York’s tastiest festival is back this month – here’s a guide to some of the festival highlights to tempt your tastebuds.
The 10 day event on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square is set to once again feature taste trails, exciting workshops, local chefs, live music and family fun.
The York Food and Drink Festival is back from Friday 20 to Sunday 29 September.
We’ve picked out some highlights and put them into a handy guide for you – check it out below.
The popular Food Factory is back, where visitors can try their hand at bread making, pasta making, vegan dips and more.
The music charity event Live for St Leonard’s will also be returning, hosted by YorkMix, with performances across nine days from local musicians.
Great British Bake Off star Freya Cox is making her first appearance at the festival this year – she’ll be cooking up a vegan storm in the demonstration tent.
There are fun foodie events such as the annual Pork Pie Competition, dance the night away on the Bollywood Cruise, and attend a Medieval Feast.
To see the full festival programme and to book onto ticketed events, please visit the York Food & Drink Festival website.
17 tasty York Food Festival highlights
Taste Trails
A self-guided walking trail around the city of York and an opportunity to try samples from some of the best York’s food scene by visiting a range of deli’s, restaurants and suppliers.
There are two Taste Trails for you to enjoy – East and West York – with each trail featuring around 20 stops. Some of this year’s participants include The Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House, Brew York, Biga+, Little Blondie Bakehouse, 2 Many Wines, Cocoa Joes, Fancy Hanks, Love Cheese, Pho, and the York Minster Refectory.
- Start at information point in Parliament Street
- Fri 20 – Sun 29 Sep
- Between 10am and 4pm
- £10, £6 concession
The Food Factory
The York Food Festival offers a series of FREE cookery workshops, which are designed to provide visitors with an opportunity to learn new culinary skills and how food is made. The workshops are open to all ages and cover a range of themes including bread making, pasta making, vegan dips, and smoking your own food. YorkMix‘s Laura and Mixie the Monster will be there every day so come say hello!
- York Museum Gardens and St Crux
- Fri 20 – Sun 29 Sep
- Various times
- Free
Taste the Festival with York on a Fork
Join York food expert Ben to taste the Festival, starting on St Sampson’s Square with delicious samples as you work through the event.
- Meet at St Sampson’s Square
- Fri 20 – Sun 29 Sep
- 10:30am
- £25
Live for St Leonard’s
Live For St Leonard’s is back! This live music event is organised by York BID, as part of the York Food & Drink Festival, and all charitable funds raised are donated in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice. Over the last 2 years the initiative has raised nearly £9,000 for the charity. Patrons can expect performances from great local talent, every evening from 5pm! YorkMix will also be hosting the music tent every evening.
- Parliament Street & St Sampson’s Square
- Fri 20 – Sat 28 Sep
- 5-9pm
- Free
Cheese & Beer Tasting
Brew York and Love Cheese join forces to explore, you guessed it, cheese and beer! Dive into a curated experience where you’ll sample four distinctive beers handpicked by the renowned Brew York, each thoughtfully paired with four artisanal cheeses selected by Love Cheese.
- St Crux, York YO1 8BL
- Fri 20 Sep
- 12-2pm
- £15
York Beer & Cider Festival
Starting on the Wednesday before the Festival and ending on the first Saturday, CAMRA expect to serve around 200 local and national cask and keg beers from a large selection of breweries plus ciders and perries. This includes Yorkshire breweries and cideries, particularly those within 25 miles of York. There will be an expanded range of the best ales and kegs, ciders and perries from around the UK together plus a range of wine, mead and soft drinks.
- St Lawrence Church, Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
- Fri 20 – Sat 21 Sep
- 3-9pm
- From £2
Meet the MinsterBelles
Meet some of the York City Ladies players by St Crux. Bring your cameras and autograph books, and chat with some of the players, and receive a free ticket to York City Ladies v Barnsley on Sunday 22 September 2pm kick off at York Sport Stadium.
- St Crux, York YO1 8BL
- Sat 21 Sep
- 12:30 – 1:30pm
- Free
Assize of Ale
The assize is taken from a medieval custom whereby the Sheriff would summon their people to visit the ale houses in the city and taste the ale to ensure it was palatable. Now a staple in the Civic charities fundraising calendar this year will form part of the popular York Food Festival.
The Sheriff of York will make a proclamation to start the traditional event, they will be joined by York Mix, Owl Adventures, The Town Crier, York Guard and Waits before heading off on pre-selected routes around the city visiting ‘ale houses’. The event will conclude at York Mansion House for a fish and chip supper.
- Meet at York Mansion House
- Sat 21 Sep
- 2-7:30pm
- TBC
Bollywood Cruise
Welcome aboard the Bollywood Cruise on the River Ouse! Enjoy the views from the River Ouse, and naach (dance) to the best of Bollywood and Bhangra music along with other genres by award winning DJ Saiqa. Drinks and snacks available to purchase on board.
- Meet at King’s Staith Landing
- Sat 21 Sep
- 7-9:30pm
- £26.99
Trussell Trust volunteer challenge
A light hearted competition somewhat in the manner of ‘Ready Steady Cook’. Two of the Trussell Trust volunteers cook meals from Trussell ingredients using the Festival’s stage set. The ‘competition’ is preceded by a reception drink provided by the festival and some nibbles also created from the Trust materials.
- St Crux, York YO1 8BL
- Mon 23 Sep
- 5:30-7:30pm
- PWYC
Normandy Themed Dinner
The Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House is celebrating the region of Normandy with a four course set menu available across a two day event.
- The Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House, 25 Walmgate, York, YO1 9TX
- Thu 26 – Fri 27 Sep
- 5-10pm
- £40
Make with Yahala Mataam
Join us for a unique event. Meet our refugee chefs, hear about the origins of some of our Syrian Delicacies and get involved and cook with us.
- St Crux, York, YO1 8BL
- Fri 27 Sep
- 5:30-6:30pm
- £15
Pork Pie Competition 2024
Now in its third year – The Bedern Hall Pork Pie Competition is back! In search of the perfect pie, we’ve invited local pie makers to enter their very best pies for you to judge and vote for your favourites.
- Bedern Hall, Saint Andrewgate, York, YO1 7AL
- Fri 27 Sep
- 6:30pm-9:30pm
- £12
York Inspirational Kids Thai Night
A charity night with York Inspirational Kids CIC. There is also a Mexican and Italian themed night during the festival.
- Stimul8 Inclusive Cafe, Rose Avenue, York YO26 6RR
- Fri 27 Sep
- 7:30pm-9:30pm
- £25
Freya Cox
Great British Bake Off star Freya is making her York Food Festival debut! Freya took Bake Off by storm in 2021, pushing her vegan creations to the fore. We can’t wait to welcome her to our demonstration stage.
- St Crux, York, YO1 8BL
- Sat 28 Sep
- 12-1pm
- Free
Medieval Feast at the historic Barley Hall
You are invited to attend a special Medieval-inspired dining experience at the historic Barley Hall in the centre of York. Step into our traditional candlelit banqueting hall and step back in time. The evening includes a three-course Medieval-inspired menu and live entertainment from professional actors who will delight you with stories of old. Medieval clothing is welcomed but certainly not required.
- Barley Hall, 2 Coffee Yard, York YO1 8AR
- Sat 28 Sep
- 7-10pm
- £70