A fun and interactive activity designed for families with children. A self-guided walking tour, answering clues along the way, and finishing with decorating your own Chocolate Bar with York Cocoa Works
Participants receive a guide map (FREE for all) providing a unique and engaging way for families to explore the local chocolate scene, while also having fun and learning new things along the way.
Purchased ticket holders end the tour decorating a Chocolate Bar with York Cocoa Works.
Tickets can either be pre-booked online or purchase at the information point (while stocks last)
Collection of the guide map is from the Information Point any day of the festival from 10am, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)
Last entry for the chocolate bar decorating at York Cocoa Works will be 4pm (Please allow at least 45 minutes to come back to collect your Chocolate Bar once it has set).
Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this demonstration programme for all visitors to the festival to attend.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.
A self-guided walking trail around the city of York and an opportunity to try samples from some of the best York’s food scene by visiting a range of deli’s, restaurants and suppliers.
We have two Taste Trails for you to enjoy, East and West York.
Each trail features around 20 stops to sample the best of York’s food and drink scene as well as a tasting hub with more samples to enjoy.
This year’s participants are still being finalised, however you can view last year’s for an idea of what to expect: East Trail and West Trail
You will receive the map and guide similar to that above outlining the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.
The samples provided on the taste trail vary widely depending on the participating businesses, but may include small bites of food, such as cheeses, meats, breads, and desserts, as well as drinks, such as wine or beer.
Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.
Tickets are limited to 100 per day – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point (while stocks last)
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)
*Please note that some samples will involve alcohol and therefore under 18s will not be able to participate with all of the stops on the trail. Some businesses are closed on specific days.
Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this demonstration programme for all visitors to the festival to attend.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.
A self-guided walking trail around the city of York, with some of York’s food establishments offering a vegan alternative to their non-vegan samples.
You will receive a guide map listing the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.
The trail features around 20 stops to sample – small bites of food or drink samples – which will vary depending on the participating businesses.
These will be confirmed closer to the festival dates.
Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.
Tickets are very limited – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point (while stocks last)
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)
Go behind the scenes on a tasty Tour of York Food & Drink Festival to get an idea of how we make this event work! Obviously we can’t show you around without feeding you so there’ll be a range of samples included too, both around the festival itself as well as a few nearby friends of the festival.
Your guide will be Ben Thorpe of York on a Fork, a regular of the Food tour scene in York and one of the festival organisers. Ben knows the foodie scene in York intimately after having been closely involved with it for over a decade, make sure you ask lots of questions and get plenty of recommendations! Tours will take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sundays of the festival at 11am and 3pm.
Join York’s Hidden History for this specially gluttonous York Food Festival walk!
For the 2025 York Food Festival, we’re turning our Filthy, Beastly Tour of York into a Filthy, Feastly Tour!
On this special walk we will uncover some of the mind-boggling historical delicacies eaten in York – especially at royal and religious feasts – as well as the foodstuffs upon which the city grew rich. We’ll also dig (metaphorically) into the filth beneath our feet that has enabled archaeologists to work out the diets of long-gone residents.
There will be porpoises and poo, dozens of oxen, and a startling quantity of roast birds, wine and fish. We’ll explore Roman menus, Viking dining, and medieval royal weddings. And we’ll finish our forage with the story of the reverend-professor who made it his mission to eat everything!
Starting on Piccadilly, outside the gates of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, we’ll walk via Pavement, the Shambles, King’s Square and York Minster to finish outside the Yorkshire Museum. The walk will take 60-90 minutes and is suitable for people aged 11 and over.
Go behind the scenes on a tasty Tour of York Food & Drink Festival to get an idea of how we make this event work! Obviously we can’t show you around without feeding you so there’ll be a range of samples included too, both around the festival itself as well as a few nearby friends of the festival.
Your guide will be Ben Thorpe of York on a Fork, a regular of the Food tour scene in York and one of the festival organisers. Ben knows the foodie scene in York intimately after having been closely involved with it for over a decade, make sure you ask lots of questions and get plenty of recommendations! Tours will take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sundays of the festival at 11am and 3pm.
