Bolton Food & Drink Festival brings four free days
Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2026 runs from Friday, 28 August to Monday, 31 August in Bolton town centre. General entry is free, and the public event is aimed at families as well as anyone interested in local food, live entertainment and chef demonstrations.
According to Bolton Council, this Bank Holiday gathering marks the festival’s 21st year. Artisan stalls, music and family activities will return alongside appearances from local businesses and community organisations.
Four days in Bolton town centre
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, 28 August to Monday, 31 August |
| Venue | Bolton town centre |
| General entry | Free; public event |
| Audience | General public and families |
The council’s published information does not give daily opening times, detailed travel directions or accessibility arrangements. Transport for Greater Manchester will be present at the festival to discuss local cycling and walking routes, bike libraries, cycle training, maintenance sessions and walking groups.
Readers preparing for the weekend can also consult this Bolton festival visitor guide covering the same dates and family-focused programme.
Artisan stalls, live music and chef demonstrations
The central programme combines artisan stalls with live music, chef demonstrations and activities for younger visitors. No individual chef names or demonstration times were included in the council announcement, so visitors should avoid relying on an assumed daily schedule.
A new Visit Bolton area will sit next to the regional chefs and feature activities presented by local businesses. Visitors will also be able to collect the next edition of the Insider’s Handbook there.
Peel Land, named as the festival’s headline sponsor, will host a free omelette-making activity for young people in partnership with Urban Outreach. The company joins main sponsors Step Places, Agilisys and Visit Bolton.
Free crafts and activities for families
Market Place will provide free children’s craft activities, live music and artisan markets. Its programme is designed to give families somewhere to pause while remaining close to food and entertainment.
Active Bolton will present its community activities alongside games, competitions, treats and goody bags. These additions sit within a broader family programme rather than a separate ticketed event in the information supplied by the council.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Debbie Newall, described the festival as a celebration of what the town offers and thanked the sponsors and partners supporting its 21st year.
Festival food and local organisations
Carrs Pasties will return to its usual festival position with its established range and a limited-edition chicken fajita pasty created for 2026. Visitors will also be introduced to Patsy the Pasty, the company’s newest team character.
Stateside Foods will promote current recruitment vacancies, distribute goodie bags and run its pizza oven competition. CBRE will speak with visitors in the Visit Bolton area about the Crompton Place development and possible uses for temporary space in Victoria Square, including pop-up events, community activities and markets.
Other festival partners include Bank Top Brewery, Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, Be One Homes, Harworth, Placefirst, Seddon, Chorley Group, Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel, Impression and Vertu.
Anyone attending should use the confirmed 28–31 August dates and Bolton town centre location when planning. As no daily opening times are stated in the council announcement, visitors should check the festival’s official channels for the latest programme before travelling.
Source: Bolton Council News
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Source check How this preview was checked
Event dates, location, entry information and programme highlights were checked against the supplied Bolton Council announcement and event brief.
- Confirmed the festival runs from 28 to 31 August 2026.
- Confirmed the venue as Bolton town centre and general entry as free.
- Separated explicitly free activities from programme elements without stated booking detail...
- Flagged that daily opening times and accessibility arrangements were not supplied.
- Source
- Bolton Council News
- Scope
- Bolton
- Updated
- 2026-08-30 13:53
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