It’s a big year for The Family Reunion. And you’re all invited. 

Five years ago, chef and restaurateur Kwame Onwuachi, Salamander Collection founder and CEO Sheila Johnson, and Food & Wine’s editor-in-chief Hunter Lewis kicked off the first-ever Family Reunion, a food festival celebrating diversity within the hospitality community. Now, it’s returning to the heart of Virginia’s wine country from August 14 to 17, bringing together some of the culinary world’s best and brightest. 

“Since our inception, we have always offered an incredible roster of talent to celebrate Black and Brown excellence, and 2025 will be our best yet,” Onwuachi shared. “Every year, I tell attendees that they have a seat at the best restaurant in America for the weekend. This year will be no exception, and we will have a blast doing it.”

This year’s event will once again take place at Johnson’s Salamander Middleburg resort. While the complete schedule will be announced in a few weeks, we can share that the 2025 event will feature a Food & Wine-curated panel led by the renowned chef, author, and teacher Edna Lewis, discussing the legacy of Black women chefs. It will also include nightly Legacy Dinners at Harrimans Grill, the resort’s five-star-rated restaurant, each hosted by chefs who have participated in previous Family Reunions. This includes Thursday’s dinner featuring Mashama Bailey and Erick Williams, Friday’s dinner with Gregory Gourdet and Nyesha Harrington, and Saturday’s hosted by Tiffany Derry and Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Other star chefs like Virginia Ali, Kevin Bludso, Damarr Brown, Rasheed Philips, and Douglass Williams are also set to attend. 

“Five years of planning, executing, and celebrating — it’s quite an achievement,” Johnson added. “This event is so important and so much fun at the same time. Every year, we have striven to be larger, bolder, and brighter, and there’s no doubt we have succeeded. We look forward to yet another inspiring weekend in the Virginia countryside.”

If you want to attend, now is the time to buy a ticket, as The Family Reunion tends to sell out quickly with more than 1,000 attendees each day. Part of the ticket sales supports the event’s charitable partner, the Culinary Institute of America. Check out the overnight packages and multi-event passes at salamanderhotels.com/familyreunion now.