Food & drink festivals


With no let up in interest in all things local, especially delicious food, and a burgeoning microbrewery scene, it's great to be able to celebrate all of this at a growing number of food, beer and artisan gin festivals in 2021. It's food and drink heaven!
Don't forget our monthly farmers' markets for more regular local food fixes and Country Markets (formerly known as WI Markets), while food is integral to the summer's agricultural and country shows too.
Food Festivals 2021
- Fish & Ships (Virtual 15 - 16 May 2021) - Set to return in 2022
Celebrating everything that’s special about our coast’s magnificent maritime culture with plenty for foodies, from cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs in the festival kitchen and shipyard tours to fish filleting and crab dressing demonstrations by local fishermen, live music, children's activities and much more.
- The Filey International Food Festival (26 - 27 June, 14 - 15 August and 9 - 10 October 2021)
Great food from brilliant producers, cookery demos from local chefs, live music, beer, fun fair and much more.
- Malton Gin Festival - 9 - 11 July 2021
Gin specialists, McMillans of Malton bring together gin tastings, gin events, gin talks and more at The Talbot Hotel, featuring 10 Yorkshire producers, including SLOEmotion, Rare Bird, Whitby Distillery, Cooper King and York Gin, live music and more.
- Whitby & District Lions Annual Charity Beer Festival (July date tbc)
Based at The Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre, over 30 real ales, ciders and perries to sample from local and regional microbreweries, with all proceeds going to local charities. Plenty of local food too.
- Seafest Maritime Festival (23 - 25 July 2021)
Seafood lovers descend on the mini-food festival held as part of Scarborough's maritime heritage celebrations. Sample the food stalls and enjoy free seafood cookery demos in the Seafest Food Theatre with leading Yorkshire chefs, plus the Great Yorkshire Brewery hosts a real ale and beer festival with over 40 local real ales, beers and ciders.
- Saltburn Food Festival (usually July but date tbc for 2021)
The popular monthly farmers' market is boosted by special guest chefs in the live cookery theatre, children’s cookery workshops in the Family Kitchen, and beer festival. Make use of the Park & Ride on the Whitby Vintage Bus.
- Beertown (27 - 29 August 2021)
Malton held its first Craft Beer Festival in 2014 to mark the craft beer revival, with two microbreweries, Bad Seed Brewery and Brass Castle now brewing their real ales in town. The festival returns in 2021 with even more craft beers, street food and music.
- Great Northern Food & Drink Festival, Scampston Hall (28 - 30 August 2021)
Brand new festival for 2021 celebrating smaller independent food and drink retailers and suppliers, and featuring crafts, locally produced meats, cheeses and baked goods as well as entertainment for all ages with demonstrations, live music, baking competitions and traditional fairground rides.
- Malton Food Lovers Festival (28 - 30 August 2021)
Not to be missed and now firmly on the foodies calendar, showcasing Yorkshire's fabulous bounty and speciality food from further afield. 150 food stalls and street food, mixed in with passionate local and celebrity chefs, cookery demos, tutored tastings, festival bar, live music and more.
- Stokesley Food Fest (August date tbc)
Expect a weekend of foodie treats across the market town with local food and drink producers showcasing their products outside the town hall, and a super farmers' market.
- The Sun Inn, Pickering (September 2021 tbc)
Renowned real ale pub holds its an annual beer and cider festival every September, with live music and food throughout the weekend.
- Cropton Brewery Beer Fest (November 2021 tbc)
The Cropton Brewery Beer Festival celebrated its 25th birthday in 2019. Described as legendary by CAMRA, expect live music, loads of homemade food and more than 80 real ales, lagers and traditional ciders.