For directions and other up to date info see Spoonfest info.
Spoonfest is the annual gathering of spooncarving enthusiasts. It takes place in Edale, Derbyshire in the UK.
Respect is a fundamental value at Spoonfest, we want Spoonfest to be a safe space where individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and marginalised groups, can come together all for the love of spoons.
In maintaining a positive atmosphere of mutual respect, we reserve the right to deny access to anyone whose presence may jeopardize the enjoyment of others.
Hopefully this page will answer all your most frequently asked questions – we’ll continue to update this as we get nearer to the festival so please check here before firing off emails to the organisers. You can also check the Spoonfest Facebook page. Thanks muchly.
About Spoonfest
Can I film, fly my drone, or take photographs at spoonfest?
We don’t allow any commercial filming or photography during spoonfest, and discourage filming for people’s own use as much as possible. It’s so easy these days for demonstrators to be faced with a wall of phones, and it detracts so much from what we want to be an analogue event.
Personal photography for learning purposes is fine, we have all experienced that inspiring spoon that we must have a photo of.
What’s the Spoonfest program / schedule?
For a general flavour of what goes on please see the What’s on page. For a few more details and times read on…
Thursday arrive any time after 4pm (no access before) set up camp, no carving on Thursday please. Food will be available and the bar open around 6.30pm. No access to the site after 8pm.
7.30pm grand opening, we split the billet, introduce our various teachers, run through some health and safety stuff. Followed by music and beer round the fire.
Workshops are booked at 9.00am each morning. Friday the workshops will tend to be more beginner’s workshops on axe and knife technique. Saturday and Sunday will be more intermediate and advanced workshops on design, decoration or fine axe control.
There will be free demonstrations and talks running throughout and the main focus of the weekend is free sharing of skills, if it is your first time you will be amazed at how friendly it is, we are all here to share and learn together.
We will finish Spoonfest on Sunday with a big clear up at 3pm, followed by a group photo at 4pm, with everyone off the field by 6pm.
There is no camping on the field on Sunday night so if you are not traveling home immediately you need to book in to a campsite in the village.
How do I buy tickets?
Tickets for Spoonfest 2024 have sold out! If you missed out on tickets then please join our waiting list on the ticket sale site. You will be offered tickets if they come available. You will have 24 hours after receiving your offer of a ticket to purchase it. After this, the ticket will be offered to the next on the list.
Spoonfest tickets will cost £115 for adults and £25 for under 18 year olds. Under 12s are free. Camping on site is incuded in the ticket price. If you want to bring a car or campervan on to the festival site you will also need to buy a vehicle pass, these cost £20.
You pay for tickets online via PayPal or Stripe. You do not need a PayPal account to do this, you can just use your credit or debit card on the secure PayPal page like any other online card payment.
Sadly I can’t come – can I get a refund?
To contact us email: spoonfestlimited@gmail.com
Do I need a PayPal account to pay?
No you don’t need to already have a PayPal account you can just enter your credit or debit card details on the secue PayPal payment screen like any other online payment checkout.
Where else is there to stay if I don’t want to camp on site?
Free camping on the Spoonfest site is included in the ticket price but if you want to stay elsewhere Edale is in the heart of the Peak District tourist area so there are B&B’s, holiday cottages and a youth hostel within walking distance for those that wish.
Can under 18s and children attend?
Yes we have specific (cheaper) tickets for under 18s and free tickets for younger children.
Please be aware that under 18 year olds must have an adult responsible for their safety at all times whilst carving. 15s and over can attend any workshop as long as their responsible adult does as well. Under 15s can only attend special workshops for their age group, at which the accompanying adult will learn techniques to support the childs learning.
What’s the evening entertainment?
We encourage folk to bring acoustic instruments, songs, poems or whatever to keep us amused round the campfire. The music has been quite special most evenings and the atmosphere is warm and encouraging, so please feel able to join in.
Carving stops in the late afternoon – we’ll make this perfectly clear. The bar opens in the early evening and the camp fires and BBQs, pizza oven etc are fired up. You can eat and drink and chat and sing.
We also run an open mic night on Friday and there’s a barn dance on Saturday and we’d love if you wanted to get involved. Players of english trad dance music are very welcome to bring their instruments along and join the Spoonfest Troubadours
No drums after 10pm please, and quiet after 12.
Will there be a Spoonshop this year?
Of course there’s a Spoonshop!
If you would like to sell your spoons they must have a label on each one with your name and the retail price. Spoonshop takes just 10% commission.
We can now take card payments at Spoonshop!
Are there there tools for sale?
Tools for sale this year Matthew of Woodland Craft Supplies is bringing his tool stall and of course Wood Tools axes and hook knives will be on sale, so there will be plenty of sharps to buy.
How can I pay for things at Spoonfest?
Please note there is no cashpoint – so bring cash with you. There isn’t one in the village, it’s quite a drive away to the nearest one. Workshops cost £20 cash only, which goes straight to the instructor, so make sure you have enough with you!
You will be able to pay with your card for food and at the bar, and also in spoonshop.
Is there plenty of wood to carve?
Of course! What is a spoon carving festival without wood to carve? We will have lots of lovely wood to carve, including some lovely ultra-local birch.
We also welcome you to bring wood to share as well, especially if you have something interesting!
Do I need to bring tools?
Yes, you will need your own set of tools! If you do not have any, there will be razor sharp tools available to buy on site..
We advise folk to mark any tools so you can identify them if they get mixed up or lost.
About the campsite and festival venue
How far is it into Edale from the Spoonfest campsite?
It’s a few minutes walk, depending how fast you walk or course, 400m along a footpath which can be muddy after rain across two fields.
In the village there are two pubs, two cafes and a small shop.
Are dogs allowed?
NO – it’s on a working sheep farm.
What about cars and campervans?
It’s a big field so there’s space for lots of cars and campervans on the site. Please buy a vehicle pass if you intend to bring your car or campervan on site.
As we have plenty of space you’ll be able to park next to your camp spot.
If you don’t have a vehicle pass there is a pay and display car park near the village hall a few hundred meters from the site.
Although there’s lots of room we do encourage people to car share or even better travel by train or cycle. If you can offer or fancy sharing a lift post on the Spoonfest Facebook group.
Can cars leave the field during the festival?
No, we want to minimise vehicle movement on site to reduce risk of injury. So once you’re in you’ll have to stay put, barring emergencies of course.
What’s the arrangements for toilets and showers?
There will be porta-loos on site and access to cold water, and free hot showers.
What’s the arrangements for food on site?
The deadline for evening meal tickets has now passed
We will have a baps available from mid-morning, We expect to have fillings like bacon, cheese & pickle & houmous & beetroot. Price £4, to be paid on the day.
For those of you that need food first thing in the morning, we’ve heard folks have had great success bringing their own muesli & oatmilk
Other options
We have volunteers who do a pizza oven. All the profits from this go to charity. We tend to make around 80 pizzas a night but with 300 odd people on-site, we can’t feed everyone this way.
So, if you want to be sure of an evening meal on-site, your best option is to buy a food ticket. £25 for all 3 meals.
Two pubs are no more than a 10 min walk from the festival site, Rambler Inn and Nagshead, both serve food and have good information on their websites about food serving times and menus.
Obviously, many people thrive on pot noodles or even their own masterchef set up at their tent.
Please bring your own plate, bowl, mug and obviously spoon. There will be no disposable stuff available on site, so if you want to eat you will need your own plate!
There will be hot water urns for self-serve teas and coffees.
How about camp fires?
BBQs and campfires are not allowed in the campsite area, we do have big communal campfires which keeps the evening socialising away from folk who want an early night.
We encourage folk to bring acoustic instruments, poems or whatever to keep us amused round the campfire.
Is there a bar?
During the evening after carving is finished for the day there is a bar serving local ale and not so local cider and bottled beers for charity. Over the years we have raised £20k for Practical Action and an additional c. £3,500 for Sheffield City of Sanctuary thanks to David and his volunteer bar staff, and the team working the Pizza oven.
Do mobile phones work?
The only phone mast in the village is EE and coverage from that is patchy, 100m from the campsite toward the village you generally get a signal.
There’s a public box in the village. There’s wifi available at the Rambler Inn.
Keeping safe
How do I stay safe with all the sharp tools about?
Edge tools are dangerous if used carelessly or incorrectly. If you have not done much carving before then attend one or more of the beginners workshops on Friday of Spoonfest. This will introduce you to safe ways to use the tools.
Please be aware that under 18 year olds must have an adult responsible for their safety at all times whilst carving. 15s and over can attend any workshop as long as their responsible adult does as well. Under 15s can only attend special workshops for their age group, at which the accompanying adult will learn techniques to support the childs learning.
- Use safe knife cuts and axe holds.
- Maintain a safe distance – be aware of others around you.
- Don’t walk around with tools unsheathed.
- Store tools safely when not in use.
- Always carve when fully alert and focussed on the job.
- Do not carve after any alcohol.
- Take breaks often – walk around and stretch.
- In the evenings we plan to down tools at 7pm and put tools safely away before the bar opens.
First aiders?
We have a designated first aider on site who will be contactable via a volunteer with a walkie-talkie. We will point out where they will be positioned during the opening talks on the first night.