Record-Breaking Attendance at Southport Food and Drink Festival
Southport Food and Drink Festival has celebrated its most successful year yet, welcoming a record-breaking 50,000 visitors to Victoria Park across three vibrant days of food, drink and entertainment.
The hugely popular event, which took place from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, surpassed last year’s already impressive total of 40,000 visitors, cementing its place as one of the region’s must-visit events.
More than 100 traders from across the UK brought a diverse mix of global street food, artisan produce and specialist drinks to the heart of Southport, creating a lively and flavour-filled atmosphere enjoyed by thousands.
Visitors indulged in everything from Caribbean classics and Asian street food to gourmet burgers, paella, sweet treats and freshly prepared sushi, while the expanded drinks offering showcased craft beers, artisan spirits, wines and cocktails.
Throughout the weekend, Victoria Park was buzzing with activity, with live music performances providing a vibrant soundtrack and a dedicated children’s area keeping families entertained with face painting, crafts and activities.
The success of the festival was felt not only by visitors, but by the traders themselves, with many travelling from across the country to take part. One trader expressed:
“A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising the weekend’s Southport Food and Drink Festival. As a bee farmer, the work behind producing honey is incredibly demanding, and like many small producers, it can be tough going at times. Events like this make a real difference. Thanks to the fantastic show you put on, not only did we meet hundreds of new customers, we also met new local stockists. Through the sales achieved across the three days, we’re now able to invest in much-needed new equipment for our extraction facility, something that means a great deal to my business. The scale, organisation and smooth running of the event were outstanding.” - Tom Timperley, Hive & Honey
The festival continues to play an important role in supporting independent businesses, offering traders a valuable platform to reach new customers while boosting the local economy. The influx of visitors also had a positive impact on Southport town centre, with increased footfall benefiting surrounding shops, restaurants and hospitality venues throughout the weekend.
With record attendance, a packed programme of entertainment and positive feedback from both visitors and traders, this year’s event has raised the bar once again, setting the benchmark for future Southport Food and Drink Festivals.
Sefton Councillor Marion Atkinson offered further praise for the festival, expressing: “It’s been wonderful to see so many people come together to enjoy this year’s festival. The atmosphere across the weekend has been incredible, and it’s clear how much events like this mean to both visitors and the businesses who take part, including 40 from Sefton. It’s a proud moment for Southport, and Sefton, and a great example of our community at its very best.”
For updates and future announcements, follow @SouthportFoodandDrinkFestival on Facebook or @southportfoodfest on Instagram.