THE award-winning Bolton Food and Drink Festival is back to serve hundreds of thousands of people who will descend on the town over the weekend.

And this year, visitors are guaranteed extra helpings, with even more stalls selling food, drinks and crafts, live music, a gin festival, masterclasses, street performers and a fantastic family zone — and of course a line up of the country’s most famous chefs.

A major highlight this year is the return of popular chef duo The Hairy Bikers.

Si King and Dave Myers will be riding into town to join the line-up of celebrity chefs, which includes James Martin, a festival favourite, the nation’s most famous greengrocer Gregg Wallace and Michael Caines, who will be launching the festival.

There will also be daily free regional chef cookery demonstrations from 10am in Bolton Market.

Festival site map and key.pdf

Last year, the festival attracted more than 274,000 people and the event won ‘Best Market Attraction’ at the British Market of the Year awards earlier this year.

Here's a full round-up of everything that's happening and when: 

SATURDAY
9.45pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop,Victoria Square
10am: to 4.30pm The Family Zone with pool, pinball, table football, gaming stations, selfie booth, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am to 4.30pm The Great Pirate Adventure. Pirate themed activities for children, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Demonstration, Nick Cullen, Bolton Market
10am: Song Smith Solar - A la cart dancing chefs,Bolton Market
10am: Song Smith Solar - DJ Chef, Crompton Place
10.30am: Celebrity chef demonstration, The Hairy Bikers cookery demo and book signing, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
10.30am: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Encore – Hold 'em taxis,Howell Croft North and Oxford Street
11am: Cameron Boyes, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
11am: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Market Street/Deansgate
11am: Ski Band, Bolton Market
11.30am: Theatre Dance Group, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
11.30am: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
11.30am: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Newport Street
11.45am: The Jelly Heads, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
Noon: Regional chef demonstration by Jon Jones, Bolton Market
Noon: Song Smith Solar - A la cart dancing chefs, Bolton Market
Noon: Song Smith Solar - DJ Chef, Corporation Street
Noon: Demonstration with Geoff Warburton,Market Place
12.15pm: Bolton Ukulele Group, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
12.30pm: Celebrity chef demonstration with The Hairy Bikers. Cookery demo and ploughman's lunch, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
12.45pm: Wayne Lomas, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
1pm: Demonstration featuring Simon Wood,Bolton Market
1pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Newport Street
1pm: Demonstration with Jon Jones, Market Place
1pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
1.30pm: Luke McColl, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
1.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop present Frolicked - The Birds, Deansgate
1.40pm: Phil Volcano's Quinn,    Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
1.45pm: Ski Band, Victoria Square
2pm: Regional chef demonstration with Ria Amber Tesia, Bolton Market
2pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop present Encore - Sheep, Newport Street
2pm: Regional chef demonstration with Simon Wood, Market Place
2.15pm: Ski Band, Market Place
2.30pm: Wayne Thomas,    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
2.30pm: Eoin Kelly and Olivia Jayne, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
2.30pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
3pm: Celebrity chef demonstration with The Hairy Bikers, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
3pm: Regional chef demonstration with Jon Jones, Bolton Market
3pm: Regional chef demonstration with Mike Harrison, Market Place
3pm: Song Smith Solar - A la cart dancing chefs, Bolton Market
3pm: Street performers Song Smith Solar - DJ Chef, Market Place
3.10pm: Liam Lever, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
3.15pm: Casper Mason, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
3.50pm: Krisshan Jade, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
4pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
4.15pm: Tommy Govan,    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
4.40pm: Hairy Bikers have a look around the festival ( starting in Victoria Square
4.45pm: Jamie Brewer, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
5.30pm: Nanukes of The North, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
5.45pm: Luke McColl, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
6.30pm: Comedy and Burger Night with comedian John Archer, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
6.45pm: The Muppeteers, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
7.30pm: Trident, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
7.45pm: Northern Wrath, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
9pm: The Lancashire Hotpots,    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)

SUNDAY
10am to 6pm: The Family Zone, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am to 4.30pm: The Great Pirate Adventure, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Street performers    Oldham Theatre Workshop present Encore - Game of Cones, Victoria Square
10.30am: Street performers Granny Turismo, Hotel Street /Deansgate
11am: Celebrity chef demonstration with Gregg Wallace. Cooking up a storm on a budget, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
11am to 8pm: The Buskers Ball of England hosted by Alec Martin and featuring Paul Gastall; Ade Fabola; Lighthouse; Nick Harrington; Becks; Grumpy Old Men; Eva Elizabeth; Paul Gleaves Band; Victor Vortex; Captain Cash; Happy Hippies; Millwood; Matthew Burtenshaw; Craig Howarth; Lee O' Shaunnessy, Skyladder,    Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
11am: Regional chef demonstration with Simon Wood,     Market Place
11am: Oldham Theatre Workshop present Greenbanks Productions - Pigeon Fanciers, Market Place
11am: Song Smith Solar - Flat Cap 3,Main Stage
11.30am: Ste Leech,Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
11.30am: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
Noon: Demonstration with Andrew George, Market Place
Noon: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Frolicked - The Alchemist, Newport Street
Noon: Granny Turismo, Victoria Square /Newport Street
12.30pm: Pyramids, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
12.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Encore - Game of Cones,Howell Croft North
1pm: Celebrity chef demonstration with Gregg Wallace and Simon Wood: fine-dining masterclass, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
1pm: Chef demonstration, Market Place
1pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
1pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Crompton Place
1.30pm: Kurt & Cam, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
1.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Newport Street
1.30pm: Song Smith Solar - Flat Cap 3, Corporation Street
2pm: Chef demonstration, Market Place
2pm: Granny Turismo, Market Street and Deansgate
2.30pm: Celebrity chef demonstration with Gregg Wallace: Cooking up a storm on a budget, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
2.30pm: Eagley Brass Band,    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
2.30pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
2.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Oxford Street and Deansgate
3pm: Demonstration, Aiden Byrne, Market Place
3pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Frolicked - The Alchemist,    Newport Street
3pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Howell Croft North
3.30pm: Song Smith Solar - Flat Cap 3, Corporation Street
3.45pm: Dopesick Fly, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
4pm: Gregg Wallace has a look around the festival    
4pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
4.30pm: Gin and Rum Masterclass. Learn about Gin and Rums and try food prepared using them, Chef's Kitchen, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
5pm to 7pm: Gin and Rum Festival, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
5.15pm: Scratch Trio    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
6pm to 8pm: Gin and Rum Masterclass, Chef's Kitchen, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
6.30pm: Ideal Forgery, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
7pm to 9pm: Gin and Rum Festival,Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
7.30pm: TVOD, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
9pm: Tommy Holland is Elvis,    Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)

MONDAY
10am to 6pm: The Family Zone, Pool, pinball, table football, gaming stations, selfie booth    Former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am to 4.30pm: The Great Pirate Adventure, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
10am: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Frolicked Arthur, Victoria Square
10:30am: Celebrity Chef Demonstration with James Martin, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
10.30am: Song Smith Solar - Western Valley Hot Club,    Newport Street
11am: Regional chef demonstration with the Baking Nanna, Market Place
11am: Oldham Theatre Workshop - Encore - Bee My Baby,l    Howell Croft North
11.30am: Café Misfits, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
11:30am Magic Show with Mark Daniel , former BHS unit, Crompton Place
11.30am: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Market Street /Deansgate
Noon: Regional chef demonstration, Gareth Mason, Market Place
Noon: Jess Kemp, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
Noon: Song Smith Solar - Western Valley Hot Club, Market Place
12.10pm: Oliver Lomax (poet)    Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
12.30pm:    James Martin cookery demo and book signing, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
12.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop,Frolicked Arthur, Corporation Street/Market Street
12.40pm: Olly Flavell, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
1pm: Regional chef demonstration with Scott Bannon, Market Place
1pm: Grumpy Old Men's Practice, Festival Music Stage
1pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
1pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Encore - Bee My Baby, Deansgate
1.20pm: Kev Bates, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
1.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop,Encore - Veggies, Howell Croft North/Oxford Street
1.50pm: Off the Edge, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
1.50pm: Ryan Lewis Walker, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
2pm: Regional chef demonstration with the Baking Nanna, Market Place
2pm: Song Smith Solar - Western Valley Hot Club, Deansgate
2.30pm: James Martin cookery demo (includes cream tea) and book signing, Festival Marquee, Victoria Square
2.30pm: Tommy Govan    Festival Music Stage
2.30pm: Rob Ashton, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
2.30pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
2.30pm: Oldham Theatre Workshop, Deansgate/Oxford Street
3pm: Demonstration by Andrew George, Market Place
3.30pm: Shivers, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
3.30pm: Conixi, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)
4pm: Magic Show with Mark Daniel, former BHS unit, Crompton Place
4.45pm: Blank Cheque, Festival Music Stage (Le Mans Crescent)
4:45pm: Trident, Acoustic Bar (Victoria Square)