Ashford Food and Drink Festival is fast approaching

Get your taste buds at the ready – the Ashford Food & Drink Festival is back on Saturday 27 June, serving up its most jam‑packed celebration yet, with sizzling street food, live music, street theatre and family fun taking over Ashford town centre.

This year’s festivities kick off early with the Jellycat Amuseables Trail, running from 1–27 June. Families are invited to explore the town centre spotting adorable Jellycat characters hiding out in participating shops and cafés. By matching each Amuseable to the correct location on the trail sheet, participants will be entered into a draw to win all the Jellycats featured, with one lucky winner announced on 27 June. Full trail details will be shared soon via Love Ashford’s Facebook and Instagram channels.

Festival day itself gets underway from 10am on Saturday 27 June, with the High Street lined with over 40 food and drink stalls serving everything from grab‑and‑go street food to indulgent sweet treats. Visitors can expect juicy burgers, loaded nachos, wood‑fired pizza, and a strong showing of local beer, cocktails and wine.

Family fun features heavily throughout the day. At the bandstand, children can dive into hands‑on creativity with the much‑loved Cardboard Café and Cardboard DJ, while Panna Football brings fast‑paced street football action to the Lower High Street, celebrating the World Cup. Meanwhile, roaming street theatre favourites Octopot and Rat Choc Chip will pop up across the town centre with playful performances and plenty of photo‑worthy moments.

Following the foodie trail down Bank Street leads visitors to Elwick Place, home to the festival’s Main Stage from 12pm–7pm, featuring a packed programme of live music, dance, theatre, DJs and food and drink demonstrations.

The Main Stage line‑up includes:

• Sam Griffin – Ashford’s own DJ bringing feel‑good festival vibes
• Galaxy Dance & Gymnastics LTD – high‑energy performances from local talent
• Kokoro Ashford – a live sushi‑making demonstration
• L2D Studio & Theatretrain Ashford – theatre, song and dance showcases
• Valerie’s Wine Bar – cocktail demonstrations with tastings
• Blue Phoenix Productions – show‑stopping routines from the Ashford Pantomime team
• The Rec – crowd‑pleasing local live music
• Ashford Salsa – performances and a guided workshop turning Elwick Place into an open‑air fiesta
  Fred Clark Music – sunshine‑ready acoustic sets
• The Creaks – a relaxed mix of modern hits and classics

Elwick Place will also host additional food and drink stalls, along with emergency services vehicles for children to explore, making it a must‑visit stop for families.

Festival celebrations begin the night before with An Evening with the Wine Garden of England, returning to Revelation Ashford on Friday 26 June. The tasting evening brings together some of Kent’s finest wines, elegant local food and live jazz.

Guests will be guided through a curated selection of wines from leading Kent vineyards including Chapel Down, Biddenden, Gusbourne, Domaine Evremond, Westwell, Balfour, Simpsons, Squerryes and Yotes Court, led by Jo Ginn, Brand Manager at the Wine Garden of England, alongside vineyard representatives.

The evening also features canapé‑style dishes by Eastwell Manor Head Chef Rupert Gleadow, paired with live jazz from Kent musician Jonny Hepbir.

Event details:

Date: Friday 26 June 2026
Time: Doors 6.45pm | Event 7.15pm–10pm
Venue: Revelation Ashford
Tickets: Limited availability – booking advised
 

A huge thank you goes to Ashford Designer Outlet, whose sponsorship supports both the tasting evening and the wider festival, helping to deliver a vibrant, family‑friendly celebration in the heart of Ashford.

Whether you’re popping in for a quick bite or planning to feast all weekend, Ashford town centre will be ready to serve up a seriously good time.

For more information, visit loveashford.com or follow Love Ashford on Facebook and Instagram.