WATERFORD HARVEST FESTIVAL 2015


The 7th Waterford Harvest Festival takes place throughout Waterford City from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th with something to suit all taste buds.  Waterford City’s main thoroughfares will be transformed into a smorgasbord of flavours, aromas and heritage with festival markets, harvest kitchens, wine appreciation classes, junior food craft classes, celebrity cooking demonstrations and much more.

Festival Chair, Paul Nolan said the Festival will put a well-deserved spotlight on Waterford Food Heroes.  “Heroes is a pretty grand term, but that is what they are!  Waterford is enjoying a resurgent food movement and that is down to those who grow, cultivate, produce, create, serve and champion great local food.”

“It is worth noting that we now have a number of producers working together as they realise that their strength lies in collaboration in order to harness the Waterford food brand.  Some examples of these collaborations include EnterpRISING Food Network, EAT Waterford and the Waterford Blaa Bakers Association.”

“We want to give these heroes the opportunity to showcase what they do best and what better way than at the Waterford Harvest Festival.”

Good Food Ireland member Dermot Walsh,  of Walsh’s Bakehouse in Waterford city has been  bringing the local traditional delicacy, the Blaa, not just to the people of Waterford, but overseas, since it was awarded coveted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. Looking forward to this year’s Harvest Festival, Dermot said Waterford Harvest Festival is a great platform for local and regional food producers, growers and restaurants.  “It is heartening to see food producers working together throughout the Festival to promote the food culture of Waterford and its surroundings.  Not only is there a clear objective to develop the local food economy, there is an overwhelming passion by all involved to output high calibre, local produce, day in, day out.”

Events will include the Festival Market on the Mall, Enterprising Food Market, Harvest Kitchen, Oyster Festival, Viking Rocks Craft Beerfest, Trad Craft Corner, Farm to Fork, Picnic ‘n’ Play in the Park, GIY GROW Fest, and the Big Taste in John Robert’s Square. This year’s festival promises a congruence of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas with cookery demonstrations, foodie films, tastings and workshops, all making Waterford City one big street party for Harvest weekend.

All roads lead to Waterford from September 11th to 13th.  If you want to know more, the Waterford Harvest Festival full programme of events is available on http://www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie

A Festival brochure will be  widely available throughout the City and County over the coming weeks.  Keep up to date on all things Harvest Fest by checking it out on Facebook and Twitter #WaterfoodHeroes and #WhattheFork