Food festival set for fifth year of success

NORTH Yorkshire’s biggest free food and live music festival returns this weekend celebrating its fifth successful year.

This year’s Homegrown Food Festival in Northallerton will feature a new line-up in the Food Theatre, two stages of live music showcasing a range of local talent, the popular Tipple Tent serving locally-brewed beers, spirits and wines and over 100 local producers selling their foods, drinks and crafts.

Top local chefs confirmed to appear include 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.

There will be two stages of live music throughout the day including the ‘Freedom Stage’ where the jazz combo ‘Jazz in the Afternoon’, Northallerton’s own ‘Inspiration Choir’ and local acoustic duo ‘Dream Ticket’ will all perform.

Other acts confirmed 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.

The Homegrown Food Festival, which takes place on Sunday at the Applegarth in Northallerton, is organised by a small committee of volunteers who have worked over the last five years to encourage the community to embrace locally-sourced food and drink and support small producers.

One of the organisers, Sally Anderson, said: “There is such a lot happening at this year’s Homegrown Food Festival thanks to the support and enthusiasm from people all over our area. Although food is the major theme there is so much more to enjoy and we’re hoping for our biggest turnout ever. It’s always so great to see various communities coming together to celebrate all that is good about North Yorkshire.”

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