Everything You Need to Know About Ilkley Food and Drink Festival’s 5th Anniversary Event

Renowned Ilkley Food and Drink Festival Releases Exciting Details For Its Milestone Return to Picturesque Riverside Town.

What is the Ilkley Food & Drink Festival?

The Ilkley Food and Drink Festival is an annual celebration of international influence and local talent, expressed through global foods, independent drinks, live music, and arts.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of East Holmes Field in the scenic riverside town of Ilkley, the festival ensures an immersive culinary experience paired with emphatic live entertainment.

International Street Food, Artisan Marketplaces, and Independent Bars

Making its highly anticipated return is the esteemed ‘Street Food Arena’. Showcasing an impressive array of global cuisines and cultural specialities, attendees can embark on a gastronomic journey, indulging in a vibrant selection of mouth-watering dishes.

For a complete lineup of food traders, visit their website.

Accompanying the Street Food Arena are the renowned Artisan Market Places, hosting a diverse range of local traders, small businesses, and talented artisans. Featuring over 95 different traders, festival-goers can explore the range of offerings featured throughout the markets, such as local produce, fresh-baked goods, hand-made crafts, and art.

Complementing both of these features are the series of independent bars, each offering a variety of ciders, rum, gin, wine, and speciality cocktails. Furthermore, in partnership with Vocation Brewery is the event’s Full Ale House, serving craft ales, IPAs, and cask favourites on draught.

A Plethora of Entertainment Options

“Each year, we strive to make our production and entertainment better than the last. We’re really excited to debut the changes we’ve made and showcase the acts we’ve brought in” – Michael Johnston, Ilkley Food and Drink Festival’s Director.

Following the success of last year’s tribute acts, the festival welcomes two brand-new electrifying performers. Saturday, June 15th, welcomes ‘The Beautiful Martins’, tribute to the legacy of Paul Heaton.

With covers of classics from The Beautiful South and The House Martins, families are invited to sing along to renditions of timeless tunes such as ‘Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)’ and ‘Happy Hour’. Taking the stage on Sunday, June 16th, is Oli as Oli Murs, a tribute to the pop sensation of the early 2010s.

With his charismatic stage presence and gripping vocals, guests can immerse themselves in nostalgic chart-toppers. Both days of the Ilkley Food and Drink Festival are packed with some of the most talented local acts in the region; soloists, bands, and choirs take the stage throughout the day, performing captivating covers and original tunes.

For the full live music lineup, visit their website.

Food enthusiasts can look forward to the Live Cookery Theatre. Presented In Partnership with Yorkshire Food Guide, the Cookery Theatre provides a stage for renowned chefs to unveil the secrets and techniques of culinary mastery at the Ilkley Food and Drink Festival.

Paving the way to the creation of delectable dishes are talented cookery experts, such as Owen Diaram of the 19th series of MasterChef, Johnny Purnell of The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa, and Natalia Firth, founder of ‘The Natural Chef’.

For the full Cookery Theatre lineup, visit their website.

A series of entertainment options are available throughout the day, tailored to family and friends of all ages and cultures: The Live Entertainers Stage, featuring six daily Performing Arts & Magic Shows; Kids Activities, such as Quizzes, Fact Hunts and Roaming Comedy; a Funfair, with rides for both children and adult thrill-seekers and an Inflatable Land.

What Else Can You Expect?

This year, the Ilkley Food and Drink Festival is unveiling two brand-new experiences. Firstly, in collaboration with the event’s traders are the On Site Food Tours. Over six sessions throughout the weekend, participants can embark on a culinary journey, savouring five distinct tasting sessions of global cuisines.

Saturday, June 15th, additionally hosts “The Discount Comedy Checkout: Improvised Family Show”, an award-winning improv comedy show. At 5 pm in the Live Cookery Theatre, families are encouraged to join an interactive comedy experience packed with audience participation and unforgettable laughs.

Ilkley Food and Drink Festival also caters to a range of entertainment preferences, fostering a day of amusement tailored to all ideas of leisure. Complementary festival programmes are provided to attendees in the hope of ensuring each guest can experience all the event has to offer.

Whether it’s relaxing on the comfy furniture spread around the site, or immersing yourself in the electrifying live entertainment, the event ensures an engaging and vibrant way to enjoy the afternoon.

Continuing their devotion to supporting the local community, the festival will partner with Bradford Mind, a charity whole-heartedly committed to supporting mental health initiatives across the North. Through activities across the event and optional donations on ticket sales, the festival hopes to add to the over £100,000 already raised.

Thousands are expected to join the milestone celebration on East Holmes Field for the Ilkley Food & Drink Festival this summer, June 15th-16th.

Ilkley Food and Drink Festival Ticket Information

Tickets and Further Information about Ilkley Food and Drink Festival are available on their website.

15th & 16th June 2024, 10 am – 7 pm – Get Tickets

Ilkley Food & Drink Festival, East Holmes Field, Ilkley, LS29 0BZ – Get Directions