Details of the Waterford Harvest Festival have been announced with food sustainability being the main focus this year.
The festival, organised by GIY, will take place at venues and outdoor areas across Waterford City from September 9th to 11th.
It aims to showcase Waterford's food heritage while celebrating the City's diverse restaurants, eateries, and producers.
"This celebration of local food celebrates our Huguenot-founded Waterford Blaa but so much more than that, with producers and chefs from all over the world having made Waterford their home, our food scene is rich in diversity," GIY Founder, Michael Kelly, said.
The centre stage will feature Waterford's best food and drink with a series of food talks happening on the side.
The 'Food Done Right' sustainability talks will be about the theme of Regeneration and the role food can play in restoring nature and community.
Different topics such as Global Shocks and Local Impact, Plant Versus Meat, Pollination and Biodiversity, growing with Kids, and Zero Waste Kitchens will be discussed by panelists who represent different viewpoints on each topic.
Food writers, chefs, activists, journalists, and business people will take to the stage to have these sustainability talks.
The Giant Harvest Festival Market
The Market will spread across Waterford's squares and interconnecting streets from John Roberts Square to Arundel Square, Michael Street, up Patrick's Street, and finally down to Barronstrand Street.
It will feature an array of fresh and local produce and give everyone the opportunity to participate in some GIY and win a free plant and seeds.
Organisers of the event aim to have a carbon-neutral festival by 2024.
What else is expected?
A host of Waterford's food producers and chefs will be sharing their best recipes and food tips on the kitchen stage giving visitors the chance to meet the faces behind their food.
Broad Street will see a Junior GIY area allowing families to enjoy the opportunity to learn how to grow food throughout the seasons from Muireann Ní Chíobháin, co-author of the GIY Know it Almanac.
Here there will also be seed sowing, bug bingo, an art area, and the Nore Valley Mobile Farm.
In Wyse Park, A Slice of Culture will offer visitors a multicultural experience of dance, songs, and tasty dishes that celebrate the diversity of Waterford's community.
A restaurant trail, live music, and the World Honey Championships will also be taking place across the three days.
The Honey Championships provide visitors with the chance to meet the best honey producers and learn about the process of making honey.
To learn more about the festival and see the full programme of events, see the Harvest Festival website.
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