Clitheroe Food Festival welcomes thousands to town centre

King Street, Market Place, and Castle Street were packed with around 100 food, drink and gift stalls, showing off the best of what the region has to offer.

From 9am to 4.30pm, huge crowds descended on the free-to-enter event, with many making use of the park-and-ride schemes and others coming in by train.

Crowds were packed into Clitheroe town centre (Image: NQ)

King Street, opposite the railway station, was lined with stalls on either side including crepes, churros, ice-creams, cakes, and Thai dishes, smash burgers, and halloumi fries.

Castle Street and Market Place were also packed with people and more dining choices, including BBQs and the much-loved Finch Bakery.

From wood-fired pizzas to Greek street food, and gluten-free and vegan cakes to traditional pies and pasties, there was something for everyone to enjoy

Free musical entertainment was also put on at either end of the festival.

Oliver Longstaff, who came up on the train from Darwen, said: “It’s been great this year, a really good mix of stalls and they all look delicious.

“It’s good to see such a big crowd too supporting these small and local businesses who really need all the help they can get.

“That’s why events like this are so great.”

Prior to the festival, David Birtwistle, chair of Ribble Valley Council’s economic development committee, described the event as a “marvellous advert for the town.”

He said: “It brings some people back to Clitheroe for the first time and, hopefully, they will keep coming back after they’ve seen the town in all its glory.

“The Ribble Valley has a reputation nationally for offering some of the best food and drink in the country and this event builds on that.”

With roughly 20,000 visitors expected, no doubt there was something to make them want to come back next year.