Culinary celebration will serve up plenty of treats for the family

A range of culinary-themed entertainment will be served in and around the town on Saturday and Sunday, including cooking demonstrations, street entertainment and stalls.

Looking ahead to the event, festival chairman Philip Angier said: “The food festival is always eagerly anticipated and I am sure this year’s festival will not disappoint. We have a packed programme of events.”

Demonstrations from North East chefs will take place in the Northumberland Hall on Saturday and Sunday.

Demonstrations on Saturday morning feature Andrew Smith, of Powburn-based Bread and Roses, and Chris Hume, from Alnwick’s Tavern Steakhouse and Lodge, followed in the afternoon by Simon, from Longsands Fish Kitchen, and master chocolatier Olivier Nicod.

Sunday’s demonstrations begin with a butcher-themed session by Charlotte Harbottle and Claire Watson-Laney, followed in the afternoon by Paul Short, of Paul’s Private Dining, and artisan street-food bakers, Earth and Fire. A prosecco bar will be in the Northumberland Hall on both days.

On Saturday, there will be a street market, followed by a craft and community market on Sunday. Both will be on Bondgate Within. The Market Place will host a range of stalls and street-food sellers on both days.

Alnwick Indian restaurant Mivesi will be running demonstrations outside the venue in the Market Place and will be launching its new spice range.

The festival will run a traditional prize draw with chances to win some food prizes.

There will be a range of street entertainment, including an appearance from the cute Barnacre Alpacas on both days, while the Animals about Town mobile petting farm will be in Alnwick on Sunday. There will also be face-painting, Maxwells Fun Fair and a fire-eating show by Charlie Carpenter (aka Charlie Burns) on both days. Balloon sculptor Alun Young will make an appearance on Saturday.

The food festival runs from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. For more details visit the Alnwick Food Festival Facebook page.

Running alongside Alnwick Food Festival is the annual Alnwick Beer Festival, organised by Alnwick and District Round Table. It will be held in Alnwick Town Hall.

A sponsors’ night takes place tomorrow from 6pm to 8pm. The doors then open to the general public until 11pm. The festival is open 11am to 11pm on Saturday and 11am onwards on Sunday, until the drink runs dry or people stop coming.

On-the-door entry is £5, which includes a commemorative glass. On Saturday, between 11am and 5pm, entry includes one beer token. There will be a range of ales and ciders, and for the first time, a gin bar.

Most of the drink is locally produced. Money raised goes towards locally-based good causes and the town’s firework display. Warcup Law Firm, Alnwick, is the main sponsor. The Joiners Arms, at Newton-by-the-Sea, has sponsored the glasses.