What to Expect: Lots of great food. To get the most out of the Ninth Avenue Food Festival experience, come on an empty stomach.

• Diverse Ethnic Cuisine: While the 9th Ave Food Festival does feature traditional American and European fare, it also offers unique and flavorful dishes from other parts of the world. Countries represented at the 9th Ave Food Festival include Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Peru, Trinidad, and Turkey.
• Live Music and Dancing: In addition to fine ethnic cuisine, the Ninth Avenue Food Festival also offers live music and dancing. Here you will see Egyptian belly dancing, German folk dancing, and Arabian scarf dancing, along with many other performers and local bands.

Inside Knowledge: The 9th Ave Food Festival and Street Fair was founded in 1973. For the duration of the festival, Ninth Avenue between 37th Street and 57th Street is closed to vehicular traffic so that gourmands from all over the world can join together to celebrate the joys of ethnicity through food. More than one million people visit the Ninth Avenue Food Festival every year, and the festival continues to grow in popularity.

Event Hints:

• Sample: The last thing you want to do is arrive at the Hells Kitchen food festival and fill up at your first stop. Instead, we recommend eating just small bites of food and pacing yourself, so that you can experience the full range of ethnic cuisine. Settle down later, after you've walked the fair, to eat a full meal.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes: Like most street fairs, the Ninth Avenue Food Festival demands a lot of walking. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
• Be Adventurous: The Ninth Avenue Food Festival is known mostly for its ethnic cuisine. It would be a shame to attend the festival and not once try some of the more exotic dishes, such as the fried elephant ears and catfish nuggets. If you're feeling timid, bring a generous and adventurous friend who can try the food for you and then share it.