The 2014 Abergavenny Food Festival will take place over the weekend of the 20th and 21st September.
Much has changed since the first event was held on a wet Sunday in October. On that day about 30 local food and drink producers exhibited their wares in the Market Hall and, despite the weather, we were all surprised and delighted by the number of people who came out to taste and buy their products. Marguerite Patten and the Taruschios gave talks in the Market Hall and, in the evening, Martyn Lewis chaired a debate about GM Foods.
Over the years the scale of the Festival has increased, taking in new venues around the town, as has the scope of the activities on offer. We’re now looking to promote other events and activities across the year. But we’re determined to hang on to the basic principles around which it started:
– We aim to celebrate craft in food-making – be it on the farm, in the factory or in the kitchen.
– We aim to celebrate the diversity of foods and traditions, both here in Wales and those of other places.
– We aim to celebrate the conviviality and sociability that surrounds eating and drinking, whether with friends or strangers – and we aim to do it all in the most special and spectacular style that we can manage.
To help us do this, we have been privileged over the years to enjoy the company of some of the most skilled, passionate, knowledgeable and articulate food-lovers in the country; the commitment of Abergavenny’s own burgeoning food community; the support of a large and growing bunch of artisan food makers from Wales and the Marches and, of course, the enthusiasm or our many visitors who love to eat, shop, prepare and discuss food. It’s a heady brew and we hope it will remain so.
We look forward to seeing you over the Festival weekend!
The Abergavenny Food Festival Blog 
Your food festival sounds amazing. Kuskus Foods will be with you this year – and Mo is amazing: his food and his ethos and his personaility are all superb. I’m only sad that Mo is not going to be able to come back to the Upton Snodsbury Music Festival “SnodFest10” this year because it’s on the same day. Mo was a huge hit at SnodFest09 & we’ve had people clammering for him to return to us again this year – a pretty amazing commendation for Mo that a food stall was a major hit at a music festival! But it’ll give a whole new group of people the chance to get to know Mo and his food. Hope your festival is every bit the great success it deserves to be! Best wishes.