THE Wellington Food and Drink Festival will take over the town once again.

On Saturday, September 3, the 11th festival of its kind will start at 10am, as more than 80 local food and drink producers will line town streets.

Farmers’ market favourites cheese and breads will be available alongside more unusual finds like biltong, all made by businesses from the surrounding area.

Facepainting, sideshow stalls and live music from buskers will also accompany the many tasty treats. Giant Massey Ferguson tractors have been supplied by KS Coles.

Free circus skills workshop will be running at out the Green Dragon Inn and the acoustic stage will be set up outside Rule 7.

Festival director, Sarah Milner Simonds, said: “Wellington Food Festival is a great event, with a long and successful history.

“We have made a few tweaks this year and I am looking forward to seeing the new layout in action.

“We have made these changes after listening to feedback from the local businesses who want to showcase the town more.”

Home bakers are being invited to showcase their skills in the Wellington Home Baker of the Year On the High Street at Nexus Commercial Ltd. The festival team is searching for 14 people to take part in the free competition. Bring your bakes to 28 High Street before 2pm with a completed entry form to be in with a chance of taking home one of the trophies. The winners will be announced at 3.45pm.

Alongside the baking competition, another new event is the Apple Bobbing Championship. Wellington Waitrose has sponsored the event to find the fastest bob in the West. The competition is free to enter and runs from 10am until 3.30pm. Participants will have to check the leader board throughout the day to see how their time compares before the winner is announced at 3pm.

Co-organiser, Beverley Milner Simonds, said: “I am looking forward to welcoming back some festival favourites, but also 34 new traders, taking the total to an all-time high of 80. In previous years the event has attracted over 5,000 visitors and a big thank you to Taunton Deane Council for the free parking all day.

“I am really looking forward to our three new free competitions; the Home Baker Challenge, Apple Bobbing and Best in Show.”

Free parking is available at the Longforth Road, North Street and South Street car parks during the festival.