Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail Is Back for the 2026 Rhubarb Festival: Your Guide to the City's Best Themed Treats

Get ready, because Wakefield is about to go full-on rhubarb mad again. The city's famous Rhubarb Festival is making its big return from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 February 2026, and with it comes one of the tastiest events of the year. The Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is back, turning the entire city centre into a massive treasure hunt for anyone who loves good food and drink. It’s a chance for people to wander through Wakefield, discovering all sorts of incredible rhubarb-themed treats that local businesses have cooked up. This isn't just any old food festival; it’s a celebration of the city's unique heritage, and it’s going to be brilliant.

More than just a festival

So, what’s the big deal with rhubarb in Wakefield? Well, this part of Yorkshire is famous for it. It has a long and proud rhubarb heritage, and this festival is all about celebrating that story. The event shines a spotlight on the amazing independent cafes, bars, and restaurants that make the city special. A key part of this is the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail, an event run in partnership with the Wakefield BID. The idea is simple: get local venues to put their creative hats on and invent all sorts of new menu items based around, you guessed it, rhubarb. It encourages everyone to explore the city, maybe pop into a place they’ve never been before, and try something completely new. It’s a proper celebration of local flavour and creativity.

The trail itself is a fantastic way to experience the festival. Visitors can grab a map and follow the path to over 30 different venues, each offering unique rhubarb-themed food and drink. It’s a fun challenge to see how many different creations can be sampled over the weekend. The atmosphere in the city during the festival is always buzzing, and the trail is a massive reason why. It brings everyone together – the businesses, the locals, and the visitors – all sharing a love for fantastic food and Wakefield's unique history. The entire event is a brilliant showcase for the city’s vibrant food and drink scene.

What's on the menu?

This is where things get really exciting. The local bars, cafes, and restaurants go all out for the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail, and their themed menu items are something else. It's not just about a bit of rhubarb crumble (though there’s plenty of that too!). The venues get seriously inventive. Imagine walking through the city and stopping off for some truly unique food and drink. The list of what’s on offer is huge, with something for every taste.

For anyone who fancies a special drink, the city's bars are ready with some incredible cocktails. The Black Horse will be serving up rhubarb sours and royales, while The Distillery Bar is the place to go for rhubarb fizzes and some classy martinis. But it’s not just about the cocktails. The food on offer is just as creative. Here’s a little taste of what people can expect to find on the trail:

• Qubana: This restaurant is offering a whole rhubarb-inspired menu, including a very intriguing rhubarb bruschetta.

• Robatary: Fancy some king prawn yakitori? They’ll be marinating it in rhubarb and ginger for a special festival twist.

• Marmalade on the Square: A must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth. Expect delicious rhubarb cakes and scones.

• Cafe 19: Perfect for a classic treat, serving up comforting rhubarb crumbles and fun rhubarb milkshakes.

• La Chingada: Located at Wakefield Exchange, this spot is adding a Mexican twist with rhubarb specials, including a unique rhubarb salsa and churros with a rhubarb compote dip.

These are just a few examples of the amazing menu items that will be available. With so many venues taking part, the trail is packed with delicious surprises, from savoury dishes to sweet treats. Finding all the different rhubarb creations is part of the fun of the festival.

A trail for everyone

The Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is designed to get people moving around the city and supporting local businesses. It's a fantastic showcase, and the people behind it are passionate about what it brings to Wakefield. Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, is clearly thrilled to see it return.

“I’m excited that the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is back for 2026. It’s a great opportunity for local businesses to get creative and invent rhubarb-themed menu items.”

“With such a wide variety of food and drink to try, you can go back to your favourite places whilst discovering new spots as you work your way through the trail.”

This idea of discovery is echoed by Thomas Wales, Chief Executive of Wakefield BID, the organisation partnering on the trail. He highlighted how the event supports the city’s independent businesses.

“The Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is a fantastic showcase for Wakefield’s independent and city centre businesses. By working in partnership on the trail, we’re helping drive footfall, encouraging people to try something new, and putting a real spotlight on the city’s vibrant food and drink offer during the festival weekend. It’s great to see so many venues getting involved and celebrating Wakefield’s unique rhubarb heritage in creative ways.”

It's not all about the food (well, mostly)

While the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is a massive highlight, the festival has even more to offer. Across the city, various partners put on a whole host of fringe activities, meaning there’s something happening everywhere. It’s a proper city-wide celebration, with events for all ages. So, in between sampling rhubarb cocktails and churros, visitors can check out some other brilliant stuff.

For the creative types, The Art House will be running screen printing sessions, and Wakefield Museum is hosting special crafts events. Over at The Hepworth Wakefield, the House of Makers showcase will be on, displaying work from talented artists and designers. And, of course, no festival is complete without some tunes. There will be live music courtesy of the Wakefield Music Collective, providing a great soundtrack to the weekend. These fringe activities make the Rhubarb Festival a really well-rounded event, with a great mix of food, drink, art, and music.

So, clear the diary for the 20th to the 22nd of February 2026. The Wakefield Rhubarb Festival is shaping up to be an unmissable weekend, and the Rhubarb Food & Drink Trail is the perfect way to eat and drink your way through one of Yorkshire's most characterful cities. Make sure to grab a map and get exploring!