Ashburton Food and Drink Festival – 12th September 2026

Ashburton Food & Drink Festival returns to the heart of the town on Saturday 12 September, bringing together food, music, entertainment and community spirit for a day of celebration.

Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the festival will welcome more than 40 traders, street food vendors, community groups and local organisations to North Street and Cleder Place.

Visitors can browse a fantastic selection of artisan produce, enjoy delicious street food and discover the independent businesses and organisations that make Ashburton such a special place to visit. Alongside the food, there will be live music, street entertainment, children’s activities, workshops, tastings and talks exploring food, health and sustainability.

With its friendly atmosphere, fantastic food and strong community spirit, the Ashburton Food & Drink Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Devon, support local producers and businesses, and enjoy a great day out in the town.

A feast of food and drink

There will be plenty of opportunities to taste, learn and enjoy throughout the day, with a programme of food and drink experiences taking place at Ashburton Town Hall and on the Cleder Stage.

Highlights include a Build the Perfect Cheeseboard masterclass with Greg Parsons from award-winning Sharpham Dairy, featuring tastings from local cheese makers. Wine lovers can also join award-winning drinks writer and The Telegraph wine columnist Susy Atkins for a wine tasting masterclass, with wines selected and supplied by Ashburton’s specialist wine shop, Jaded Palates.

Chocolate enthusiasts can discover the world of single-bean chocolate with Michael Barber, resident tutor at Ashburton Cookery School and founder of award-winning Barbers Cocoa. The workshop will explore cocoa origins, manufacturing, ethical production and, of course, include plenty of chocolate tasting.

The festival will also tackle some bigger questions around the future of food. Adapting to a New Food Future brings together Bob Mehew from the Apricot Centre and Harriet Bell of Riverford to explore food security, fair prices for producers and how the South West could develop smaller, community-led alternatives to our current food system.

Live music and entertainment

The Cleder Stage will provide a packed programme of live entertainment throughout the afternoon.

Stompin’ Dave will bring together soulful vocals, virtuosic multi-instrumental playing and tap dancing in his unique performance, while Devon four-piece EachOther will deliver an energetic mix of rock, folk, punk, hip-hop and jazz.

The afternoon will culminate with The Hot House Combo, a lively four-piece inspired by the music of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, bringing vintage charm and foot-tapping rhythms to the festival.

For younger visitors, Sporty Stars will be providing inflatable fun throughout the day, with activities ranging from axe throwing to basketball hoops.

The Dartmoor Feast

To mark the 15th anniversary of Ashburton Food Festival and 75 years of Dartmoor National Park, the festival will also introduce a brand-new Friday evening dining experience in partnership with The Dartmoor Lodge.

The Dartmoor Feast will bring together five of the region’s finest chefs for a unique culinary collaboration. Together they will create a five-course menu celebrating the produce and flavours of Dartmoor and the surrounding area.

Festival timings

The main festival begins at 10am, with visiting traders expected to finish at around 5pm.

The social area on Cleder Place will continue until 8pm, with live music and a selection of hot food traders located near the Stapledon Lane junction, giving visitors the chance to keep enjoying the festival atmosphere into the evening.

Please note that North Street will be closed from the junction of East/West Street to Stapledon Lane from 7am on Saturday 12 September to allow the festival to be set up.

For the full festival programme and further information, visit the Ashburton Food & Drink Festival website: https://ashburtonfoodfestival.com