DISCOVER THE RICH HISTORY OF SPIEDIE FEST

A Beloved Tradition

With its humble beginnings as a small community event, Spiedie Fest has grown into a beloved tradition that attracts thousands of visitors each year to Binghamton, NY.

In 1983, a few families got together and argued over who had the best spiedies recipe in Binghamton. To put an end to their friendly rivalry, they held the first Spiedie Fest Cooking Contests in subsequent years.

After a successful contest in 1984, a small committee formed and it was decided to create the first Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally at Otsiningo Park with about five hot air balloons, some local music and a small children’s area. The first year had an attendance of approximately 4,000.

In 2001, the festival was recognized by the Library of Congress with a Legacy Award and today a Spiedie Fest display resides in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In 2005, the festival was named one of the 100 Destinations in the U.S. by Destination Magazine.

Last year Spiedie Fest was featured in The New York Times.

Today, Binghamton hosts what is considered one of the top hot air balloon rallies in the country, drawing over 80,000 admissions each year.