We’re excited to announce that Great British Bake Off finalist, Christiaan de Vries, will be joining the Shrewsbury Food Festival lineup this year!

Christiaan impressed the Bake Off judges with his artistic bakes and creative flavour combinations during the 2024 series.

Originally from the Netherlands and now based in London, his background in fashion shines through in his intricate designs and elegant bakes. With his calm confidence, eye for detail, and infectious sense of humour, he quickly became a fan favourite on the show - some even calling him the baker to beat. Christiaan’s baking style is all about making delicious creations easy to try at home, often with a surprising twist to keep things exciting. Perfect for our chef demo stage!

Now splitting his time between the UK and the Netherlands, he brings his love of baking to Dutch TV screens while sharing his latest recipes with a growing community on Instagram.

This year’s festival will take place on June 28th and 29th. Christiaan will join local top chefs leading demonstrations, with the rest of Shrewsbury’s park hosting all the usual foodie, family fun with two live entertainment stages, street food, bars, 200 food, drink and home stalls, and free kids rides and activities.

Beth Heath, Director of Fun, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Christiaan de Vries to the lineup this year, who will complement our local talented chefs and bakers, like Tat Effby, Stuart Collins, and James Sherwin. Our demo stage provides plenty of inspiration and top tips across different cuisines and cooking styles.

“It’s not just chef demos, Shrewsbury Food Festival is jam-packed with free entertainment – a rocking live music stage, family performances on the bandstand, a field to fork interactive zone, and a family entertainment area will keep kids busy all day with free activities, circus skills and rides, offering excellent value for money.

“There’s something for everyone at Shrewsbury Food Festival, and there’s a reason why this event has been named ‘Festival of the Year’ in the West Midlands for the last two years running, so come along and see what all the fuss is about – you’re guaranteed a great time!”