TAUNTON will be awash with festive sights and smells this weekend as a winter food and drink festival takes place.

Tastebuds will be tickled at the event, across the town centre, on Saturday (November 27), which features 100 stalls offering 'food, drink and high-quality gifts', according to organisers.

The event is curated and produced by the team behind the eat:Festivals.

Head of Sparkle at the firm, Sarah Milner Simonds, said: "The festival will celebrate the best of the region and will showcase some fantastic food and drink alongside crafters, makers and talented performers."

Visitors to the County Town can expect farmers’ market favourites like cheese, ales and pies alongside artisan chocolates, gin and charcuterie.

All hot food providers will be offering a low-priced option and there will be lots of vegan, gluten free and other dietary options available.

There will also be music and festive characters - including a very jolly Father Christmas.

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The festival organisers have introduced some new elements alongside the fantastic local producers.

Festival visitors will be able to snap yourself a lifesize Christmas card and the team will have some props on hand and you can create your unique card using your phone.

They are also on the lookout for the best Christmas jumper ever.

All you have to do is snap yourself in your jumper at the festival and post it on Twitter, Instagram or the event pages with the #EATMYJUMPER to be in with a chance of winning a very special eat:Festivals prize.

Another of the organisers, Bev Milner Simonds, said: "We love bringing the town centre to life for our one-day events and we wanted to spread that cheer into the winter months with these festive festivals.

"Christmas is traditionally a time for feasting and we hope that many visitors will use the festivals as an opportunity to stock up on local produce to share with friends and family.

"We are also working with the local Food Bank to provide a drop-off point for donations outside the St Mary Magdalene Church for those in the local community who aren’t in a position, for whatever reason, to have enough food on the table at this time of year."

The team is working alongside St Mary Magdalene Church who are holding their ADvent Craft Fair on the same day, and they have open tower tours too.

The event is taking place in Church Square, Hammet Street, Fore Street and East Street between 10am and 4pm.

A number of town centre routes will be closed and diversions in place between 7am and 7pm.