The largest free food and drink festival in the region will be held in Burnham-On-Sea this Saturday (26 May) when the town centre hosts its 12th event.
Burnham-On-Sea town centre will be filled with the sights and smells of dozens of food retailers lining the streets of the town for eat:Burnham-On-Sea.
Now in its sixth year, this award-winning local success story has grown again and has over 140 of the region’s finest food and drink producers alongside a wide variety of free entertainment.
Burnham-On-Sea.com has spoken to the organisers, pictured above, this week to get the latest on what’s planned this Saturday.
Bev Milner Simonds, co-organiser, said: “We are really pleased with the line-up of traders and the great range of festival activities planned for our 12th festival in our home town.”
“The positivity from visitors and traders about this festival spurs us on to get more creative and include more and more free elements. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners and of course our awesome stewards.”
“I’m looking forward to welcoming the livestock and giant tractors who help us tell the story of the connection between the countryside that surrounds us, food production and the amazing range of produce on sale at the festival.”
Sarah Milner Simonds, fellow co-organiser, added: “We are working with The Ritz again, who are hosting our Hawksmoor Cookery School. Our livestock will be on Princess Street, tractors on College Street and lots of other entertainment like a face painter, Punch & Judy shows, balloon sculpting and buskers throughout the festival area.”
“The Retreat Demo Stage returns to the Baptist church with four great chefs on stage from 11am. As always we welcome feedback so if readers have questions or queries please do get in touch via our Facebook page or email to hello@eatfestivals.org.”
The team have assembled some outstanding food and drink producers and over 140 will be celebrating the best of the region on the day.
Expect farmers’ markets favourites like high quality beef & lamb, beers and cheeses alongside speciality teas, gourmet marshmallows, chilli oils and scrolled ice cream.
The festival has boosted its sustainability criteria this time with incentives for bike riders with dedicated cycle parking, free bike check-ups from Weston Bicycle Works and a few saddle mac. The festival is single-use plastic free and the organisers are reminding visitors to bring a bag or two with them.
There will be an impressive range of street food available, with global flavours made from local ingredients.
On the Retreat Demo Stage in the Baptist Church there will be chefs and cooks on stage from 11am. Aimed at families, the chefs on stage will be cooking dishes that you can recreate at home. The church is fully accessible and there will be large screens to help you see what is going on.
“The Retreat Demo Stage is where we see so many great ingredients from the festival cooked and made into tasty new recipes that you can recreate at home.”
There will be giant tractors, lambs, strolling entertainment, music and Punch & Judy shows for families.
The Hawksmoor Cookery School will be hosted by Delicious in Taunton’s Chrissie Godfrey who will be leading a hands-on workshop for you to make your own vegan sushi.
“You will be using nori sheets, cooked and prepared sushi rice, and a choice of vegetables. Making your own maki roll with a soy and ginger dipping sauce – all lovely and sticky and fun!”
“Then you will be making gram flour pancakes, preparing your choice of finely diced vegetables, frying a chick pea batter pancake with the veg mixed in, whilst making a tomato, coriander and lime salsa.”
There are lots of opportunity to taste, adjust, share and discuss. All the recipes are available for you to take home with you afterwards.
The classes are suitable for adults and families with children aged 8+, they are vegan, and you can drop in between 10.30 – 12.30, and 1.30 – 3.30 to have a go.
Roads close in the northern end of Burnham-On-Sea town centre from 7am and will re-open at 7pm at the latest.
Pictures: Orbit Photography, Jane Wilson, Clayton Jane Photography, Nic Noad, David Whatley
Also see:
What’s on in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge
