North Yorkshire’s biggest free food and live music festival saw record numbers listen to local bands, meet top chefs and enjoy a range of locally produced food and drinks.
Northallerton’s Homegrown Food Festival has grown to be Yorkshire’s biggest free food and live music event and this year over 6000 visitors passed through the gates on Sunday June 28th.
The annual event, now in its fourth year, showcases local producers, international street food, local musicians and offers ideas for growing food at home.
One of the main attractions this year was this year was the Food Theatre with local, celebrity chefs including Steph Moon- famed for her appearance on the Great British Menu, Simon from Swinton Park in Masham and Matthew Roath- head chef of the 2 AA Rosette and Yorkshire Dining Pub of the Year, the Buck Inn at Maunby.
Over 100 local producers also took part including Chunk Chocolates, Lacey’s Cheese, Yorkshire Chillies, Rounton Coffee Company, Big D’s BBQ, El Kantina, Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream, Olivia’s Artisan Bakery and many more.
Other activities at the free event included the popular Tipple Tent serving locally-brewed beers, spirits and wines, a Kids’ Kitchen with fun, interactive cookery workshops for children, two stages of live, local music and the Grow Zone, a pop-up allotment to encourage people to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs.
One of the organisers, Nicky Smith, said: “This year’s festival went beyond our wildest expectations. Visitors and stall holders created such a beautiful family event. We are so proud of our town. It has been fantastic to bring the local community together as well as attract so many visitors from all over North Yorkshire, Teesside and beyond.
“Thanks to everyone who made the event such an incredible success- our stallholders, chefs, sponsors and the amazing volunteers.”
This year’s festival sponsors were: – the Kerfoot Group, Barkers of Northallerton, Wall’s County Town Brewery and Simon Bailes Peugeot.
http://www.homegrownfoodfest.co.uk/