United Kingdom's Funkiest Summer Food Festivals
The crowds and vendors at the Great Cheese British Festival. Photo Credit: Visit Wales.
Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and check out local food festivals. Although, when isn’t it a good time to try fun foods from local purveyors? Luckily for the Brits, there are plenty of options. Here we have a list of some of the funkiest – and very specific – upcoming events you just might want to fit into your weekend plans if you are UK based, and if not, you might just want to book that flight to the United Kingdom sooner rather than later. Read below for our four favorite finds from across the UK.
Cheese, glorious cheese. Photo credit: Visit Wales.
1) HOLY CHEESE, and no this it’s not in Wisconsin…but WALES!
WHAT: Great British Cheese Festival
WHEN: September 22-23
WHY: This is no small get-together. Since its inception in 2008, the Great British Cheese Festival has expanded to 10,000 cheese enthusiasts. For 8.95 GBP (about 11 USD) you gain access to 600 cheeses and 200 beverages. This festival has a location to match its impressive amount of cheese: Cardiff Castle, a former Roman fort that is 2,000 years old!
2) FISH-TIVITIES in south west WALES.
WHAT: The Pembrokeshire Fish Week Festival
WHEN: June 22-30
WHY: The Pembrokeshire Fish Week Festival is a week-long celebration of fish-tivities. Taste celebrity chefs’ dishes while live bands plays for the crowd-the professional roster includes the likes of Tim Maddams and Angela Gray. After you’ve eaten your share of seafood, check out an array of demos, workshops and tips from the professionals to use in your own kitchen. For the active adventurous types who want to work off their calories post digestion, surfing lessons, kayaking trips and a fishing competition are all part of the itinerary. And to prep you and the kids for the festivities, check out out some “fishy limericks” and “fishy facts“.
3) HOT POTATO, Northern IRELAND.
WHAT: Comber Potato Festival
WHEN: June 29
Rediscover your favorite starch, a long standing delicacy of Northern Ireland at the Comber Potato Festival. Potatoes every way you can possibly imagine: baked potatoes, potato salad and of course just plain ole Irish potatoes. If unlimited potatoes doesn’t sound appealing enough, how about free admission?
A weekend at the tents in Edinburgh. Credit: thecitygirlskitchen.wordpress.com.
4) SATURDAY’S in SCOTLAND, aren’t just for pints.
WHAT: Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
WHEN: Every Saturday year round
WHY: While Edinburgh Farmers’ Market isn’t truly a festival, it is worth visiting the farmer’s while display their home grown edibles. The conversations with the locals come free with produce purchase.
5) HIT THE STREETS of LONDON
WHAT: Real Street Food Festival in Southbank Centre, London
WHEN: August 23-26
WHY: This summer edition of a new quarterly tradition brings street food to the masses. Palettes from across the globe will be satisfied along the riverside of Southbank Centre– from a meal of brisket and burgers, to an afternoon snack of churros and french coffee, this London event covers an array of culinary delights.
The streets of London. Photo by: Michaela Guzy.
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