Merthyr Food Festival Returns For More Foodie Heaven

Some forty producers of the finest food and drink from South Wales and beyond will be descending on Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday 16th July for the third Merthyr Food Festival. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Entry is free and the festival takes place in Penderyn Square in the heart of Merthyr Tydfil town centre between 10am and 5pm. In addition to the food stalls, there will be a programme of chef demos in the iconic Redhouse Old Town Hall building as well as craft stalls, street theatre and an all new family food zone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Amongst the food producers, cooking stalls and local breweries taking part are festival favourites such as Narna’s Chocolates, Caroline’s Real Bread, Glamorgan Vale Hog Roast, Tudor Brewery, The Original Goodfillas, Samosaco, Gwynt Y Draig, The Fudge Box and Chilli of the Valley. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Variety is, however, the spice of life so there will also be lots of new tasty treats to try out from, amongst others, Lonestar Tex Mex, Gwatkin Cider, Caerphilly Preserves, Little Black Hen, The Crepe Escape, Shirley’s Raw Chocolate, Sorai, The Welsh Confection, Wandering Food and The Artisan Cook. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

New to this year’s event, the family food zone is located in St Tydfil Shopping Centre and features Science of Food Busking where visitors can find out how colour influences taste perception, how miracle berries make bitter foods taste sweet and how the application of force affects non-Newtonian fluids. There will also be the chance to meet the laboratrists of Science Cream and try out their liquid nitrogen ice cream as well as have a go on Techniquest’s smoothie bike. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Spectacular live entertainment comes from Mark a la Carte, Maynard Flip Flap and Vamos Theatre’s Cheapskate Catering Agency, whilst the Heart Angels will be on hand with lots of activities for younger foodies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Festival organisers The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil BID hope to attract well over 5000 visitors. Antonia Pompa, BID Co-ordinator, said, “Merthyr Food Festival is a wonderful celebration and showcase for the great range of food and drink available in the South Wales region. We want visitors to our festival to try out tasty local cooking whilst they are here, take home lots of delicious local products and hopefully some new ideas for cooking with locally sourced produce.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added, “I would urge visitors to spend the day in Merthyr town centre. It is only £1 to park in the pay and display car parks all day so enjoy the food stalls, the chef demonstrations, the live entertainment and the family food zone, but also visit our local cafes and shops around town and enjoy a relaxing day out.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​