It’s back! Ottery’s favourite foodie festival to return with a new date and location
After being disappointed with several postponements due to the pandemic, Ottery Food & Families Festival is back on the Devon foodie calendar.
The new date is Saturday September 11 and this year for the first time the event is to be held in Alfington Road on land adjacent to Otter Garden Centres.
The new location means the festival will be all in one place, giving it a real carnival feel. A central arena with hay bales providing a picnic area will be surrounded by producer stalls and catering stands. It means that parents can relax and enjoy the atmosphere as they can easily keep an eye on their kids.
And in response to feedback from previous festivals, there’s more for the youngsters to do to, with the Thelma Hulbert Gallery’s new travelling ‘Creative Cabin’ set to provide a fun space to explore art and nature, plus local outdoor learning expert Alan Bruford on hand to impart bushcraft skills.
Music will be a bigger part of the event than ever before with a dedicated performance stage, and there will be a few surprises for festival goers to enjoy.
Still to be revealed is a stellar line up of chefs taking part in the cookery demonstrations, with some very well-known names in the mix.
Otter Garden Centres is headline sponsor for the sixth time. Head of Marketing Katherine Govier says the garden centre is delighted to sponsor the event again. “It’s always a lovely festival which comes up trumps every time, with a fantastic selection of delicious food to enjoy and produce to take home.
“After the setbacks from the pandemic we’re all looking forward to enjoying the festival day once again.”
As well as Otter Garden Centres, sponsors include a truly local line up, with Otter Brewery on board as the beer sponsor; Kings Manor Care Home sponsoring the marquee; The Pig at Combe, sponsor of the food demonstration area; Ottery’s Samosa Lady sponsoring the ‘Spice Stage’, Connexion Software supporting as website sponsor and Hall & Scott Estate Agents sponsoring festival volunteer branded shirts.
One of the festival organisers Ruud Jansen Venneboer says it is wonderful to know that the festival finally has its day. “Everyone is geared up ready to make this the best Ottery St Mary Food & Families Festival ever! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the new festival site in just a few weeks’ time.”
To find out more visit the festival website otteryfood.org
