CheChester-le-EATS takes place next weekend - here's everything you need to know.

One of the North East’s biggest free food, drink and music festivals returns to Durham Cricket this September - and this year Chester-le-EATS is celebrating its fifth birthday.

Taking over Banks Homes Riverside, the home of Durham Cricket, on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September, Chester-le-EATS will bring together its biggest line-up of traders to date, alongside live music and family entertainment. 

45 traders will descend on the ground for the milestone event, serving everything from street food and sweet treats to craft drinks and artisan produce.

Running from 11am until 5pm on both days, entry to the main festival is completely free, making it a great weekend out for the whole family. 

Here is everything you need to know - from what to eat and drink to the live entertainment and family fun. 

What’s On At Chester-le-EATS This Year?

Celebrating five years of flavour, Chester-le-EATS 2026 is set to be the festival’s biggest edition yet.

Visitors can expect a packed weekend of street food, artisan produce, craft drinks, sweet treats, live music and entertainment, with returning favourites joined by plenty of new faces. New to this year’s line-up is: Flankman Tacos; Flavour Punks - which sell a range of seasonings and salts; Grandpa’s Fish Bar; Mia Anasa Authentic Greek Products, for a true taste of the Mediterranean; The Big Banh’s Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches and LNY Homemade sauces and condiments. 

There will be something for the whole family throughout the weekend, with a dedicated family zone with fun rides; the return of roaming street entertainment - including the hilarious Dinner Ladies. Plus, stilt walkers, the Mirror People, Flower Pot Men and a packed out music line-up. 

The festival is also dog-friendly, meaning four-legged foodies are welcome to join the celebrations too.

This Year’s Food & Drink Line-Up

Visitors can expect three dedicated food zones with 12 food trucks and a coffee trailer in the Street Food Bazaar, situated on the concourse of Durham Cricket.  

They’ll be serving up everything from loaded fries and smash burgers to Mexican, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan cuisine. 

Street food favourites include Chicken Ting, Redheads Mac ’N’ Cheese and Spud Gun Loaded Fries and Burgers, alongside Truly Torta, Kolomba, Mr Chipstix, The Loaded Dawg and The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack with their Dutch pancakes. 

Market Street, which is also located outside, features The Sunrise Patisserie and their famous pastel de nata; O'Donnell’s Moonshine; The Dessert Hub - which completely sold out of their cakes and bakes at last year’s event; and Just a Littlemore, which offer loaded cookies. 

The Indoor Eats Emporium, which is situated inside the Geoff Cook Suite - accessed via Tower Two at the grounds - features sweet treats from Kiss My Cupcake; The Hedgehog Bakery and Le Mini Macaron; as well as craft drinks from Prohibition Distillery, WL Distillery and St Mary’s Spirits. 

Beyond the food and drink, visitors can browse a range of independent makers and retailers too. Fat Rabbit Crafts will be bringing speciality chopping boards and decorative wooden pieces, while Flint and Flame will showcase a range of quality kitchen utensils.

Pev’s Prints will have a collection of 3D-printed figures and fidgets, while Geek of the Galaxy will bring toys, board games and trading cards to the festival, alongside an interactive zone for visitors to get involved in.

What Live Entertainment Is At Chester-le-EATS?

Chester-le-EATS will once again feature a packed programme of live music and performances throughout the weekend, delivered in partnership with Proper Mint Concerts.

The Rock Choir returns with two performances on Saturday, while musicians, theatre performers and dancers will take to the stage across both days.

Saturday 26th September

11.30am – Luke Palmer

12.30pm – Rock Choir & Live Theatre

1pm – To Hell or Verona

2pm – Rock Choir

2.30pm – Matty Fenny

3.30pm – Patrick Kelly

Sunday 27th September

11.30am – Annis Rallis

12.30pm – Live Theatre

1pm – Liv & Jon

2.15pm – Jamie Lee Harrison

3pm – Channy Dance Academy

Is Chester-le-EATS Family Friendly?

Yes - Chester-le-EATS has been designed as a full family day out, with free entry for all. 

Alongside the huge choice of food and drink, families can expect children’s activities and a dedicated Family Zone, as well as live music, theatre and dance performances taking place throughout the weekend.

With plenty happening across both days, visitors can arrive at any point, grab something to eat, explore the traders and enjoy the entertainment.

Ythan Sale, Events Manager at Durham Cricket, said: “This year is extra special as we celebrate our fifth birthday, with our biggest line-up of traders yet, brilliant live music and entertainment, plenty for families to enjoy and some exciting new additions.

“We’re incredibly proud of how Chester-le-EATS has grown over the last five years and we can’t wait to welcome familiar faces and new visitors to Banks Homes Riverside for another fantastic weekend.”

When: Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September 2026

What time: 11am - 5pm both days

Venue: Gate 1, Banks Homes Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR

Entry: Free 

Parking: Parking is located at the ground in the surrounding council pay-and-display car parks, once parked, on foot to Gate 1.

For the latest information and full trader line-up, visit: https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/events/chester-le-eats/