One of our favourite local events in St Ives is coming up in May 2023, and we can’t wait to share the fun with our weekend guests. The St Ives Food and Drink Festival is a unique, beachside foodie extravaganza taking over Porthminster Beach for three delicious days of chef demos, street food, workshops and evening music sessions.
The festival is a brilliant family-friendly event, with plenty to keep the kids entertained. In the evening things switch up a gear, and it’s time to kick off your shoes for a dance on the golden sands, cocktail in hand.
Here’s our round-up of the highlights of this year’s event, which takes place from 12th – 14th May.
Chef Demos
Top chefs will show off their live fire cooking skills throughout the weekend at the Asado Fire Pit, hosted by Mick Smith from Porthminster Beach Cafe. Watch as prime local ingredients are expertly transformed into delicious dishes before your eyes, against a backdrop of waves breaking on the shore.
This year we’re looking forward to seeing Kathy Slack, Adam Banks, Jude Kereama, Jack Stein and Simon Stallard amongst others. Check out the chef line-up here.
Music
Some of the highlights of this year’s music line-up include The Scribes, Molly Hocking and Roguey Roads.
Tickets are on sale for each of the three nights, or you can buy a weekend pass to all evening sessions. Music takes place on The Lighthouse Stage, overlooking St Ives Bay.
Stalls
This annual event features an artisan tent, where local producers entice festival goers with their wares.
Bring a bag and fill it with tasty treats to take home, as there’s too much to get stuck into in one day.
Street Food
From freshly shucked oysters to piping-hot Cornish pasties, spicy fish tacos to luxurious farmhouse ice cream, the St Ives Food Festival is bursting at the seams with great street food (and soon you will be too!)
Arrive hungry and plan to stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner – there’s a whole world of flavours waiting to be discovered on this little Cornish beach.
And that’s not all…
You’ll also find pop-up galleries and local artisan makers at the festival, plus a kids area and various activities for the little ones to get involved with. For the full experience, look out for opportunities to book hands-on food workshops or foraging walks along the nearby coastal path.
Accommodation
To check out availability in our St Ives holiday cottages over the festival weekend, click here. You’ll soon find the perfect base for a weekend of foodie delights. Also, Porthminster Beach is right next to St Ives’ train station, so choose to stay in Carbis Bay or Lelant and you’ll be just a short, scenic train ride away from the action!
The St Ives Food & Drink Festival is a vibrant showcase of our wonderful local culinary culture. But, if you can’t make it don’t forget – many of these great chefs and passionate food producers are here all year round. For more top tips for foodies visiting St Ives, click here.
