The annual celebration of gastronomy that is Westport Food Festival takes place from Friday, June 23, to Sunday, June 25. The organisers are promising a programme with something for all ages, from mini chefs right up to fully fledged foodies. The highlight of the busy festival weekend is an exclusive Midsummer Banquet at Westport House. Fittingly, Westport House was the location for the launch by Michael Ring, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development.
“I’m very pleased to launch Westport Food Festival 2017,” Minister Ring said at the launch. “It has become a stalwart on the town calendar and really shines a light on the exceptional food, producers and chefs in the county. The festival promises to be even bigger and better this year than ever before”.
The festival kicks off on Friday night, June 23, with a stunning new event – the Midsummer Banquet in the glorious setting of Westport House. This elegant and exclusive evening will feature a seven course tasting menu, live music and all the trimmings. Numbers are strictly limited to 120 guests and tickets, costing €100 each, will be available through Hotel Westport. Appropriately it is a black tie event, in keeping with the stylish surroundings. “We’re overwhelmed by the response to our Midsummer Banquet,” said festival chairman Eoin McDonnell (head chef at the Wyatt Hotel ), “Demand for tickets is already high and we’re expecting it to sell out very quickly. It’s a once off opportunity to experience Westport House as visitors would have in its heyday.”
Once again the Fairgreen is the venue for the busy Festival Food Village on Saturday, June 24. It will be choc-a-bloc with market stalls, and a busy programme of cookery demonstrations and children’s events will run all day in the festival marquee. Other attractions include the fast food race, seaweed and mushroom foraging, gourmet kayaking with Clew Bay Bike Hire, and gin, wine, and whiskey appreciation with Foody Tours.
The full programme and further details will be available on www.westportfoodfestival.ie Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter too, for up to the moment festival updates and foodie information.
