Tens of thousands of people expected to attend Waterford food festival this weekend

Seventy thousand visitors are expected to attend a Waterford food festival this weekend. 

Food lovers have started to make their way to the harbour town of Dungarvan, nearby Lismore and throughout West Waterford for the highly anticipated three-day West Waterford Festival of Food. 

Running from today (Friday April 14) to Sunday (April 16), it shines a spotlight on locally produced, wholesome food by chefs from the county and will feature more than 70 events. 

The festival kicks off with family farm buses and story time in Dungarvan Library with exciting tales and adventures of 'The Tangled Tuna', while a Gala Dinner will take place in the evening in the resplendent Lismore Castle. 

Others will gather at the unusual venue of Dungarvan Mart for ham sandwiches and crisps, music and laughter, with a Burlesque dinner show taking place in Merry’s as well. 

Anyone looking for an early start on Saturday will get their fix with Sunrise Yoga, sauna and breakfast on Clonea beach, with the much-loved Flahavan’s festival breakfast taking place at Mount Congreve. 

A Tirlan family fun zone is a great choice for kids, where they can experience animal magic, wobbly circus, mobile farm, sensory cooking classes, LAMH cookery demonstration, Food Waste Warrior workshop, and lots more.

Don’t miss Bia not Bluster panel conversations around change in the food industry, from the future of restaurants to farming and real sustainability, in the town hall between 11am-4pm. 

And Dungarvan will be a hive of activity for the afternoon with the Festival quayside market, RNLI Duck race at 3pm, craft cocktail classes, restaurant trails, afternoon tapas. 

As evening falls on Saturday, there will be restaurants literally popping up everywhere! From Chefs on Trial at the Courthouse, to a tablescaping workshop and dinner at the Old Market House Arts centre, there's something for all. 

Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley will also entertain music lovers at Dungarvan Mart, an event which is not to be missed! 

Start off Sunday with a seaweed infused breakfast and yoga on the beach, a lazy Sunday brunch at Interlude or a gin fuelled brunch at Blackwater distillery. 

A highly competitive junior bake off will take place from 11am to 2am, while Taste Waterford demos and chats will be going all day in the Town Hall. Outside, Dungarvan Square will be home to one of Ireland's largest markets with over a 100 artisan producers. 

Click here for more information.