A CELEBRATION of the region’s best food and drink is coming to Tynedale for the first time this summer.

Taste Tynedale will take place in Hexham,on Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31. It will feature a packed traders’ market, with around 60 stalls showcasing the best of local food and drink.

There will also be loads of goodies to try at the show at a hot food and drink court, and a beer tent with local ales, as well as samples from producers keen to show off their wares.

There’ll be a demonstration stage too, with local chefs keen to inspire visitors to try their dishes at home.

Families will have plenty to do too, with plenty of children’s activities and a live music stage.

The event will be held in association with the Hexham Courant and is sponsored by Hexham Town Council.

They hope to replicate the growing success of Taste Tynedale’s sister festivals – Taste Cumbria. These food festivals now attract up to 40,000 visitors – the biggest event in Cockermouth brought £1.9m into the local economy over just one weekend last year.

Organiser Marie Whitehead, director of CN Events, said: “We are really excited about launching Taste Tynedale in Hexham this July. We have seen how hugely popular our food festivals can be, and how people’s passion for high quality, locally-produced food and drink seems to be growing year on year.

“One of the brilliant things about these festivals is how they showcase the skills of the producers and experts we have in this area.

“The passion our traders have for the food they are creating is infectious – and the talent of the chefs who will be showing people what to do with that food means that even the most inexperienced cooks can be inspired. This promises to be a fabulous weekend.”

Coun. Trevor Cessford, Mayor of Hexham, said: “Taste Tynedale will give people yet another reason to visit Hexham and show off the wealth of independent businesses here.

“It will be a fantastic shop window for the amazing food and drink produced in and around this area.

“I hope many of the town’s businesseswill join in the event and make the most of the visitors who will come to see what Taste Tynedale is all about. We already have some excellent events here in town, including our regular markets, and I hope this festival will be a great addition to the Hexham calendar. Roll on July.”