Clitheroe Food Festival: Everything you need to know

This year’s free-to-enter festival will round off a week of foodie events being held throughout the Ribble Valley.

Festival organiser Ribble Valley Borough Council has decided to expand the festival, one of the most popular food festivals in the country, into the week-long Ribble Valley Taste Fest.

Councillor Ricky Newmark, chair of the council’s community services committee, said: “We have created a strong narrative around food over the years and established the Clitheroe Food Festival as one of the best in the UK.

"As well as being a free-to-enter family event, the festival provides a vital showcase for local shops, business and producers, and is a fantastic opportunity for people to see some amazing local produce.

“Festival-goers can expect to find top-quality artisan produce, a feast of family fun and non-stop street entertainment.

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors for their contribution to this popular community showcase, which represents a considerable investment by the council and is now one of the best food festivals in the UK.”

The festival, organised by Ribble Valley Borough Council and sponsored by Holmes Mill, is one of Lancashire’s most popular events, attracting more than 18,000 visitors to the town centre.

The festival, which starts on August 5, will feature a feast of activities and special events, including picnics, wine-tastings, a mouth-watering champagne and seafood dinner at Holmes Mill, and farm walks.

The food festival will culminate in Clitheroe town centre, featuring quality food and drink – from wild game and Biltong beef to cheese truckles and curry kits, along with a feast of fruit and vegetables packed with authentic flavours – from around 90 exhibitors.

Bowland Brewery’s pop-up bar will be pitched on the Clitheroe Market car park, while festivalgoers can sample the olives and antipasti of the Compleat Food Group at its stand in Market Place.

The popular 'Mad Science' will also set up a series of fun stations, featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities throughout the town centre, with non-stop live music at the Clitheroe Market bullring.

Warren Bennett, commerical director of Holmes Mill, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring this fantastic event again and are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the festival in August.

“Our Bowland Brewery bar will be serving our award-winning ales, which are brewed at Holmes Mill in Clitheroe, on the market – and we will be continuing the celebrations in the mill yard, with live music on the outside stage until 9pm.”