Ashburton Food Festival marks 15 years with celebration of Dartmoor's food and farming heritage

Ashburton Food Festival will celebrate its 15th anniversary this September with a new opening night feast dedicated to the food, producers and landscapes of Dartmoor.

The popular festival returns on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September, with a brand-new event, The Dartmoor Feast, launching the celebrations on Friday evening at The Dartmoor Lodge. The main festival follows on Saturday, running from 10am to 8pm in the heart of Ashburton, where visitors can enjoy more than 50 local food and drink producers, live entertainment and family activities.

This year's event also coincides with the 75th anniversary of Dartmoor National Park, placing the moor's rich food heritage and landscape at the centre of the celebrations.

Since its launch in 2011, Ashburton Food Festival has grown into one of Devon's leading showcases for independent food and drink producers. Organised by volunteers and attracting thousands of visitors each year, the festival celebrates the South West's thriving food scene while supporting local businesses, artisans and community organisations.

Saturday's festival will feature more than 50 artisan traders alongside a packed programme of demonstrations, discussions and entertainment.

Highlights include masterclasses such as a wine tasting hosted by Saturday Kitchen presenter Susy Atkins, panel discussions with the Apricot Centre and Food in the Community, and live music from The Hot House Combo, Stompin' Dave and other performers.

Families will also be able to enjoy expanded children's activities, picnic spaces and a new green area for live music, while Bays Brewery will be running the festival bar.

New for 2026 is The Dartmoor Feast, an evening designed to celebrate the unique flavours and stories of the national park through a specially curated five-course menu.

Five chefs will collaborate on the dinner, including Tom Hill of Duck Soup and Emilia's in Ashburton, Ollie Vernon of The Chagford Inn, winner of the Trencherman's Award for Best Pub, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Chiara Tomasoni, former River Cottage Head Chef Tutor Connor Reed and Dartmoor Lodge Head Chef Ed Nagy.

Each course will showcase ingredients sourced from Dartmoor and the surrounding area, highlighting the landscape, farming traditions and producers that have shaped the region's food culture.

David Kilkelly of Ashburton Food Festival said: "Fifteen years is a milestone worth marking properly. Ashburton is one of the foodiest towns in the South West, built on real local talent and passion, and this festival exists to celebrate that."

Since taking over the organisation of the festival in 2024, Dee Kilkelly has overseen its continued growth, with the event receiving a commendation at the Devon Tourism Awards in 2025.

Located on the southern edge of Dartmoor, Ashburton has long been recognised for its thriving independent food scene, with award-winning restaurants, artisan producers and specialist food businesses making the town a destination for food lovers throughout the year.

Further information, tickets and the full festival programme are available at https://ashburtonfoodfestival.com.