Food and Drink Festival Line-Up Street Feastival
More than 12,000 people are expected to sample the signature dish of the St Albans Food and Drink Festival - the six-hour-long street party.
The City Centre will be taken over on Sunday 1 October for the annual family event that has been called The Street Feastival.
There will be more than 100 stalls to showcase products – such as cheeses, homemade chocolates, meat products and preserves – mainly from local suppliers.
A cookery theatre, a champagne bus, children’s workshops, beer tastings and a display of butchery skills are among the many other activities.
There will also be live music, pop-up restaurants, a City farm provided by Oaklands College and a cocktail and real ale bar on a green.
The action, centred on St Peter’s Street and Market Place, begins at noon and goes on until 6pm.
Many of the activities are free and a timetable can be found here: www.radioverulam.com/festival-streetfeastival/.
The Food and Drink Festival celebrates its tenth birthday this year and runs from Wednesday 27 September until Saturday 7 October.
It is organised by St Albans City and District Council with the help of a steering group.
The ten-day event will showcase all aspects of the District’s booming food and drink industry.
There will be tastings, cookery demonstrations, afternoon teas, special dinners and a recipe book launch.
Among the other highlights are:
- Real ale campaigner CAMRA’s four-day-long Beer and Cider Festival at the Alban Arena from 27 to 30 September. There will be nine bars offering some 350 different real ales, 50 ciders and 80 foreign beers with food stands and live music.
- Festival Awards Dinner – the winners of 14 awards, including best bar and best market stall, will be announced at the glittering black tie event at the Sopwell House Hotel on Monday 2 October.
- Gin & Jazz – George Street will be covered in grass on the night of Friday 6 October for food and drink tastings, live music and street performances. This is also an opportunity to explore the streets boutiques, bars and restaurants.
- Sustainable Saturday – a new event that will bring the Festival to a close on Saturday 7 October. You can learn about how to grow your own food and what impact the food industry has on the environment.
A list of all the events, including ticket prices and booking information, can be found on www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink.
Councillor Beric Read, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business and the Community, said: “The Street Feastival is one of the biggest City centre events of the year. It’s a truly fantastic occasion and not to be missed.
“I am always astonished at the quality, creativity and diversity of the District’s food and drink businesses that are of great importance to the local economy. This street party and the Festival as a whole is a marvellous showcase for them.
“Residents of all ages have the chance to experience new tastes, learn new kitchen skills and watch some of the District’s best chefs in action. There’s something for everyone and it makes for a great afternoon out for the whole family.”
Councillor contact:
Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Business and the Community for St Albans City and District Council.
Tel: 07956 220264. Email: Cllr.B.Read@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City & District Council
Tel: 01727 296130
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk