It is Yorkshire’s largest food festival, so read on to find out what activities are available – especially those that are great for families and children. You can enjoy 10 days of demonstrations, taste trails, markets, street food and more!
Produce Market & Street Food from 10am – 5pm: Enjoy shopping from a huge range of produce from cheese to chocolate and bread to meats and pies!
Demonstrations: There are lots of demonstrations between 12pm to 5pm most days
Food enclosures and live music in the evenings: In St Sampson’s Square, you will find York Gin, the Fizz Bar, Shambles Plates and Miller’s Fish & Chips. The Entertainment Marquee on Parliament Street is home to real ale bars, Yorkshire Orchards Cider and a range of street food stands. Live music until 9pm after the markets close at 5pm.
Entry to York Food & Drink Festival is free and only the trails and a small number of events are ticketed.
You can find the full programme of events here and below we have highlighted a few events that caught our eye, that sound great fun to do as a family.
For just £5, the Cookie Tour invites families to embark on a fun and interactive self-guided walking tour. Starting at the Festival’s heart on Parliament Street and ending at St. Crux Hall, participants receive a map/guide leaflet with engaging questions about participating businesses in the area. This tour is a fantastic way for families to explore York’s local food and culture scene while having fun and learning new things. .
📆 Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October 2023
📍The trail booklet collection is available from the Information Point daily between 10 am and 4 pm, located opposite the Shambles Market Entrance on Parliament Street
🎟 £5
ℹ️ Booklets can be pre-purchased online or obtained at the information point.
For older children and adults alike, the Taste Trails offer a self-guided walking tour around the city of York, providing an opportunity to sample delectable treats from some of York’s finest delis, restaurants, and suppliers. There are two Taste Trails available, East and West York, each featuring around 20 stops where you can savor the best of York’s food scene. A tasting hub with additional samples adds to the experience.
📆 23 Sep 1-4pm, 24 & 25 Sep & 1 – 2 Oct 10am – 4pm, 26 -30 Sep 3.30-4.30pm,
📍Various locations around York City Centre
🎟 Adult £10/Child £6
ℹ️ Tickets for the Taste Trails are limited to 100 per day and can be pre-booked online or purchased at the information point while stocks last.
The trail booklet collection is available from the Information Point any day between 10 am to 4 pm, located opposite the Shambles Market Entrance on Parliament Street.
The Food Factory: Free Culinary Workshops and More The Food Factory, a cornerstone of the festival, offers a series of free cookery workshops. Visitors of all ages can learn new culinary skills and discover how food is made The schedule includes:
The workshops cover various themes, such as bread making, pasta making, vegan dips, and smoking your own food. New workshop themes have been added for 2023, ensuring there’s always something exciting to learn at the festival. These hands-on workshops cater to all ages, with experienced instructors providing guidance and support.
📆 22 Sep, one session from 3.30 pm, 23 & 24 Sep from 10 am to 4 pm, 25 – 29 Sep one session from 3.30 (reserved for schools during the rest of the day), 30 Sep & 1 Oct from 10 am to 4 pm
📍Workshops take place at the Museum Gardens, Coppergate Centre, and St. Crux Hall
🎟 FREE – if you can donations are requested to cover food costs
ℹ️ Activities are on a first come first serve basis
Located at St Crux Hall, Fantastic Faces offers face painting, hair braiding, and henna tattoos daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
📆 22-24 Sep and 29 Seo – 1 Oct from 10am – 5pm
📍St Crux Hall
🎟 Costs vary
ℹ️ Activities are on a first come first serve basis
Join Avocado Events for a free activity session at the Demonstration Theatre in St Sampson’s Square from 10 am to 11:30 am. Avocado Events specialize in engaging, fun events for pre-schoolers. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
📆 23 Sep from 10am – 11.30am
📍St Sampson’s Square
🎟 FREE
ℹ️ Activities are on a first come first serve basis
Experience a vibrant celebration of well-being at the Artists Garden, Museum Gardens, behind York Art Gallery, from 10 am to 5 pm. This event offers diverse entertainment, free health checks, and more to promote community health and well-being.
📆 24 Sep from 10am – 5pm
📍Museum Gardens
🎟 FREE – book tickets in advance
ℹ️ Find out more here
Join top bartenders from Impossible for some tips, tricks, and delicious samples of their best-selling mocktails at the Demonstration Theatre in St Sampson’s Square from 11 am to 12 pm.
📆 24 Sep from 11am – 12pm
📍St Sampson’s Square
🎟 FREE
ℹ️ Activities are on a first come first serve basis
Find out even more…Find out more information about the York Food & Drink Festival 2023 here, including the full programme of events.
Festival Bars:
Food Markets:
Opening times (Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October 2023):
