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Main Event
Festival Opening Ceremony
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM High Street
Official opening of the Shaftesbury Food Festival 2026.
3rd May 2026 — Bank Holiday
Shaftesbury
Food Festival 2026
A day packed full of fun food and festivities on Shaftesbury's historic high street, Park Walk and surrounding areas.
Festival Highlights
Celebrating local food producers and regional Dorset cuisine on the bank holiday.
Gold Hill Cheese Race
Watch contestants carry a 23kg cheese up the world-famous Gold Hill from the Hovis advert. All ages welcome!
100+ Trade Stands
Explore over 100 food stalls, beverage vendors and craft stands celebrating the best of Dorset produce.
Chef Talks & Demos
Enjoy talks and demonstrations from famous chefs, organised by The Kitchen Table. Learn tips and techniques.
What's On
A packed schedule of events, races, chef talks and entertainment throughout the day.
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Race
Gold Hill Cheese Race
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Gold Hill
The world-famous cheese race up iconic Gold Hill.
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Chef Talk
Chef Talk: Local Dorset Ingredients
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Park Walk Stage
Discover the finest local Dorset ingredients and how to cook with them.
Featured Vendors
Over 100 food stalls, beverage vendors and craft stands. More vendors to be announced soon.
Food Vendor
Truckle Truck
Delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and artisan truckles — a festival favourite.
Join Us on the Bank Holiday
Eat and drink your way around Dorset
Get Involved
Whether you're racing, selling, volunteering or visiting — there's something for everyone.