Accrington Food Festival 2017 is all set to sizzle thanks to the support of the event’s two gold sponsors.
Accrington & Rossendale College and Duckworths Estate Agents are two of the essential ingredients in the recipe for success of this year’s food festival.
Both based in Accrington, the sponsors are keen to help bring back the successful event organised by Scott Dawson Advertising working in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council. Last year’s food festival attracted 14,000 visitors into the town centre on a sunny Saturday in June.
Accrington & Rossendale College has been providing good quality academic and vocational education programmes for students from Hyndburn and beyond for over 60 years. Their students and catering teaching staff will run activities at the food festival and support the celebrity chef’s live cookery demonstrations.
Vice Principal Simon Jordan said:
“As the local college, it’s vital for us to have a role within the local community. Food is the one thing that unites us all and we recognise that Accrington Food Festival is a great way of bringing the community together in a celebration of food and drink. We’re delighted to be on board as a sponsor and to lend our support to make the event a success once again.
“The food festival offers our catering students in particular some exciting opportunities, particularly working alongside celebrity chef Richard Fox and helping devise a signature dish for this year’s event.”
Scott Dawson Advertising, keen to see a unique dish as a flavoursome highlight of the food festival, will be engaging catering students at the college to come up with something that celebrates Accrington and the Lancashire region as a whole.
Sponsor Duckworths estate agents have had a presence in Accrington for 140 years, and now they’re helping the food festival feel right at home in the heart of the town.
Jonathan Parkinson, Director of Duckworths Estate Agents, commented:
“Duckworths has had a presence in Accrington for such a long time and so many people attending the food festival will have used our services at some point. Sponsoring the event is a great way for us to show our support for the community, highlight the fantastic things happening in Accrington and give something back.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the town bursting with people – in previous years the event has given Accrington a huge lift and this year is set to be no different.”
Accrington Food Festival returns on Saturday 3 June with over 80 stalls serving a delicious combination of regional favourites and international flavours. The event will once again take place in Broadway, around the Town Hall and in the award-winning market hall.
Heading back to Accrington is food festival favourite and celebrity chef Richard Fox, who will perform live cookery demonstrations in an outdoor theatre kitchen on Broadway. Richard will also compere demonstrations and talks by local chefs and foodie figures.
Children are invited to get involved in the fun with flavourful activities just for them taking place inside the market hall, co-ordinated and run by catering students from Accrington & Rossendale College. Plus a brand new ingredients trail around the town will give them the chance to win themselves some tasty treats.
The Town Hall will once again be open to play host to a retro music, arts and crafts fair by Crafty Vintage.
A highlight of the last two year’s events for many people has been the dramatic wartime re-enactments, and the North West Military Collectors are set to return for 2017. A live World War II re-enactment to commemorate D-Day will take place at 1pm in the grounds of St James’ Church, with dramatic scenes involving German soldiers and American GIs.
A group of Warner Street business owners are also providing an unusual spectacle in the shape of a 1980s themed world record attempt. At 3pm over 500 people dressed in 1980s gear will gather in the grounds of St James’ Church to simultaneously dance to early 80s disco favourite Oops Upside Your Head by The Gap Band. Grab your shellsuit and leg warmers and get involved!
Evonne Harwood, who runs Pink Magpie Emporium in Warner Street, said:
“We’re hoping to encourage lots of Accrington folk to join in to help set a new world record in Accrington. It’s a fun thing and a really positive way to stir up some community spirit as we’ll be using the attempt to fundraise for the Mayoress of Hyndburn’s charities too.”
Accrington Food Festival promises to have something for everyone, from fabulous flavours to family fun. Organisers Scott Dawson Advertising, now in their third year of running the event, are hoping to beat last year’s visitor number of 14,000.
Councillor Clare Cleary, Cabinet Member for Accrington Town Centre, added:
“The Food Festival gets bigger and better every year and we’re looking forward to welcoming lots of visitors to Accrington again at this year’s event, with lots of tasty treats and fun for all the family on offer.”
Accrington Food Festival takes place on Saturday 3 June between 10am and 4pm.
Opportunities to get involved with the festival, either through sponsorship or by having a stall, are still available – visit www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk to find out more, or email sue@scottdawson.co.uk.
To keep up to date with news about the 2017 festival, visit the event website www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk. You can also ‘like’ the festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/accringtonfood or follow the event on Twitter at twitter.com/AccringtonFood.
