Residents and visitors converged on the historic market town yesterday as the annual Pontefract Liquorice Festival returned for another successful celebration of West Yorkshire’s unique sweet-making heritage.
The cultural event, which enjoyed glorious sunshine throughout the day, was heavily supported by headline sponsor HARIBO UK for the third consecutive year. The celebration highlighted Pontefract’s deep, multi-generational connection to liquorice cultivation and manufacturing, drawing both new and returning visitors to the town centre.
A major highlight of the day was the traditional liquorice-themed parade, which moved from Pontefract Town Hall to Pontefract Castle. For the first time in the festival’s history, the procession featured a live brass band alongside high-energy performances from local acts, including the Wakey Wheeled Cats and Diamond Cheerleading. HARIBO’s iconic mascot, Goldbear, also joined the march, delighting families and spectators along the route.
Beyond the parade, the town centre hosted more than 50 market stalls showcasing regional produce, handcrafted goods, and artisan food and drink. Local businesses got creative with the theme, offering specialised items ranging from liquorice pork pies and liquorice-infused gin to liquorice ice cream. Attendees also participated in hands-on creative workshops led by local Wakefield artist Holly Greenwood, where they crafted flags and props to add to the day’s festivities.
The event’s success relied closely on a network of volunteers, local schools, community groups, and regional partners.
Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, attended the event and praised the collective effort: “Fantastic day in Pontefract for our annual Liquorice festival. It’s a great celebration of our history and liquorice fields around Pontefract Castle. But it’s also a celebration of the local community and local businesses, including our tradition of sweet manufacture through the generations. Huge thanks to HARIBO, who still make the liquorice Pontefract cakes here in town, for supporting the event and making it a fun festival of sweets.”
HARIBO UK’s ongoing headline sponsorship reflects its long-term presence in the region, which it has called home for over 50 years. The confectionery giant recently completed a £35 million investment in nearby Castleford, which included the launch of a new distribution warehouse alongside automated production and packaging lines.
Tabea Powell, Head of Communications at HARIBO UK, commented on the turnout: “Yet again the Pontefract Liquorice Festival did not disappoint, bringing visitors together to celebrate an iconic annual event, with Team HARIBO and Goldbear out in full force. As a Yorkshire business that has proudly called the region home for more than 50 years, we’re honoured to have supported the festival.”
Cllr Lukasz Borcz, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport, added that the festival serves as a direct testament to the passion and dedication of the local community. “Pontefract’s connection to liquorice is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it’s fantastic to see so many people coming together to celebrate that heritage while supporting the town,” Borcz noted.
