Waterford Harvest Festival is to transform the historic city into a foodie wonderland from 6 – 8 September, with over 70 free and ticketed events taking place. The three days of gastronomical greatness is to feature some of Ireland’s best chefs, interactive demonstrations, and delectable food and drinks. For full details see waterfordharvestfestival.ie.

There will be free masterclasses from respected chefs across the weekend at John Roberts Square with A Taste of Dawn Meats Cooking Demos to feature Edward Hayden and GastroGays, along with Jenny Flynn (Faithlegg House Hotel), Emiliano Cislaghi (Emiliano’s Italian Restaurant), Eric Thezé (La Boheme), Eoin Aulsberry (Holy Cross Bar & Restaurant) and Sam Burfield (The Tannery).

Speaking on the 11th annual Waterford Harvest Festival, Festival Director Tommie Ryan said: “Whether you want to learn from your culinary heroes, fancy becoming a world blaa eating champion or simply want to celebrate the great Irish produce that is seaweed, there is something for everyone at Harvest. Thanks to our brilliant chefs, growers, producers, distillers, foragers and brewers, visitors will have the chance to embark on some serious taste adventures across the three days.

“The epicentre is the Festival Market on Arundel Square and Michael Street, open across the weekend and full of food champions showcasing and selling their mouth-watering food and beverages. The annual Blaa Eating Competition also takes place on Sunday at Arundel Square. There is the Waterford Chamber Skillnet’s South East Makers Market on Broad Street, while The Apple Market hosts the Copper Coast Pop-up Market on Saturday and Waterford’s finest producers and makers on Sunday.

“We are also delighted to celebrate Waterford produce and the launch of Fáilte Ireland’s #TasteTheIsland campaign with a new event, Greenway Grazing – The Waterford Way on the Friday. The Waterford Greenway will become an open market for the occasion, with an opportunity for walkers and cyclists to graze their way along the trail.”

Coupled with special beer, wine, whiskey and gin tastings and tours across the weekend, will be unique dining experiences hosted by local restaurants during Waterford Harvest Festival including a zero waste dinner created by GROW HQ Head Chef JB Dubois, and visiting chef and Chef’s Manifesto Ambassador Conor Spacey of Food Space at the GROW HQ on the Dunmore Road (6 September).

There will also be a Food from our Fields experience at Bellissimo (6 September); and anexclusive Grand Finale Dinner at Faithlegg with chefs Jenny Flynn, Pamela Kelly and Paula Hannigan (8 September). Showcasing Irish flavours with a Malaysian twist, head chef at The Cottage Restaurant, Co. Leitrim, Sham Hanifa will produce a special lunch at Everett’s Restaurant (8 September); while seaweed expert Marie Power joins the team at Momo for a tasting menu featuring local seaweeds (7 September).

There will be brunch at the Granary Café (8 September); local oysters at the Viking Longboat at Reginald’s Tower on the Saturday and Sunday; and a business networking lunch with Waterford Local Enterprise Office at Dooley’s Hotel (6 September). On Saturday (7 September) there will be a three-course meal paired with drinks from Waterford’s most passionate producers at The Reg; a Pigs and Pints event on Bailey’s New Street; and a meat lovers’ feast at Bodega. There will also be a Mexican Day at No.9; a middle eastern inspired mezze barbecue at Loko; and a tasting menu of Thai and Vietnamese street food at Sabai.

Speaking on sports nutrition at a free Glanbia sports talk will be nutritional therapist Amy Gilligan, sports scientist Arthur Dunne, fitness instructor, Ken Browne and Waterford FC manager AlanReynolds. The event takes place at The Book Centre on Friday (September 6) and will be hosted by WLR’s Kieran O’Connor. Discussing whether a plant based diet is better for us and the planet will be GIY’s Michael Kelly and a panel of experts in Theatre Royal on Saturday (7 September).

There will also be a host of family activities such as a free kids chocolate biscuit making workshop at Carters Chocolate Café (8 September); and the renowned Baby HQ: Harvest LiveWell Day at Ballinakill Shopping Centre (6 September). The Ballybricken Fair, running on the Saturday and Sunday at Ballybricken Green, will include wood carving, birds of prey, an Agri Aware mobile farm and Butter Discos, where kids learn to churn as they dance.

For the full festival programme visit waterfordharvestfestival.ie. Follow Waterford Harvest Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #WaterfordHarvest19