, dates, and times to be announced soon.

All Week Long

And it all leads up to the most deliciously queer weekend of the year: The Grand Tasting

Join us Saturday & Sunday, May 3rd & 4th for Big Queer Food Fest's Grand Tasting! An all-out, flavor-packed, high-energy celebration of the LGBTQIA+ culinary scene.

Stay in the know!!

Subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to learn about BQFF event details.

Before the Week Kicks Off

BQFF's Cocktail Wars

Boston’s fiercest queer bartenders are stepping behind the bar and into the ring. In two high-stakes nights of shake-offs and showdowns, nine competitors will battle it out at each event — but only three from each round will advance to the grand finale. Expect bold pours, surprise ingredients, and the kind of energy that only a queer cocktail throwdown can deliver. Bring your crew, cheer your favorites, and witness the rise of Boston’s next cocktail legends. Proudly sponsored by Absolut.

Round One:

April 8th at 8 PM – Blend

Round Two:

April 23rd at 6:30 PM – Club Café

Opening Night Party

Wednesday, April 30th

Big Queer Food Fest kicks off its inaugural festival week with an immaculate cocktail party hosted by celebrated chef Tiffani Faison, featuring mouth-watering bites, delicious cocktails, and cutting the ribbon to a week of fabulous events hosted across the city.

Sweet Cheeks, Tenderoni's, Bubble Bath, Charming Gardner

Sweet Boy Desserts & Saltie Girl

Opening Night Party

Wednesday, April 29th, 6-9 PM

Big Queer Food Fest kicks off its festival week with an immaculate evening celebration at Boston Chops, Downtown Crossing, inviting the who’s who of Boston’s LGBTQIA+, hospitality, and political circles to cut the ribbon on a week of events hosted across the city, prepared by celebrated chef Tiffani Faison, pastry chef Ben Sidell, and more.

Sweet Cheeks, Tenderoni's, Bubble Bath, Charming Gardner

Sweet Boy Desserts & Saltie Girl

Meet Some of Our Participating Chefs

Detroit

Chef, cookbook author, third-culture culinary innovator, podcast host

Boston

Bar Volpe, Fox & The Knife, Fox & Flight

New York

James Beard award-nominated pastry chef, LGBTQ+ advocate

New Marlborough, MA

Acclaimed chef at Gedney Farm, TV Personality

New York

Owner, Edy's Grocer New York Times best-selling cookbook author

Mexico

NY Times-bestselling author, James Beard Award-winning chef, culinary ambassador

Boston

Para Maria & Rooftop at The Envoy

Incredible chefs from Boston and beyond are taking part in this first-of-its-kind food festival celebration!

New York

Pastry chef, TV personality, judge & host

Mystic, CT

Port of Call & Oyster Club

Boston

Niveaux Pastry, Mason's Steakhouse, Aatma Restaurant, & Fuji Restaurants

Events Across the City to Excite & Unite Us All

From chefs dinners and cocktail parties to queer bar happy hours and riveting panels, discussions, and meet & greets, Boston will be alive with opportunities to taste, savor, and sip on food and drinks crafted by incredible LGBTQIA+ chefs and bartenders.

Celebrity Chef Discussions

Unique opportunities to hear from and meet some of our community's best chefs, winemakers, and culinary voices at chef panels, book signings, meet & greets, and throughout the grand tasting.

One-of-a-Kind Chefs Dinners

Experience collaborative multi-course dinners prepared by acclaimed chefs, sharing their collective experiences through food, celebrating the contributions of the queer culinary world.

Queer Parties, Cocktails & Happy Hours

BQFF is teaming up with queer spaces from Fenway to Dorchester, bringing the good vibes and delicious bites to the entire city.

Additional Event Details Coming Soon!