Sun-soaked Food Festival Smashes Visitor Numbers Again

And jubilant festival organisers Ribble Valley Borough Council has heralded Saturday’s event as another triumph of local produce that matched last year’s record-breaking footfall.

The festival’s park-and-ride scheme was full by 10.30am and many producers were sold out by lunchtime, and had to send for additional stock, while street food vendors attracted long queues throughout the day.

And town centre shops also got a slice of the pie, with many reporting increased footfall and sales.

The festival, sponsored by Fort Vale Engineering and the Castlewood Care Home, showcased some of the UK’s best food and drink – from wild game and smoked fish to cheese truckles and curry kits, along with a feast of fruit and vegetables packed with authentic flavours – from over 100 exhibitors.

Festivalgoers tucked into top-quality artisan produce, as well as cuisine from further afield, a feast of free family entertainment and most importantly a warm Ribble Valley welcome.

And this year’s festival rounded off a week of foodie events held throughout Ribble Valley.

The Ribble Valley Taste Fest – now in its fourth year – featured a feast of activities and special events, including farm visits, guided walks and distillery tours, many of which were sold out within days of tickets going on sale.

Ricky Newmark, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s economic development committee, said:

“The warm weather and fantastic food and drink combined to attract thousands of festivalgoers to Clitheroe, who clearly enjoyed a great day out.

 

“This year’s food festival again attracted around 25,000 people, which is a phenomenal achievement.

 

“We are proud to have created what has become one of the UK’s premiere food festivals and are already receiving expressions of interest for next year’s event.”

Nicola Hopkins, Ribble Valley Borough Council’s director of economic development and planning, added:

“Our festival team worked behind the scenes for many months to bring this fantastic event to fruition and I would like to thank them for their sterling efforts.

 

“This year’s festival also smashed all records and once again shows the ability of a small authority to punch way above its weight in delivering major projects that produce significant outcomes for residents, visitors and businesses.”

Further details and the date of next year’s festival will be available at clitheroefoodfestival.com shortly.