Returning to Manchester’ biggest park for its fourth year, Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival is bringing an exciting programme filled with family activities, live entertainment and diverse food and drink offerings this weekend. Taking place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August, the festival will feature 13 live music performances, an artisan market with over 100 local businesses alongside new family-friendly attractions, interactive workshops and immersive experiences.
What to expect at Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival
Live Chef Demonstrations, Music and Entertainment
In partnership with The Great British Bake Off’s Makbul Patel, the Live Cookery Theatre hosts twelve immersive demonstrations from some of Manchester’s acclaimed experts. Highlights include the widely-celebrated and chef at Manchester’s Pip, Mary-Ellen McTague, MasterChef: The Professionals champion Alex Webb, Junior Bake Off Winner Fin Woodward, and Great British Bake Off fan-favourite, Gill Howard.
The Live Music Stage at Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival features 13 live performances from the region’s up-and-coming performers, including the likes of soloists, bands, acoustic troupes, and choirs. Headlining Saturday’s event is Oasis tribute Standing on The Shoulder of Oasis, and taking centre stage on Sunday, is ABBA tribute, Planet ABBA. Alternatively, the Live Entertainers Stage spotlights magic performances, comedy shows, and ventriloquism from the likes of Matthew J Magic, John Kimmons, and The Magic Matt Show.
New Activities
Scattered across Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival are several interactive performances, including roaming comedy, stilt walkers, and bubble performers. This year also marks the debut of the Foodie Olympics, Sports Day-inspired family games with a food-and-drink-twist.
Running alongside these activities are hourly circus skills workshops, and an interactive mobile farm. Alternatively, families can explore the festival’s cornerstone attractions through the Foodie Clue Quest Scavenger Hunt, handed out on entry along with complementary festival programmes.
Additional activities include a fun fair, axe throwing, kids cooking classes, pasta workshops, pony petting, and wellness sessions.
Street Food Arena and Artisan Markets
The Street Food Arena at Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival will host over 20 of the North’s leading vendors, each serving different global flavours and international cuisines. Some street food vendor highlights include Tik Tako, 7 Star Flag, and Super Bao Street Kitchen.
The renowned Artisan Markets will also be back at the festival, featuring over 100 independent businesses and talented entrepreneurs, offering a range of handmade crafts, gifts, homeware, jewellery, accessories, art, sweet goods, savoury products, sauces, cheeses, charcuterie, oils, preserves, spirits, coffee, tea, and experiences. Plus, there will be two streets of independent bars serving signature cocktails, cider, wine, and specialty spirits, complemented by a Full Ale House, offering cask favourites and IPAs on draught.
How to get tickets to Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival
Tickets to Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival start from £10.95 for adults (plus booking fee) for either Saturday or Sunday and £13.95 (plus booking fee) for the full weekend. For children aged 16 or under, single day tickets start from £6.95 and £9.95 for the full weekend, whilst children under the age of 5 get free entry.
Donations from ticket sales will go to Manchester Mind, hoping to add to the £146,000 collectively raised for mental health initiatives through the festival and its sister events.
The festival location has moved to the Dower House Field which is up near Heaton Park Hall and customer parking can be found on Sheepfoot Lane. Heaton Park is served by its own tram stop which is located approximately 500m from the event. For more information, tickets and updates, head here.