It’s officially festival season, but if glitter make-up and tinnys of Kopperberg isn’t quite your thing, we’ve got 18 better ways to spend your summer: food festivals. Whether it’s international cuisine that gets your tastebuds going or some of the finest Yorkshire-produced grub around, here’s our guide to the best food festivals in Yorkshire.
1. The Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, Skipton
The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival is returning this summer, with a number of big celebrity names in tow. Expect James Martin and the Hairy Bikers on hand showcasing their culinary skills, alongside tons of local street food vendors serving up some of the region’s best cuisine. Get tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 22-23rd July 2023.
2. Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival
If you’ve ever wanted to visit the home of Last of the Summer Wine, the Holmfirth Food & Drink Festival is the perfect excuse.
Expect plenty of local talent and chefs, with live entertainment for all the family across the weekend. Find out more here.
When’s it on? 📅 16-17th September 2023.
3. Ilkley Food and Drink Festival
The Ilkley Food & Drink Festival is back with a bang this year, transforming its riverside home into a wonderland of Yorkshire food and drink.
The festival promises the UK’s ‘finest street food’, with tons of international cuisine and locally-produced grub to devour. Get tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 10-11th June 2022.
4. Harrogate Food and Drink Festival
From live music to delicious food, the Harrogate Food Festival will be offering tons of amazing grub over one weekend this June, and trust me when I say, you won’t be leaving hungry.
Created by the team behind the Ilkley Food and Drink Festival, the popular food festival will take place on the Stray this summer, providing the perfect backdrop to a wholesome weekend. Get tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 24-25th June 2023.
5. Great British Food Festival, multiple locations
On its tour across the UK, the Great British Food Festival is set to land at Harewood House this June, bringing delicious food to the stunning Leeds mansion.
The popular foodie festival will also tour a number of other Yorkshire destinations, too, including Rotherham’s Wentworth Woodhouse, with plenty of street food on offer, demonstrations and more. Find out more.
When’s it on? 📅 Wentworth Woodhouse – 19-20th August 2023.
6. Malton Food Lovers Festival
Considered ‘the food fest of the North’, the Malton Food Lovers Festival take place in the Food Capital of Yorkshire, bringing tons of market stalls to the traditional market square.
There, guests can tuck into freshly baked goods, try out homemade food, and even take home Yorkshire-brewed beers, dog treats and so much more.
A number of celebrity chefs are set to be in attendance this year, with demos, live music and plenty of shopping in-store. Find out more.
When’s it on? 📅 26-27th August 2023.
7. York Food Festival
Operating not only a delicious food festival, but a chocolate festival, too (which has unfortunately passed for this year), York knows good food when it sees it.
Taking over Parliament Street this September, guests will be treated to plenty of live demos, cooking classes and street food during the festival, so expect a full tummy after a day of food-filled fun.
When’s it on? 📅 22nd September-1st October 2023.
8. North Yorkshire Food and Drink Festival, Pickering
Another fun food festival by the team behind Ilkley and Harrogate Food & Drink Festivals, the North Yorkshire Food & Drink Festival is coming to the stunning market town of Pickering for the first time ever, bringing with it live chef demos, live entertainment, and, of course, delicious food. Expects tons of different cuisines on the day, alongside plenty of locally-made drinks to enjoy, too. Find out more.
When’s it on? 📅 21-23rd July 2023.
9. Big Sky Beer Festival, Hunmanby
East Yorkshire’s flagship brewery, Wold Top, is hosting a fantastic beer festival this summer, with tons of Yorkshire-made beers on offer.
Enjoy live music in the tranquil East Yorkshire countryside, while knocking back some of the Riding’s very best beers. Get tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 14-15th July 2023.
10. Seafest, Scarborough
An annual maritime festival, Scarborough Seafest is set to celebrate all things Scarborough, which will naturally include tons and tons of food.
An array of local businesses will be setting up stalls on the day, with cooking demos, live music and more planned. Find out more.
When’s it on? 📅 14-16th July 2023.
11. The Filey International Food Festival – Food Festivals In Yorkshire
Boasting around 70 food stalls in the centre of Filey, guests at the Filey International Food Festival will be able to tuck into tons of award-winning Yorkshire grub, with plenty of seafood, international cuisine, real ale and more on offer this year. Find out more.
When’s it on? 📅 12-13th July 2023, 14-15th October 2023. 14. Fish and Ships, Whitby
12. Riverside Food and Drink Festival, Wetherby
Coming to Wetherby for the second time, the Riverside Food & Drink Festival is back with plenty of local talent in tow, who’ll be serving up some incredible street food with influences from all over the world.
In addition to food and drink there’ll be live entertainment, and hopefully a classic August heatwave to make the weekender as perfect as possible. Get tickets.
When’s it on? 📅 5-6th August 2023.
13. Pontefract Liquorice Festival
Got a sweet tooth? The Pontefract Liquorice Festival is a favourite for families. You can learn all about Pontefract’s link to liquorice whilst enjoying the food and drink market as well. Get your tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 9th July 2023.
14. Huddersfield Food And Drink Festival
Head down to Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park for a family event full of live tunes, cooking demonstrations and of course plenty. of exciting food and drink offerings to enjoy. Get your tickets here.
When’s it on? 📅 3-6th August 2023.
15. Skipton Foodie Weekend
Expect a fantastic event full of local and speciality stallholders including some. of the best producers and artisan makers in Yorkshire
Located in the Canal Basin on both Saturday and Sunday with The Real Food Markets on the Sunday on the High Street.
When’s it on? 📅 3-6th August 2023.
16. Leeds International Beer Festival
Taking place at Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, the Leeds International Beer Festival brings together beer enthusiasts to enjoy a wide range of ales.
Along with plenty of bevvies, the festival will also feature fantastic food vendors, live music and entertainment.
When’s it on? 📅 7-10th September 2023.
17. Yum! Festival of Food & Drink – Food Festivals In Yorkshire
We love Hull, it’s our city and The Yum! Festival, which is set to take place at Hull Marina features over 100 stalls selling food and drink from all over the world. It;s fast becoming one of the top food festivals in Yorkshire.
On top of that expected local beers, and local food stalls aiming to showcase what Hull and the local area have to offer.
When’s it on? 📅 5-6th August 2023.
18. Hull Street Food Nights
Hull Street Food Nights take place on Zebedee’s Yard and Princes Dock Street and aim to celebrate street food and drink from all cultures and backgrounds.
The event showcases delicious delicacies along with top-notch entertainment from live musicians, DJs and street performers.
When’s it on? 📅 27th July, 28th September 2023.
Read more: 22 Yorkshire Music & Food Festivals To Check Out This Summer
