Yogyakarta is a city in Indonesia that every food adventurer from all over the world needs to experience or visit because it is a culinary paradise. Today’s episode is about how Yogyakarta has always been able to attract people to visit with its food festivals. For first-timers, you need to know that a few food festivals happen in Yogyakarta annually, and sometimes even monthly, so where should we begin?
Table of Contents
1. Pasar Kangen
- Instagram: @pasarkangen
Pasar Kangen is an annual festival where everyone can relive nostalgic memories through a huge range of traditional foods, many of which are rare or difficult to find in everyday life. Pasar Kangen has rapidly become one of the biggest food festivals in Yogyakarta, including traditional games & decorations that add an energetic and exciting vibrancy to the whole event.
The nostalgic vibe of the Pasar Kangen is truly sentimental. For a very family-friendly event, it is a good occasion for you to take your loved ones. Each year, the event is held in varying places in public venues throughout Yogyakarta (nomadic). Best of all, it is a free public place to visit, and not just in the food market, but you can also experience art performances, local crafts, and high levels of community engagement, making it more dynamic and interesting each edition of Pasar Kangen happens.
2. Festival Kesenian Yogyakarta (FKY)
- Instagram: @infofky
Festival Kesenian Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Arts Festival), locally known as FKY, is a creative blend of food and art. First held in 1989, the festival is now held at various iconic locations around Yogyakarta, such as Taman Kuliner Condongcatur, Pasar Ngasem, Kampung Matraman, and many others.
Annually, FKY is designed in response to the uniqueness of the selected venue, with unusual activations and thematic embellishments that elevate the experience. FKY includes many forms of cultural expression, including music, theater, dance, installation art, ánd a bustling traditional food bazaar. FKY adds value through cultural education and preservation. One notable moment was a workshop on natural food coloring using butterfly pea flowers, featured in 2021’s edition.
3. Land of Leisures (LOL)
- Instagram: @lol.yk
Since 2016, Ambarrukmo Group has hosted Land of Leisures (LOL), a curated market and festival that involves a combination of local crafts, fashion, music, and a wonderful food market. Land of Leisures welcomes more than 75,000 visitors every year–mostly young people from Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.
Typically, the Land of Leisures has more than 100 participating brands that set up their pop-up markets at the event. The 2024 Land of Leisures, themed “Shout It Out,” had over 100 local retail and F&B brands involved. The 2025 Land of Leisures is officially scheduled for October 2-5 and will be themed “Resonance of Us,” with value in making each voice, each brand, and each community a part of something bigger.
4. Vegan Festival Yogyakarta
- Instagram: @veganfestivaljogja
Held on September 5–7, 2025, at Lippo Plaza Yogyakarta, the Vegan Festival Yogyakarta invites everyone to enjoy plant-based living, free of charge. This event welcomes vegans, health-conscious foodies, plant lovers, and anyone curious about sustainable eating habits.
The festival includes a vegan food bazaar, live cooking demos, and insightful talk shows about plant-based diets. One of its highlights is the “eco-vibe” cooking competition, where participants create dishes using environmentally friendly ingredients. Beyond tasty meals, the event educates visitors on mindful consumption, organic produce, and reducing plastic waste, making it one of the most forward-thinking food events in the city.
5. Pasar Ramadhan Masjid Jogokariyan
During Ramadhan, the neighborhood around Masjid Jogokariyan transforms into one of the culinary hotspots in Yogyakarta. Known as Kampung Ramadan Jogokariyan (KRJ), this evening food market has been part of the city’s Ramadan tradition for over two decades. In 2025, KRJ ran for 21 days and distributed around 3,500 free takjil (fast-breaking snacks) daily, no strings attached. These efforts reflect the spirit of sharing and solidarity during the holy month, supported by a well-managed donation system. Hundreds of local vendors also set up stalls along the streets, selling everything from traditional dishes to trending food items. KRJ is a powerful example of how food, faith, and community can come together to uplift and empower.