THOUSANDS of visitors are expected to attend the eat:Wellington food and drink festival on Saturday (September 1).

More than 80 producers will be trading from the top of South Street, down and around High Street as far as Red Lion Court. Alongside all the producers will be demonstrations and a cook school.

Visitors can expect farmers’ markets favourites like high quality beef and lamb, beers and cheeses. alongside speciality teas, gourmet marshmallows, chilli oils and Somerset ice cream.

An impressive range of street food will be available, with global flavours made from local ingredients.

Free entertainment will include circus skills, balloon modeller, Punch & Judy show, plus a music stage in the heart of the festival will be providing a laidback soundtrack to the day.

Co-organiser Bev Milner Simonds said: “We are really pleased with the line-up of traders and the great range of festival activities planned for our third festival in Wellington.”

The Retreat Demo Stage in the Quaker Meeting House will have chefs and cooks on stage from 11am. The chefs on stage will be cooking family food that visitors can recreate at home. The building is fully accessible and large screens will help people see what is going on.

The line-up is:

11am – Transition Team Wellington. This local community group will be using some in season produce to demonstrate how to preserve and serve food.

1pm – Steve Fowell, School Chef of the Year SW winner 2017, will be showing how to create inspiring food for just over £1 a portion.

1.30pm – Visitors can shake up their festival experience with a free bhangra dance class with Avtar Indian Dance South West.

2pm – Bini Ludlow, the woman behind the multi-awarding Bini Fine Foods, will be cooking Indian food.

The Hawksmoor Cookery School will be set up outside the Conservative Club. Delicious in Taunton’s Chrissie Godfrey will be leading a hands-on workshop for visitors to make their own sushi. Classes are suitable for adults and families with children aged eight-plus, and run between 10.30am-12.30pm, and 1.30-3.30pm to have a go.

The festival opens at 10am and is trading until 4pm – entry is free. For more information visit www.eatfestivals.org