If good food is enough to get you into town on a Saturday, Rugby’s Autumn Food & Drink Festival should be firmly on the list.
The festival returns on Saturday 19th September 2026, bringing more than 50 food and drink stalls into Rugby town centre for a full day of street food, artisan produce, live demonstrations and family entertainment.
Running from 11am to 5pm, the event is completely free to attend and is expected to draw several thousand visitors into the town throughout the day.
Event Details
Date: Saturday 19th September 2026
Time: 11am to 5pm
Location: Rugby Town Centre
Entry: Free
Organiser: Rugby Borough Council
The event is designed as a celebration of local and international food and drink, while also giving independent producers and town centre businesses the chance to showcase what they do.
More than 50 food and drink stalls
Food is very much the main event.
Rugby Borough Council confirms that there will be more than 50 stalls offering a wide range of food and drink.
Visitors can expect everything from:
Street food
Gourmet burgers
Artisan cheeses
Spices
Desserts and sweet treats
Local produce
International flavours
It is the sort of event where arriving hungry is probably a sensible decision.
There should be plenty to try as you wander around, with a mix of hot food, artisan produce and treats to take home.
Live cookery demonstrations
The festival will also include a pop-up kitchen, where local chefs will give live demonstrations and share cooking tips throughout the day.
That gives the event a little more than just food stalls.
You can stop, watch something being made, pick up a few ideas and perhaps leave with a new recipe or two.
The demonstration kitchen programme is already complete, which gives a good indication of how popular the festival is with local traders and food businesses.
Live entertainment and family fun
There will also be live entertainment and family activities in Regent Gardens.
That makes the festival an easy option for families who want something relaxed to do on a Saturday without needing to book or plan too much.
You can browse the stalls, stop for lunch, watch a demonstration and enjoy the entertainment at your own pace.
Do you need tickets?
No.
The Rugby Autumn Food & Drink Festival is free to attend and no advance booking is required.
Simply head into Rugby town centre between 11am and 5pm and enjoy the event.
Find out more
For the latest event information, visit the official Rugby Town events page:
https://www.therugbytown.co.uk/whats-on/
For visitor enquiries:
Telephone: 01788 533217
You can also visit the Rugby Visitor Centre in person at:
Little Elborow Street
Rugby
CV21 3BZ
Discover more local events
There is always something happening across Rugby, Daventry and the surrounding villages.
From food festivals and live music to Heritage Open Days, markets and family events, we enjoy sharing the local dates that help bring our communities together.
Keep an eye on the Campbells community events pages for more local events throughout the year.
