Thousands enjoy Food and Drink Festival street party
More than 12,000 people sampled the main course of the Enjoy St Albans Food and Drink Festival – a six-hour-long street party.
The City Centre was closed to traffic for the fun event known as the St Albans Feastival on Sunday 25 September.
Attractions included almost 100 market stalls selling a vast variety of food and drink products, live music, street entertainers and a children’s zone with free arts and crafts activities.
One innovation this year was the use of British Sign Language interpreters at the cookery theatre to improve inclusion.
Among those at the event was the Mayor of St Albans City and District, Councillor Geoff Harrison, who toured the stalls and spoke to many of the traders.
The Feastival was centred on St Peters Street with the party starting at noon and continuing until 6pm.
The Food and Drink Festival, now in its 15th year, is organised by St Albans City and District Council with the help of a steering group and the sponsors are SA Law and St Albans BID (Business Improvement District).
Its aim is to promote all aspects of the District’s important food and drink industry.
Councillor Danny Clare, Lead Councillor for Events, said:
Once again, the St Albans Feastival attracted huge crowds to the City Centre.
I was there for most of the day and was amazed at the turn-out as people took up the opportunity to experience the best of our District’s food and drink businesses.
Our restaurants, cafes, pubs, market stalls and their suppliers are of great importance to the local economy. They attract visitors to the City Centre, generate huge amounts of revenue and provide jobs.
The St Albans Feastival is a fitting way for us to celebrate the achievements of our magnificent hospitality businesses. It also makes for a great day out for families and friends and I am sure people will be back next year to enjoy this exciting event.
I would like to thank the many Council officers and volunteers for delivering a wonderful and engaging event. We are putting great effort into delivering collaborative and exciting events for future occasions, empowering local business, organisations and residents.
Vivien Cannon of St Albans BID said:
We know St Albans provides great shopping, food and interest for residents and visitors, but when a great event is added to this mix of positives it shows we know how to have fun.
BID congratulates the team at St Albans City and District Council for its delivery of another great community day in the heart of our City.
