Autumn Food & Drink Festivals in South Devon

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to visit South Devon, the trees begin to turn, the towns and villages are less busy and many great events are taking place; particularly food and drink festivals. From seafood extravaganzas to gin celebrations, food and drink festivals in South Devon are always fantastic. With so many great locally produced delicacies it’s not difficult to see why food festivals in South Devon are such a hit and with the rise in breweries, distilleries and vineyards continuing to grow, beer festivals and dedicated drinks events are still on the up.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list below of the top food and drink festivals in south Devon taking place over the coming months – we’ve also included a few of the fantastic markets too, just in case you’re not around for the larger events!

Exeter Rum Festival, Exeter (1^st September)

Brought to Exeter by the awesome UK Rum Festival team, the event is being held at Exeter Uni Campus with tasting, yummy street food, great music and more. General Admission tickets are £18.50 with higher tier tickets for extras. If you would like to find out more about Exeter Rum Festival, please click here.

Nourish Festival, Bovey Tracey (1^st September)

The streets of Bovey Tracey will come alive with the scents and colours of delicious food and drink. There will be street food and craft stalls on the 1^st of September as well as two evening concerts on Friday 31^st of August and Saturday 1^st of September. The main event is free to attend but concerts are ticketed. More information about Nourish Festival can be found here.

Fishstock, Brixham (8^th September)

Taking place at the new Fish Quay on the harbour of the pretty English Riviera resort of Brixham is an amazing celebration of seafood. Plenty of food and drink producers will be in attendance as well as live music and chef demonstrations whilst raising money for The Fishermen’s Mission, a charity that helps with supporting fishermen and their families who are affected by this dangerous job. Entry costs £6 per person and children under 15 accompanied by a paying adult go free. Further details about Fishstock are available here.

Ashburton Food & Drink Festival, Ashburton (8^th September)

In its eighth year, the food and drink festival promises a showcase of fantastic produce that is locally or regionally produced. The town centre of Ashburton will be lined with market stalls as well as the added bonus of music and performers. The event is free and there will be a park and ride service available from South Dartmoor College. Find out more about Ashburton Food and Drink Festival here.

Plymouth Seafood Festival, Plymouth (15^th & 16^th September)

Based in the bustling marine city of Plymouth, the event celebrates the cities scrumptious array of seafood on offer. The festival takes place at Sutton Harbour and The Barbican where there will be lots of activities and entertainment on offer as well as a Cookery Theatre providing chef demonstrations. More details about Plymouth Seafood Festival can be found here.

The Ultimate Gin Festival, South Brent (15^th September)

Set in the stunning boutique hotel of Glazebrook House, this gin festival is a celebration of some of the best gin produced in Devon and Cornwall. There’s going to be cocktail master classes, tasting sessions and delectable canapés to enjoy. Tickets are £12 per person or entry to the festival is free if you are having dinner or lunch at the hotel that day. For more information about The Ultimate Gin Festival, please click here.

Abbfest, Newton Abbot (21^st – 23^rd September)

This ale and food festival is held at Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Newton Abbot and raises money for local charities. The event sees local food and drink producers come together with a range of entertainment and music throughout the weekend. There will be over 200 ales on offer that are all brewed in Devon, 30 ciders and of course pimms, wine and prosecco if beer or cider isn’t your tipple! Weekend passes are £17, Friday and Saturday tickets are £10 and Sunday tickets are £6. Further details about Abbfest are available here.

The Great Food & Drink Show, Exeter (22^nd & 23^rd September)

The event is taking place at Westpoint Arena in Exeter and over the weekend an extensive range of food and drink producers will be on show alongside a selection of the finest restaurants and eateries in the South West. There will be plenty of workshops, demos and activities to enjoy throughout the two-day show. Tickets on the door are £12 per adult, there are concessions for children and discounts are available when you book in advance. To find out more about The Great Food & Drink Show, please click here.

Taste of the Teign Food Festival, Teignmouth (22^nd – 30^th September)

This growing festival is now in its fifth year and brings local establishments together to celebrate all that the River Teign provides to Teignmouth, Shaldon and the surrounding countryside. During the week lots of local businesses will be hosting their own events and the week will be rounded off with a celebration on Teignmouth’s Den on the 29^th of September. Please click here to learn more about the Taste of the Teign Food Festival.

Powderham Food Festival, Exeter (6^th & 7^th October)

Set in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle this food festival will provide a weekend of fun for the whole family. Over 150 producers are set to attend alongside demonstrations and plenty of activities over the two days. Tickets are £9 and £3 on the day for adults and children respectively with family tickets at £20. Discounted tickets are available to be purchased online prior to the event. More details about Powderham Food Festival can be found here.

Cullompton Food & Drink Festival, Cullompton (13^th October)

Join locals and visitors in the beautiful countryside town of Cullompton for this festival feast! Lots of producers from the local area will be exhibiting so there will be tasty treats for you to try from a selection of stalls as well as competitions, demos and entertainment at the autumn fayre. Find out more about Cullompton Food and Drink Festival by clicking here.

Dartmouth Food Festival, Dartmouth (19^th – 21^st October)

Running over the whole weekend from Friday to Sunday, this food festival takes place in the picturesque riverside town of Dartmouth and offers a packed weekend of foodie heaven. Events include well-known chefs who demonstrate their skills, workshops, wine tasting and plenty more. This family-friendly event is free to explore. Further information about Dartmouth Food Festival is available here.

Markets

Don’t panic if you’re not visiting the region when one of these great events are taking place – South Devon is also home to some fantastic farmers markets where you can try and buy the best of the local produce. Please find some listed below.

Newton Abbot Indoor Market & Food Halls

Market Square, Newton Abbot

Monday – Saturday

9am – 4pm

Newton Abbot Produce Market

Courtenay Street, Newton Abbot

Fridays

9am – 3pm

Kingsbridge Farmers Market

The Quay, Kingsbridge

1^st & 3^rd Saturday of the month

9am – 1pm

Totnes Good Food Sunday Market

Totnes Market Square, Totnes

3^rd Sunday of the month

10am – 3pm

To view all the Autumn events in South Devon, please click here. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep up to date with competitions, events, special offers and more from Visit South Devon!