Here's the stat that tells you everything about FeastyFest: it began in 2018 as a modest scheme to get Cheam families eating good food from small local producers — and has since tripled in size into Surrey's biggest food-and-music festival, picking up our Best Small Festival award along the way. Not bad for something that started with such humble beginings. It's back at Cheam Park on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026, and having been the last couple of Septembers, we reckon this could be its best year yet. Here's the case for your weekend.

A line-up that knows exactly what it is

Let's be honest: nobody comes to FeastyFest to discover their next favourite band. You come to eat brilliantly and sing along badly — and the 2026 bill is tuned precisely for that. Saturday closes with Ellie Sax, the classically trained saxophonist-DJ who's made her name playing live sax over thumping house everywhere from Ibiza Rocks to the Monaco Grand Prix; expect the field to turn into an open-air dancefloor as the light goes. There's real substance earlier in the day too, in The Dunwells — the Leeds indie-folk band who've toured with Mumford & Sons and Tom Jones — a proper touring act rather than a tribute, and worth arriving early for.

After that it leans gloriously into crowd-pleasers: Beatles-through-a-reggae-lens oddballs Beatles Dub Club (better than that description makes it sound), Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute Chilli Peppers, and Michael Jackson show Forever Jackson. Sunday is the nostalgia day — a live House & Garage set to headline, with Complete Madness, Bob Marley tribute Legend, The Blues Brothers Show and P!NK by Vicky Jackson keeping every generation on its feet. Two stages, both days, zero pretension. See the full line-up and stage times.

But really, it's about the food

The music is the soundtrack; the food is the point — and always has been. FeastyFest fields more than 100 street-food traders, and the spread is genuinely global: low-and-slow BBQ, Greek, Indian, Lebanese, Spanish, fiery Sichuan. One hard-won tip: do a full lap before you commit, come hungry, and share so you can taste more. Wash it down at the cocktail bars, work through the gin and wine tastings or a locally brewed beer, and leave room to browse the farmers' market. It is, plainly, one of the best days out for anyone who likes eating in the South East.

Genuinely good with kids

Plenty of events stick "family-friendly" on the poster. FeastyFest earns it — it literally exists to get children excited about food. The free Kids World zone returns loaded with a climbing and ropes course, zorbing, archery, crafts and fairground rides, which buys parents the rarest festival luxury: time to actually eat and drink in peace. It's flat-ish parkland, easy with a buggy, and dogs on leads are welcome. Worth knowing it's a not-for-profit too — the money goes back into local causes through Feasty Community Projects, which beats where most festival bar takings end up.

Tickets, and how to go for free

Tickets start around £40 for adults but there are loads of packages and deal for families, so it really is wallet friendly. The site's cashless and the car park (off Netley Close) fills fast, so if you're local, the train to Cheam or Sutton is the smarter move. Grab tickets on Skiddle — or spend nothing and enter our giveaway for a pair of weekend tickets. We'll see you in the BBQ smoke.