Philly’s Own Schmear Bagel Parlor to Compete at New York BagelFest at Citi Field
Philly’s Own Schmear Bagel Parlor to Compete at New York BagelFest at Citi Field
Philly’s own Schmear Bagel Parlor has been selected to make its debut at New York BagelFest, held at Citi Field on Sunday, November 15. Pittsburgh’s Pigeon Bagels was also selected as a first-time competitor, marking the first time both Pennsylvania cities will be represented at the event in the same year.
New York BagelFest, presented by King Arthur Baking Company, brings together more than 25 bagel makers from 10 states and five countries. According to organizers, fewer than 9% of applicants were selected to compete this year, reflecting the event’s selective vetting process, which evaluates bakeries on quality, originality, reputation and community engagement.
New York BagelFest features unlimited tastings across two sessions, along with live demonstrations, educational programming, interactive exhibits and family-friendly activities, including a dedicated Kids’ Zone. The festival also includes a series of competitions judged by industry experts and festival attendees, with categories including Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, Best Showmanship and Best Bialy, along with fan-voted categories such as People’s Choice, Best of the Boroughs, Best Beyond the Boroughs, Best International and Rising Star. The event also features the World Bagel Rolling Championship.
BagelFest founder Sam Silverman said this year’s selection process was the most competitive in the event’s history, noting that past BagelFest West champions will also be competing this year.
Schmear Bagel Parlor and Pigeon Bagels join a lineup that includes established New York institutions, past BagelFest champions, and bakeries traveling from countries including Ireland, Spain, Canada and India. Their selection reflects a broader trend of acclaimed bagel makers emerging from outside traditional bagel strongholds.
Tickets
Early bird tickets for New York BagelFest go on sale Tuesday, September 8, at bagelfest.com.
