Two popular festivals return to Meadowlands Racetrack for 2026. The annual Beer Festival is set for Saturday, May 16 and the Summer Wine Festival is slated for Saturday, June 20.

For the Saturday, May 16 craft beer fest, doors open for VIPs at 4 p.m. with General Admission at 5 p.m., and beer is poured until 9 p.m. The VIP ticket is $70 USD and includes an additional hour of sampling, exclusive VIP beer samplings, music by DJ Alx and food.  General Admission is available in advance for $45 USD or at the door for $50 USD. Festival-goers can watch and wager on the Preakness Stakes and live harness racing with a 6:20 p.m. post time.

More than 60 breweries and cideries are participating, offering a wide variety of beers to explore. This includes several local New Jersey craft brewers, such as Departed Soles, Czig Meister Brewing, Seven Tribesmen, Montclair, Untied Brewing Co, Bonesaw Brewing, Ghost Hawk and Bolero Snort. New breweries are confirmed every week and the final list of breweries and the full beer lineup will be posted at playMeadowlands.com the week of May 11.

To purchase tickets, click here. NJCB members will receive a $10 USD betting voucher the day of the festival.

Wine fest-goers on Saturday, June 20 will experience an evening of great wines from around the world, live harness racing, music by DJ Alx and food. Doors open for VIPs at 4 p.m. with General Admission beginning at 5 p.m., and wine poured until 9 p.m. The VIP ticket is $70 USD and includes an additional hour of sampling, exclusive VIP wine samplings and food. General Admission is available in advance for $45 USD or at the door for $50 USD.

More than 30 wineries are participating, offering a global wine experience at the racetrack. Festival favourites Papi Wines return with their sangrias, sparkling Rose and pink Moscato, as will Voga, pouring their Prosecco, Prosecco Still and sparkling Rose.  Guests will also sample a diverse selection of wines from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Australia, California, South Africa and New Zealand.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment is at 1 Racetrack Drive in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Events are rain or shine. Guests must be 21 and older to attend; no refunds are given. The event is subject to the ISSUANCE OF NJ ABC permits.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)