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Treat your seltz at SeltzerFest 2025 this weekend, a one-of-a-kind celebration of all things seltzer. The Brooklyn Seltzer Museum—a museum dedicated to the history, science, and art of the bubbly beverage—is hosting a seltzer celebration on Sunday, March 16, at Industry City.
It's hosted on the weekend of National Egg Cream Day, a holiday that celebrates the egg cream and its NYC roots. The event will feature vendors, interactive experiences, live music, celebrity presenters, and a thrilling egg cream competition. Tickets are on sale here for $36/adult (kids under 18 are free).
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On the main stage, watch as soda jerks from across the country participate in the National Egg Cream Invitational as they vie for the coveted Golden Siphon award. At last year's egg cream contest, the Franklin Fountain, a classic soda shop from Philadelphia, wowed the judges with their unique presentation that included actual egg yolks (an extreme rarity in the egg cream world, despite the beverage's name). It's yet to be seen whether this year's competitors will go a more traditional route or try something unique a la Franklin Fountain.
If you've never had an egg cream, you might be surprised to know that the drink doesn't typically contain egg or cream. Instead, it's made with chocolate syrup (Fox's U-bet is a classic option), then the milk aspect (usually whole milk but sometimes half-and-half or heavy cream), then seltzer. Each competitor will showcase their own flair for making the drink, whisking the ingredients into a foamy, creamy concoction.
The egg cream dates back to the 1890s when it became a beloved drink of the New York City soda fountain scene. It must be handmade, and it must be enjoyed right away. The ephemeral nature is part of what makes the beverage so special.
This year's competing establishments include Peter Pan Donuts, Hank's Delicatessen, Egghead's, Juliana's, Lexington Candy Shop, Brooklyn Farmacy, S&P Lunch, and Egger's Ice Cream Parlor. Fox's U-bet is sponsoring this year's competition. A panel of renowned judges—including Chef Ari Miller, filmmaker Benny Safdie, candy scientist Ginny Landt, Kelly Fox of the U-bet family, and reigning champion Eric Berley—will crown the winner.
In addition to cheering for the competitors, the festival also includes a chance to vote for the best seltzer, explore booths from global seltzer brands, sample classic Brooklyn fare, and learn all about the history of this bubbly beverage. SeltzerFest is hosted at Industry City (Five Two A Event Space at 33 35th Street in Brooklyn).
The event is produced by the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum and presented by Shopline, a new e-commerce provider. Brooklyn Seltzer Museum is a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the effervescent history of seltzer water. The museum itself is housed within the oldest seltzer works in New York City—a fourth-generation, family-run business keeping the craft of seltzer-making alive. You can visit the Seltzer Museum in Brooklyn on select days.