One of Scotland’s leading food festivals, the Crail Food Festival, is returning with a host of activities across seven venues and a focus on the area’s fishing heritage as part of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
As well as offering the opportunity to taste fresh local seafood, the Crail Food Festival is this year working with the Scottish Fisheries Museum to showcase Crail’s history as a traditional fishing village.
With other activities including a new Parents’ Pitstop with a children’s tea party and storytelling in the Marine Hotel, as well as a showcase of local chocolatiers and bakers, the festival is appealing for all ages.
Now in its sixth year, events are taking place across seven historic buildings in the picturesque East Neuk village. The festival encourages visitors to explore a wide variety of locations across Crail, from the famous working harbour, Crail’s town hall (this year acting as a ticket hub) and the Legion Hall at the village’s centre to the Kirk Hall and Community Hall, where a bustling Producers’ Market is held.
Crail Food Festival celebrates the strength of Scotland’s food and drink, in particular local Fife producers with around 80 participants are scheduled to take part. With the return of the Producers’ Market and a series of new Food Conversations with chefs and food insiders, visitors are given a unique opportunity to find out the stories behind what they’re eating and drinking.
A new marquee will also be placed close to the village’s historic trading marketplace with food served on Saturday and Sunday. More food stalls will be located at the iconic harbour on Sunday.
This year, the entertainment carries on into the evening with a grand launch party on Friday evening with a smorgasbord of local produce prepared by East Neuk Cooks and a quiz.
This taste experience will be followed by live music from The Shiverin’ Shakes, who combine a bombastic mix of rock’n’roll, country, gospel and 1950s pop. The launch party runs in addition to a new Saturday Flavour of Fife banquet with tasting menu, matching wine and guest appearances from local food producers. Both are ticketed events with tickets going on sale via www.crailfoodfest.co.uk from 1 May.
Graham Anderson, the Event Manager said: “We’re so lucky in Fife to have such world class food and drink on our doorstep and when it’s combined with a setting as stunning as Crail, the experience really is truly memorable.
"This year’s festival programme aims to showcase our local produce whilst providing visitors with more ways than ever before to get hands-on with food and drink – tasting new flavours, finding out the stories behind what they’re eating and of course, enjoying the very best of Fife.
"I’d urge everyone to put the festival dates in your diary and come along!”
Paul Bush OBE said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Crail Food Festival through our National Programme.
"Graham and his team have once again developed a fantastic programme of events, showcasing the very best of the region’s local produce.
"It is also fitting that the festival is part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations offering both locals and visitors a chance to explore some of the East Neuk’s rich architectural heritage as part of the event.”
Crail Food Festival is supported by EventScotland, a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and Fife Council.
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