Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival |
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Dates | May |
Location(s) | Cowbridge |
Founded | 2004 |
Founders | Cowbridge Charter Trust |
Attendance | 15,000 |
The Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival is a super fun yearly event in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It's a big celebration of all things food and drink!
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Discover the Cowbridge Food Festival!
This exciting festival happens every year over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Imagine a huge party with up to 15,000 people joining in! There's a small fee to get in, but it's worth it for all the amazing things you'll see and taste.
What Can You Find There?
The festival is packed with awesome things to do. You'll find tons of food stalls, live cooking shows, and cool attractions. The main food area is at the Arthur John carpark. There are more than 80 different food and drink sellers! You might even find a fancy oyster bar or a bubbly champagne tent.
Besides food, there's also a Craft Fayre. Here you can find unique handmade items like jewellery and cool stuff for your home.
Fun for Kids!
The festival makes sure kids have a blast too! Head over to The Old Hall Gardens for special children's activities. In the past, these have included exciting magic shows, creative face-painting, and thrilling treasure hunts. It's a great place for younger visitors to have fun!
Learn About Food and History
The festival isn't just about eating; it's also about learning!
Cooking and Healthy Eating
In 2016, the festival started a special program. It taught people how to cook healthy meals without spending too much money. This was done through fun cooking demonstrations.
Exploring Old Welsh Recipes
In 2017, the festival launched the "Forgotten Foods" project. This project explored old cooking traditions and the history of Welsh cuisine. You could learn about traditional Welsh recipes like Welsh cakes, bara brith, Welsh rabbit, and cawl. Professional chefs showed how these dishes were made. It was a great way to learn about Wales's food history!
Taste History with The History Chefs
Also at The Old Hall Gardens, two local experts called "The History Chefs" offered a unique experience. They took people on a taste tour through different times in history. They showed how food was made long ago, using less machinery. They even used ingredients found in nature or grown at home.
Helping Others Through the Festival
The festival also does good things for the community.
Supporting Tŷ Hafan
In 2017, the festival helped raise money for Tŷ Hafan. This is a charity that supports children with life-limiting conditions. They had a special sculpture of a "Snow Puppy" made from canvas. Young people could finger-paint it with different colours. This was part of a bigger art event called "Snowdogs: Tails in Wales trail." Painted Snow Dogs were placed all over Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The Cowbridge Puppy was later sold to raise even more money for Tŷ Hafan.
Community Fridge Project
The festival also helped set up the first community fridge in South Wales. This fridge is a place where people can drop off extra food they don't need. Then, others who need food can pick it up. It's a great way to reduce food waste and help the community. The fridge is located at Cathays Community Centre in Cardiff.
How the Festival Started
The Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival began in 2004. It was started by the Cowbridge Charter Trust, which is a charity. They created the festival as part of their celebrations for Cowbridge's 750th birthday!
The Trust was formed in 2003. It wanted to celebrate 750 years since Cowbridge received its first special charter. This important document was granted on March 13, 1254, by Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester. Today, the festival is run by a private company that helps make sure it happens every year.