Food-themed festivals to visit this summer
Vegan Camp Out Held at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, this would “make a great first festival for anyone new to veganism”, says Natalie Paris in The Daily Telegraph. As well as showcasing what it claims is the “largest selection of vegan food” in UK history, it “aims to equip revellers with the skills needed to whip up ethical, but nutritious plates of food at home”. Plus there’s music, talks, yoga workshops and a children’s area (15-18 July; vegancampout.co.uk).
Locally Sauced Festival Held in Haywards Heath, this event promotes “sustainable Sussex produce, from food to fashion”, says Rachel Dixon in The Guardian. Foodie treats include a pop-up Egyptian restaurant, a range of cookery demos and an artisan market. Local bands play during the day (23-24 July; locallysaucedfestival.com).
Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival This new “two-day extravaganza” in Manchester is brought to you by the team behind the award-wining North Leeds Food Festival, says Rachel Dixon. They promise international street food, no fewer than eight independent bars, a live cookery theatre and a market where you can pick up local products. It’s not just about food, however: there are “lots of kids’ activities”, and an “eclectic music line-up” featuring local acts (20-21 August; heatonparkfoodfestival.com).
The Big Feastival Set on Blur bassist Alex James’s farm, and well attended by the fashionable Cotswolds set, this is the “ultimate feel-good festival”, says Ellie Smith in Country & Town House magazine. It’s no surprise that the music is high quality – The Human League and Stereophonics headline this year – but there are also ample feasting opportunities, plus demos from the likes of Michelin three-starred chef Clare Smyth (26-28 August; thebigfeastival.com).
Meatopia “If the sight of great hunks of meat being licked by flames gets you going”, then Meatopia is for you, says Natalie Paris. At this annual festival on London’s Tobacco Dock, fire-cooking is “elevated to an art form”. More than 70 chefs will be in attendance this year, serving up dishes tested in advance. But the organisers stress that “Meatopia is not about gluttony”: there’s a focus on imparting knowledge, and on ethical, sustainable ingredients (2-4 September; meatopia.co.uk).
Scottish Wild Food Festival Visitors to this festival, on the edge of the Trossachs National Park, north of Glasgow, are invited to “take part in hands-on foraging, folklore walks, craft workshops and wild food demos”, says Ellie Smith. There are classes on wild cocktail-making and fermentation, and there is a daily banquet served at long tables. N.B. no camping on site (17-18 September; scottishwildfoodfestival.co.uk).
Abergavenny Food Festival Founded by two farmers in 1999, this festival has become “one of Britain’s leading food events”, said Natasha Goodfellow in Countryfile magazine. Some 30,000 people flock to the Welsh town each year for a programme of talks, workshops and tutored tastings. And there’s a “legendary” party held on the Saturday night, in the grounds of Abergavenny Castle (17-18 September; abergavennyfoodfestival.com).