Pontefract Liquorice Festival – a real sweet treat
The countdown is on
for the Pontefract Liquorice Festival which returns to the town centre this
weekend, on Sunday 8 July.
The event, which celebrates the sweet treat, is taking place from 10am – 4pm
and visitors can enjoy a tempting variety of food and drink while browsing over
100 food, craft and gift stalls at the street market.
Dancers, musicians and street entertainers will delight the crowds throughout
the day. There’s also craft activities, face painters, a double decker bus with
soft play, birds of prey handling and a climbing wall will keep children
entertained.
This year’s festival has extended to include more sweet-inspired fun at
Pontefract Castle, including showings of ‘Willy Wonka & The Chocolate
Factory’ on a huge outdoor cinema screen.
Visitors can travel between the town centre and the castle on the free
Liquorice Land train – featuring guest conductor, Lucy Liquorice. Or they can
also use the free park and ride service.
Cllr Jacquie Speight, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, said:
“There’s all sorts of fun planned for the festival this Sunday as we celebrate
Pontefract’s unique association with liquorice.
“Come along and enjoy the wide variety of entertainment and browse the
colourful stalls, selling a wide variety of produce – many with a liquorice
twist.
“With the lovely weather expected to carry on to the weekend, it’s shaping up
to be a really great day out for all the family.”
The Festival, now in its 23rd year, is kindly sponsored by Tangerine
Confectionary. It celebrates the sweet treat which is thought to have
originally been brought to the town during the Crusades by a member of the De
Lacy family who built Pontefract Castle. Another theory is that it was brought
by Benedictine monks in 1090. First used for medicinal purposes, it became the
favourite of many a sweet lover when the famous Pomfret (Pontefract) cakes were
produced.
For more information please visit www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/liquorice
People are invited to share their photos on the day on Facebook www.facebook.com/eventsinwakefield
and on Twitter using the hashtag #liquoricefest
The Pontefract Liquorice Festival is a SmokeFree event.