Food & Drink Events in North Devon

With such fantastic local food in the area you can expect to see lots of events centred around food and drink in North Devon. Each of the local towns has their own markets and there are annual food festivals where you can really explore the taste of North Devon.

As well as featuring some fabulous foods, these events often include live music, demonstrations and performances as well as activities for the children, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Regular food events

At various points during the year you can find regular food events, many of which centre around the speciality of that town. For instance, Clovelly is known for the quality of its sea food, so in the autumn, you can find a Lobster and Crab Festival and in the winter the Herring Festival.  Both these events give local fishermen the chance to show off their prime catch from the North Devon coast and offer plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

North Devon’s biggest celebration of local food and drink takes place in Autumn at Barnstaple’s Pannier Market, which is one of the region’s oldest market places. The event features over 100 local food and drink exhibitors and brings together the finest ingredients and chefs in the region offering you a chance to sample some mouth watering flavours and thirst quenching delights.

For alfresco dining in the summer, visit Ilfracombe’s Street Food Festival. Where you can enjoy a range of mouth-watering food from all over the world alongside an ice-cold pint of beer or fresh zesty mojito all against the backdrop of Ilfracombe’s beautiful harbour and coastline.

Visiting the region during the lead up to Christmas will also give you the chance to sample festive treats at the many Christmas Markets and events where you can find freshly baked mince pies and warm up with a mulled wine or two.

Local food events

As well as the large annual events, there are a number of weekly and monthly farmers’ markets held all across the region. These smaller events give you the chance to really get to know the local producers and stock up on some stunning local produce. Some of the more popular farmers’ markets can be found in Ilfracombe, at the Barnstaple Pannier Market, the South Molton County Pannier Market and in Cullompton. Make sure to take a look at local listings as these markets take place on certain days of the week and the Pannier Markets will rotate their stalls each day, so you can be sure to find a wide range of goods.

Because North Devon has such a wide range of local produce and is home to one of the South West’s biggest gastronomical havens, Ilfracombe, many visitors plan their whole trip around these foodie events. If you’re coming to the county to take advantage of the fabulous local produce, make sure to take a look at the range of accommodation providers here.