I look forward to Padstow Food Festival every year because It combines two things I love – food and as it is held 3-6 December, Christmas! What could be better than that?
It’s a real Christmas treat for the whole family and has plenty to offer. For me, it’s when Padstow is at its most magical, the whole place is glittering and glowing with Christmas lights and festive spirit. The shops offer late night shopping which means you can grab a gift or two and it just makes me feel ‘christmassy’!!
But if you still need convincing….
The Padstow Food Festival brings over 40 renowned chefs from around the country, like James Martin, Rick Stein, Nathan Outlaw, Paul Ainsworth and Antony Worrall Thompson to name but a few. The chefs show off their skills and recipes in their free demonstrations that run at various times over the festival.
The other big thing we look forward to, is having a wander around the Christmas market, this is awesome for picking up some great local food and drink produced in the county. Last year, my children especially loved trying out Chocolate sprouts, made by the fab local company Kernow Chocolate. Sprouts the children will never, ever, refuse!
The Christmas market is also a premier event for the county’s art and craft producers which range from jewellery makers to glass art, to Cowshed Spa treatments.
Normally by now, after all the shopping I’ve been doing, I’m ready to try some lovely food on offer and there’s so much to choose from. Padstow has so many great restaurants and pubs but you can also try one of the festivals pop-up stalls which serve great artisan and local food, like Wild Bake pizza created and served from a converted horse trailer. Just brilliant.
Ok, back to Christmas! Whilst the Food Festival is in full swing, you can take the kids to see Santa arriving on his Victorian horse-drawn bus and into his grotto. Sing carols around the tree, take part in the Santa Fun Run (my youngest loved seeing Padstow full of hundreds of Santa’s) or simply watch the live music and entertainment. Finish this off with the amazing firework display over Padstow Harbour.
The final thing we look forward to as part of the Padstow Christmas Festival? The extra special carol service at St Petroc Church on the Sunday evening. Festive family fun doesn’t get better than that!
http://www.padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk
