Food and fun for families is a special on the menu at this year’s Cork on a Fork Festival, which takes place from August 14-18 2024. What better way to round off the summer than by getting a taste of the unique flavours of Cork at the five-day food festival!
Run by Cork City Council, together with local businesses and producers, Cork on a Fork showcases the region’s unique food culture and quality local produce. Expect more than 70 exclusive events, unique dining experiences, pop-up restaurants, chef collaborations, free cooking demonstrations from top chefs, interactive workshops, food and drink pairings events, bite-sized talks, and plenty of family fun.
During the festival, children will have the chance to discover new foods, be mini-master chefs, taste their way through the city on a children’s food trail, learn fun food facts about Cork, visit community gardens, meet the producers, and most importantly of all … have fun with food. With just one week to go, it’s time to get booking before the events are snapped up.
Here are some of the highlights for families to feast on:
Children’s Food Trail
Children will love this fun and fascinating city centre food tour where they can sample bite-size child-friendly local food and learn fun and interesting facts about food and history in Cork.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 11.30am – 1pm, Friday 16th August, Cork City Centre. Price: €18.00 per child. [Book here]
Sensory Cooking Class with the Cool Food School
Join Deirdre Doyle from The Cool Food School for engaging pop-up cooking classes for kids at St Peter’s. These classes, promoting healthy eating, include fun activities like smelling, chopping, dancing, and tasting, where kids will learn to make lunch box carrot cake powerballs.
11.00am-12.00pm (3-7 years), Friday 16th August, St. Peter’s. Price: €15.00 Book here
12.30pm-1.30pm (7-12 years), Friday 16th August, St Peters. Price: €15.00 Book here.
Children’s Food Trail in Cork City Centre
Kids will explore Cork food on a fun and fascinating children’s food trail through Cork City Centre as they sample bite-size child-friendly local food. They will also learn interesting facts about food and history in Cork.
11.30am-1pm Friday 16th August Price: €18 Book here (Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.) Book here
Pop-Up Gourmet Cinema at Marina Market
Enjoy an outdoor movie screening of Mamma Mia and food at the Marina Market. In the case of bad weather, the screening will take place inside. Tickets include the cinema and a €15 Marina Market gift card so you can enjoy food from whichever vendor you like.
7pm Wednesday 14th August. Price: €20. Book here.
Bread, Butter and Beef at The Butter Museum, Shandon
Visit The Butter Museum for traditional soda bread and butter-making demonstrations, and a talk by local butcher James Nolan on corned beef. Also, explore the Cork Butter Museum celebrating Ireland’s butter trade.
2.30pm-4.30pm Friday 16th August. Free. No booking required.
Free Cooking Demos, Play Street and Food Market at Emmet Place
Give your family a taste for cooking at the Festival Marquee on Emmet Place from 11am-5pm on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August where there will be a host of free demos all weekend. Clodagh McKenna will be cooking up Family Friendly Suppers, get ideas from Ballymaloe Cooking School’s Rachel Allen, learn how to make the Perfect BBQ Sausage with Harrison Sharpe from Elbow Lane, an amazing curry from Meeran Manzoor (Rare 1784) and much more. There’s also a play street with Let’s Play Cork, face painting and a pop-up local food market. Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
All free to attend but there is limited capacity. No booking required.
Food Fun and Farm at Cornmarket Street Market
Pop down to the Cornmarket Street (Coal Quay) Market, enjoy light bites on the street and everyone can have lots of fun with farm animals from Rumley’s Farm, facepainting and giant Jenga, connect four, corn hole, balance board games, colour catcher games, tug of war and more, with our Let’s Play Cork play leaders. Note: this is not supervised play and parents are responsible for children.
11am-3pm Saturday 17th August, Coal Quay. Free Event . No need to book.
Meet the Producers Family Bus Tour
Discover Cork’s food culture on a family-friendly bus tour visiting a dairy farm, an orchard, and a beekeeper, including tastings and a visit to Blarney Woolen Mills playground.
9.30am-12.30pm Saturday 17th August Price: Adult €23, children (under the age of 16) €20 [Book here]
Playing with your Food Lunch
Enjoy a delicious outdoor light picnic at the new Urban Mirror sculptural table on Cornmarket Street. You’ll taste and hear about Cork produce as the Roughty Foodie at The English Market serves you up delicious bites. Rumleys Farm will also be there with their pop-up farm, and there will be a pop up play street with Let’s Play Cork. The Cornmarket Street Market will also be in full swing. Supported by TS Events.
1.30pm Saturday 17th August at the Urban Mirror Shared Table on Cornmarket St. Price: €10 [Book here].
Picnic Tour of Glenbrook Farm
Enjoy a fascinating family-friendly tour and picnic at Glenbrook Farm with Brian McCarthy from Cork Rooftop Farm and Peter Twomey from Glenbrook Farm.
11am Sunday 18th August. Book here.
Hannah’s Afternoon Bee
Enjoy a honey-themed children’s afternoon tea while learning about honeybees from award-winning beekeeper Hanna.
2.30pm Sunday 18th August at Perry Street €18 per child including gift. Parents can order from the menu. [Book here]
Hysterical Histories Dinner and Show at Amicus
Enjoy a laugh-out-loud dinner performance celebrating all things Cork upstairs at Amicus Restaurant on Paul Street. Over two hours, discover the highlights of Cork’s 1500-year history and become acquainted with a county full of quirky characters, their habits, humour, and language, while you enjoy local Cork food and drinks, live music and plenty of interaction with the actor.
7.00pm 15th, 16th and 17th August €52 (adults), €32 (children under 12), kids under 2 go free). Use FORKFEST24 for €5 off adult tickets. [Book here]
Knocknaheeny Hollyhill Community Garden
Join the community for a day of picking fresh produce, live music, and more.
1-4pm, Thursday 15th August, Knocknaheeny, Hollyhill Community Garden (behind Apple Green garage). Free Event. No booking required.
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Cork on a Fork celebrates Cork’s rich food heritage, combining local traditions with global flavours. It’s a chance to sample incredible food from the region’s talented chefs, farmers, and producers. The festival is organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local hospitality businesses, Fáilte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Business Association, the IHF Cork Branch, Cork Airport and sponsors.
For more information and bookings see www.corkonaforkfest.ie or stay tuned on social media @corkonaforkfest for the latest updates.
