Thousands of visitors flocked to Stowmarket on Sunday 5th July as the annual Food & Drink Festival returned for another year.
With more than 80 stalls lining the streets, festival-goers enjoyed an incredible variety of locally and regionally produced food and drink. Attendees enjoyed everything from salt beef bagels, buttermilk fried chicken, wagyu burgers and Korean corn dogs to homemade fudge, locally grown wines and locally brewed beers, alongside many other delicious treats.
Live music, organised by the John Peel Centre, provided the perfect soundtrack throughout the day, with talented local performers entertaining visitors as they explored everything the festival had to offer.
Families made the most of the wide range of free activities across the town. The Food Museum welcomed visitors with free admission, where guests enjoyed family entertainment, puppet shows, craft activities, and the much-loved sandpit. The venue proved to be a popular hub throughout the day, with plenty of families taking the opportunity to explore and take part in the activities on offer.
The Festival of Beer and Brewing and Kitchen Theatre also attracted enthusiastic crowds, with visitors enjoying demonstrations from local chefs and sampling some of Suffolk’s finest beers.
This year also saw the introduction of a new wine tasting tent, hosted by The Wine Cellar, Bury St Edmunds, which proved to be a fantastic addition to the festival, offering visitors the chance to sample a wide range of fine wines.
Red Gables was buzzing throughout the day, hosting face painting, live music, charity stalls and family-friendly activities, while The Mix welcomed visitors with biscuit decorating and soft play. The Regal also joined in the celebrations, offering a special foodie-themed film screening that proved popular with younger families.
Many of the local businesses around the town benefited from the extra footfall with a steady flow of visitors to the town centre which lasted until the event finished at 4pm!
Emily Clarke, Community Engagement and Events Officer for Stowmarket Town Council, said:
“It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying everything the festival had to offer. From our fantastic traders and performers to our partner venues and local businesses, everyone played a part in making the day such a success. It’s always fantastic to see the community come together to celebrate local food, drink and everything that makes Stowmarket such a special place.”
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. Please let us know what you thought by filling in our short survey in order to help us improve our future events – https://questionpro.com/t/AWmcAZyqXY
Many thanks to our generous sponsors – Rough Diamond Tattoo, Bucks Property Agents, Morar Living, Langham Manor & Squab Storage – Stowmarket.
