What a treat the first Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival on Saturday 9th July was! The sun shone, the flags flew and the Exmoor Lawns beside the River Barle in this pretty Exmoor market town buzzed with folk enjoying the produce from over 30stalls. All the stallholders were local producers from across Exmoor, the Quantocks and North Devon. Very few food miles here!

The festival was the brainchild of Dulverton’s Town Council Chair, Christine Dubery, who had gathered together a selection of some of the best local artisan producers. She said “We wanted to create a summer event to celebrate the extraordinary variety of quality local small independent craftspeople and producers that are often difficult to discover in a rural community. To have them all in one place in Dulverton was ideal and gave visitors on the day the chance to explore the town and its shops and eateries too.”

With free admission, festival goers enjoyed stalls selling home-produced meat, beer, cider, spirits, cakes, puddings, jams and pickles. Gifted craftspeople had stalls of clothing, homeware, leather goods, bags, gifts, pet products and more. Exmoor was fully represented with Exmoor Fudge, Exmoor Tea, the Exmoor Pizza Pod and who could resist a delicious Italian sausage roll from Exmoor Feasting or a beautifully blended Pina Colada from Exmoor Distillery? Live music kept feet tapping throughout the day.

Families made much of the sunshine by paddling in the River Barle under the iconic medieval bridge whilst devouring ploughman’s lunches from Selworthy Pantry and ice creams from Scrumdiddly Gelato. Local business YASU Therapies were offering reiki massage experience sessions in the shade beside the river.

It was great to see members of Dulverton’s Fire Brigade chatting to visitors outside the Fire Station opposite the festival, encouraging new volunteers to join their incredible team – with the occasional loud toot from the red fire engine!

Don’t miss Visit Dulverton’s next event on the Exmoor Lawns – the immensely popular Dulverton Vintage Fair to be held on Sunday 4th September – vintage vehicles, stalls, refreshments, singing, dancing and swinging jazz.