Fun and education for kids at Exeter Festival of SW Food and Drink 2016

The Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink is once again packed full of fun foodie events that the whole family will love, with free entertainment for children and indulgences to keep the adults amused in Northernhay Gardens and Exeter Castle from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April 2016.

Little Cookies at the Festival, in association with Snows Group, gives kids the chance to play, learn, try foods, and cook, with a range of activities throughout the Festival to suit all ages. Steve Pinnock, Centre Manager at Lexus Exeter, said “Snows Group is always keen to get involved with community initiatives, so we’re delighted to be supporting Little Cookies this year at the Festival. A child’s exploration of food is always an exciting experience and we at Lexus Exeter are looking forward to joining the community at this event”.

As part of the Festival’s aim to teach children about food, youngsters can get their hands into the mixing bowl and enjoy messy foodie fun in the Little Cookies Kitchen workshops. On Saturday and Sunday, experts from Fun Kitchen will be teaching kids about healthier fun alternatives to popular fast food and helping them create fun lighter, versions. Grown-ups can join in Love Food leftovers workshops for adults, with Fun Kitchen on Friday 22nd April focusing on how to reduce household food waste and make delicious and nutritious meals out of leftovers.

Paignton Zoo will be asking the brave of heart and strong of stomach to take its Bug Eating Challenge with certificates for those who dare. Paignton Zoo staff will be on hand to talk about sustainable food and wildlife as well as inviting children to design their own Rhino and create their own Super Sea Hero. Exeter Scrapstore is providing a creative outlet for youngsters as well as Love Local Food storytelling and a play area.

The Dart’s Farm Food is Fun Teepees will host family workshops including pizza making, fun food science experiments, sausage making and cup cake decorating, whilst kids can get up close to piglets and lambs in the Festival Farmyard with Kenniford Farm and meet chickens with the British Hen Welfare Trust.

Now in its 13th year, Exeter’s annual food and drink festival continues to go from strength to strength attracting more than 100 artisan food and drink producers from the region selling delicious south west meat, cheeses, bread, cider, wine, beer, oils, cakes and much more. This year, visitors can enjoy the food and drink pavilions later with extended opening hours. Northernhay Gardens will close at 7.30pm giving visitors extra time to buy from regional producers.

The Festival Cookery Theatre is back with a full timetable of demonstrations by regional chefs each willing to share their expertise and skill with visitors. Great British Bake-off contender Glenn Cosby is returning to the Festival to host The Westcountry Bakery with his highly entertaining style.
The Festival Question Time, with BBC Radio Devon, which was new for 2015, will be returning with a host of food writers, producers and chefs to talk about what’s topical in the world of food as well as to take questions from visitors.

When all that activity whets the appetite, visitors can enjoy food and drink to go from the street food stands dotted around the Festival. Local beers, ales, wines and soft drinks will also be available from the Festival Bar.

Visitors can also enjoy three Festival After Dark Party Nights from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April 2016 including the After Dark Music Festival on Thursday 21st April with Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young. With its unique party atmosphere, hot street food and the Festival Bar, the Festival After Dark Party Nights bring a host of exciting and talented musicians to the stage to entertain revellers until late. For the first time After Dark tickets will allow entry into Northernhay Gardens from 4pm on Friday and Saturday evenings, allowing visitors to browse the festival stands before heading through to the castle courtyard for the evening’s festivities

Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink is a not for profit event. For more information or to buy Food Festival tickets visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk