Sligo Food Festival

Sligo Town opens its doors to some of the best food producers in the northwest for this two-day free festival in early September. The Sligo Food Festival brings local chefs, artisan makers and small-scale producers together in the town centre for a weekend that is as much about conversation with the people behind the food as it is about eating well. It suits families, food lovers and anyone passing through on the Wild Atlantic Way who wants a proper introduction to what the region grows and makes.

What to expect

The festival fills Sligo Town Centre with vendor stalls covering the width of what the county produces: local cheeses, cured meats, baked goods, jams and preserves, smoked seafood and craft drinks including beer and spirits made in the northwest. Cooking demonstrations run across both days, giving visitors a chance to watch local chefs work with regional ingredients and pick up techniques they can take home. Food tastings are built into the stalls, so you can graze your way around before committing to a purchase.

Previous editions of Sligo’s food celebrations in Queen Maeve Square drew several thousand visitors and featured around 30 food and drink vendors, a children’s cookery area and live music running alongside the market. The atmosphere is relaxed - more farmers’ market than festival gate - with the focus on the producers themselves. Bring a bag; most stalls accept both cash and card, and the temptation to stock up on local produce is real.

Getting there

Sligo Town sits on the N4 and N15, roughly two and a half hours from Dublin and around an hour and a half from Galway via the N17. Bus Eireann runs regular express coaches from Dublin Busaras to Sligo Bus Station on Lord Edward Street, with the journey taking around three hours. The town centre is compact and walkable from the station. Parking is available at several surface car parks and multi-storeys in the town, including Markievicz Road and the Quay Street area, and tends to be manageable on a September weekend.

While you’re in Sligo

The festival is a good reason to spend more than a few hours in the town - the Yeats country connection, Lough Gill, and the Sligo coast are all within easy reach, and Rosses Point beach is less than twenty minutes by car. There is more to see in Sligo and across Co. Sligo.

Good to know

• Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026
• Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 each day
• Free entry
• Food items available to purchase; stalls take cash and card
• Cooking demonstrations run throughout both days
• Child-friendly, with activities for families
• Sligo Town Centre; check local listings closer to the date for exact site layout