How To Get Involved

There are various ways for a business to get involved with the York Food Festival

• Market Stand:
Chocolate Festival Application Form 2024 Dates: 27th to 31st March
Main Festival 10 Day Application Form 2024 Dates: 20th to 29th September
Main Festival Weekend Application Form 2024 Dates: 20th to 22nd September and / or 27th to 29th September

Alternatively if any of the suggestions below seem appropriate, send an email to admin@yorkfoodfestival.com discuss further

• In-House Events:
We’re looking for any food and/or drink events happening during the Food Festival dates. Tell us what you’re doing and you’ll be listed as part of our programme & promotion. As long as there is food or drink involved it can be anything; themed lunch / dinner, cookery class, sampling session, food or drink tour etc.

• Taste workshops:
We’re also looking for food or drink tastings in different venues across the city. These taste workshops can be big or small, daytime or evening, as short as 20 minutes or as long as the whole night! You can host a taste workshop yourselves or the festival can provide a space.

• Pop-up Events:
During our main festival we will have a number of structures in St Sampson’s Square and Parliament street suitable for pop-up events. York restaurants or community groups can take over an area for the early evenings as an informal venue. In St Sampson’s Square you’ll have access to the demonstration kitchen facilities as well as other equipment including inductions hobs and ovens. Chairs, basic tables and simple crockery can also be provided.

• Taste Trail:
Let us send new customers to your door. Festival visitors will purchase a Taste Trail booklet from our website or from the information point during the festival. You will offer a ‘sample’ during the 10 days of the festival – this could be anything from a canapé, a piece of cheese, a chocolate, a mini cake, a 25ml drink. It won’t cost you anything to participate (apart from your samples / tasters). You can also offer a discount on purchases.

• Festival Exclusives
We promote exclusive special offers and discounts across the city. As long as the offer falls between the Festival dates it can be anything you like; a special tasting menu, an item only available during the Festival , buy one get one free, % discount, a set price menu, It can be for all 10 days or just some of the days. We would advertise your offer on our Exclusives page, and also at the information point during the Festival

• Demonstrations:
We run a daily programme in our demonstration kitchen. These are designed so that local food and drink businesses can promote themselves and/or thier current project to the Festival public (there are around 60 seats).

Demos run on the hour and last about 30-40 minutes. The demo kitchen includes hobs, an oven and basic crockery/utensils.

These events do not need to be simple cookery demonstrations. Tastings, hands on workshops, double acts – (member of the public, teach the general manager, chef and sommelier etc.)  all welcome.

• Junior Chef’s Competition:
The festival will no longer be holding a Junior Chef’s competition, but any applicants who were interested to apply to Delifresh Young Chef of the Year instead

• School Activities Workshops:
We need volunteers to run 30 minute workshops in the city centre, For example activities in previous years have included: Chocolate workshop, Cheese making, Indian Snacks, Pasta making, Gingerbread making, Coffee Roasting, Finding out what’s in your food with FERA, Smoking Kippers. This is a great opportunity to promote your business to reach a large number of families, especially if you can provide something for the goody bag.

• Music Programme:
Live bands / singers entertain the festival crowds each night (5pm to 9pm) in the entertainment marquee alongside festival bars and street food traders. If you’d like to be considered for one of the performance slots please email chris.bush@theyorkbid.com

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