The Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival promises to be a feast of fun for all the family.

The festival will be held in the Villa Marina Gardens on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September and is supported by Shoprite, the Island’s leading retailer.

The event celebrates the wonderful array of produce grown, reared, brewed, baked and manufactured on the Isle of Man and caught in its waters.

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘Food and drink has a big part to play in the continued growth of the Island’s economy.

‘The festival, the biggest yet, will be a fantastic celebration of all that is happening in this vibrant and ever more diverse sector.

‘Last year more than 5,000 people visited the festival, spending ?110,000 over the two days and more in onward sales, benefiting the whole economy.

‘This year’s event is the biggest yet, with a packed timetable of events in the Manx Cookery Theatre, more than 50 exhibitors with goods to taste and buy and more caterers than ever offering lunch and drinks.

‘For the first time, the festival will stay open on the Saturday evening, with live music, street food and a CAMRA bar.’

Manx-born chef Colin Clague, who has worked in some of the world’s leading restaurants, will stage demonstrations in the Manx Cookery Theatre. Colin is passionate about local produce and his dishes will feature some of the finest local ingredients.

The theatre will host a cake-baking demonstration by the WI, which celebrates its centenary this year, a butchery demonstration by Mike Owen, CEO of Isle of Man Meats, and a demonstration of some of the more unusual cuts of meat on sale from Shoprite’s skilled butchers.

Roy Macfarlane, from Macfarlane’s restaurant, and Michael Murphy, from L’Experience, will take part in a 30-minute cook-off with a mystery box of ingredients presented by retailer Robinson’s. Dot Tilbury will be the compere.

Colin – winner of Pro Chef Middle East’s prestigious Chefs’ Chef Award– will join the Minister and Janna Horsthuis from sponsor Robinson’s to judge the Chef of the Year and Student Chef of the Year competitions.

There will be a craft area and fun activities for children provided by the Children’s Centre, with milking cows, goats to stroke and the chance to learn more about unique Manx bees.

In the Catering Village, Outside Producer Marquee and Restaurant Marquee, local food businesses will serve up the best local fayre as well as food and drink from all around the world.

The festival opens at 10am both days and closes at 9pm on the Saturday and 5pm on the Sunday.

Festival-goers can park free at The Bowl car park, Pulrose, on the Saturday and hop on the free Mann Sightseeing shuttle bus, which will set off on the hour from 10am to 4pm, returning on the half hour.

Entry to the festival is just ?3 per day for adults and free for 16s and under. An adult weekend pass is ?5. Tickets can be purchased from the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre box office www.villagaiety.com and at the Manx Welcome Centre or can be purchased on the day.

For full details on the festival, including the timetable of events, visit www.gov.im/food