The programme for the award-winning Bolton Food and Drink Festival has been served.
This year the festival marks its 18th birthday on August bank holiday weekend.
Visitors can expect the hugely popular celebrity chef cookery demos, a sprinkling of over 200 market traders, heaps of live music, a pinch of exciting children’s activities, a dash of fun street entertainment, all featuring lots of special events, including Bottomless Brunch.
The festival will also feature comedy dining experiences and a one-time, not-to-be-missed DJ set from Gok Wan.
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Last year’s event smashed the record for visitor numbers and has been named the best leading live event at the This is Manchester Awards, as well as Best Market Attraction by the National Association of British Market Authorities.
Entry is completely free to all visitors, with the festival taking over most of the town centre and offering lots for everybody to enjoy, with the celebrity chef and special ticketed events thrown into the mix for those wanting to have a summer treat.
See the festival highlights below:
Throughout the four-day festival taking place on Friday 25, Saturday 26, Sunday 27, and Monday 28 August, festivalgoers can expect to try out some scrumptious cuisine from around the world, pick up some unique treats and gifts, or check out the art by local artists.
Plenty of live music stages will be set up with music from popular local bands and musicians.
It is also family friendly with arts and crafts to join in with, fun games and magic tricks, or face painting.
For those keen home cooks out there, there’s a jam-packed line up of regional chefs with some of the region’s and nation’s favourites joining the festival, with a medley of cookery demos.
Friday
Kicking the weekend off with a bang is festival ambassador Michael Caines.
Fresh from Lympstone Manor, the much-loved celebrity chef ambassador will launch the flagship festival on Friday morning.
There will also be able to catch him in a free cookery demo too.
Saturday
Start your Saturday in style with the brand-new Bottomless Brunch.
These daily sessions promise to keep your glass and your tummy full.
Not to be outdone, festival newbie Gok Wan will be serving up a treat with some delicious Chinese food demos in our celebrity chef cookery theatre, located in the Festival Hall.
After a spin in the kitchen, the multi-talented chef will be taking to the decks creating a feast of retro club classics and old school house music.
There will also be immersive theatre and dining comedy nights, including the Faulty Towers dining experience, returning for one night only.
Sunday
Sunday will welcome another new face to the festival when business owner, charity founder, author, food presenter, and TV cook, Nisha Katona MBE, joins Bolton for the first time, leading the way for a spectacular Sunday spread.
Mowgli Street Food’s Nisha will be showcasing her love of Indian cooking in a range of cookery demos bringing new simple recipes to Bolton and sharing her passion for all things food.
The Bottomless Brunch will also take place on Sunday.
Rounding off the day is a second helping of comedy in the ‘Live and Let Dine’ dining experience, brought to you by the team behind the Faulty Towers experience.
Monday
Bringing the festival to a close and going out on a high, is festival icon, James Martin who tops the guest list, as he returns to headline the Monday line-up with his cookery demos showing off his second-to-nonculinary skills.
There’s also one last chance to grab a seat to enjoy the Bottomless Brunch session.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “I’m delighted to announce the extensive programme at the 18th Bolton Food and Drink Festival, and hope that visitors come from far and wide to join us in celebrating.
“As our flagship event, it’s really important that we make this accessible for all and offer residents free, fun activities for them and their families."
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “In my new role looking after culture, I am looking forward to joining the celebrations and seeing the town centre bustling.
“Events like this bring great economic benefits to the town and really help to showcase Bolton as a brilliant visitor destination.”
Tickets will be going on sale at the end of this month for the celebrity chef demos, with more announcements to follow.
For more information click here (www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com).
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