Aldeburgh’s popular Food and Drink Festival is to return in 2020 - albeit in a modified format, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event will be held at Snape Maltings as usual, but this year will take the form of a Market Weekend which will be staged over September 26 and 27.
Organisers said: “We are busy researching and planning for the 2020 event in the hope that we might be able to welcome you all to celebrate the amazing abundance of food and drink producers in this very special county.
“It is unlikely to be the festival we all know and love but we will do our best to keep as much of the spirit alive as possible.
“Over 50 Suffolk producer stalls will be spread across the stunning grounds of Snape Maltings. We will retain as much of the festival spirit as possible by providing some musical entertainment and a selection of street food and refreshments.
“The event is all about supporting our producers and giving them an opportunity to showcase their wares. Unfortunately, we will not have any live chef demonstrations or masterclasses but the Maltings, along with its shop and café, will be open.”
The aim of the festival is to support local producers and the food industry. After the challenges of the pandemic during the first half of the year, many will be grateful to do something positive during this uncertain time.
“At last, we have something that doesn’t need to be struck from our diaries. So many events have had to be cancelled due to the pandemic but we are confident that, given the outdoor space available and clear guidance, we can deliver a safe and enjoyable day out,” organisers added.
The festival will be held in accordance with social distancing regulations. There will be 2m social distancing across site, no large marquees, reduced visitor numbers, free entry, booked online in advance, stands spread allowing for social distancing, visitor flow will be monitored with separate entry and exit points, hand sanitiser stations, contactless payments where possible and all the public toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
As the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival is a Community Interest Company, they will be launching a crowdfunding initiative later this summer to cover its costs.
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