With just days to go until Bishop Auckland Food Festival, visitors are being encouraged to plan their journey ahead of the weekend.
The free Durham County Council-run event will be returning to Bishop Auckland town centre this weekend on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April.
Visitors can look forward to trying tasty dishes from over 100 traders and watch demonstrations from top celebrity chefs and bakers, such as TV chef and presenter John Whaite and Great British Bake Off favourite Crystelle Pereira, as they cook up a storm for audiences.
This year the festival is also a key part of County Durham’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, showcasing how people can get involved in culture through food.
With a host of demonstrations, workshops, and entertainment to satisfy people’s taste-buds, the festival is expected to attract thousands of people across the weekend, so organisers are encouraging visitors to think about their travel arrangements.
An accessible park and ride service will be in operation for visitors which will run between Bishop Auckland College (DL14 6JZ) and the town centre.
Buses will depart from the college from 9.30am on Saturday and Sunday, and the last return bus will depart from Newgate Street at 5.30pm on Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
Return tickets cost £2 for adults, 50 pence for children aged five to 15 years old and are free for those under five.
Town centre car parks will be open, but they may be busy and drivers should be aware of diversions due to road closures for the event.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “With just a few days to go, we hope people are as excited as we are to welcome back visitors, celebrity chefs, and traders for two days filled with fun, food and entertainment.
“With so many exciting things planned, we are expecting the town centre to be busy and are encouraging people to think about how they are going to get to the festival. We will have an accessible park and ride running over the two days which will help minimise delays and ease congestion, allowing people to arrive easily and not miss out on any of the fun.”
Information about travel arrangements can be found at www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk or follow @BishFoodFest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest festival news and announcements.
To find out more about the City of Culture bid, submit ideas and leave messages of support, visit www.durham2025.co.uk or follow the Durham 2025 social media accounts at @Durham2025 on Facebook, @Durham_2025 on Twitter, and @Durham2025_ on Instagram.
