Following its season opening last month, Kennywood is bringing back its popular Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival. Beginning Friday, the event will offer visitors international cuisine across eight tasting stations around the park’s lagoon.
The festival returns this year with two new countries, France and Germany, joining returning favorites from Mexico, South Korea, Poland, Italy, Greece and Cuba. Food at every station can be paired with global craft beers and specialty drinks ranging from margaritas to Merlot to a fruited rice lager.
“Bites and Pints has become one of the most anticipated events of the summer because it brings together two things our guests love most — incredible food and unforgettable fun,” said Ricky Spicuzza, general manager of Kennywood in a statement.
New chef-curated offerings from France include filet of boeuf en croute (also known as Beef Wellington), a classic croque monsieur sandwich and profiteroles (sweet-filled pastry balls). German selections feature hearty Bavarian fare like currywurst (sausage with curry ketchup), Schweinebraten (pork roast) and warm pretzels served with beer cheese.
Among the returning countries, this year’s Mexican-inspired dishes offer coastal flavors, including Baja crab cakes with street corn, tacos de camarón (shrimp) and tacos de carnitas.
The South Korean station features street-food-inspired dishes gua bao (pork belly buns), made with samgyeopsal, japchae-bap (stir-fried noodles) and Yaki Mandu pork dumplings served with sesame chili oil.
Perennial menu favorites like Greek gyros, Italian short rib ragu and Polish pierogis also return.
Bites & Pints visitors can purchase items a la carte or buy a special Bite Card for 8 or 12 food and drink samples. The festival will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 28.
For Memorial Day weekend, Kennywood also offers veterans, active duty, and retired members of the armed forces free admission at the park’s Main Gate.