Flowers and Food at Botantic Garden Gourmet Festival

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens will be the undoubted destination for gardeners and gastronomes alike this weekend.

The fifth annual ‘Garden Gourmet’ festival takes place this coming Saturday (September 16) and Sunday.

Alongside colourful displays of thousands of prize blooms, there will be tempting dishes of the finest local and international food and drink to tantalize both nostrils and tastebuds. There also will be a packed entertainment programme over the weekend.

Belfast City Council’s Autumn Flower Show is the biggest flower show in the Province’s calendar. Now in its 25th year, it will see displays of thousands of colourful prize blooms, alongside exhibits of amazing monster-size vegetables and other delights from local gardens, allotments, greenhouses, wine cellars and bee hives.

There also will be an opportunity to sample an extensive menu of delicious local produce, as well as food from around the world to tease and excite those taste buds. Northern Ireland Seafood will be hosting cookery demonstrations, at which some of the top local chefs will be sharing tips, secrets and recipe ideas. There also will be a champ eating competition, organised by exhibitors, Mash Direct.

The fun doesn’t stop there, as ‘Garden Gourmet’ offers not only flowers and food, but a jam-packed weekend of entertainment that includes something for all ages, including Punch and Judy, a magic show, giant puppets, face painting, caricatures, badge making workshops, a climbing wall and live bands. For those wishing to experience nature at first hand you can take an expedition through the Tropical Ravine (at a small additional charge.)

If all that’s a bit much, visitors can enjoy a relaxing stroll through the gardens or listen to live music in the bandstand area before winding their way homeward.

‘Garden Gourmet’ takes place at Botanic Gardens, Belfast, on Saturday September 16 and Sunday 17. Opening hours are 12.30pm – 6pm each day and admission costs £3 (£2 concession rate) with accompanied children free of charge. No dogs, except guide dogs, will be allowed.

Botanic Gardens will be closed for general access for the duration of the event, although access to the Ulster Museum will be maintained throughout the weekend. Entrance to the event will be via Stranmillis Road, College Park (at the top of Botanic Avenue) or Stranmillis Embankment (beside the playground).

Further information www.belfastcity.gov.uk

(DS)