THE seventh year of Newtown Food Festival returns to its riverside park location this weekend with a packed programme of events throughout the whole weekend.

A free two-day celebration of food and music featuring around 40 independent food and drink producers, a fantastic music programme and a mini family festival of activities in the children’s village are set to take place.

As well as showcasing local produce, the festival has an international flavour including the French Village which is stocked with produce from Newtown’s twinned town in Les Herbiers as 2019 marks 20 years of twinning.

There will be a great line up in the festival kitchen this year with artisan chocolate making, an award winning chef, Syrian dishes and more.

New for this year, Relish will be hosting a pop-up Mediterranean Feast on Saturday evening from 6.30pm.

Pop into Oriel Davies for tickets.

The children’s village plays host to a popular range of activities returning again featuring the woodland classroom, junk percussion, rush glitter and face painting, Zu Aerial and Magik Incorporated.

Also new this year will be The Traditional Fairground Co.

There will be more than 75 exhibitors in total for what is sure to be a fun and food filled weekend.

Speaking ahead of the event, town mayor, Cllr David Selby said: “This year Newtown celebrates 20 years of twinning with Les Herbiers from Western France.

“Visit them in the French Village, they are bringing their cuisine to the festival for our pleasure.”

“The festival kitchen will give you the opportunity to join a variety of chefs and demonstrators, see them in action and taste their recipes.

“I challenge anyone to visit and leave empty handed.”

The event is sponsored and supported by Hilltop Honey, Rees Astley Independent Financial Advisors, Hughes Architects and EvaBuild, Griffiths Civil Engineering and Construction have sponsored the roadside signs, the Hafren venue is supporting the performers and the Rotary Club of Newtown is sponsoring the litter pickers.

The compere on Saturday is Rina Clarke and the compere for Sunday is Roger Stevens.

Here is a full timetable of everything there is to look forward to:

MUSIC STAGE – SATURDAY

11am - Saxophone Sundae

12noon - Abi Foster Music

1pm - Tommy Mills

2pm - Ben Smith

3pm - The Secret Sextet

4.15pm - The Klezmonauts

SUNDAY

noon - Newtown Silver Band

1.15pm - Newtown & District Male Voice Choir

2.15pm - Maldwyn Strings

3.30pm - Ffonic

MUSIC STAGE – SATURDAY NIGHT

5.30pm - Ross Embrey

7pm - Calfun

8.15pm - Dangerous Dave

9.30pm - Lucky Pierre

10.45pm - Fight the Bear

n If you want to get involved or have any suggestions for the food festival, you can email enquiries@newtownfoodfestival.co.uk