THOUSANDS flocked to Droitwich’s Vines Park last week for the town’s SaltFest which ran from Tuesday to Sunday (August 23 to 31).
The event featured live music, comedy, street food, plenty of children’s entertainment, arts and crafts stalls and much more.
In keeping with Droitwich’s historic roots there was an opening ceremony from town crier, Edgar Harwood, and plenty of nods to the Spa’s past.
The town’s history and archaeology society offered unique insights with talks and demonstrations and there was even salt making workshops.
Visitors walked around rubbing shoulders with Viking re-enactors who showcased the music, weapons, dress, stories and crafts from the era.
Children enjoyed a fireworks display, the famous SaltFest duck race, ice cream, inflatables, canal trips on the historic Pamela May 2 narrow boat, attractions and rides, a magic show, face painting, an outdoor cinema and lots more.
Plenty of tipples were enjoyed at the real ale and cider festival bar with local wine, beer and spirit producers welcomed to showcase their home-grown, distilled, brewed or fermented offerings.
Local artists displayed and sold their paintings and creative delights with the craft fayre welcoming 100 stalls. Street food vendors brought international cuisines with culinary offerings from India, Italy, America, Korea, Thailand, Mexico and Greece all on display.
There was live music, including ska, folk, reggae, country and Western, barn dance tunes and more. An open-mic night offered the chance for budding artists to show off their talent while a comedy night brought the laughter.
There was even a dog show, aerial acrobatics and Morris dancers to keep visitors entertained.
Organiser Simon Berry told the Standard the festival enjoyed a ‘good turnout’ with some 17,000 visitors.
He added this year’s event was ‘very successful’ and spoke of his excitement for next year which will welcome in a new theme. SaltFest 2026 will focus on historical figure John Corbett and the town’s salt production history.
