Free events whet the appetite for food fest
The festival takes place in the city from September 3 to 11 and kicking off the free programme will be a Local Heroes Food Market at the Athenaeum House Hotel from noon on the opening Sunday.
A host of local producers are due to showcase their wares at the Suir-side location while daily, from September 4 to 7, Le Taste will be held at the Theatre Royal with a range of workshops and tastings hosted by Slow Food France, showcasing the unique features of their region’s gastronomic heritage.
Slow Food Ireland, in association with the culinary school at WIT, will present a trio of demonstrations in butchery, dairy and baking hosted by postgraduate students from the School of Artisan Food in Britain.
The family highlight of the week, Picnic and Play in the Park, will take place on Saturday, September 10 at the city’s People’s Park. African drumming, cartoon drawing workshops and a hot air balloon will be some of the favourites on offer during the day between 1.30 and 5pm.
Commenting on this year’s Picnic and Play in the Park, festival committee member, Anne Marie Caulfield said: “We are delighted to unveil a day of traditional free family fun and games in Waterford’s oldest Park. The programme offers sports events, creative workshops and lots of free entertainment so we encourage families to pack a picnic and come along to enjoy a great day out.”
During the day, Waterford City Childcare Committee will host a creative programme for the under-6 festival-goers. Activities include playdough make and play, creating ribbon streamers, nature collages, playing with gloop and a meeting with Peppa Pig and Mickey Mouse characters.
Waterford Sports Partnership will host running races, hurling and Gaelic football skills challenges, soccer challenges, kick boxing and volleyball throughout the afternoon.
In keeping with the Harvest Festival food theme, GIY Ireland will host a splash board which allows for some wet festival fun as picnickers can throw wet sponges at a farmer cutout, a ‘Guess the Vegetable’ game will also be on offer along with the official launch of GIY Buddies, a starter kit for kids to show them how to plant and grow their own vegetable friend.
A number of food producers’ stalls will be situated in the park for families to purchase local produce.
*waterfordharvestfestival.ie.
