The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival returns for its fifth anniversary event on the Stray this weekend.
Attendees can expect a weekend-long celebration, starting on Saturday (28th June), featuring family activities, diverse vendor lineups, new attractions and a range of entertainment options.
Festival Director Michael Johnston said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to reach a landmark fifth anniversary event.
“Months of planning have gone into creating a weekend jam-packed with entertainment, and we’re confident this will be our most vibrant celebration yet.”
New Activities
Awaiting ticket holders are various free attractions and family activities.
New forms of performing arts and roaming entertainment will be scattered across the site, including Bubble Performances, stilt walkers, and comedy.
Key features of the festival can be explored through the Foodie Clue Quest Scavenger Hunt, handed out alongside complementary festival programmes on entry.
Sports Day-inspired mini-games run throughout the afternoon in the form of the Foodie Olympics, including 3 different food and drink-themed competitions.
Live Entertainment
Ticket holders are granted further access to three different live stages.
Fourteen performances feature on the Live Music Stage from local musicians, including soloists, bands, acoustic duos, community choirs, and more.
Two headliners in the form of The Fab4 (Saturday), tribute to The Beatles, and Absolutely Elton (Sunday), a leading Elton John tribute, take centre stage each evening.
In partnership with Yorkshire Food Guide is the return of the Live Cookery Theatre, host to 8 demonstrations from varying culinary experts.
Guests can learn expert tips from the minds behind leading restaurants, MasterChef stars, and Head Chefs of local businesses.
Highlights include Executive Chef Adam Maddock (Saltmoore), Culinary Director Jon Appleby (The Mill Group), and The Great British Menu’s Bobby Geetha.
The third and final live stage is the Live Entertainers Stage, featuring six daily performances from the likes of Matthew J Magic, The Magic Matt Show, and Darren Mac.
In between performing arts, comedy shows, and family magic performances are interactive circus workshops for families of all ages.
Food and Drink Lineup
The Street Food Arena returns with a range of Yorkshire’s leading street food vendors, such as Jimmy Mack’s Street Kitchen, Birria Bandits, The Big Banh, and Eyup Thai.
Global flavours spanning Jamaica, Venezuela, Japan, Greece, Mexico, India, and more, make up two streets of independent businesses.
Up-and-coming local businesses and talented entrepreneurs gather for the weekend, with exciting examples including Anthony’s Biltong, Yoyo Laos Sauce, Northern Shakers, and SplatterWorks.
The Artisan Markets, home to a treasure trove of unique items, spotlight varying savoury goods, sweet treats, handmade crafts, homeware, clothing, jewellery, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, sauces, pies, and more.
In partnership with Vocation Brewery is a Full Ale House, complemented by independent bars serving cocktails, spirits, wine, cider, and more.
All of these lineups can be found on the event’s website here.
Charity and Further Attractions
Additional activities include Sage Ayurvedic Wellness Sessions and Massages, Axes to Ashes Axe Throwing, a Live Comedy Improv Show, Kids Cooking Classes, a Fun Fair, a Kids Drawing Competition, and further roaming entertainment.
The festival will partner with Harrogate Mind in hope of adding to the £140,000 collectively raised for their various charities across the north.
Donations from ticket sales and on-site collections will contribute towards their cause.
The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival opens on The Stray at 10am on June 28th & 29th.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit https://harrogatefoodfestival.com
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