Food festivals
Warwickshire has a genuine food festival culture. From spring through to autumn, the county's market towns come alive with independent producers, street food traders and the kind of relaxed, community atmosphere that makes these events as much about place as they are about food. Whether you are browsing artisan stalls in a Tudor high street or picking up local produce alongside the river Avon, there is something here for every appetite.
Alcester
Set in the quiet countryside of south Warwickshire, Alcester's food festival fills the town's historic streets with independent producers and food traders each year. Established by local residents in 2010, it attracts thousands and has become one of the most loved events in the town's calendar, with all profits reinvested back into the community. The setting alone makes it worth the trip.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford's food festival takes over streets in the heart of the town, drawing well over a hundred stalls of local producers, artisan food makers and street food traders into streets that Shakespeare himself would recognise. With live cookery demonstrations and entertainment running across the weekend, it is one of the most popular events on the county's food calendar.
Kenilworth
Kenilworth's food festival brings traders and live music into the town centre, with the atmospheric backdrop of Abbey Fields - the open parkland that sits in the shadow of the castle ruins - providing one of the most distinctive settings for a food event anywhere in the county. A well-attended, free community event that draws visitors from across Warwickshire.
Royal Leamington Spa
Leamington's free Food and Drink Festival spreads across the town centre with cookery demonstrations, live entertainment from the bandstand and a strong showcase of regional producers. It is one of the best-attended food events in the county and a natural fit for a town already known for the quality and variety of its restaurants, cafés and independent food businesses.
Warwick
Warwick's food festival takes place at St Nicholas Park, beside the River Avon, often with live entertainment and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere in one of the town's most attractive open spaces. Set against the backdrop of a medieval county town, it is a highly enjoyable way to spend a day.
Shipston-on-Stour
On the southern edge of Warwickshire, close to the Cotswolds border, Shipston-on-Stour hosts its own food festival organised by the Stour Valley Lions and supported by the town council. The High Street and Market Place fill with stalls selling everything from local produce and artisan bakes to ready-to-eat street food, and all proceeds go to local charitable causes. A genuinely community-rooted event in one of the county's most characterful small towns.
Check before you go
Some of these festivals are organised by volunteers and community groups, so dates and locations vary from year to year. Smaller food events and community gatherings also take place in villages and towns across the county throughout the season. For the most up-to-date information on what's happening and when, head to our what's on page.