Ashburton Food Festival returns on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September 2026. The Dartmoor Feast takes place Friday evening at The Dartmoor Lodge, while the main festival runs Saturday 10am to 8pm in the heart of Ashburton.
This year marks the festival’s 15th anniversary, alongside Dartmoor National Park’s 75th anniversary. It’s being celebrated with a new opening night event, The Dartmoor Feast, showcasing the landscape, producers and heritage that shape the region’s food and drink. Saturday’s main festival sees visitors explore over 50 food and drink traders, showcasing the best of local produce and craftsmanship. The festival programme features:
•Masterclasses, including a wine tasting with Susy Atkins from Saturday Kitchen
•Panel discussions with local food organisations Apricot Centre and Food in the Community
•Live music from The Hot House Combo, Stompin Dave and others
•Kids’ activities and picnic spaces
The festival introduces a new green space for live music, alongside expanded children’s activities and picnic areas, with a new festival bar run by Bays Brewery.
A new opening night event takes place on Friday evening at The Dartmoor Lodge, featuring a specially curated meal inspired by Dartmoor. Each dish showcases ingredients and stories rooted in the landscape, offering a deeper connection to the region’s food culture .Five chefs will collaborate on a five-course menu:
•Tom Hill, Duck Soup and Emilia’s, Ashburton
•Ollie Vernon, The Chagford Inn, winner of the Trencherman’s Award for Best Pub
•Chiara Tomasoni, Grand Finalist, MasterChef: The Professionals
•Connor Reed, former Head Chef Tutor, River Cottage
•Ed Nagy, Head Chef, Dartmoor Lodge
“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.” David Kilkelly, Ashburton Food Festival.
Find our more at the Ashburton Food Festival website and follow them on Instagram to stay connected with their latests updates.
