A POPULAR festival of food is coming to Hampshire this weekend.

The Hamble Festival of Food is back this year with a host of tasty treats for people to enjoy.

It’s an event which attracts thousands of food lovers to the county every year and now organisers are hoping to bring more of what people love most to the picturesque village.

The festival will take place on Saturday, September 3 from 10am till 4pm and organisers have packed the day full of entertainment.

The free foodie themed day out will have something for everyone this year with a host of children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, a fun dog show, live music and more.

Hampshire Farmers’ Market and local producer stalls will line the streets with over 30 confirmed so far to take part in the festival selling a variety of fresh produce including locally grown or produced fruit, vegetables, free range meats, honey, cheeses, fish, jams and chutneys, plants, wine and beer, cakes, bread and more.

The festival will also play host once again to the Live Kitchen which will kick off with Arthur Price from The Victory pub showing people how to prepare and cook mussels Mariniere, followed by Lee Dart with his New House Venison, Charlotte Brown’s handmade apple chutney and a demonstration from the Daisy Cake Company.

Also on offer will be a day of fun for the youngsters with a host of children’s crafts and workshops.

These events will include the SoCo Music Project vegetable orchestra which will see youngsters learn how to make carrot flutes, courgette castanets and peppershakers before learning how to play them and make a tune as part of a vegetable orchestra.

Miniature Gardens with Bella Crafts will be another popular event offering children the chance to make their own little garden with compost, tissue paper flowers and silver foil ponds on Hamble Quay.

There will also be balloon modelling fun throughout the day with Big Cat Jungle Parties, who will be making balloon animals and demonstrating how to make simple balloon models to keep and take home and a bottle elephant art competition for children to enter.

The Bursledon Brickworks stand will also be offering children the chance to see if they can build a tower taller than themselves.

The festival, which has been organised by The Marketing Collective will also host heritage walks with the Hamble Valley Heritage Guides and music from St.Andrew’s Pipe Band.

Another big attraction for the day will be the fun dog show from 12noon till 4pm on the Southern Quay with Hamble Hounds, dog training and problem solving.

The event has been sponsored by Eastleigh Borough Council, to find out more about the day, visit www.facebook.com/HambleValleyFestivals.