Looking to enjoy Foodies Festival at Ripley Castle in Harrogate this weekend? Our handy guide might help. What is Foodies Festival? Foodies Festival is the UK’s biggest outdoor celebration of food and drink with 13 festivals across the country in 2015 – a fun family friendly festival with food and drink masterclasses, street food, artisan producers and lots of entertainment. This year the festival visits Ripley Castle in Harrogate 21st – 23rd August as part of their 10th anniversary, showcasing Yorkshire’s abundance of quality produce and the region’s finest culinary talents. Known as the ‘food, fun and friends’ festival, foodies of all levels – experienced gourmands, amateur home cooks and children – will find something to tantalises their taste buds. Where? The festival will be held in the grounds of Ripley Castle in Harrogate. When? • Friday 21st August: 11am – 7pm • Saturday 22nd August: 11am – 7pm • Sunday 23rd August: 11am – 6pm How much ? Tickets are on sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111 • Friday adult day ticket £10.00 (£8.00 concession) • Saturday or Sunday adult day ticket £13.00 (£11.00 concession) • 3-day adult ticket £20.00 (£16.00 concession) • Friday VIP ticket £35.00* • Saturday or Sunday VIP ticket £38.00* Children aged 12 and under go free to Foodies Festival when accompanied by an adult. *VIP tickets include a welcome glass of bubbly, access to the VIP tent with private bar and refreshments throughout the day, priority entry to food and drink masterclasses, a goody bag and a showguide. What is included with my ticket? Tickets include one-day entry to the festival and free admission to food and drink masterclasses in The Chefs Theatre, The Tasting Theatre, The Drinks Theatre, Cake & Bake Theatre and The Children’s Cookery Theatre (subject to availability). There is live music provided throughout the day from The Entertainment Stage and samples available across the festival site. Getting there By car – Ripley Castle is easily accessible by car and a car park is available beside the festival for visitors to park in. By bus – The 36A service Leeds/Harrogate/Ripon runs every 20 minutes for most of the week (Sundays every 30 minutes). Contact Harrogate District Travel 01423 566061 for details. Highlights Are you a fan of wine and craft beer? Then you’ll want to check out the Wine and Champagne Theatre where experts Neil Phillips and Charles Metcalfe will guide you through this season’s best bubblies from around the world, while beer expert Melissa Cole is on-hand in the Craft Beer Theatre with food and beer pairing masterclasses. Perhaps you will be looking to gain some new skills? The Tasting Theatre will offer festival-goers the chance to learn new skills and discover new flavours with masterclasses in Bee Keeping, Sushi Rolling and Sausage Making. Chocolate experts Coeur de Xocolat host ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a Rockstar’ classes, which will leave you tasting chocolate for hours! The Street Food Avenue is a feasting hub at the heart of the festival, which takes visitors on a flavour adventure around the world. Japanese, Thai, Brazilian, Argentinian, Indian, Mexican, French and African are just some of the cuisines visitors you can tuck into at communal tables in the Feasting Tent. Passionate bakers should visit the Cake & Bake Theatre where Yorkshire’s top cake makers, patissiers and chocolatiers share their tips for baking delicious summer cakes. Visitors can also enjoy 3D cake modelling, Chocolate Making and Sugar-Craft masterclasses and a complementing Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village sells bakes, jams, and the latest baking gadgets. Shop and sample from over 150 producers in the Artisan Producers Market selling everything from award-winning Salted Caramel Cheese to Pink Raspberry Gin; you’ll be spoilt for choice for what to sample and take home and enjoy. It’s the perfect setting to meet Yorkshire’s top producers and share their passion for quality food and drink. If you are brave enough check out the Chilli Market, a destination for those who like it really hot, selling UK grown chillies and face-meltingly spicy sauces. And for those foolish enough, the famous Chilli Eating Competition challenges contestants to try and break the current record of 16 million scoville eaten to win the Chilli Eating Crown – that’s 6400 times the average chill heat! And it’s not just all about the adults either the Children’s Cookery Theatre offers little foodies the chance to explore their taste buds and learn basic cooking skills in ‘Picnic in the Park’ themed masterclasses with Kiddy Cook, who will show them how to make finger sandwiches, fruit jellies and chocolate bugs. For a bit of fun, the New Spaghetti-Eating Competition challenges pairs of contestants – friends and strangers – the chance to race from either end of a 4 meter spaghetti to be crowned Yorkshire’s ‘Lady and the Champ’. After a day of feasting and fun, relax and soak in the atmosphere with live music from the Entertainment Stage and a glass of bubbly or a refreshing cocktail from the Giant Pimm’s Teapot or Captain Morgan Mojito Galleon. How do I pay for things at the Festival? Cash is accepted on site and some stalls accept cards. Cash machines are available as well (there is a free for this service). The festival does not operate a token/crown system. Can I bring my dog? Dogs are welcome at Festival Festival and are requested to stay on a short lead at all times. There are water stations at the back of the site for dogs to drink from. What is the recommended footwear? As the festival is on grass, it is recommended that visitors wear comfortable footwear. Wellies are only needed if there has been heavy rain. Can I take pictures at the event? Visitors are welcome to take pictures and share their experience on social media with the hashtag #foodiesfestival. Social Media: Twitter: @foodiesfestival Instagram: @foodiesfestival Facebook: www.facebook.com/FoodiesFestival Ripley Castle, Harrogate, HG3 3AY http://www.ripleycastle.co.uk/ About The AuthorYorkshire Food & Drink Yorkshire's only dedicated food and drink website from Yorkshire Post Newspapers and its sister titles in the region. Showcasing everything Yorkshire has to offer from the fruits of the sea to the fields of the moors and beyond. It includes unbiased restaurant reviews by renowned food critics, recipes and 'how to' videos from some of Yorkshire's finest chefs and latest food and drink news and blogs from around our amazing county. And you can have your say either on the site or via our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Let us know what you think comments
