Huge new festival featuring food, drink, music and entertainment for the whole family

Leicester will host a new food festival this summer when a range of local, national and international food and drink producers showcase their wares at Abbey Park. Leicester Food Festival 2024, which takes place on Saturday 10 August and Sunday 11 August, will be the biggest food and drink festival ever to take place in Leicester.

It will bring together a range of award-winning food producers, street food vendors, local breweries, local bars, bakeries, distillers and more. Some of the highlights will include award winning street food from Colombo Street Sri Lanka, authentic Greek food from Smashing Plates, Fat Hippo who are famous for their burgers, craft beer tasting workshops from local microbrewery Mill Hill and Tynt Meadow, who are the UK’s only Trappist Brewery and are based at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey near Coalville.

There will also be ice cream filled chimney cakes which are a traditional Hungarian street food, wine tasting with local enthusiast @the.winefan, gin masterclasses, luxury milkshakes made with local milk from Leedham Farm Dairy in Desford, eating competitions and more.

READ MORE: Proposed changes to parents and children and disabled parking at Fosse Park Marks and Spencer

Midlands Makers, who are known for their local Makers Markets, will also be running a craft marquee with up to 100 market stalls. The festival will also host tribute band Ultimate Coldplay, who will headline the main stage on Saturday.

And Dan East, an Ed Sheeran tribute act, will headline on Sunday. There will also be a lip sync competition on the main stage for people to sign up for on the day, as well as a full program of local bands and family shows.

For youngsters there is also an interactive story tent, a children’s craft tent, theatrical performances, character appearances with photo opportunities, a magic bubble fairy, balloon modeling, legs, circus skills, face painting and glitter.

Representatives from Leicester Riders and Leicester City in the Community will also be in attendance with some fun activities and people can also enjoy the local Billy Bates Fun Fair where all festival tickets will get you free entry to the fair.

The festival runs from 11am to 9pm on Saturday and from 11am to 6pm on Sunday. Limited Early Bird tickets are now on sale from www.Leicesterfoodfestival.co.uk. Tickets for children and adults are currently half price at £5 and £7.50 respectively, and children under 5 go free.

Visit Leicester’s director of inward investment and local marketing, Mike Denby, said: “Visit Leicester is proud and excited to see the first food and drink festival take place in Abbey Park on the back of our Taste The Place campaign. This is an opportunity. for visitors to discover for themselves the quality and variety of locally produced food and drink while having a fun day out with the family.”