Each year we proudly produce successful food, music, arts and beer-related events in major metropolitan cities, attracting more than 75,000 guests. These live events, many of them iconic annual affairs, have become staples of local entertainment calendars.
Food and Drink Events
VMG food events highlight the best of our cities’ dining scenes, showcasing the culinary arts of award-winning chefs and the creations of soon-to-be award winners. We celebrate food culture in all its varieties and our publications are noted for their diverse coverage of restaurants of all types and cuisines. Meanwhile, our wine tastings and spectacular beer events showcase the latest brews by craft beer makers across our metro areas.
#BATZMIA
Brew at the Zoo
Sample beer and spirits from around the world, eat great food, and enjoy live entertainment at the wildest place in town, Zoo Miami. In years past, Brew at the Zoo has had beers from Stella Artois, Ballast Point, Goose Island and Miami Brewing Co. A national act will perform live along with your local favorite bands. In past years Brew at the Zoo has had performances by legendary Otis Day and the Knights, Naughty by Nature, Vanilla Ice, Alien Ant Farm and Arrested Development.
#BOMPARTY
Best of Miami® Party
Lace on your track shoes and stretch your muscles. We win competitions, climb podiums, and wear our medals while standing straight! And the biggest of them all is just ahead. New Times is preparing to launch the winners of the best this city has to offer. After each Best of Miami® issue hits newsstands, the New Times hosts a Best of Miami® party to celebrate the launch. Guests will enjoy good music, great company, light bites, and specially crafted cocktails from VOGA Italia, Finlandia Vodka, Rums of Puerto Rico, and much more.
#BrewFestDAL
BrewFest
More than 4,500 Dallas beer lovers come to the Dallas Farmers Market each year to celebrate Dallas Observer BrewFest! BrewFest is an outdoor beer-sampling event and festival that features over 500+ local, international and craft beers, local food vendors, music and more! BrewFest allows Dallasites to enjoy beer samplings of all different varieties, ranging from those brewed down the street from the event to those brewed on the other side of the globe!
Beer Olympics
Games and drinks have long gone hand-in hand. With that in mind, Phoenix New Times and Tempe Marketplace are proud to present the 4th annual Beer Olympics. The event will give attendees the opportunity to enjoy an adult game night filled with all of their favorite yard and party games including giant beer pong and Jenga, cornhole, bowling, flip cup, and more! Attendees can imbibe one of the many craft beers or cocktails for sale, enjoy food from a few of the Tempe Marketplace restaurants, and win prizes.
#TacolandiaDAL
Tacolandia Dallas
Dallas Observer Tacolandia is a taco-sampling festival that features the best tacos, ranging from urban contemporary to authentic street style, from Dallas and beyond! In between getting their fill of tacos, one of Dallas’ most iconic foods, guests enjoy drinks, live mariachi music and more! After sampling, restaurants are awarded for the best tacos in various categories, decided by the guests of the event and a panel of food industry judges!
#TacolandiaMIA
Tacolandia Miami
Miami New Times’ Tacolandia presented by Goya features over 30 restaurants serving up unlimited taco samples, live entertainment that highlights South Florida culture, cash bars with beer and cocktails and more. A few participating restaurants are Tacology, Cream Parlor, Huahua’s Taqueria and Agave Taco Bar. Restaurants will feature a dish that showcases their idea of a South Florida taco. You will see ice cream tacos, sushi tacos, traditional tacos and more. A canned food drive, all left over food and a portion of ticket sales will benefit Feeding South Florida.
#TACOLANDIAPHX
Tacolandia Phoenix
Phoenix New Times is proud to present the return of Tacolandia, a second annual New Times’ taco festival. This event combines the best taquerias in Phoenix along with a celebration of Mexican culture.
Attendees are invited to indulge in their love for authentic Mexican street-style tacos by enjoying unlimited taco samples from the Valley’s best taquerias. Complete with live mariachi music, cash bars with beer, wine and cocktails as well as awards, Tacolandia is an event you won’t want to miss.
#WestwordTACOLANDIA
Westword Tacolandia
In 2015, Westword attended DISH, an annual festival devoted to dining in Denver. It was there that we cooked up a new concept for an event to celebrate authentic street tacos –– and Tacolandia was born.
Attendees enjoy unlimited taco samples from such eateries as Lola Coastal Mexican, Garibaldi’s Mexican Bistro, Los Tacos, Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina, Palenque Mezcaleria, Panaderia Y Taqueria Contreras, Bubba Chinos and many more. Entertainment includes live musical acts and the Tacolandia Car Show presented by the Saints & Sinners Car Club.
#TacolandiaHOU
Houston Tacolandia
Houston Press Tacolandia is a taco-sampling festival that features the best tacos, ranging from urban contemporary to authentic street style, from Houston and beyond! In between getting their fill of tacos, one of Houston’s most iconic foods, guests enjoy drinks, live mariachi music and more! After sampling, restaurants are awarded for the best tacos in various categories, decided by the guests of the event and a panel of food industry judges!
#NovemBEER
NovemBEER
NovemBEER is a celebration of beer! What started as small weekly beer tastings, has transformed into a full-fledged festival featuring over 50 breweries, food, and entertainment. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from over 100 beers while kicking back in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Come celebrate your love for beer at the 4th annual NovemBEER Festival in Downtown Phoenix at Adams Street between Central Avenue and 2nd Street.
#MENUOFMENUS
Menu of Menus® Extravaganza
Houston Menu of Menus® Extravaganza is one of Houston’s largest and most anticipated food events featuring over 50 restaurants alongside wine, beer and spirit sampling. Drawing over 2,500 food lovers from across the city, guests will sample the best restaurants Houston has to offer. In between samples, they will enjoy a local celebrity chef competition, featuring two famous Houston chefs competing for the Iron Fork Champion title! After sampling, guests vote for their favorite dish to be awarded for the best restaurant.
#Westwordfeast
Westword Feast
Denver dining has evolved over the past 20 years — and so has Westword’s annual celebration of the local restaurant scene.
Every year this celebration rises to the next level where it is a true feast for the senses. Westword’s Feast features dishes from more than 40 favorite restaurants of Westword food writers and readers, as well as beverage samplings and plenty of entertainment.
Music
From large music festivals attended by thousands of fans to special intimate music showcases for established and up-and-coming artists, our music events are as impressive as our extensive coverage of the local (and national) music scenes in our markets.
St. Patrick’s Day Concert
The Dallas Observers’ St. Patrick’s Day Concert is THE place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Immediately following the Dallas St Patrick’s Parade, The St Patrick’s Day Concert keeps the Irish Revelry going with a high-profile musical act, drinks, local food vendors and more at this all day annual Dallas staple. The Dallas Observer St. Patrick’s Day Concert has been bringing thousands together each year to celebrate with a high-profile act such as Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Snoop Dog.
#DOMusicAwards
Dallas Observer Music Awards
The Dallas Observer Music Awards celebrates the local talent who make up the thriving, dynamic music community of Dallas. Built on the broad based, diverse cultural foundation that music represents, the Dallas Observer Music Awards invite local industry leaders to nominate bands. Nominees are invited to participate in the Music Awards Showcase in Deep Ellum. A panel of judges will vote on their favorite local bands and winners will be announced at the Dallas Observer Music Awards Ceremony the following Tuesday.
#WestwordSHOW
Westword Music Showcase
Westword Music Showcase takes place in Denver’s Golden Triangle at the end of June every year! With national headliners plus nearly 100 local bands, Music Showcase delivers more than you can see and hear in a day.
To determine the lineup of local acts, Westword polls more than 200 movers and shakers in the music business, everyone from promoters to fans to musicians themselves, who nominate more than 800 local bands and performers; those nominations are whittled down to more than 200 finalists divided into 30 categories on the Westword Music Awards Ballot. Close to half of those acts perform at the Westword Music Showcase, and fans can vote for their favorites beginning in March every year until the day after the Showcase.
Art · Fashion · Culture
Local culture as a whole – including art, fashion, and food – is the focus of our Artopia events, held in several markets. Attendees enjoy locally produced foods and beverages while enjoying the work of local artists and designers.
Westword Artopia
Artopia, is Westword’s annual celebration of art, culture and fashion. The event takes place each year in late February. While attendees sample cocktails and listen to the street sounds from some of Denver’s best DJs and musicians, party-goers can explore themed spaces curated by local artist Jolt.
Denver’s designers pair with style teams and models to show off their latest creations during the Whiteout fashion show that’s become a highlight of Artopia. The event includes the chance to shop some of Colorado’s coolest shops and services, as well as applaud the annual class of MasterMinds, creatives and creators who have gained unequivocal recognition in Denver.
SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS
WHY CHOOSE VEE
How can Event Marketing help you meet your goals?
Branding and Awareness
People have an easier time remembering experiences that engage all of their senses. Events allow you to reach customers in a very memorable way.
Generating Leads
Collecting contact information for potential new customers can be executed in a number of ways prior to the event, at the event or post-event.
Engaging With Existing Customers
Events offer an unparalleled level of customer engagement which helps build brand loyalty.
Sampling and Selling
Event marketing gives you a chance to upsell customers by introducing them to products or services they may not know about or know that they need.
