5-7 May: Dales Festival of Food & Drink 2012

It seems a long way away as I write this in May 2011 (and by then the London Olympics will be just 10 weeks away) but it pays to plan ahead and if this year’s Dales Festival of Food & Drink is anything to go by, then the 2012 Festival next May will be a cracker.

Celebrating a range of skills that have existed in the Yorkshire Dales for centuries including dry stone walling, brewing, cheese making and traditional crafts, the 3-day event is packed full of entertainment for visitors of all ages.

For a start there are hundreds of food exhibitors showing off their wonderfully varied wares, whilst the drinks marquee hosts the Yorkshire Dales Real Ale Festival with dozens of beers and the award of the Dales Festival Cup to the show’s best beer.

Live cookery demonstrations take place in the theatre marquee, also broadcast on large TV screens either side of the marquee, ensuring nobody misses out on any of the action.

Brass bands, jazz and morris dancers are just some of the musical entertainment being performed at the Richard Whiteley Pavilion throughout each day, and a traditional fairground with shooting gallery, coconut shy and other old-fashioned stalls run by a local Wensleydale family enthralled visitors to the 2011 show.

Dales Farming is showcased at the Festival including the Dales Livestock Marquee, fun tips, tricks and exercises you can try with your pony or dog, dry stone walling demonstrations, along with talks and demonstrations on bee keeping, bread making, brewing and cheese making.

On each of the 3 days, a different guest speaker gives an entertaining talk at Speakers Corner – this year amongst others was David Hobbs, the author of the Reggie Perrin series starring Leonard Rossiter.

Tickets are available on the day and are £8 for adults (or £12 for a 3-day pass), whilst under 16s accompanied by an adult go free.

For further details including a list of exhibitors, please see the Dales Festival of Food & Drink’s website.

And if you’re looking to stay in the area for the Festival, please take a look at these Leyburn bed and breakfast properties or these Yorkshire Dales cottages.

And if the Dales Festival of Food & Drink is up you street, you may also be interested in the Reeth Show.