One of Bolton’s most popular festivals has been handed a top award after battling through storms to deliver an “amazing event". The Bolton Food and Drink Festival returned to the town for the 20th time earlier this year despite a battering from Storm Lillian on its opening day. But organisers and stall holders still managed to put on a memorable festival, which has now been honoured with the Leading Live Event accolade at the This Is Manchester Awards 2024.
Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Nadeem Ayub said: “The Bolton Food and Drink Festival is our biggest event of the year, and we were never going to let the bad weather dampen our spirits. “We have a strong community that will always pull together in the face of adversity to make the impossible, possible. Organisers and stall holders battled back after being hit by Storm Lillian (Image: Bolton Council) “Everyone works tirelessly on this event to make each year better than the last and this award is thoroughly deserved, proving that hard work and dedication pays off.
” Though Storm Lillian had delayed the festival’s opening day on August 23, council staff along with their partners and sponsors worked hard to make sure could still open the next morning. The festival proved to be hugely popular (Image: Paul Heyes) The festival then featured three days of activities from celebrity chef demos and music stages to children’s events and around 200 market stalls selling the best local produce. The event was sup.