Something on the menu for everyone at Wimborne Food Festival (From Bournemouth Echo)

Something on the menu for everyone at Wimborne Food Festival

2:00pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News

THE Wimborne Food Festival makes its return this weekend with something on the menu for everyone.

The event is on Saturday and Sunday with everything from an international street market to a vintage fun fair and bouncy castle.

There will also be a showcase exhibiting the work of expert chefs including Jun Tanaka of Cooking It on Channel 4, cookery book author Sophie Grigson and co-founder of Dorset Charcuterie Company Lee Moreton.

Organiser Clare Kavanagh said the festival, now in its sixth year, always draws a big crowd.

“During the first festival, we only had 10 stalls and a small farmers’ market demo kitchen with 25 seats,” she said.

“We were totally overrun, and it’s grown each year. Last year, thanks in no small part to the beautiful weather, we had 15,000 people visiting, which was amazing. We’re hoping the weather will cheer up by the weekend, and that will draw in a good crowd.”

Despite a family-friendly focus on food, there are plenty of other events. On Saturday, Keith Bates gives a workshop on wine-making from plants and berries at noon and 2pm in the Minster.

Children will be delighted with Sunday’s entertainment, as First Officer Ditty, Professor Poet and Commander Rhyme-a-lot from CBeebies show Rhyme Rocket take to the Community Learning and Resource Centre at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm to entertain with stories and songs.

A number of events will run across both days, including a food and artisan market tent, a rural skills area and a circus skills workshop.

Mrs Kavanagh said: “Food can come across as being quite a snooty topic.

“We’re trying to demystify it and show that anyone can engage with it and enjoy it.”

The festival will raise money for Diverse Abilities Plus.

Visit wimbornefoodfestival.co.uk