Free food and arts festival in Highcliffe this weekend

Summer officially kicks off this weekend with several festivals across Dorset, and residents of Highcliffe and the surrounding areas can look forward to a weekend celebrating food and art.

The annual Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival is a free event taking place this weekend on Saturday and Sunday on Highcliffe High Street and Recreation Ground, from 10am to 5pm both days.

Food stalls and vendors will be selling cuisine from around the world, while artists and local craftspeople will be offering their wares.

There will be plenty of drink options as well, with coffee vans and pop-up bars helping visitors wash down their food.

There will also be plenty of live music and entertainment.

Children can take part in a circus skills workshop and have the chance to pot their own vegetable to take home or make a bird feeder. In the Kids’ Kitchen, children can take part in ‘Kawaii Cuties’, a biscuit-decorating workshop.

Local chefs will demonstrate their skills in Mary’s Kitchen demo tent, including Alex Aitken of The Jetty and Colin Nash of Colin Nash Restaurant. Celebrity chefs attending this weekend include Nelly Ghaffar, who appeared on The Great British Bake Off in 2025.

It’s sure to be a delightful (and tasty) event. For more details, visit https://www.highcliffefoodandartsfestival.co.uk.