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We checked out the bank holiday festival (25-28 August) on its first day

When an event reaches its dozenth year, you know it’s doing something right. One of the UK’s most successful food fests, Bolton Food & Drink Festival now attracts over 260,000 visitors and some of the nation's leading chefs - from James Martin to Simon Rimmer and Ainsley Harriott.

There’s also plenty for kids, making it a great family outing. Join Alice in Wonderland at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, or visit a magical train platform in the Octagon Theatre. Across the road in Bolton Library and Museum, soon to open an Egyptian-themed gallery, young’uns can even paddle in the Nile and play with real desert sand.

Live music is another key ingredient, with a diverse line-up across two stages and pretty much every musical genre you can think of. We particularly enjoyed the roaming entertainment, from butchers playing trumpets to Lady Gaga lookalikes on stilts.

But, of course, nothing beats wondering around the 200+ local traders. Sizzling sausages, pies and pastries, fresh veg, olives, chutneys, spices, cured meats, cheese...you’ll find all this and much more. We discovered plenty to satisfy our sweet tooth too, from Hungarian chimney cake to Spanish churros and Turkish baklava.

Fancy a bevy? Make a smoothie using pedal power, quench your thirst with homemade lemonade or simply meander round the Aldi wine tent. And that’s just for starters.

The only problem? As we soon discovered, you really are spoilt for choice...

Bolton Food & Drink Festival is open from 10am daily  until Monday 28 August 2017 - find out what's on here. 

Photo Credit: Emma Golpys & Vicky Smith

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