RESTAURANTS AND FOOD: FAMILY FUN AT WEST WATERFORD FESTIVAL OF FOOD

Thursday, June 2, 2022

FAMILY FUN AT WEST WATERFORD FESTIVAL OF FOOD

FAMILY FUN AT WEST WATERFORD FESTIVAL OF FOOD

On the farm: Donagh Fitzgerald (4) and his brother Aodhán (5)

West Waterford Festival of Food will offer a full menu of free events for families from 10-12 June, perfect for mini gourmets and aspiring chefs. Over 35,000 visitors are expected to attend Ireland’s largest food festival, with children’s events to include workshops, talks, demos and tasting sessions to develop an interest in growing, rearing and cooking food from a young age. The extensive children’s events across the weekend can be viewed on www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com.

West Waterford Festival of Food CEO Maeve Quill said: “After a two-year break from our physical festival, we’re delighted to welcome visitors back. Through the 13^th annual West Waterford Festival of Food we want to reach as many people as possible, both locally and beyond. We especially hope to inspire the next generation of food lovers with an exciting variety of free family-friendly cookery demos and activities that will make aspiring young foodies appreciate and love food even more.”

Organisers are encouraging families to pop into the free Glanbia Family Fun Zone from 11am-3pm on Saturday (11 June) and Sunday (12 June) where youngsters can get up close and personal to animals at the mobile farm, meet the birds of prey, enjoy a picnic and games and plant their own seedlings. The Glanbia Family Fun Zone will also host the National Reptile Zoo Keepers, with animals ranging from pythons to gecko lizards, tarantulas to scorpions. There will also be a clay workshop with Martha Cashman on Saturday, while a dog show takes place on the Sunday. Across the weekend, families can also take part in a Food Treasure Hunt from Dungarvan Tourist Office.

The Youthspace tent by WSTCYS Waterford Comhairle na nÓg, Dungarvan Youth Project and Day Youth Development Programme will provide a fun, safe space for young people with activities including blind taste challenges, climate action challenges, and budget dinner ideas.

As part of the new Wellness Tasters, there will be drop-in yoga workshops while children under five eat for free at the famed Flahavan’s Greenway Breakfast at Coach House Coffee, Kilmacthomas on Saturday from 9am. Young cooks can don their aprons for Bake Off — an opportunity to put their best cake forward for judging at the Ormond Café.

There are paid ticketed events suitable for children with the Cool Food School and Sensory Cooking at Walton Park Marquee. There will also be a teddy bear picnic in Walton Park. Further family friendly events include family farm excursions, and a picnic river cruise with Blackwater Eco Tours River Cruise.

The 2022 West Waterford Festival of Food is supported by Waterford City and County Council, Waterford Local Enterprise Office and LEADER Partnership, with sponsors McCarthy Insurance Group, Flahavan’s, Glanbia Ireland, Expressway, Flo Gas, Dawn Meats, Garvey’s, Eurofins, San Pellegrino, Blackwater, SuperValu Food Academy, Coillte, FBD, Local Link, and AIB.