Thousands turn out for food festival

Thousands turn out for food festival

THOUSANDS of people enjoyed a packed weekend of fabulous food and entertainment at Fox Valley’s first two day food festival.

The event was staged to celebrate the centre’s second birthday and a full two day programme of cooking demos, musical entertainment and more than 50 food and drink stalls across the centre attracted the crowds on both days.

A park and ride service was organised, shuttling shoppers to the event and the weekend’s entertainment also included Fox Valley’s own version of Bake Off with winners in the children’s category as well as gluten free and Yorkshire themed bakes.

Visitors were entertained from the main stage with cooking demonstrations by local chefs as well as a great line up of talented entertainers including local singer Graham Lindley, The Bus Pas Buskers and the Buskin Buddies.

Other attractions included a scarecrow making workshop, children’s rides, car show and a visit from a local owl sanctuary.

And the Fox Valley team have already announced the date of next year’s event which will run on the same weekend – June 15 and 16 when the north Sheffield centre will celebrate its third birthday.

Bradfield Brewery joined the event with a pop up bar as well as a beautiful vintage gin cart– vegan street food was available as well as some gluten free options and a whole host of local and international foods.

The event was officially opened by the Mayor of Stocksbridge Cllr Julie Grocutt and Tom Monfredi, sales director at Lexus Sheffield, the event’s main sponsor.

Fox Valley is owned and managed by Dransfield Properties and the company’s head office is based at the award winning shopping centre.

Operations Director at Dransfield Properties, Medi Parry-Williams, said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend and the feedback has been great from our visitors during the festival as well as the traders who have joined us, we’ve had a fantastic line up of food and drink traders and it’s been wonderful to see so many new faces at Fox Valley.

“We’ve worked with some great local companies including Lexus Sheffield to make this a successful event and we’d like to thank them for their support.

“We’re already planning for next year so we hope everyone will have June 15th and 16th in their diaries!”

As well as Lexus Sheffield other local companies supporting the event were Liberty Steel, Henry Boot Construction, Stonebridge Homes, Simon Blyth, Elite Signs and Hummingbird Bridal Studio, The Fountain Company and Whittaker Plant Hire.