About the Midleton Food Festival
The Midleton Food and Drink Festival epitomizes the new food culture that has developed in Midleton, combined with a truly remarkable extravaganza of fun. Its ethos is to develop the Festival into a magnificent flagship showcase of the highest standard in Ireland.
Set in the undulating and bountiful countryside of East Cork, Midleton has become southern Ireland's hub of culinary excellence. With a long held and world-renowned reputation for whiskey making traditions and more recently, its fine Farmers Market, Midleton is a perfect setting for this new and exciting Food and Drink Festival. The rich resources of the surrounding farmland and the wealth of excellent seafood available from nearby Ballycotton has made the Festival a celebration of its authentic and locally produced fare.
Open Air Food Market
Midleton Main Street will come alive with an open air food and drink market tempting you to taste the best of local and international produce. Imagine you have gone to Food Heaven and everything you ever wanted to eat in the world was right there in front of you – sizzling sausages, the best of barbecued meats, a whole pig turning gently on a hot spit, the finest of fresh fish and hand cut chips, craftily constructed cupcakes, organic breads, organic vegetable burgers, homemade ice creams, muffins, jams, chutneys, fresh fruit and juices, waffles, donuts, a chocolate fountain. Mmmm! Yum! If you don’t believe me, go to our website and check out the list of stall holders.
Farmers Market
Visit the bustling and justly famous Midleton Farmers Market beside Hurley’s Supervalu at the top of the town. This year, the Market is celebrating 10 years of providing East Cork with fabulous food and drink and there will be music and entertainment and a general air of utter delight!
Craft Exhibition
The vibrant local craft sector will have their work on display including patchwork, hand made jewellery and pottery.
East Cork Camera Club Exhibition
See the creative display of photos from the local camera club, a feature of our Festival. Talk to the photographers, ask advice – they love their art and are happy to oblige.
Street Entertainment
Watch out! You may get trod upon by a giant man – or woman – no, not a mythical creature but one of our stilt walkers. Have your face painted like a Cheshire cat by our numerous face painters. Have one of our balloon artists make a replica of Aunt Hilda for you to take home. Or something. Keep your eyes open for the Midleton Brass Band – for the music session outside Wallis’ Town Hall Bar – for the Drumming display – for the Pizza Jugglers from Italy.
Busking Competition - check out our street corner musicians who will be playing all kinds of sweet music for your delectation. Amuse them by throwing small change at them! Then, later in the day, our Highly Important Music Judge will award a prize to the busker who is judged Musician of The Street!
Agri Aware Mobile Farm
Agri Aware’s Mobile Farm is an exciting educational experience for all the family. Hold the animals, feed them and learn about their role on the farm. Their chickens, ducks, goats and calves are now experienced festival goers and will happily discuss the ins and outs of animal husbandry with you. But you may need an interpreter.
Food Composting & Grow Your Own Demonstrations - Free! Ongoing throughout the day
Ever wondered what to do with all that smelly stuff in the bin? Well, your prayers have been answered. Hop along to the Midleton Transition Town Stand see how much of the planet you can save by composting your kitchen waste. And! Find out how to grow your own vegetables – yes, that’s right! They really don’t all come in a tin. Get your own allotment and before long you’ll be dirty,happy and well fed.
