Meet the Queen, toast her 70 years on the throne and happily feast on glorious food from around the world – all at a Sheffield city centre festival.
The epic Sheffield Food Festival is back and runs over four full days from this Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5, which is also the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend.
Expect the Peace Gardens, Winter Gardens, Millennium Square, Town Hall Square and Pinstone Street to be buzzing as up to 50,000 people enjoy the festivities, including an international street food market, artisan market, chef demonstrations and much, much more.
We couldn’t be any more excited here at Events Collective, so here is our selection of some of the best things you can get involved with at the free to enter spectacular.
Bring your Union Jack flags and see you there.
- Always wanted to meet the Queen? Here’s your chance. Okay, it may not be the actual Elizabeth II but we are sure she would approve.
The stars at Aquatic Mermaids will swap their fishtails for cloaks and a crown to bring a royal photo opportunity to this very special occasion.
- Toast our Royal Highness in a very British way, with a speciality beer.
There will be bespoke ales on tap at our main bar thanks to Bradfield Brewery and Bosuns Brewery. Bottoms up!
- Justin Rowntree from Blend Kitchen is hosting our chef demonstration stage situated in the Peace Gardens fountain area throughout the weekend.
One of the many experts taking part will be Blend’s head chef Chris Hanson, who is cooking three incredible dishes from the restaurant’s menu on Thursday June 2 at 11am and Friday June 3 at 3pm. - Sheffield food founder William Chew of Mak Tok (who many of you may recognise from TV’s Dragons’ Den series ) is another star taking part in a demonstration. He will showcase his authentic Malaysian flavours on Friday June 3 at 1pm.
- For a demonstration with a difference, check out Chef vs DJ featuring Jon Tite & Andy H on Sunday June 5 at 2pm.
It is a show built on the novel premise that a DJ set, by sampling, mixing and selecting the finest beats, mirrors a chef at work cooking up the perfect meal.
Both respect their roots and make a point of using the best ingredients to create something new and unique every time. One not to miss. - All that cooking on display will no doubt leave stomachs rumbling.
Kevin’s Pies are one of the dozens of food traders joining our markets and will be offering a special afternoon tea box for an elegant lunch or a treat to take home. - Vegan and gluten free options come as standard at The Adventurous Cakebook, which is also offering one-off Jubilee themed sweet treats.
- And if you need a drink to go with cake, Mr Darcy’s Drink Emporium will be serving up the quintessential summer classic, Pimms.
- There is a full programme of family activities at this year’s Sheffield Food Festival. On Thursday June 2 and Sunday June 5 there will be Jubilee themed crafts, where youngsters can make tassel garlands and pom pom keyrings, taking place in the Winter Gardens.
- The fun for all continues on Saturday June 4 when the little ones can decorate Jubilee hats too, also in the Winter Gardens.
With sequins, feathers and glitter, it is bound to be a big, and messy, hit. - Aspiring entertainers will be able to practice their circus skills with a free kids’ workshop from Cirque Du Bleurgh on Friday June 3 and Saturday June 4.
- If experiments are more their thing, science workshops will bring the joy of discovery to the Winter Gardens on Thursday June 2 and Saturday June 4.
- There’ll also be walkabout performances over the weekend from Cirque Du Bleurgh and Aquatic Mermaids.
The mermaids will be dressed as mythical creatures representing the countries within Great Britain, including fairy, unicorn, dragon and mermaid, and will be giving out free glitter face stencils. Full face painting will also be on offer in the Winter Gardens.
- Cuddle up together as a family to watch the official Jubilee concert on Saturday June 4.
We are screening it live on the big screen situated at Town Hall Square, so there is no need to rush home. - Our Eats, Beats and Treats festival village in the Peace Gardens combines great music, beer and food in one stunning location.
Bands performing include LUNARCA, a 1960s’ inspired indie rock band bringing all the energy of The Beatles, The Who and Queen.
This up-and-coming group is becoming a hit both locally and further afield, you can see them live on Thursday June 2 at 7pm. - Our Friday night line-up is a cracker too. Georgie Mills, 16, has appeared on The Voice Kids and won TV series Got What It Takes, scooping the chance to perform at the Radio One Big Weekend last weekend. She will perform for Sheffield Food Festival crowds at 3.30pm on June 3.
That evening our headline act is Franz Von, known for his blend of Jamaican dancehall MCing with classic old school/boom bap hip-hop rap style, often over banging afrobeat or highlife rhythms.
Take in his performance, fresh from festivals right across Europe, at 7pm.
You can also check our social media platforms for more details of the Eats, Beats and Treats festival lineup being revealed through the week.
- After all the excitement, take home the memories as well as our exclusive Sheffield Food Festival merchandise.
For more exciting Sheffield events taking place to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, visit https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/platinumjubilee