The Midleton Food and Drink Festival, affection ally known as  ‘The Feast of the East’ will return to the streets of the wonderful market town of Midleton on the 1st and 2nd September 2007.

Set in the undulating and bountiful countryside of East Cork, Midleton has become southern Ireland’s hub of culinary excellence. With a long held and world-renowned reputation for whiskey making traditions and more recently, its fine Farmers Market, Midleton is a perfect setting for this new and exciting Food and Drink Festival. The rich resources of the surrounding farmland and the wealth of excellent seafood available from nearby Ballycotton has made the Festival a celebration of its authentic and locally produced fare.

All that is wholesome and exceptional will be available for the visitors, from a unique array of breads, cheeses and meats to the lavish flavours and spices from all over the world. Up to 50 fresh food and drink stalls will form the nucleus of the Festival as well as savouring the many international flavours from all over the world that will provide a platform for the exhibition of foods that span all kinds of everything from sauces, herbs, cakes, preserves, gourmet, roasted coffees to cheeses, pancakes, yougurts, smoothies and luxury food from France.

Adding to the carnival flavour, younger visitors will be even more thrilled by the street entertainers, puppet shows, balloon artists, face painters, jugglers and community bands plus a string quartet will be taking part in the festivities. At night time, the atmosphere will continue with live entertainment in the local hotels, bars and restaurants.

Intermingled with the food celebration will be a delightful display of crafts at the Courtyard who will play host to the vibrant East Cork craft sector. Coach Horse Lane will be the venue for the East Cork Camera Group display www.eastcorkcameragroup.ie

The Festival concept for Midleton was one of the first action points in the Product Development and Marketing Strategy for East Cork in 2004. The Midleton Food and Drink Festival epitomises the new food culture that has developed in Midleton, combined with a truly remarkable extravaganza of fun. Its ethos is to develop the Festival into a magnificent flagship showcase of the highest standard in Ireland.

The Festival is sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey, East Cork Area Development (ECAD) through the DART European Interreg III programme and Failte Ireland. The festival is also supported with the  crucial dedication of a fantastic festival committee and the support of the entire population of Midleton.