4. Beer, Bourbon & BBQ

The name of this festival is pretty self explanatory: the 9th annual “pork-out in the Big Apple” took place in January, featuring all the pleasures that Southerners live by. The event not only offered unlimited samplings of 60+ kinds of beer and 40+ kinds of bourbon, it also featured food tastings from pit masters and chefs from some of the city’s finest BBQ and Southern cuisine eateries (think pulled pork, brisket and ribs).

In addition to dining and drinking, seminars with master distillers, brewmasters and pit masters were held, and a selection of BBQ-related accessories were sold. Most notably, however, the event included a bacon eating contest and whole hogs (aka “Shrine of Swine”), so make sure to prepare yourself for next year.