Thousands turn out for tenth Wakefield rhubarb festival

Wakefield city centre hosted its tenth annual rhubarb festival, from Friday until Sunday.

Around 125,000 people visited the city during the three day festival to see rhubarb recipe cookery demonstrations, live music and street performances.

And local businesses lined up Yorkshire-made treats for visitors to sample and buy.

Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “I am delighted that the rhubarb festival was such a huge success once again. Ten amazing years of the festival have seen it get bigger and better every year and this year was no exception.

“We saw thousands of people visit Wakefield over the three day weekend and have had great feedback from residents and local visitors.

“The Food, Drink and Rhubarb Festival is well known, both locally and nationally, and really puts Wakefield on the map. The amount of visitors to the festival and the city centre provides a huge boost to our local economy every year.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in the event that have helped make it the success that it is. I would also like to thank residents and visitors for the continued support of the event.”

The festival played host to celebrity chefs Rachel Green and Peter Sidwell.

Rachel is the star of ITV Yorkshire’s Flying Cook and World on a Plate and has appeared on Sunday Brunch and The One Show. Peter found fame presenting Britain’s Top Bakery and Lakes on a Plate.

This year’s festival also welcomed a host of local chefs including Heather Copley from Farmer Copleys and David Jones from Bier Huis.

And new this year was a family fun zone with craft workshops, circus skills and a soft play area.

Photos and comments from the festival can be found on Twitter @RhubarbFestivla or by visiting www.facebook.com/rhubarbfestival