Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns for four free days

Bolton Food and Drink Festival will fill Bolton town centre from 28 to 31 August, bringing hundreds of food, drink, craft and gift traders into the streets. Entry is free, the festival is open to the public, and its mix of international dishes and family-friendly activities is aimed at visitors of all ages.

Bolton Council says the programme will range from hot street food and handmade produce to jewellery, art and specialist drinks. The four-day event is sponsored by Peel Land.

Dates, location and entry at a glance

• Dates: 28–31 August 2026
• Location: Bolton town centre, including Le Mans Crescent
• Entry: Free and open to the public
• Who it suits: Families, food enthusiasts and visitors interested in independent produce, crafts and art

Daily opening times have not been supplied. The announcement also does not provide booking procedures, transport arrangements or accessibility information, so visitors who need those details should check the latest festival information before travelling.

Global street food takes over Bolton town centre

The savoury line-up reaches well beyond familiar festival staples. Visitors can expect Greek gyros, Turkish shawarma, Thai street food, Portuguese pastries, Italian pasta, Caribbean dishes and Indian curries among the cuisines represented.

Named traders include Greek Street Food by the Malaka Brothers, Istanbul’s Kitchen and Thai 2 Go. Happy Dumpling 365 and Dobra Kitchen are also due to join the town-centre stalls, giving visitors a broad choice of dishes without having to focus on one part of the market.

Dessert traders will have their own presence across the festival. Fifi’s Cheesecakes, Nutella House, Choc-O-Licious, Love Crepes and Pit Stop Donut King are among those listed, alongside several artisan fudge makers.

Honey, cheese and handmade produce join the stalls

The festival is not limited to food prepared for immediate eating. Independent producers will bring locally produced honey, handmade cheeses, artisan bread, specialist sauces and gourmet preserves.

Bright Meadows Honey, Great British Cheese Co, Handcrafted Bread Co, Wiltshire Chilli Farm and Heritage Kitchen are among the confirmed names. Their inclusion gives visitors the option of browsing products to take home as well as sampling food around the town centre.

Drinks traders named by organisers include Northern Shakers, Salford Rum Company, Mountain Mead, Coole Swan and Retro Shots. The supplied programme does not give individual prices, menus or tasting arrangements.

Crafts and art extend the festival beyond food

Handmade goods will sit alongside the food and drink stalls. Daisy Louise Jewellery, Grace Alexandra Jewellery, Karousell Bags and Ruslyn Wood Creations are among the traders expected to sell jewellery, bags, gifts and wooden creations.

Le Mans Crescent will also host the returning Arts Circle exhibition and sale. Together with the family-friendly activities and entertainment promised by organisers, this gives groups with different interests more to browse during a visit.

Debbie Newall, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for culture, encouraged visitors to bring their families for a day in the town centre. The complete trader line-up is still being finalised, with further stalls and attractions due to be confirmed before the festival opens on 28 August.

Source: Bolton Council News