Whitchurch Food & Drink Festival returns to Jubilee Park on Saturday, 16 May from 10am to 6pm, admission free.
The community event will include live music on the bandstand, stands from local businesses, street food, bars, chef demonstrations, and a garden area with hands-on activities from local organisations.
A children’s area will be filled with free activities, including inflatables, an obstacle course, circus skills, alpacas, sports activities, and more.
The Barti Rum Bandstand Stage will host the Whitchurch Brass Band, Whitchurch Singers, Exotic Zoo, Ultraviolet Harmony (from Sir John Talbot’s School), Twisted Halo, Groove Dynamite, and Dirty Rockin’ Scoundrels.
Shropshire Festivals is sponsoring a school or community garden project. Children aged 11 and under are invited to pick up a colouring sheet from Whitchurch Library and draw a picture of their favourite food or picnic experience. Entries need to be handed in to the library by 14 May to be displayed. The Mayor of Whitchurch, Rose Hall, will announce the winner, who will receive up to £250 towards a school or local organisation garden.
A mini ale trail will take visitors around the town centre. The Black Bear, The Bulls Head, Wheatsheaf Hotel, and The Crafty Dragon have all signed up to take part.
The line-up on the Monks Chef Demo Stage includes local top chefs Stuart Collins from Docket Restaurant and James Sherwin from Wild Shropshire, who recently appeared on Great British Menu. Powell’s Pies, which is based in the town, will be demonstrating ‘Pastry to Pie’.
Councillor Hall said, “Join us for a day out for all the family, celebrating Whitchurch’s fantastic food and drink sector, with the region’s best chefs, producers, performers, and businesses. It promises to be a brilliant day where we hope to welcome visitors from further afield who can discover our fantastic local businesses and venues. I look forward to seeing you all there!”
CAPTION: Whitchurch Mayor Rose Hall with Beth Heath, director of Shropshire Festivals which is organising the event.
