A Long Weekend At Wakefield Rhubarb Festival
How to make the most of your festival visit!Rhubarb Festival rolls into town this month for three whole rhu-brilliant days of tasty treats, creative crafts, terrific talks and lots more.
Our guide highlights all the top things you can do over the weekend, read on for more.
Friday 21 February - Morning
Like its vegetable namesake, the festival has grown and grown over the years, its roots spreading far and wide – and this year is no exception.
The festival runs from Friday 21 – Sunday 23 February, and the famous food and drink market takes place each day, meaning it’s the ideal place to start your festival weekend.
This year, the market has spread and in addition to the chalets on the Precinct, there’s a whole new section of market to explore on Union Street in front of WX – Wakefield Exchange. As it’s right beside the bus station, and close to both Providence Street and Borough Road car parks, it’s the perfect place to start your shopping odyssey. Work your way down Union street, then across into the Bull Ring, and Cathedral precinct.
There are over 50 traders selling everything from artisan cheesecakes to speciality gins and classic rhubarb pork pies. Don’t neglect to pick up some fresh rhubarb for your own kitchen creations courtesy of E Oldroyd & Sons! Friday is a good time to visit the festival stalls, as the first-day atmosphere is electric, and it tends to be a little less crowded than Saturday, when most of the organised group travel visits take place.
After your shopping trip around the stalls is complete, you’ll want to visit the Rhubarb Food and Drink Trail (also running all weekend). The trail is a firm favourite with visitors and locals alike. Taste the very best of rhubarb-themed cuisine as cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants all over the city showcase their very own rhubarb specialities. This includes everything from rhubarb curries, crumbles and cakes to a delectable selection of rhubarb cocktails, fizzes and spirits (the perfect excuse to stay a night or two).


Friday 21 February - Afternoon
If all this delicious food and drink has got you wondering how you can cook up your own culinary masterpieces, fear not, because there is an impressive lineup of chef demos to help you create your own delicious recipes, from celebrities like Wakefield’s own GBBO star Karen Wright, TV and radio presenter Sam Nixon and TV presenter, author and chef Rachel Green.
Speaking of Karen Wright, you might have seen her on the Great British Bake Off, or watched her whip up a storm in a cookery demo, but how much do you know about the woman herself? We were lucky enough to interview her ahead of her appearance at the festival – and she even gave us a recipe sneak-peek! Take a look here.
After the cookery demos, head back over to WX for some history. The Rhubarb Festival is all about our heritage as part of the Rhubarb Triangle, and this year, WX is hosting a series of Heritage Talks (one on each day of the festival) that dig into the history of rhubarb cultivation in our district.
On Friday, find out about the historic links between coal mining and rhubarb growing from the National Coal Mining Museum‘s Stephanie Thompson. Although these talks are free, you do need to book – so make sure you don’t miss out.
While you’re at WX, take a gander at the special heritage display, and have a go at the workshops – including making your own rhubarb bath bomb!
The festival marks WX’s opening weekend, so make sure to sample the new food and drink options, watch the live-streamed chef demos on the big screens, and experience Studio Vertigo’s stunning light sculpture, Sentinel.
Saturday 22 February - Morning
The festival is in full swing today, making Saturday a great day to visit the fringe.
In the centre, the Rhu-Bar is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere – quite literally, as you sup from a selection of delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, many with a rhubarb twist. While you’re there, take a listen to live music in an eclectic mix of genres from Wakefield Music Collective’s Rhubarb Jam (geddit?). Saturday’s line up features Charlie Padfield, Paula Ryan and The Spartans.
For vintage aficionados, The Ridings Centre is hosting an Antique Craft and Collectors Fayre, with a range of fantastic antiques and collectables looking for a new home.
At The Art House, step into the Rhubarb Lounge, a colourful haven of rhubarb-inspired delights, free activities for all ages, and creative exploration. Sip on delicious rhubarb-inspired drinks and mouth-watering sweet treats, or discover the art of printmaking in a hands-on workshop where participants can create rhubarb-inspired artworks using inks made from rhubarb root.


Saturday 22 February - Afternoon
In the afternoon, hop on Wakefield’s Free City Bus and make your way down to The Hepworth Wakefield. There’s a bumper crop of family activities going on at the gallery, including a drop-in family workshop based on their current exhibition, Forbidden Territories: 100 Years of Surreal Landscapes. Their pièce de résistance for this week is their delectable Rhubarb Afternoon Tea, taking place at the renowned Hepworth Cafe on both Saturday and Sunday. The menu includes finger sandwiches, savoury snacks, all-butter scones rhubarb-imbued cakes with a glass of fizz. Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up!
After food, browse the Makers Mini Market for artisan food and drink, homeware, jewelery, prints and textiles inspired by the season – including lots of rhubarb-themed treasures.
Then, keep the good vibes flowing and head across to Tileyard North for an evening at Peddler Market. One of the country’s leading street food events, Peddler is synonymous with award-winning cuisine, independent craft drinks, live music and entertainment. There are also a whole host of makers stalls there, showcasing a wonderful mix of talent from lifestyle brands and fashion, right through to sustainable projects and art.
Sunday 23 February - Morning
It’s a (hopefully) lovely Sunday morning, and it’s time to head out of the city to see a little bit more of the district.
One of Wakefield’s top attractions is Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which showcases a dynamic exhibitions programme of internationally renowned artists alongside vast static collections, both inside and outdoors across 500 splendid acres of rolling parkland.
Just like last year, the Sculpture Park is getting into the Rhubarb Festival spirit, too! From Monday 17 February, visit YSP’s food and drink outlets to enjoy a delicious selection of rhubarb-inspired homemade cakes, sweet treats and savoury specials. The Kitchen Café at YSP Centre will be serving rhubarb and custard cookie sandwich, rhubarb and raspberry Eton mess and rhubarb and okra sweet and sour soup. Or visit The Weston and enjoy home-cured rhubarb and dill salmon or sit on the terrace and enjoy the view whilst sipping on a rhubarb and apple gin fizz.
But while the food is delectable, it’s far from the only thing on offer. Make sure you take in YSP’s outstanding artworks, including their current exhibitions: Bharti Kher: Alchemies explores diversity, discovery and personal identity, Elisabeth Frink: Natural Connection brings together rarely seen sculptures and prints inspired by animals and humans, Sarah Kirby: A Printmaker’s Landscape features linocuts inspired by
YSP’s landmarks and vistas, and Tony Wade: Keepers of Time celebrates the majesty of trees and mindfulness.


Sunday 23 February - Afternoon
In the afternoon, come back to Wakefield city centre for some of the weekend’s final highlights.
Have a go at printing photographs with rhubarb in The Art House’s darkroom, join Wakefield Museums and Castles Curator John Whitaker at WX for The History and Mystery of the Rhubarb Triangle, and check out Rhubarb Jam’s Fishing for Compliments, Olivia & Ed and Ryan Mitchell-Smith.
The festival’s chef demos wrap up, too, with some absolute standouts in Sunday’s programme, including Great British Bake Off’s Karen Wright; executive chef and Masterchef quarter-finalist Chris Hale; chef, Author & TV Presenter Rachel Green, and TV and Radio presenter Sam Nixon.
As evening draws on, music fans should head to The Red Shed as the festival is brought to a close with the Hot Foot Hall Trio and then Rhubarb Rocks‘ musicians let rip to finish off the Rhubarb Festival in rocking style!


Accommodation
Of course, if you’re making a weekend of it, you’ll need somewhere to stay, and Wakefield has some great options. With the perfect blend of comfort and modernity, get right into the heart of the action at Holmfield Arms, a city-centre hotel set within the tranquil surroundings of Holmfield Park, or get that home-away-from-home self-catering convenience at Courtyard Mews or Skyhold Stays. If you’re travelling on a budget, fear not – Wakefield has two Premier Inns just a short trip from the centre, or a Holiday Inn Express just five minutes’ walk from Westgate station.
If you’re looking to stay a little further out, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Enjoy original features in Smithy Ridge Mews’ converted stables (right next door to the splendour of Yorkshire Sculpture Park), waterside views at The Moorings in Stanley Ferry, or live like the lord of the manor at stately Waterton Park Hotel, set on its own private island in the middle of a lake.
Oh, and with the Rhubarb Festival falling at the end of February half-term, there’s a whole (forcing) shedload of things to do for families with children throughout that week, and the weekend itself.