All events now on sale as programme revealed for Savour Kilkenny food festival 2025

Kilkenny's streets will be alive once again this October Bank Holiday weekend as the 17th year of one of Ireland’s longest established and biggest food festivals launches its programme online.

This year Savour Festival sees over 80 events taking place over the five days and promises to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the medieval city centre. Chairperson of Savour Kilkenny, Ger Mullally said that another exciting long weekend of the long-running festival is in store.

"We are delighted to have another superb lineup for the 2025 edition of Savour Kilkenny," he said. "It has always been our aim to constantly improve the lineup of events for this prestigious festival, showcasing the best of Kilkenny’s and our regions food producers and providers. Once again, Marian Flannery and her team have literally produced the goods, with returning favourites and new voices from this crucial industry."
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New member of the Savour Kilkenny Board and Director of Services with Kilkenny County Council Fiona Deegan says that the gathering of friends is a central part of the attraction of Savour Kilkenny.

"The Savour weekend is now part of the social structure for Kilkenny people as families and friends gather for the weekend, meeting on the parade, attending events and dining out in the dozens of restaurants and Cafe’s in the city for the weekend," she said. "Add to that the thousands of visitors who come along and discover the gourmet capital of the country and you have a wonderful boost to the social and economic life of the city, once again."

Master of Ceremonies for the weekend and TV celebrity chef, Edward Hayden says that lots of fun lies ahead for all those attending

"While the craft of food production and presentation and the serious issues around the industry are core to the weekend, there is lots of fun as those of us who work in the sector get to meet up, collaborate and interact with the brilliant Savour Kilkenny audiences," he said. "There will be plenty of laughs and jollity as we continue to put the fun into food!" 

The full programme for the 17th annual Savour Kilkenny Food Festival has officially launched, and it promises to be as exciting as ever. Taking place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend (Thursday to Monday, October 23-27), Savour Kilkenny will transform Ireland’s Medieval Capital into a bustling celebration of Irish food culture, sustainability, and community.

This year’s festival boasts over 80 events for food lovers, families, and festivalgoers of all ages, featuring cookery demos from Ireland’s top chefs and emerging talent, 100 + artisan producers and street food stalls, the return of the Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee, kids’ workshops, wellness activities, and unique dining experiences, all set against the magical backdrop of medieval Kilkenny. Also 2025, will see the return of the Savour the Night, with the Savour Village and family entertainment continuing on until 9pm. The Castle Park Concert is back by popular demand with tickets on sale from August 15.

Once again, Savour is delighted to be the launch pad for two new food tourism businesses – one exploring the city’s incredible food landscape on foot and the other taking in the beautiful Kilkenny countryside by bus where there will be an opportunity to meet our wonderful makers.

The Savour Village returns to The Parade on Saturday and Sunday, bringing with it 100+ artisan food, drink and street food stalls, the Craft Brewers and Distillers Marquee and new for 2025 is the Food Producers Pavilion, which puts a spotlight on small artisan food producers as well as Kilkenny's global kitchen producers.

The Savour and Taste Stages will feature some of Ireland’s most recognisable chefs, including Rachel Allen, Kevin Dundon, Rory O’Connell, Paul Flynn, Sarah Butler, Sophie Morris, and James Kavanagh, with cookery demos and interactive talks that are free to attend.

Family Entertainment will be in the village throughout the Saturday and Sunday which will include family shows, facepainting, stilt walkers and performances. Dining events will dazzle again this year, including:

Cellar & Savour at The Lady Helen Restaurant at Mount Juliet Estate (Michelin Star Event)

A long table Renaissance Banquet at Rothe House

Six Courses, Two Countries - Kilkenny Meets New Zealand at Butler House

The Best of Statham’s Supper Club Series at the Pembroke Hotel

Comedy for Witches hosted by Anna Clifford at Petronella

Sip and Savour at Paris Texas

Tapas Nights and Tunes at Tower and Castle

Lady Eleanor Afternoon Tea at Butler House

Herbal Vegan Lunch Experience at Avalon House Hotel

Global Kitchen Lunch with Kilkenny Leader Partnership at the Home Rule Club.

An Evening of Shared Food at Wildflower Café.

From Kids Pizza Workshops, Chocolate Mould Making, and Superfood Superheroes Illustration Workshop, to the Halloween Circus Show and the Kids’ Carnival, Savour Kilkenny offers a weekend packed with free family entertainment.

Create your own chocolates, attend wine masterclasses, and enjoy immersive food and art collaborations with Savour(ING) Art curated by Clare Anne O’Keefe at Butler Gallery and Rothe House. Drink events range from Casks & Curses in Kyeler's Inn, to Off the Beaten Path Wine Tastings, and Beats, Bites & Bubbles with WeLike2Party in Sullivans Taproom.

Savour Monday sees Madra Monday, celebrating our four-legged friends' nutrition with Red Mils, Savour your Wellness in Mountain View, and the community-focused events with Spice of Life with KCLR and the Camphill community initiative for social enterprise (CISE).

Savour Kilkenny continues its commitment to sustainability through eco-friendly practices, food waste education, and strong support for local producers and chefs. The 2025 festival is made possible thanks to a wide range of funders, sponsors, event partners and friends of the festival which are proudly displayed on our website.

Entry to the Savour Village is free, with ticketed experiences available to book online now, make sure to book early to avoid disappointment, these events sell out every year!

Full programme and ticket info at www.savourkilkenny.com.