A popular festival will bring delicious street food, celebrity chefs and more to the County Durham coast when it returns this summer.
Food fans are being invited to save the date for Seaham Food Festival, which will take place this year on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August.
As always, stalls serving up the finest local produce and exciting street food will be at the heart of the Durham County Council event. And with applications to trade at the festival now open, food and drink traders are being encouraged to apply online at www.seahamfoodfestival.co.uk
The announcement closely follows the submission of County Durham’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2025. Gaining this title would bring transformational social and economic benefits to the entire region and pave the way for even more vibrant and inclusive events like Seaham Food Festival.
Alongside the tempting food stalls, this year, Seaham Food Festival will once again feature an open-air cookery theatre with demonstrations from celebrity chefs and well-known food personalities. There will also be live music and entertainment against the stunning backdrop of the County Durham Heritage Coast.
Details of the line-up will be revealed over the next few months and people are encouraged to follow @SeahamFoodFest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest festival news.
Last year, the festival attracted thousands of people to Seaham. This provided a welcome boost to traders and local retail and hospitality businesses, while also helping to raise County Durham’s profile as a visitor destination at a crucial time.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Seaham Food Festival is a fantastic event that not only offers a wonderful day out for people of all ages, but boosts the local economy and enhances County Durham’s reputation as a culinary destination.
“It also provides an opportunity for North East producers to showcase their wares to a wide audience so I would encourage any traders interested in being a part of the festival to apply as soon as possible.
“Events like Seaham Food Festival are also one of the reasons why we believe County Durham is such a stronger contender to be UK City of Culture 2025. I would urge everyone to continue backing the Durham 2025 campaign and help us to expand the county’s world class cultural offer.”
The Durham 2025 campaign is being spearheaded by Durham County Council, Durham University and Culture Durham – a partnership of cultural organisations from across the county. After being long listed for the title last October, this month the council submitted the county’s final bid on behalf of the partners. The shortlist is expected to be revealed next month ahead of the winner announcement in May. County Durham’s rich culinary scene and the idea of food as an expression of cultural identity is one of a number of themes explored within the bid.
To find out more about the Durham 2025 campaign, visit www.durham2025.co.uk or follow @Durham2025 of Facebook, @Durham_2025 on Twitter and @Durham2025_ on Instagram.
