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Fried dough, soft pretzels and fresh pizza at the same food festival? For gluten-free New Yorkers, that’s a lineup worth crossing the Hudson for.
The Wicked Gluten Free Expo is taking over the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, on November 7 and 8, bringing more than 100 booths and a very important reason to bring an empty tote bag. Billed as the country’s biggest gluten-free food festival, the two-day gathering promises celiac-friendly baked goods, snacks, pantry staples and hot food, with lots of sampling along the way.
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Expect fresh breads, cookies, sweet and savory treats, pizza crusts and cooking sauces, plus food trucks serving festival favorites like fried chicken, fried dough and soft pretzels, all without pesky gluten. Whether you’re hunting for better sandwich bread or just planning to eat lunch standing up, there's plenty to explore. Vendors will sample and sell, so you can try something before committing to a freezer full.
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Between bites, attendees can check out presentations and demonstrations, take their little ones to the kids’ play area or pose on a gluten-free red carpet. Everyone receives a free branded tote bag, although ambitious shoppers might want to bring reinforcements. (Organizers encourage extra bags and rolling coolers for stocking up.)
A practical note before you start plotting your snack route: Gluten-free doesn’t mean free of every allergen. Organizers allow some vendors that use shared facilities, assuring that they vet their cross-contamination protocols. Booth signage will identify production arrangements and allergens, so attendees can ask questions and decide what to sample or buy.
The expo runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, November 7, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday, November 8. Buy tickets online in advance through the Wicked Gluten Free website; this event will not sell tickets at the door. Admission is timed and organizers note that your entry window can still involve a wait. Bring cash and a card, since some vendors are cash-only.
And leave a little room in the freezer—those tote bags won’t fill themselves.