There’s an old Roman saying that hay smells different to lovers and horses. For those who know and love Hay on Wye this saying could take on a whole new meaning on Saturday 27th June when the mouth-watering aromas of the Hay Food Festival come to town.
For most people June may signal the wind down from the Guardian Hay Festival but from 10am onwards on Saturday 28th June, over 50 local food producers will transform the Memorial Car Park in Hay into a dazzling al-fresco marketplace bursting with Welsh flavour. Celtic Spirit, Caroline’s Real Bread Company, the Welsh Venison Centre, Welsh Whiskey Company, Breconshire Brewery, the Pudding Shop from Ludlow, Ralph’s Cider, La Pasta di Mama – selling fresh pasta and sauces from Trecastle, Love Patisserie, Dore Valley Chocolates from Peterchurch, Neuadd Fach Baconery are all signed up to attend – including six award winners from the True Taste of Wales Awards – the Welsh food Oscars.
Enthusiast foodies can choose to sample a little bit of everything, or tuck into their favourite foods – and if eating proves to be thirsty work, there are plenty of cafes, ice creameries and bookstores around where they can take a well earned break.
Throughout the day, there will be fantastic entertainment on offer with local school choirs, Aberhonddu Male Choir, Brecon Town Band and live folk music. Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority staff will also be on duty to hand out information about other exciting events taking place throughout the year.
Andrew Powell, Catering Manager for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and organiser of the event said: “Eating, drinking and reading are just about the most enjoyable things you can do in your spare time. So it goes without saying that if you like good food, good company and a good book then this is the festival for you.
“This year is quite special because we have organised an Arts and Crafts Festival to follow on from the Food Festival on Sunday 28th June. We have 50 exhibitors signed up for both Saturday and Sunday and it should be an action packed weekend for residents and visitors alike.”
Mrs Mary Taylor, Chairman for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “The commitment from our farmers and food suppliers to provide excellent quality, locally sourced produce is so encouraging that Hay Food Festival just goes from strength to strength each year.
“There are lots of reasons to buy local food wherever possible and we are really pleased that residents and visitors to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park are making concerned decisions about where their food is sourced. This is also a great opportunity for visitors to pick up one of new Hay surveys to help tourism businesses better understand exactly what visitors want when they come to Hay. The survey will be running all year and we hope that many festival goers will take the time to fill them in and return them back to us.”
Other diary dates for food enthusiasts include the Bannau Brycheiniog Summer Fayre held during the August Bank Holiday weekend (29th -31st August) and the Bannau Brycheiniog Food Festival on Saturday 3rd October held in the Brecon Market Hall and the town square– a must for all food lovers!