Spring and Early Summer Roundup
Can there be anything better than the first glimmer of Spring, and with it the wealth of fantastic produce Wales delivers, showcased at festivals across the country. Meryl Cubley takes a look at this year’s cream of the crop.
The Gower Welsh Cider and Cheese Festival, 4- 6 May Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill The Gower Cheese & Cider Festival offers visitors a wide selection of locally produced, award winning cheese, cider and perry from across Wales. Mix all this with amazing entertainment, plenty of fun for all the family, Morris dancers, musicians, demonstrations and much more. There will also be a Gower-style roast and BBQ, Mill Tearooms will be serving a wide range of welsh classics. You can also expect treats from Old Monty Cider, Mumbles Pate, Blaenafon Cheddar and Pembrokeshire Goats Cheese. www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
Gŵyl Fwyd Caernarfon Food Festival, 11 May Bigger than the Eisteddfod and Christmas combined, the fourth annual Caernarfon Food Festival returns to Snowdonia with over a hundred stalls spread out to cover the entire town centre, including the castle grounds, central ‘Maes’, Cei Llechi (Slate Quay), harbourside promenade and Doc Fictoria marina. Along with foodie-filled streets, 3 stages of live music and demonstrations, a huge draw will be local hero and star of YouTube and S4C, Chris ‘Foodgasm’ Roberts, who’ll host an awesome all-day Asado. www.gwylfwydcaernarfon.cymru
Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival, St. Davids, 25 -26 May Oriel y Parc, St Davids The Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival will be held at Oriel y Parc in St Davids on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May 2019; and celebrates rural food and countryside crafts that originate from living the wild life, far from the urban crowd. www.orielyparc.co.uk/reallywild
Gower Good Food Festival, 26-27 May Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Wales, UK The Gower Heritage Centre is well-versed in holding successful foodie events; and the Gower Good Food Festival is no exception. Back for its third year, this festival is sure to tantalise your taste buds once more in a celebration of some of the best and most delicious food and beverages the Gower’s local producers have to offer. www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival, 27-28 May Cowbridge The bustling, vibrant Cowbridge Food and Drink celebrates its 15th birthday, with lots of new and exciting additions planned to mark the occasion in style. For the first time it plays host to its own Vegan Festival – with food, drink, cosmetics and clothes available. A whole weekend of foodie, family-friendly fun with over 100 exhibitors and three key sites allows something for all. Free children’s activities – from willow weaving to pizza making and have-a go- ceramics in the Old Hall – plus food demonstrations, TV chefs, tempting tastings, music and dancing making it more than just a food festival. www.cowbridgefoodanddrink.org
Pembrokeshire Fish Week, 22-30 June Various locations across Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Fish Week festival is a celebration of everything that comes from the glorious Welsh sea! The county of Pembrokeshire is once again celebrating its sparkling seas and fresh locally-caught fish and shellfish with 200 events taking place, from cookery demos and a celebrity chef evening to guided coastal foraging, filleting workshops, and seafood tasting. Local restaurants will be centre stage; from delicious tapas evenings, to chowder trails, seafood extravaganzas and good old traditional fish and chips. There’s plenty of fun-filled events for families including raft races at Goodwick Harbour, seashore activities and a fresh fish barbecue at Saundersfoot, as well as beach safaris, crabbing, guided coastal walks and angling lessons and competitions throughout the week. The festival opens with Milford Fish Festival – a free fun day out with street food, live music, boat trips and various children’s activities. www.pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk
Great British Food Festival, 22-23 June Margam Park More than ‘just another food festival’, The Great British Food Festival combines great food and drink with some of the country’s most treasured locations, providing a unique opportunity to explore new flavours and beautiful venues. Expect the finest local and regional artisan producers, hot food, real ale and wine bars, craft and gift stalls, children’s entertainment, foraging walks and great scenery, top chef demos, cake competitions and the popular Men vs Food, all accompanied by excellent live music. www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com
