Crisp Butties at the ready: Wigan’s Festival of Crisps is back, and bigger than ever
If you thought festival season was all about muddy fields, overpriced drinks and bands you pretend to know, think again. Wigan is sitting on what I think might actually be the best festival in the UK, and it involves something far more important than music.
Crisps.
Yes, the Festival of Crisps is returning to Wigan Central this May, running from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th, and if last year is anything to go by, we are in for a proper treat. Their first ever Festival of Crisps landed in July last year, right in the middle of summer, and honestly, no one really knew what to expect. But Wigan being Wigan, we turned up anyway and made a day of it. By the end of the weekend, over 900 bags of crisps had been sold. That’s not a typo.
Nine hundred.
And these aren’t just your standard salt and vinegar and ready salted. We’re talking crisps from all over the world, strange flavours you can’t pronounce, gourmet options that make you feel a bit fancy, and the kind of packets you’d normally only find after going down an internet rabbit hole at daft o’clock.
But let’s be honest, as exciting as international flavours are, we all know what the real star of the show is. The crisp butty. I’ve been told about one which featured Scampi Fries last year, so am already chomping at the bit.
What makes the Festival of Crisps even better is the timing. Late May, when everyone’s ready to get out and enjoy themselves again, and the town starts to feel like it’s properly in festival mode. It’s basically the unofficial start of summer, just with more crisps than any normal person could justify buying in one go.
And the best part? There’s no pressure. No pretending you understand tasting notes or politely nodding along to something you don’t get. You can just turn up and eat crisps. As many as you like. No judgement. Just crunch.
For me, I think this might be my kind of festival. I don’t drink loads, so the usual beer festival scene can sometimes pass me by a bit. But crisps? Now we’re talking. This is my level. It also just so happens to land right around the first anniversary of ‘what’s happening in Wigan’. I had already planned to start my anniversary pub crawl at Wigan Central, so this makes it even better.
Three days. More than fifty flavours. Unlimited crisp butty potential.
Wigan Central, you’ve absolutely nailed it.
Event Details:
- What: Festival of Crisps
- Where: Wigan Central, Wigan (Arch 19, Queen Street, Wigan, WN3 4DY)
- When: Friday 22nd May to Sunday 24th May
- Entry: Free
- What to expect: Crisps from around the world, unique and gourmet flavours, and the chance to build your ultimate crisp butty
- Last year: Over 900 bags of crisps sold across the weekend
- Vibe: Laid back, fun, and proudly Wigan.
