THE best of the region’s food and drink will be showcased this weekend in the return of the Kendal Festival of Food.

Banners and bunting are up, which can only mean Kendal town centre is to be taken over by food producers and lovers alike for the fifth year.

The celebration of culinary delights offers a food market, a mini-festival for children, chef and artisan demonstrations, talks, tastings, a beer festival, celebrity foodies and pop-up restaurants.

Cath Dutton, joint organiser, said: “It’s hard to imagine that since last year, Kendal Festival of Food has developed to become a vast and eagerly anticipated event on the national calendar.

“We are proud to be able to put Kendal on the map and look forward to seeing the town buzzing with visitors.”

More than 80 stalls of exhibitors from Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Durham and Yorkshire will line the streets in the Great North Food Market.

Chefs performing demonstrations on the McClure’s Best of Cumbria Festival stage include ITV’s Britain’s Best judge Peter Sidwell, Ian Swainson from the Michelin star restaurant at The Samling Hotel, Kevin Tickle from Rogan and Company in Cartmel and Justin Woods of the Castle Green Hotel.

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The Meringue Girls will be putting in an appearance on Sunday to display their innovative approach to a traditional dessert that is experiencing a trendy revival.

Artisan demonstrations from Kendal’s Staff of Life Bakery and Agnes Rose will take place, plus a field-to-fork talk courtesy of Askham Hall.

There will also be a tasting tour from Cartmel Cheeses as well as talks and tastings from The Lakes Distillery, Bedrock Gin and The Famous 1657 Chocolate House.

And, to wash it all down, there is a masterclass from the Keswick-based Carvetii Coffee Roasters plus the beer festival where Bowness Bay Brewing will be supplying the Brewery Arts Centre with 20 beers.

These will include Teal Tipple, which is brewed to the 1942 recipe from Whitwell Mark – the original occupants of the Brewery Arts Centre.

CBBC’s Gastronaut Stefan Gates will present two live shows as part of the Family Festival Village hosted by Elephant Yard.

Tickets for the two days cost £15 for an adult, with every adult ticket allowing free entry to two under-16s.

For more information and to book tickets for the event, which is set to take place on March 28 and 29, visit the website www.kendal-festivaloffood.co.uk