Formby's Formby Food, Drink and Music Festival is returning in July

GET ready for the return of the Formby Food, Drink and Music Festival! After the 2014 event, it will be hard to improve this now popular annual celebration of culinary delights, and yet the organizers have whipped up a new batch of amazing local talent, ready to impress your ears and taste buds. This years 3 day event will again be held in Duke Street Park, Formby, opposite the Mersey Rail Northern Line Railway Station. We are told that it will be packing in many attractions, some old and lots of new ones, that include craft exhibitors, artisan foods, food and drink outlets from around the world and not forgetting the live music stage where bands will play throughout the 2 days. But one of the most interesting attractions is the firework display on the Saturday Night! As it is a food festival, we can confirm that there will also be Chef Demonstrations, Display Arena and Kids Cooking Zone.

"We have teamed up with The Academy of Culinary Arts which is a long term charity project that focuses on developing an essential understanding of "taste" and teaches the children about the pleasures of eating, learning about ingredients and the processes by which raw materials are turned into food." said event organizer Maria Bennett.

So what will be on offer?

► Friday evening we are holding the Great British Pub Quiz, with the winning team receiving £100. Admission includes Pub Quiz entry. Entertaining you throughout the night will be Compare Neil Newton and performing live on stage is Lewis Maxwell, Winner of the 2015 Southport's Got Talent.

► Saturday will have a variety of entertainment and also a RAF Dakota Flypast, finishing off on Saturday night with a famous Musical Firework Display. The theme this year is James Bond 007 and should not to be missed. "Why not sit in the food court with a glass or to and watch the sky light up. We have a variety of bands/singer performing throughout the day including the John Casey Blues Band with special guest Billy Kinsley from Liverpool Express and finishing of the night are The Ambition, a young up and coming band who will be releasing their first single the week after the event. Don't miss them and all the other acts performing from 11.00 am to 10.pm which is then followed by our every popular musical firework display which finishes off Saturday night." said Maria Bennett.

► Sunday don't miss the exciting Katumba Samba Band, described as a walking wall of sound, seeing is believing. Many other acts performing on the Live music stage to include:- the Amazing Kappa, The Shakers, The Zodiacs to mention a few.  "Again we have Formby Festival Resident Chef, James Holden, from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, showcasing Waitrose products and showing how to create some of the fine, but today he is joined by Formby Festivals favourite Celebrity Chef, BBC Fusion Chef Of The Year - Aazam Ahmed. Don`t miss this amazing chef entertain and tickle your tastebuds! There is so much going on and we feel this event is like the new Glastonbury. It is easy to get to with Merseyrail having excellent links and Formby Station situated opposite the Park and only 2 mins away. Why drive, come on the train and have a fun filled day or weekend and take the train home. Bring the kids to Meet the princess from Frozen who will be performing and interacting with the children in the Display Arena on Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss our famous Big Kids Disco Bash held in the arena each day. Our website gives full details of all what is going on and timetables. This year Formby Festival have commissioned a wood carving of a Squirrel, which will be done over 2 days by Simon Archer, Chainsaw Wood Carver, see him in action which will be donated back to the community of Formby and sited in Duke Street Park. We hope that this will be an event for all ages and we are please to also announce that we will be offering many free activities for children throughout Saturday and Sunday. These activities will include:- magic shows, circus school, balloon modelling, den and wigwam building, badge making, big birthday bash and daily children's cookery sessions, although we do recommend you book your place, as they are limited and much more. We also have paying attractions that will carry a small charge, they include:- Archery, Zorbing, Assault Course, Rodeo Bull, Bouncy Castles, Face Painting along with Go Karts!!" added Maria Bennett.

This year will also see the arrival of the 'Formby Festival Bake-off'. New for this year, the organizers will be letting cooks of all abilities and ages to enter and win prizes. To find out how to enter and more about the categories along with the rules, visit the Festival's website. 

This years chosen charity will once again be 'Help for Heroes' and all profits raised from this event will be donated to this fantastic charity.

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