The gastronomic events have been arousing great interest on the part of society, contributing to the generation of jobs, to increase income sources and to attract tourists. Brazil has great gastronomical diversity, there is a potential to be explored. Within this context, the objective of this work was to conduct a survey with the people who participate in gastronomic events in the city of Rio de Janeiro - whether in the condition of consumer, entrepreneur or employee. The study was developed based on bibliographical research and field research, involving participant observation and application of 200 forms in three events with distinct characteristics: Feira Orgânica de Ipanema; Babilônia Feira Hype; and Rio Fashion Day: Festival Gastronômico. The results showed that these events have attracted an audience quite diverse and frequent participation; that these events have shown to be very profitable for entrepreneurs; and that, in the perception of the respondents, the gastronomic events have great potential for attraction of tourists and local economic development, confirming what has been reported in the international literature on the subject.