5 min readCelebrity cooking demonstrations
Fan favourite celebrity chefs James Martin and Ainsley Harriott will be returning to this year’s festival, after dazzling audiences in previous years. Both celebrity chefs will be offering live cooking demonstrations where they will rustle up remarkable recipes. Both celebrity cooking demonstrations will be BSL interpreted, and tickets are on sale on the website: www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.
Ainsley Harriott: Saturday 24 August
11:00am: Brunch demonstration (Book signing available)
1:00pm: Lunch demonstration
3:30pm: Rum Fiesta
Book your tickets now.
James Martin: Monday 26 August
11:00am: Cookery demo (Book signing available)
1:00pm: Cookery demo
3:00pm: Cookery demo
Book your tickets now.
Regional chef cookery demonstrations
There’s a great line up of FREE demos, from some of the regions and nations most well-respected chefs in a full programme of cookery demonstrations over the four days.
Sean Noonan, Brian Mellor, Joe Mcloud, Scott Bannon, Doug Crampton, Baking Nana, Mike Harrison and Michael Caines are just some of the talented chefs lined up to showcase their delicious delicacies.
Special Events
The Albert Halls are showcasing two exciting events, both with 3-course meals included:
Sheer Luck Holmes – The Case of the Floating Fiancée
On Saturday 24 August, get your magnifying glasses out for the brand-new show “Sheer Luck Holmes”, an immersive murder mystery night that is made to keep you guessing. The show will be 2 hours long and a 3-course meal will be served to all participants.
Book your tickets today
Faulty Towers Dining Experience
On Sunday 25 August, the fan favourite event “The Faulty Towers Dining Experience” returns to the Albert Halls for another year, so make sure to join Basil, Sybil and Manuel as they serve up mayhem on a plate alongside a 3-course meal and hours of non-stop laughter.
Book your tickets today
Mayor’s Prosecco Picnic Platter
Enjoy a delicious and delightful Prosecco Picnic Platter with The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Andy Morgan and special guests: Rusti Lee, Helen McGinn, Robert Owen Brown and Simon Wood. Enjoy a glass of prosecco on arrival, 2 glasses of wine as part of the platter, a special demo from Rusti Lee and an insightful and engaging Q and A session with mentioned special guests, presented Michelle Eagleton.
Book your tickets today
Market stalls
Over 200 renowned artisan stalls will be scattered throughout the town centre offering tastes from all around the world to grow your palate, as well as a range of arts, crafts and gifts for the whole family.
Children / Family entertainment
For the younger festivalgoers, there is plenty of child friendly entertainment, including a variety of free events, activities and street performers at the Elizabeth Park Festival Garden area, Octagon Theatre and Bolton Central Library.
The following activities will be running all bank holiday weekend free of charge (with the exception of face painting at £3):
Mark Daniel Magic Shows
When: 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Family Bingo
When: 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Make Your Own Carnival Crown
When: 11:30am-4:30pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Inflato-Worm Art Installation by Get It Done
When: 11:30am-4:30pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Facepainting (£3)
When: 11:30am-3:45pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Giant Carnival Puppets
When: 11:00am-4:00pm
Where: Elizabeth Park Family Zone
Bubble Artiste
When: 11:30am-4:30pm
Where: Elephant Park (Outside Octagon Theatre)
The following events are free but do require tickets:
Octagon’s Family Festival 2024
When: Sunday 25 August: 10:00am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-4:00pm; Monday 26 August: 10:00am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-4:00pm
Where: Octagon Theatre (and throughout town centre)
Book free tickets.
Author Talk with TikTok and TV chef Jon Watts
When: Friday 23 August: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Where: Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre
Book free tickets.
Scrumptious
When: Sunday 25 August: 11:00am and 2:00pm; Monday 26 August: 11:00am and 2:00pm
Where Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre
Book free tickets.
Further free children’s activities will be taking place at the Festival Garden area on Le Mans Crescent. Children can take part in pea planting, ‘meet the bees’, build a bug hotel and make a flower bomb.
Children aged 11 – 16 who are eligible for free school meals at high school, are invited to take part in a free professional chef-led ‘cook and dine’ session, as part of the Bolton Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
Book your cook and dine tickets today
Music Stages
There is an exciting music line up throughout the bank holiday weekend with two hit stages set to return with new artists and festival favourites ready to leave a lasting impression.
Headliners and other fantastic acts will be performing on the Festival Music Stage on Le Mans Crescent. Headliners for each day include:
Friday 26 August
Appy Mundays
Ultra 90s vs 2000s
Saturday 27 August
Rockchoir
Kennedy Caitlin (Dolly Parton Tribute)
Absolute Bowie
Sunday 28 August
Pure Weller
The Absolute Stone Roses
Monday 29 August
Chasing Mumfords
Not only this, but there will be local talent on the Acoustic Stage on Victoria Square as well as choirs, Rachel Burnett (as featured on The Voice 2023), Will Edgar (finalist in Kid’s Voice 2023), Cash Wallwork (Britain’s Got Talent 2023) and Bolton Ukulele Group taking the stage.
More information, including tickets, can be found on the website: www.foodanddrinkfestival.com
Bolton Food Festival is back again for 2024! After over half a million people came to see them last year, they're going bigger and better than ever before, with plenty of fun for the whole family across this year’s August bank holiday weekend! Expect to see Sheer Luck Holmes…
