Congleton Food & Drink Festival Hailed as a Fantastic Success

Congleton’s Annual Food & Drink Festival, held on Sunday 8th June, has been declared a "fantastic success," drawing thousands of visitors into the town centre despite the rain showers.

This year's event, marking the official take-over of its organisation by Congleton Town Council, delivered a vibrant and engaging experience that firmly established its place as a highlight in the town's calendar.

The town centre came alive with flavour and festivity, offering a full day of culinary celebration, live entertainment, and activities for all ages, free to attend. 90 stalls filled the streets offering visitors the chance to sample and purchase a wide range of high-quality food and drink. The Congleton Market Quarter, in partnership with Independent Street, featured an expanded range of artisan food and drink stalls and live entertainment, further enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Congleton Town Mayor, Cllr Robert Brittain who was present at the event, spent hours chatting with stall holders and visitors, experiencing the bustling atmosphere firsthand.

He said:

“The Festival has been an absolutely fantastic success for Congleton.  It's wonderful to see our town centre so vibrant and full of life, showcasing the incredible talent of our local producers and attracting visitors from all corners. The town council is committed to continuing the festival's rich legacy established 14 years by Congleton Community Projects, ensuring its positive impact on our community continues.”

Despite intermittent showers and heavy downpours, the thousands of visitors who flocked to the town centre demonstrated their resilience, with people "made of strong stuff" sticking around and continuing to enjoy the festivities. Local businesses embraced the day, with many setting up tables outside their premises, capitalising on the increased footfall and enjoying a busy Sunday trading.

Under the new leadership of Rachel McCarthy, Congleton Town Council's Town Centre and Events Officer, the festival's success is being widely celebrated.

Rachel said:

“I would like to personally thank all involved in this year's event including the incredible exhibitors, the talented performers, supportive local businesses, and all the visitors who flocked to our town.

We're also incredibly grateful to our 'Festival Heroes' – the 30 dedicated volunteers who truly made this event such a success, we couldn’t have done it without them. Their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm ensured everything ran smoothly, taking on vital tasks like marshalling, manning road closures, litter picking, emptying bins, and checking toilets, all of which were instrumental in keeping our town clean, safe, and welcoming for over 30,000 visitors."

Congleton Town Council would like to thank this year’s festival sponsors:

Beartown Brewery, Bridestone Shopping Centre, Congleton Market Quarter, Howden’s, Independent Street and The Space.

The date is set for next year’s Food and Drink Festival:

Sunday 7th June 2026.