Nelson town centre welcomed over 8,000 visitors on Saturday for the Nelson Food & Drink Festival, a spectacular celebration of food, drink and culture from around the world.
The event officially opened at 10am with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Mayor of Pendle alongside members of the Nelson Town Council team. From there, the streets were filled with the sights, sounds and tastes of over 40 food, drink and craft stalls.
Crowds indulged in an exciting variety of treats, from street food favourites and spiral potatoes to Korean corn dogs, cannoli, snow cones, loaded fries and much more.
Entertainment added to the vibrant atmosphere, with a lively performance from Bollywood dancers, as well as face painting and activities for all the family to enjoy.
At the heart of the festival was the live cooking stage, where TikTok star and bestselling author Zaynah Din hosted the day and delivered three fantastic cooking demonstrations, drawing enthusiastic audiences throughout.
Zaynah, who has over 8.4million likes on her TikTok content, cooked up her signature Chicken Karahi, a delicious two-ingredient naan and finished with a vibrant and spicy Chilli Paneer.
Families also took part in a Shop Local competition trail, where children collected stamps from local shops to win prizes, an activity designed to support and spotlight Nelson’s local businesses.
Cllr Sughra Bibi, Chair of Nelson Town Council, said: “It was wonderful to see Nelson town centre buzzing with energy and excitement. The festival brought our community together to celebrate food, culture, and local businesses, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and supported the event.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, stallholders, performers, and volunteers who made the day so memorable.”
Zaynah Din, said: “I do festivals all over the UK, but I have to say this has been one of the most warmest and most engaged crowds ever!”
The Nelson Food & Drink Festival was proudly sponsored by Nelson Town Council, Sugden Ltd and Financial Affairs.
For more coverage from the festival, visit www.nelsonfoodfestival.co.uk and the Nelson Food & Drink Festival social media channels.
You can learn more about Sugden Ltd, here: https://sugden.ltd.uk/
