THE biggest free food and live music festival in North Yorkshire returns next month with a host of new chefs and a range of new supporters.

Northallerton’s Homegrown Food Festival is this year celebrating its fifth year - following a record attendance in 2015 when more than 6,000 visitors enjoyed local bands, top chefs and a range of locally produced food and drinks.

This year’s event will take place on June 26 between 10am and 5pm on the Applegarth Park and will feature a new chef line-up in the Food Theatre.

Joining Simon Crannage from Swinton Park, who returns for his second appearance at the festival, will be Dave Russell from the Buck Inn at Maunby, Tristan Prudden from the Garden Rooms at Tennant’s in Leyburn, Sarah Muir from the Arches Cookery School at Grinkle Park Farm near Saltburn, Harrison Barraclough from the George at Wath near Ripon and Misba Ellahi from Ooty’s in Stokesley.

Festival organisers have also announced their chosen charity for this year will be Herriot Hospice Homecare, which aims to help meet the needs of patients and carers affected by any life-limiting illness.

The Homegrown Food Festival is organised by a small committee of volunteers who have worked over the last five years to encourage the community to embrace locally-sourced food and drink and support small producers.

More than 100 local producers will be taking part in this year’s event with some of the confirmed names including the Angel’s Share, Amos and Welsh, Artemis Brew, Brymor Ice-cream, the Churro Company, the Clucking Pig, El Kantina, Garth Cottage Herbs and Zetland Wine Store.

Other activities include the popular Tipple Tent serving locally-brewed beers, spirits and wines, a Kids’ Kitchen with fun, interactive cookery workshops, two stages of live music and the Grow Zone where an “Inspiration Shed” will encourage people to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs.

One of the organisers, Sally Anderson said: “We can’t believe that every year the Homegrown Food Festival continues to grow in popularity with visitors from not just Northallerton and the surrounding villages but from towns including Helmsley, Easingwold, Guisborough, Redcar and Middlesbrough.

“It’s a fantastic showcase for Northallerton and North Yorkshire food producers.”

She added: “We wanted to offer something new this year so we have re-vamped the Food Theatre with a real variety of different chefs from all over North Yorkshire and we hope to make it even more exciting than last year with more announcements to follow before the big day at the end of June.”

For more details visit homegrownfoodfest.co.uk/