Delicious delights draw thousands to Nelson for food and drink festival

By Scott Dawson Advertising

16 Sep 2024

Over 7000 people attended the Nelson Food and Drink Festival.jpg.jpg

More than 7,000 people enjoyed a fantastic day of food, drink and entertainment, as the seventh Nelson Food & Drink Festival took place in Nelson Town Centre on Saturday 14th September.

Sponsored by Nelson Town Council, the free-to-attend event featured over 30 food and drink stalls, a live cooking demonstration area hosted by social media sensation ‘Shabaz Says’ and entertainment for all the family.

An incredible range of food was on offer throughout the day (10am-4pm), including Finch Bakery, ice cream, fudge, pies, pizza, cheeses, preserves, Turkish and Caribbean food, plus much more, with flavours from all around the world.

The live cooking demonstrations got underway at 11:30am with local legend Mama Shar preparing a mouth-watering dish of loaded Caribbean fried dumplings.

Onlookers were then treated to a wonderful performance of Bollywood dancing from Desi Nach, whose unique and quality dance shows have been entertaining the nation for over 10 years.

Back to the food and star of MasterChef: The Professionals, Matt Willdigg, then took to the main stage to cook up a Tallegio, potato, rosemary and wild garlic caper pizza, as well as KFC hen of the woods mushrooms, with black garlic mayo.

The final cooking demonstration came from Fazila Foods, developers and creators of modern halal foods, offering a true blend of Asian spices and irresistible flavours. Led by their founder Fazila Malek, audiences got to learn how to make their extremely popular vegetable samosas and chicken spring rolls.

Mama Shars Caribbean Cooking, Fazila Foods and Matt Willdigg’s new venture, Oh! Pizza, also had food stalls at the event, with visitors able to sample their culinary delights.

The festival featured activities for all the family with further stalls featuring a henna artist, facepainting and Talons Bird of Prey.

Earlier in the day and local nursery and primary school children took part in a special procession, led by a lone piper from the world famous Accrington Pipe Band.

Ahead of the event, over 4,000 school children were invited to take part in a competition, which saw them challenged to decorate a chef’s hat. The decorated hats were worn in the procession, before being judged in Nelson Library by councillors from Nelson Town Council. Prizes for the winners included £50 cash for first place, £25 for second and £20 for third.

Coun Ruby Anwar, chair of Nelson Town Council’s Events Committee, said: “This has been a fantastic community event and one that the people of Nelson, and those from our neighbouring towns, have thoroughly enjoyed.

“We have had food, drink and entertainment for all the family, and it has been wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves.

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the event and we hope everyone had a fabulous day!”

For more coverage from the 2024 Nelson Food & Drink Festival, visit:  www.nelsonfoodfestival.co.uk and the Nelson Food Festival Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nelsonfoodfestival

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin