2020 saw Wakefield host the 14th annual Rhubarb Festival.
It's fair to say that last year's festival was bigger and better than ever before, with a cornucopia of things to see and do.
Photographic exhibitions to enjoy, music and live performances to revel in, a play barn for kids to run wild, cookery demos to watch, and of course all manner of delicious food and drink to buy. All this and more was on offer as we painted the town pink in celebration.
That all feels like a very long time ago now, so in these not-so-bright times, and to cheer ourselves up, we've put together this page showcasing some of the most amazing things from the spectacular celebration that was Rhubarb Festival 2020.
FOOD & DRINK
The Rhubarb Festival is the first food and drink festival in the national calendar - and it starts things off with a bang.
2020's Food & Drink market was bigger and better than ever, with a footprint spreading like rhubarb roots all over the city, connecting Trinity Walk to The Ridings by way of The Bullring, Precinct and Former Market Hall.
ARTS
Wakefield's an art city. In fact, we love the arts as much as we love rhubarb. So in 2020, the Rhubarb Festival went bold, and combined the merrie city's favourite things.
For the whole week, the town played host to exciting live music, comedy and innovative performance artists. There were community art installations, and an exhibition of photographs by Martin Parr.
HERITAGE
Wakefield knows where it's going… and where it came from. Heritage is important to folks round these parts, and the 2020 festival rightly reflected that.
From local folk musicians to a morris dance-off, the festival was infused with the flavours of history.
The star of the heritage-show was artist Tony Wade's Rhubarb Shed: a real forcing shed in the heart of the city.
FAMILY FUN
But wait, there's more! The festival was home to a world of rhubarb-flavoured family fun, too.
The former market hall housed a whole host of things for kids and families to enjoy, including a cosy reading corner, craft activities (including an awesome videogame using real vegetables as controllers) and storytelling workshops.
Next door, the "Rhu-Barn" had the lot: mini tractors for kids to ride, Rhubarb and Custard cartoons, and the Bewonderment Machine, an extraordinary cycle-powered carousel featuring carved woodland animals, music and puppetry.
Applications to trade / cater at the 2022 event will open soon.
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More information
News, updates and information will be shared when festivities and entertainment are confirmed for 2022.
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