Sunday, 12th July 2015, 10:00 AM - Sunday, 12th July 2015, 16:00 PM

Unique to Pontefract is this annual event which celebrates the various types of indulgences associated with the liquorice plant.

Thousands of people will flock to Pontefract for a sweet treat at the town’s liquorice festival this weekend.

The little market town in West Yorkshire is renowned for the Pontefract cake. Their annual liquorice festival is believed to be the only event in the world that celebrates the plant and its products.

Date:13th July 2014.Picture James Hardisty, (JH1004/45i). Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Pictured Street entertainers Granny Turismo.

There will be street entertainment, talks on the history of liquorice and family workshops during the event.

Special dishes will be served and themed gifts will be on sale at more than 80 market stalls from 10am – 4pm in the town centre.

Pontefract museum will be showing displays of the history of liquorice making in the town and family workshops will include face painting, liquorice jewellery making, puppet making and science themed workshops.

Children can enjoy afternoon tea with Alice and The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland at a show on the festival stage outside Pontefract Town Hall. They can join in with games and sing-a-longs, as well as enjoying plenty of tea and a small selection of rides.

Live music will be put on by a host of local acts on the festival stage and people will also be invited to take part in ‘Pontefract Sideshow ‘, by having their portrait taken for an exhibition at the towns’ museum.

Among the street entertainers will be stilt walkers Dame Lucy Liquorice, French Waiters and the Liquorice Ladies and talks will also be given by historian Tom Dixon.

Date:13th July 2014.Picture James Hardisty, (JH1004/45b). Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Pictured Street entertainment by Skiband.

A free park and ride system will be in place from Pontefract Park, close to the M62 outside the town centre and buses will run between 9am and 5pm.

Last year more than 35,500 people came to enjoy the event, organised by Wakefield Council.

Councillor Les Shaw, said: “We are looking forward to this year’s Pontefract Liquorice Festival which will feature all of the usual fabulous family fun.”

“Crowd-pleaser Lucy Liquorice will be joining us once again and there will be a host of workshops and activities for people to get involved in, as well as the usual stalls and craft market.”

“We are crossing our fingers for sunshine on what is one of the stand-out annual events in Pontefract.”

For more information about the festival vist: www.wakefield.gov.uk

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