THOUSANDS of foodies will descend on the Yorkshire Dales this weekend for an annual celebration of local produce and farming.

The Dales Festival of Food and Drink will be held in Leyburn tomorrow, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

This year’s programme includes celebrities, cooking and farming demonstrations, talks, live music and dancing.

More than 80 traders will sell their produce in the food hall, with 30 real ales and ciders available in the beer tent.

Festival patron and author Gervaise Phinn will appear at Speaker’s Corner on Monday.

He said: “There is no better way of spending the May Day bank holiday weekend than a visit to beautiful Wensleydale.

“There is something for everyone at this varied and colourful pageant and the hospitality is of the very best.”

The Saturday talk will be given by Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks novels, which are based in North Yorkshire towns and have been adapted for television.

Former policeman and now author and historian Martyn Johnson will give a talk on Sunday.

His best-selling books look at his life as a beat bobby in Sheffield in the 1960s and 1970s.

Other attractions include a demonstration of a military field kitchen by the Army.

Visitors will see how food is prepared for troops on the frontline and will get a chance to sample some rations.

There will also be talks and demonstrations on traditional farming skills, such as sheep shearing and dry stone walling.

In the theatre marquee, some of the region’s top chefs will give live cookery demonstrations.

Visitors will also be able to listen to six hours of live music every day, as well as see traditional sword and morris dancing.

A range of rides and attractions will be provided for children.

The festival was launched 11 years ago as a response to the foot and mouth epidemic.

It has since generated more than £150,000 for local good causes.

Alongside the festival, businesses in the town are offering discounts over the weekend.

There will also be a Continental market in the town centre, with a shuttle bus to and from the festival.

The Wensleydale Railway is offering a £2 discount on admission to the festival for those arriving by rail.

For more details, visit dalesfestivaloffood.org