Wakefield Rhubarb Festival announces celebrity chef line-up and programme

Wakefield Council has announced details of the exciting programme ahead of this year’s Rhubarb Festival. The event celebrates the district’s most famous vegetable and returns to paint the city pink from 17th – 19th February 2023. The festival brings the city centre to life over three days with a full programme of chef demos, family workshops, comedy nights and of course, the famous food and drink market.

Wakefield Rhubarb Festival Chef Demos

Curated by our team at the Yorkshire Food Guide, a programme of chef demos will run from 11 am to 3 pm, from Friday to Sunday. Welcoming the ‘spicy flexitarian’ and MasterChef finalist Radha Kaushal-Bolland and Great British Bake Off 2021 finalist Crystelle Pereira. Other chefs include Karen Wright (Great British Bake Off), Bobby Geetha (Great British Menu) and Heather (Farmer Copley’s) while local restaurants Iris, TET and The Crows Rest Bakehouse will also showcase their best rhubarb-inspired recipes.

Yorkshire Food Guide’s Jonathan Harris shared that: “It’s an exciting time for food lovers in Yorkshire – we’re delighted to be part of the festival again this year to showcase Wakefield and the wider region’s homegrown talent.”

Wakefield Rhubarb Festival programme of entertainment

A programme of street entertainment will keep the whole family entertained, including traditional Morris dancers and the return of Ruby Rhubarb. Flat Cap Brass will also be roaming the streets of Wakefield with their high-energy brass band. A whole host of free family workshops will be available throughout the weekend including decorating cupcakes, fondant modelling and games whilst Be Amazing Arts are offering free face painting, craft activities and performing arts sessions.

The Rhu-bar will also make its triumphant return – indulge in a selection of delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy live music from Wakefield Music Collective. The food and drink market will boast almost 60 traders, showcasing fresh rhubarb of course, but also the region’s finest gins, jams, pickles, cheese and so much more.

TeT Wakefield Restaurant Voucher

Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport at Wakefield Council, said: “The Rhubarb Festival is a wonderful celebration and we are really looking to welcoming visitors to enjoy our chefs’ programme, all the opportunities to enjoy delicious food and drink and to take part in the entertainment, family workshops and events. “It’s a fabulous event, and there’s something for all ages to enjoy over the weekend.”

The festival will include a Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail around the city centre, allowing visitors to sample rhubarb cocktails, pastries and dishes from local bars, restaurants and cafes. Event partners Wakefield cathedral, Trinity Walk and The Ridings Shopping Centre will be hosting a programme of Fringe activity including demonstrations and children’s creative workshops.

To find out more about the festival, visit https://expwake.co/RhubarbFest

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