Food Festivals are a superb place to see taste & buy superb Welsh produce
Regular readers will know that Welsh food and drink is our passion here at Welsh Country magazine and food festivals are without a doubt the highlight. But why do we have such an obsession for food festivals? Now that’s a fair question and easily answered as festivals are the showcase for the best of Welsh food and drink and as Wales has an abundance of artisan food and drink producers, we are very lucky to be so spoilt for choice. With food festivals a- plenty being held across Wales of varying sizes, the choice of course is yours. You can visit your local community focused event or maybe have a weekend away and travel further afield to visit one of the larger festivals. Food festivals are not only great fun for people living in Wales but prove to be a real attraction for tourists too.
You don’t have to be an obsessive foodie to attend a festival, but I’m sure we can turn you into one when you do! Welsh festivals excel at providing something for everyone whether that’s watching top chefs show off their skills or encouraging children to learn more about their food and where it comes from and of course I don’t mean the supermarkets! Educating your children about food will certainly pay dividends in years to come and hopefully inspire some of them to consider a career in the food and drink industry and the hospitality sector.
One of my many festival highlights is to be able to speak face-to-face to the producers, to sample their products and also learn more about how they are made. But festivals are also important for our producers as they like to have direct contact with their customers and potential customers. Producers are also aware this is one way for them to grow their businesses and for the Welsh economy that’s important too as food and drink makes a valuable contribution.
Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival
Now into its 14th year, Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival (27th-28th May 2018) has established itself as a must-attend event for Welsh foodies.
One of Wales’ oldest market towns, Cowbridge has long been associated with quality food and farm produce. In a nod to this rich tradition, the 2018 Festival will be the second year of a Heritage Lottery Funded project focusing on ‘Forgotten Foods’. This will entail exploring historical skills and traditional methods of food production and storage, like traditional basket making, which will be demonstrated at the Festival.
Once again, the History Chefs will be on hand to showcase these techniques and give people a unique insight into foods that once formed the basis of Welsh diets. ITV’s Fran Donovan, who is passionate about history, will be helping bring these demonstrations to life.
Part of the Festival’s unique appeal is the fact that it focuses on local and regional producers and suppliers, showcasing them ahead of larger commercial or national organisations. Many local businesses credit the Festival with raising their profile when they were first setting out.
For example, Rob Higgins, Eccentric Gin said:
“This was our first food festival and we approached it with a degree of trepidation. Appearing at the show was a great way of increasing awareness. Print advertising and social media are useful tools to help us grow but if I was forced to choose, give me a well-run food festival every time.”
More than just a food festival, Cowbridge’s rich offering of entertaining activities and educational demonstrations, has proved increasingly popular. People from various parts of the UK, who discovered the Festival by accident in the past, now plan their holidays around it.
The festival has grown to such an extent that it’s now spread across several sites and this year, for the first time, The Duke of Wellington Car Park will host a variety of exhibitors including Science Cream and award-winning street foodies The Original Goodfillas. There will even be a new craft fair downstairs in the pub.
Each day, chefs from local establishments will share top recipe tips for families cooking on a budget, and several Live Fire sessions will delight barbecue lovers. Experienced children’s entertainer Simon Sparkles will also please young and old with his unique fun blend of comedy, magic, games, puppetry and music.
As well as being an enjoyable day out for the whole family, Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival has a positive impact on the whole town and surrounding businesses. All holders of Pre-Paid tickets ordered on line will have a wide variety of vouchers for use around the town. These include clothes and food discounts as well as special Junior Vouchers for our younger visitors.
The Festival is also involved with several charities including Young Farmers Clubs, Women’s Institutes, Rotary and the Scouts.
It is a delicious event, with something for everyone’s taste.
Beaumaris Food Festival
The Beaumaris Food Festival was first held four years ago with the aim of raising funds for the local Community Centre, a central hub for this community, which was under threat of closure due to cutbacks. In such a short time the festival is now one of the largest attractions in the area and so far has raised over £94,000 to benefit local charities. Beaumaris is a prime example of how Welsh food and drink can help and bring together the local community and literally save the Community Centre.
Held on Anglesey, Beaumaris Food Festival is set in a stunning location between the historic 12th Century Beaumaris Castle and the coast, with the beautiful Snowdonia Mountains providing a backdrop. Held on the first weekend in September, 1st & 2nd the festival brings together local, national and international food producers, as well as street food vendors, crafts exhibitors, live entertainment and family fun. Chefs from the local area, from TV and with Michelin star showcase their talents in the demonstration tent which is always a hit!
The entry price is £5 per day or £7 for the weekend, which not only includes free parking but half price entry to local attractions such as the Castle and the Gaol. The festival is supported by Ynys Mon County Council, Beaumaris Town Council, the Welsh Assembly and many generous sponsors. The festival is run completely by a fantastic team of volunteers who return year after year, this is what community is all about!
So successful are the Beaumaris team that they have been asked to resurrect the Menai Bridge Food Festival, which will be held in the centre of the town on Saturday 28th July.
Cardigan River & Food Festival
It’s a big day in the town’s calendar when Cardigan River & Food Festival opens on its site next to the River Teifi. This year, on Saturday 18th August will be the twentieth festival and it will once more be a celebration of quality Welsh food and drink. This is an opportunity to showcase the wide range of produce available from the Cardigan area and beyond. Cardigan Food Festival is a real community event that brings the whole town together, but without the support and dedication of their hard-working volunteers this event would not run. The Food Court, as always will have many great ‘street food’ stalls ready to tempt you for lunch, ranging from authentic Indian meals to luxury Welsh rarebit, via Paella and a Hog Roast. You’ll be able to take home cheeses, honey, beers, ciders, charcuterie, cakes, bread and much more from the bustling Food Market.
But the attraction of the Festival isn’t just the food, there’s much more to enjoy. There will be live entertainment in the large, covered seating area and a programme of activities on the river, with an RNLI demonstration and boat races. The Festival website: www.cardigan-food-festival.co.uk, will have the latest information.
A free Park & Ride scheme operates from just outside town with shuttle buses running throughout the day from the clearly signposted field on the Fishguard road. Entry into the Festival site is just £2.50 for adults and £1 for children 12 and over.
Taste Of Monmouthshire
Taste of Monmouthshire is a boutique food and drink festival held in the historic venue of Shire Hall in the centre of the county town of Monmouth and taking place on the 18th & 19th August. Its purpose is twofold, both to engage the local community and also to draw visitors to the local Wye Valley, an area of outstanding natural beautiful (AONB). The county boasts a number of top quality restaurants whose chefs support the festival by giving first class demonstrations. Between the chefs they boast one Michelin star and twelve AA Rosettes which confirms the calibre of our local restaurants and explain why the Chef’s Theatre is so popular.
The Food Capital of Wales is how the county of Monmouthshire is known priding itself on the number of top quality food and drink producers here. Local award winning White Castle Vineyard will host a wine workshop and Dragonphyre Chocolate from Abergavenny will offer a chocolate tasting session.
The Kid’s Kitchen has food and drink workshops for our younger visitors supported by the Monmouth branch of Monmouthshire Youth Service. These workshops will educate our children to make healthy food and drink choices.
Our Food and Drink producers include Brookes Dairy who make the finest Welsh ice cream with fresh double cream and milk from their herd of Jersey cows. Together with Castles Brewery, a family run micro brewery, producing a range of traditional ales.
