Homegrown Food Festival this weekend

This year’s Homegrown Food Festival in Northallerton will feature two stages of live music showcasing a wide range of local talent.

Acts confirmed so far include: – Stax, famed for their original mix of soul and R & B, who play a range of artists from Marvin Gaye and James Brown to Beyonce and Justin Timberlake; The Bluesics, a husband and wife duo who perform blues and pop; Jon Sibley, from Bedale, popular for his mix of pop and rock performances; Beggars Bunce, a trio combining folk and rock; and George Boomsma, a North Yorkshire singer/songwriter whose music has been showcased on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music.

On the second ‘Freedom Stage’ a number of other bands will be performing throughout the afternoon including the popular jazz combo ‘Jazz in the Afternoon’, Northallerton’s very own ‘Inspiration Choir’ and local acoustic duo ‘Dream Ticket’.

As well as the live acts, the music stages will also feature workshops in activities such as Samba and Brazilian drumming.

As well as the live music and over 100 different stallholders, this year’s Homegrown Food Festival will be themed as the ‘Year of the Bee’ with activities showing how bees benefit the environment and the importance of bee-friendly plants. The eye-catching ‘Totem Tipi’ tents will be home to a range of attractions for young people and their families to learn more about bees. There will also be a range of art inspired by flowers and bees produced by local schoolchildren and volunteers which will feature throughout the site and is being coordinated by local artist Wendi May New.

Wendi, whose art is made from recycled materials such as plastic bags and milk cartons, said: “The Homegrown Food Festival is fantastic free event on our doorstep and mixes fun activities, good food and great music for all ages. I am so excited to be part of the team and to help children and families to get involved by making simple eye-catching art out of the things we usually throw away.”

Peter Cole who has organised the live music for the Homegrown Food Festival said: “Each year the music grows in popularity with festival go-ers so we work hard to secure great local talent. What’s more we have a real variety which will certainly keep the crowds on their feet all day while they enjoy the magnificent food.”

The Homegrown Food Festival also features the Food Theatre hosting top local chefs such as Simon Crannage from Swinton Park, Dave Russell from the Buck Inn at Maunby near Thirsk, Tristan Prudden from The Garden Rooms at Tennant’s in Leyburn, Sarah Muir from The Arches Cookery School at Grinkle Park Farm near Saltburn, Harrison Barraclough from The George at Wath near Ripon and Misba Ellahi from Ooty’s in Stokesley.

Other activities at the free event include the popular Tipple Tent serving locally-brewed beers, spirits and wines, a Kids’ Kitchen with cookery workshops for children, and the Grow Zone where the ‘Inspiration Shed’ will host local enthusiasts to encourage people to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs.

A Crowd Funding page has recently been established to secure the future of the festival https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/homegrownfoodfest

For more information visit http://www.homegrownfoodfest.co.uk/

About The Author

Catherine Scott

Catherine Scott is Associate Features Editor for Yorkshire Post Newspapers. A self-confessed foodie, she is also a judge of the Deliciousyorkshire/Yorkshire Post Taste Awards.

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