With less than a month until the UK’s biggest Food and Drink Festival begins, take a look at the lineup to make sure you don’t miss out on the fantastic events and entertainment on offer.
This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever with a mix of celebrity and regional chef cookery demos, two special events, over 200 market stalls, flamboyant street entertainment, two live music stages and plenty of children’s and family entertainment.
Celebrity cooking demonstrations
Fan favourite celebrity chefs James Martin and Ainsley Harriott will be returning to this year’s festival, after dazzling audiences in previous years.
Both celebrity chefs will be offering live cooking demonstrations where they will rustle up remarkable recipes.
Ainsley Harriott: Saturday 24 August
11:00am Brunch demonstration (Book signing available)
1:00pm Lunch demonstration
3:30pm Rum Fiesta
James Martin: Monday 26 August
11:00am (Book signing available)
1:00pm
3:00pm
Both celebrity cooking demonstrations will be BSL interpreted.
Tickets are on sale on the website: www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com
Regional chef cookery demonstrations
There’s a great line up of FREE demos, from some of the regions and nations most well-respected chefs in a full programme of cookery demonstrations over the four days.
Sean Noonan, Brian Mellor, Joe Mcloud, Scott Bannon, Doug Crampton, Baking Nana, Mike Harrison and Michael Caines are just some of the talented chefs lined up to showcase their delicious delicacies.
Special Events
The Albert Halls are showcasing two exciting events, both with 3-course meals included.
Sheer Luck Holmes – The Case of the Floating Fiancée
On Saturday 24 August, get your magnifying glasses out for the brand-new show “Sheer Luck Holmes”, an immersive murder mystery night that is made to keep you guessing. The show will be 2 hours long and a 3-course meal will be served to all participants.
Book tickets for Sheer Luck Holmes
Faulty Towers Dining Experience
On Sunday 25 August, the fan favourite event “The Faulty Towers Dining Experience” returns to the Albert Halls for another year, so make sure to join Basil, Sybil and Manuel as they serve up mayhem on a plate alongside a 3-course meal and hours of non-stop laughter.
Book tickets for the Faulty Towers Dining Experience
Market stalls
Over 200 renowned artisan stalls will be scattered throughout the town centre offering tastes from all around the world to grow your palate, as well as a range of arts, crafts and gifts for the whole family.
Children / Family entertainment
For the younger festivalgoers, there is plenty of child friendly entertainment, including a variety of free events, activities and street performers at the Elizabeth Park Festival Garden area, Octagon Theatre and Bolton Central Library.
The following activities will be running all bank holiday weekend free of charge (with the exception of face painting at £3).
| Event | Times | Venue |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark Daniel Magic Shows |
11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Family Bingo |
12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm, 4:30pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Make your own Carnival Crown |
11:30am – 4:30pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Inflato-Worm art installation by Get It Done |
11:30am – 4:30pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Facepainting (£3) |
11:30am – 15:45pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Giant carnival puppets |
11am – 4pm |
Elizabeth Park Family Zone |
|
Bubble artiste |
11:30am – 4:30pm |
Elephant Park (Outside Octagon Theatre) |
The following events are free but do require tickets:
| Event | Tickets | Times | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Octagon’s Family Festival 2024 |
Free, tickets must be booked via Eventbrite
|
Available slots: Sunday 25 August 10:00am-12:30pm 1:30- 4pm
Monday 26 August 10:00am-12:30pm 1:30- 4pm |
Octagon Theatre (and throughout town centre) |
|
Author Talk with TikTok and TV chef Jon Watts |
Free, tickets must be booked via Eventbrite
Book tickets for the author talk with TikTok and TV chef Jon Watt |
Friday 23 August 2-3pm |
Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre |
|
Scrumptious |
Free, tickets must be booked via Eventbrite
|
Sunday 25 August 11am and 2pm Monday 26 August 11am and 2pm |
Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre |
Further free children’s activities will be taking place at the Festival Garden area on Le Mans Crescent. Children can take part in pea planting, ‘meet the bees’, build a bug hotel and make a flower bomb.
Children aged 11 – 16 who are eligible for free school meals at high school, are invited to take part in a free professional chef-led ‘cook and dine’ session, as part of the Bolton Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
Book your cook and dine tickets today
Music stages
There is an exciting music line up throughout the bank holiday weekend with two hit stages set to return with new artists and festival favourites ready to leave a lasting impression.
Headliners and other fantastic acts will be performing on the Festival Music Stage on Le Mans Crescent. Headliners for each day include:
| Date | Act |
|---|---|
|
Friday 26 August |
Appy Mundays |
|
Ultra 90s vs 2000s |
|
|
Saturday 27 August |
Rockchoir |
|
Kennedy Caitlin (Dolly Parton Tribute) |
|
|
Absolute Bowie |
|
|
Sunday 28 August |
Pure Weller |
|
The Absolute Stone Roses |
|
|
Monday 29 August |
Chasing Mumfords |
Not only this, but there will be local talent on the Acoustic Stage on Victoria Square as well as choirs, Rachel Burnett (as featured on The Voice 2023), Will Edgar (finalist in Kid’s Voice 2023), Cash Wallwork (Britain’s Got Talent 2023) and Bolton Ukulele Group taking the stage.
Sponsors
The event is being supported by:
- Headlines sponsors Watson Homes.
- Main sponsors Stateside Foods, Peel Land, Step Places and Agilisys.
- Partners Bolton at Home, Carrs Pasties, Clear Futures, Placefirst, Wagamama, Recycle for Greater Manchester, Harworth, Bolton Arena, Impression, Serco, Mercure Hotels, the University of Bolton and GM Business Growth Hub.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said:
“Each year I am blown away by Bolton Food and Drink Festival and the lineup for this year looks incredible.
“We have worked especially hard to ensure that the event is inclusive for everyone, and there is something to be enjoyed by all.
“I am delighted to welcome new and familiar faces to Bolton, see local businesses thriving and celebrate our fantastic town.”
More information, including tickets, can be found on the website: boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.
All schedules are subject to change.