Wakefield’s Rhubarb Festival returns with cheese, chutney and cheer

Rhubarb lovers rejoice! Wakefield’s celebration of its most famous vegetable returns to paint the city pink from February 25-27.
Wakey Bellinis, rhubarb blondies, rhucello… it must be time for the 2022 Wakefield Rhubarb FestivalWakey Bellinis, rhubarb blondies, rhucello… it must be time for the 2022 Wakefield Rhubarb Festival
Wakey Bellinis, rhubarb blondies, rhucello… it must be time for the 2022 Wakefield Rhubarb Festival

The Rhubarb Festival is one of the first food and drink festivals in the national calendar – and, after not being able to run in 2021 due to the pandemic, in 2022 it promises to start things off with a bang!

Alongside Leeds and Bradford, Wakefield is part of the Rhubarb Triangle where rhubarb is grown in special sheds in a process known as ‘forcing’. Coinciding with the height of growing season, Wakefield Council’s annual Rhubarb Festival aims to celebrate this heritage by bringing the city centre to life over three days with a full programme of chef demos, family workshops and of course, the famous food and drink market.

A programme of street entertainment and workshops will keep the whole family entertained, including gardening, growing and foraging hands-on activities, traditional Morris dancers and Dame Ruby Rhubarb.

Wakefield’s celebration of its most famous vegetable returns to paint the city pink from February 25-27.Wakefield’s celebration of its most famous vegetable returns to paint the city pink from February 25-27.
Wakefield’s celebration of its most famous vegetable returns to paint the city pink from February 25-27.

The food and drink market will boast over 60 traders, showcasing E Oldroyds & Sons’ fresh rhubarb of course, but also the region’s finest gins, jams, pickles, cheese and so much more.

For those looking for a tipple, Rhucello’s rhubarb liqueur, Luddenden’s rhubarb wine and Gwatkin’s cider are delightfully original uses of the vegetable. Retro Shots will also be onsite with their rhubarb and custard gin, as well as Howey Nichols’ rhubarb rum and local maker Forged Spirits with their rhubarb and ginger gin.

On the savoury side, Spice Heroes’ rhubarb chilli relish is the perfect accompaniment for The Great British Cheese Company’s flagship cheddar and Gin-Ger-Rhu (Wensleydale, Ginger, Gin and more rhubarb of course!) or Hofmanns of Wakefield’s award-winning pork pies and scotch eggs.

And those with a sweet tooth won’t be forgotten! Brown and Blond and The Gourmet Brownie Company will offer dozens of scrumptious brownies flavours (including rhubarb blondies) while Cocoa Drop will showcase handmade rhubarb ruby truffles. You can also check out The Sawley Kitchen’s award-winning rhubarb and custard shortbread, the Little Box Kitchen’s rhubarb and orange traditional steamed puddings and so much more – there truly is something for everyone.

Time to paint the city pink!Time to paint the city pink!
Time to paint the city pink!

Curated by Yorkshire Food Guide, a programme of chef demos will run from 11am to 3pm from Friday to Sunday and will welcome BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen regular and food writer Sabrina Ghayour and Great British Bake Off 2021 vegan baker Freya Cox for the very first time.

Other chefs include Cannon Hall Farm head chef Tim Bilton, former GBBO contestant Karen Wright and MasterChef: The Professionals’ finalists Jono Hawthorne and Matt Healy. Local restaurants Iris and Robatary, and local star bakers, Castleford’s Bake My Day, will also showcase their best rhubarb-inspired recipes.

To find out more, visit Experience Wakefield at expwake.co/RhubarbFest

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