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Everything You Need to Know About This Weekend’s Harrogate Food and Drink Festival

Thursday, 21 August 2025 08:50

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival

The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival will return to Ripley Castle for its sixth annual event over the August Bank Holiday weekend (23–25 August).

The three-day festival will feature live performances, cookery demonstrations, children’s entertainment, and a range of food and drink stalls.

Programme Highlights

The festival’s Cookery Theatre, run in partnership with Yorkshire Food Guide, will feature 12 live demonstrations from regional chefs.

Among those scheduled to appear are Brayden Davies of The Box Tree, Kurtus Auty from MasterChef: The Professionals, and Steve Collinson, head chef at Cedar Court Hotel.

Live music will take place across the weekend, with 18 performances from local singers, bands, and choirs.

Tribute act U2, 2 is scheduled as the Sunday evening headliner.

A separate Entertainers Stage will host family-focused shows including comedy, circus workshops, and magic acts.

Activities for Families

Festival activities include the Foodie Clue Quest Scavenger Hunt, the Foodie Olympics, and a children’s drawing competition.

A mobile educational farm will be located beside the main arena, and a family comedy improv show is planned for 4pm daily in the Cookery Theatre.

Food, Drink and Artisan Markets

More than 100 independent businesses will trade at the event, offering global street food, artisan produce, and handmade crafts.

A designated street food arena will serve dishes from a range of international cuisines, alongside two streets of independent bars and a Full Ale House offering craft ales and IPAs.

Additional Information

Visitors will have free access to Ripley Castle’s gardens and grounds during the festival, and parking is included for ticket-holders.

The festival also supports Harrogate Mind, with organisers aiming to add to the £151,000 previously raised for mental health initiatives in the region.

The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival runs from Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August.

More information, including the full programme and ticket details, can be found at: https://harrogatefoodfestival.com.

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