LUXE Serendipity magazine

Masterchef stars and a famous cheese race taking place over the bank holiday

Shaftesbury is set to come alive this bank holiday weekend with a celebration of food, community, and local craftsmanship, as the Shaftesbury Food Festival returns with a rich and immersive programme designed to showcase the very best of Dorset’s culinary scene.

Kicking off on Saturday, May 2, the weekend begins with an exclusive Food Trail running from 10am to 4pm. This carefully curated experience offers a relaxed, guided journey through the North Dorset countryside, giving attendees behind-the-scenes access to a selection of artisan producers.

From vineyard visits and farm walks to heritage cheese tastings and organic barbecues, the trail promises an intimate look at the people and practices shaping the region’s food culture. Designed with media and storytelling in mind, the day provides opportunities for interviews, photography, and meaningful conversations with producers in their own environments.

The celebrations continue on Sunday, May 3, when the main Shaftesbury Food Festival takes over the town from 10am to 4pm. With more than 100 artisan food, drink, and craft stalls lining the streets, the festival offers a vibrant and family-friendly atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy live music, a variety of activities, and a packed schedule of events that blend entertainment with culinary discovery.

Among the highlights is the much-loved Gold Hill Cheese Race, enjoying 23kg cheeses rolling – a quirky and energetic competition that sees participants carrying heavy truckles of cheese up the town’s iconic cobbled hill.

Food enthusiasts will also be drawn to the live cookery theatre, where MasterChef champions Ping Coombes, Anurag Aggarwal, and Shelina Permalloo will demonstrate their skills and share their culinary insights.

Brought to life by a volunteer-led team from Shaftesbury & District Chamber of Commerce, with support from Shaftesbury Town Council and The Kitchen Table Dorset Bookshop, the street market on Sunday sees more than 100 food and drink producers showcasing artisan Dorset produce alongside international flavours from farm to field.

Free to attend, with a convenient park-and-ride service just minutes away, this year’s festival marks an important milestone. For the first time, it is being run as a not-for-profit event, organised by the town and powered entirely by volunteers. This shift reflects a deeper commitment to community spirit and local pride, while also highlighting broader themes such as regenerative farming, heritage food traditions, and Dorset’s growing reputation as a modern food destination.

Altogether, the weekend promises not just a feast for the senses, but a meaningful exploration of the stories, people, and traditions behind the region’s thriving food culture.