The Darlington Food and Drink Festival is a free, open‑air event which has transformed the main commercial streets into a focal point for food-lovers with a taste for everything from the simple to the exotic.
Based mostly around the Market Square there are also stalls and entertainment points spreading along East Row and West Row, making it easy for visitors to “shop, eat, drink” as they wander from pitch to pitch.
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Across the four days of the festival, visitors have a wide range of options, from hot food and sweet treats to speciality drinks and preserves.
Traders taking part include Cassie’s Kitchen, Bites Baking Co, Simply Cheesecake, Malavisco Marshmallows, Evie’s Pupcakes Safari Shack, plus AndBake.Co.
The Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Others featured in the festival are Fresh Olives, Batch Coffee Roasters, The Angels Share Bakery, Wiga Wagaa. Wine On The Tyne, Jems Vegan Bakes, Just A Littlemore Cookie Company, Aerostream Catering, The Geordie Banger Company, Cakepops Et Al, Blueberry Hill Preserves, Coastal Bakes, Lobo, Açaí Spot and Dionysiac Brewing.
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
The pick of the weather so far was on the opening two days, with early Sunday visitors braving showers and more overcast conditions.
Friday featured street food only, between 4 and 8pm, with Saturday and Sunday highlighting retail opportunities, between 10am and 5pm, and street food from 11am to 8pm.
Bank Holiday Monday (May 4) will follow a similar theme, but with retail between 10am and 4pm and street food, from11am to 5pm.
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Among the varying offers are hot food and takeaway‑style dishes for a quick bite, sweet treats and afternoon snacks, including cakes, cookies, and specialty desserts, locally produced drinks, such as craft beer, wine, and specialty coffee.
There is an emphasis on independent producers and small‑batch food entrepreneurs from the wider region, with a background buzz of live music, interspersed over four days of the festival.
Performances are centring on the Market Square, with evening shows at The Vault.
There was a throwback to Britpop on Friday, with K-Pop, classic tracks and blues and soul on Saturday.
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)
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Sunday’s line-up features Hey Zeus, a live band bringing contemporary rock and pop to the town centre stage, from 2pm.
The Market Square played host to And Then Some, offering a differing sound set, from 6pm
Monday’s music programme features the The Jam Junkies, a lively tribute act providing a fun, upbeat finale to the long weekend, from 2pm.
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