{"id":25540,"date":"2023-04-17T16:38:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T14:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=99283"},"modified":"2023-04-17T17:36:51","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T15:36:51","slug":"the-uks-best-food-festivals-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/the-uks-best-food-festivals-in-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK\u2019s best food festivals in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enjoy delicious seasonal local produce and a lively atmosphere at a food festival this spring and summer. We’ve gathered our pick of the best food festivals in the UK. <\/p>

By Natasha Goodfellow\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 17 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

From the oyster-shucking festivals of Scotland\u2019s east coast, across the rolling countryside down to the Isle of Wight\u2019s aromatic Garlic<\/a> Farm, our nation\u2019s diverse regional produce is something to be truly celebrated.<\/p>\n

And what better way is there to do a weekend food shop than milling around a marketplace sampling the best of the UK\u2019s cuisine, while supporting local producers? Learn the secrets behind each type of food directly from the supplier, arguably the person with the most knowledge about it.<\/p>\n

Regional foodie Natasha Goodfellow rounds up her pick of the best food festivals in the UK to get in the diary now.<\/p>\n

Best food festivals in the UK<\/h2>\n

Alresford Watercress festival, Hampshire<\/h3>\n

21st May 2023<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
At the 13th annual Alresford Watercress Festival, the Watercress King and Queen (both age 6) throw the season\u2019s first watercress harvest to the crowds, Alresford. Credit: Paul Doyle \/ Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Every year, the pretty Hampshire town of Alresford plays host to a festival celebrating all things watercress. The highlight is a parade where the watercress king and queen distribute the first of the season\u2019s harvest. There\u2019s also a watercress-eating championship (now in the Guinness Book of Records), cookery demonstrations, a street market, Morris dancers and Punch and Judy shows, all in honour of this nutritious leaf.<\/p>\n

watercressfestival.org <\/a><\/p>\n

Dalemain marmalade festival, Cumbria<\/h3>\n

22nd April 2023<\/h3>\n
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Marmalade.\/Credit: Martin Poole\/Getty Images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Jane Hasell-McCosh, chatelaine of Dalemain Mansion in Cumbria, dreamt up the World Marmalade Awards in 2005 to attract tourists to the region after the Foot & Mouth outbreak. A huge success, the accompanying festival now boasts everything from orange-dyed sheep to a visit from Paddington Bear, of course.<\/p>\n

dalemain.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival<\/h3>\n

21st\u201323rd July 2023<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Yorkshire Dales National Park. \/Credit: Geography Photos\/UIG via Getty Images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Funkirk Farm in Skipton is the venue for this two-day extravaganza offering live celebrity demos by the likes of James Martin and The Hairy Bikers, alongside workshops, masterclasses and hundreds of foodie exhibitors.<\/p>\n

yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival<\/h3>\n

19th\u20132oth August 2023<\/h3>\n
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Isle of Wight Garlic Festival. Credit: Jeff Gilbert \/ Alamy.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A heady mix of country fair, pop festival and a vampire\u2019s worst nightmare, this festival offers everything from garlic beer and ice cream to fudge, with much of the raw ingredients grown just minutes away at the island\u2019s multi-award winning garlic farm.<\/p>\n

garlicfestival.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Meatopia On Fire, London<\/h3>\n

31st August\u2013 3rd September 2023<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Meatopia, London. Credit: Horst Friedrichs \/ Alamy.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Top chefs from around the world assemble for this visceral celebration of meat and fire at Tobacco Dock in East London. It\u2019s a party with principles though \u2013 the festival\u2019s manifesto insists on ethically produced and sustainable ingredients and extols the benefits of nose-to-tail eating.<\/p>\n

meatopia.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Stranraer Oyster Festival, Scotland<\/h3>\n

15th\u201317th September 2023<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Loch Ryan Oyster Fishery Team. Credit: Pete Robinson.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The UK\u2019s native oyster season opens on 1 September and the boats here need at least a week to land enough for this fun festival on the shores of Loch Ryan. Witness the high-stakes Oyster Shucking Championship in which chefs from all over Scotland compete, or grab a napkin and enter the oyster-eating competition yourself.<\/p>\n

stranraeroysterfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Abergavenny Food Festival, Wales<\/h3>\n

16th\u201317th September 2023<\/h3>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Night Market at Abergavenny Food Festival. \/Credit: Huw John, Cardiff\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Since it was first founded by two farmers in 1999, Abergavenny Food Festival has become one of Britain\u2019s leading food events, with talks and workshops.\u00a0The Saturday night party at the castle is legendary.<\/p>\n

abergavennyfoodfestival.com<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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