The Shaftesbury Food Festival Is Back — And It's Going to Be Bigger Than Ever
Mark the date: Saturday 2nd May. The Shaftesbury Food Festival is back, and after the incredible reception last year, the team behind it — the Shaftesbury Chamber of Commerce and a brilliant group of local volunteers — have set their sights on making this one bigger, better, and even more delicious.
More food stalls, more producers, more entertainment, more reasons to come and spend the day on the hilltop. If you've been before, you already know what a special event this is. If you haven't, this is the year to put it in your diary.
A genuine day out for the whole family
The Shaftesbury Food Festival is one of those rare events that genuinely has something for everyone. It's not just a farmers' market, and it's not just a cookery show. It's a proper day out — part food festival, part street party, part celebration of everything that makes this corner of North Dorset worth shouting about.
Children are brilliantly catered for, with maypole dancing and a programme of entertainment that keeps younger visitors thoroughly occupied while the grown-ups work their way through the food stalls. And then of course there's the event that absolutely no one should miss:
The World Famous Gold Hill Cheese Race
Yes, it's back. The Gold Hill Cheese Race — rolling a whole round of cheese down one of the most photographed cobbled streets in England — is exactly as chaotic, hilarious, and gloriously British as it sounds. It draws a crowd every time, and rightly so. If you've never seen it, put yourself at the top of Gold Hill at the right moment and prepare to be completely won over.
Food demos from some of the country's best chefs
The festival brings together cookery demonstrations from some seriously talented chefs — people who genuinely love food and love sharing it. Whether you're picking up a new technique, discovering an ingredient you've never cooked with, or just enjoying the theatre of watching someone who really knows what they're doing, the demo stage is always one of the highlights of the day.
Shop, eat, listen — all in one place
The market element of the festival is a proper shopping experience: independent food producers, artisan makers, local growers, and specialists in everything from cheese and charcuterie to preserves, pastries, and street food. Come hungry. Come with a tote bag. You will need both.
Live music runs throughout the day, giving the whole event an atmosphere that's relaxed and celebratory in equal measure. It's the kind of day where you wander, graze, chat to the people making the food, hear something you like the sound of, and look up to find three hours have passed.
Getting there — park and ride
To keep the town centre open and accessible for everyone, the festival runs a park and ride service. It's straightforward, well-signposted, and means you can arrive without worrying about parking. Full details will be published closer to the day on the festival website.
The North Dorset Food Trail — the day before
The festival weekend kicks off on Friday 1st May with the North Dorset Food Trail — a brilliant opportunity to get out into the countryside and visit the local food producers who make this area so special. Farms, dairies, vineyards, smokehouses, market gardens: the trail takes you behind the scenes at some of the finest producers in the region, giving you a real sense of where the food on the festival stalls actually comes from. Last year's trail was a huge success, and this year's looks set to be even better. Watch the festival website for details and how to sign up.
The Shaftesbury Food Festival is organised entirely by the Shaftesbury Chamber of Commerce and a team of dedicated local volunteers. Every year it gets a little bigger and a little better — and this year is no exception.
Plan your visit
The Shaftesbury Food Festival takes place on Saturday 2nd May in the town centre. Entry is free. For the full programme, the chef line-up, park and ride details, and information on the Food Trail, visit shaftesbury-food-festival.co.uk. If you're travelling from further afield, take a look at our places to stay — making a weekend of it means you can enjoy the Food Trail on Friday and the festival itself on Saturday without rushing anywhere.