Loughborough is about to be absolutely taken over by food — and honestly, we’re not complaining.

If you’ve ever wandered through town thinking it could really do with more vibes (and more snacks), the Charnwood Food Festival & Artisan Market is swooping back in next month to save your Sunday.

The market is making its grand return to the town centre on Sunday, May 17, and if you’ve ever wandered through Market Place thinking “this would be better with snacks”, your moment has arrived.

🍔 A full takeover of Market Place

For one day only, Loughborough’s historic Market Place is turning into a paradise of street food, baked goods, sweet treats and all the artisan bits you definitely don’t need but will absolutely buy anyway. Expect global flavours, local legends and enough samples to justify calling it lunch.

It’s not just food either — independent businesses from across the area will be setting up shop, meaning you can graze, browse and pretend you’re the kind of person who buys handmade chutney on a Sunday.

Alongside the food stalls, there’ll be live entertainment, kids’ activities and a family‑friendly vibe that basically guarantees you’ll bump into someone you know from first year.

The whole thing runs from 10am to 4pm and, crucially, it’s free. So even if your student loan is looking tragic, you can still soak up the atmosphere (and the smells).

🗣️ What the council says

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson called the festival “a brilliant way to celebrate the creativity and passion of our local food scene,” adding that events like this help support independent businesses and bring “a real buzz” to the town centre. Translation: Loughborough is about to pop off.

🛍️ And if you’re into markets…

The Loughborough Artisan Market is also back, having returned on 19th April and running monthly until December. If you want all the dates, they’re listed at www.charnwood.gov.uk/artisan.