By Parkdean Resorts on 14/04/2021
With miles of unspoiled land and tons of things to do and see, Northumberland and County Durham are becoming popular destinations for a UK holiday. Something else the North East of England is becoming famous for are the many food festivals on offer. This is a brief guide on some of the best food festivals and events to visit whilst staying at a Parkdean Resorts holiday park in the North East. Whatever your choice of delicacy – chilli or ice cream, vegan or gluten-free – there will be a food festival up North that will certainly whet your appetite.
Alnwick Food Festival
When: September
Taking place at Alnwick's historic market place, Alnwick Food Festival celebrates everything tasty in Northumberland and beyond. Every food group is covered here by local businesses from the area. In the past, there have been low fat chocolates, gourmet sausages, traditional pies, curry sauces, cakes and jams. Whatever you fancy, there is sure to be something here that will make you go back for seconds.
Just a five minute walk from the iconic Alnwick Castle and the brilliant shops and pubs in the area, this is a great day trip for all ages. The festival is only a half hour drive from Cresswell Towers Holiday Park, so it's well worth checking out in September. Keep an eye out on the Visit Alnwick website for updates on the 2021 event.
Newcastle Vegan Summer Festival
When: August
As vegan food is becoming more popular, a lot of people are looking for places to try new vegan cuisine and the Newcastle Vegan Summer Festival is the perfect place to do so if you're on holiday in the North East. The event is hosted at the Copthorne Hotel in central Newcastle and it's so much more than just a food festival as there are guest speakers from the vegan community and animal sanctuaries too.
This event is open to everyone and welcomes families - tickets are very low priced, so those interested in a trip to the city while staying at our North East parks such as Whitley Bay should check it out!
Berwick Food and Beer Festival
When: September
Although Berwickshire is part of Scotland, neighbouring town Berwick upon Tweed is only two and a half miles south of the Scottish Border and just a 20 minute drive from Eyemouth Holiday Park - although it's well worth the travel time from our other holiday parks in the North East too.
Berwick Food and Beer Festival is an annual event which features 40 stalls of street food and produce from Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. This includes veggie and vegan options as well as a wide variety of coffee and beers. You may also want to check out the free cookery demonstrations and activities including cake decorating and pizza making. There’s a small entrance fee which covers the weekend’s festivities, so why not treat yourself and finish off the summer holidays at one of the best food festivals in the North?
Saltburn Food Festival and Farmer’s Markets
When: 2021 dates TBC
If you're staying at Crimdon Dene Holiday Park or another location in the North East, why not take the opportunity to explore the nearby Teesside and North Yorkshire areas? The scenic town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a great place to start, hosting an annual food festival featuring special guest chefs, live cookery, and street theatre amongst many other things to keep you entertained. Admission is free but you can make a donation if you wish.
The town is also home to a farmers' market almost every second Saturday of each month where you can pick up some locally farmed ingredients, including food which caters to vegan and gluten-free diets. Along with a hog roast, street food and many arts and crafts stalls, this is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning.
Video courtesy of Castle Productions