Something for everyone at liquorice fest

One of the biggest dates in Pontefract's calendar gets underway this weekend with a range of sweet treats on offer for punters.
Looking back: Visitors turned out for last years Pontefract Liquorice Festival.Looking back: Visitors turned out for last years Pontefract Liquorice Festival.
Looking back: Visitors turned out for last years Pontefract Liquorice Festival.

Pontefract Liquorice Festival has been one of the town’s best-loved events for more than 20 years and this weekend’s festival is all lined up to carry the torch for our district’s proud confectionery tradition.

Delicious food and drink, live entertainment and fun children’s activities will be on offer throughout Sunday as the summer heatwave continues.

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The festival has extended to include more sweet-inspired fun at Pontefract Castle including showings of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on a huge cinema screen.

Coun Jacquie Speight, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “There’s all sorts of fun planned for the festival this Sunday as we celebrate Pontefract’s unique association with liquorice.

“Come along and enjoy the wide variety of entertainment and browse the colourful stalls, selling a wide variety of produce – many with a liquorice twist.

“With the lovely weather expected to carry on to the weekend, it’s shaping up to be a really great day out for all the family.”

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The event, which will run 10am-4pm in the town centre, will include more than 100 food, craft and gift stalls at its street market.

There will also be craft activities, face painters, a double decker bus with soft play equipment, birds of prey handling, and a climbing wall.

Visitors can travel between the town centre and the castle on the free Liquorice Land train. A free park and ride service will also be available.

The festival, now in its 23rd year, is sponsored by Tangerine Confectionery.

It celebrates the sweet treat originally thought have been brought to the town during the Crusades by a member of the De Lacy family who built Pontefract Castle.