Ledbury Celebration took place last weekend and was a great success despit the weather.

Early morning rain disappeared in time for everyone to enjoy this year’s Ledbury Celebration last Sunday, July 7, Ledbury’s celebration of local food and drink with music, poetry and our historic heritage on the last day of the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

Only a short shower intervened.

Held in historic St Katherine’s, Ledbury, including the new St Katherine’s Square area, the event featured 17 local food and drink producers selling both street-food to enjoy on the spot and specialities to take home.

The entertainment “menu” included poets Freddie Barker, Emma Clowsley and Johnny Fluffypunk. The Poetry Busker spent the afternoon creating poems on demand on his 1930’s typewriter.

The music “courses” featured Four Crying Out Loud – Ledbury’s own fisherman’s quartet, The Hey Yahs Acoustic trio reviving old classics, Marie McMally enchanting with her sax, and The Banderos rocking the Blues as the start act of Ledbury Fringe week.

The Town Mayor of Ledbury, Councillor Stephen Chowns visited the event, meeting those taking part.

For youngsters Kid’s Kitchen was on hand encouraging an interest in cooking and for Ledbury residents with good memories Ledbury Carnival mounted an exhibition of “50 years of Carnival” – a reminder for this year’s Carnival on Monday August 26.

A raffle of prizes generously donated by local businesses raised over £60 for Ledbury Food Bank.

The day was brought to a colourful close by Ledbury Border Morris who demonstrated five traditional dances - in the sun.

This event was a partnership between Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry, and Ledbury Town Council.

Griff Holliday for Ledbury Food Group thanks the many volunteers who had made the event possible and the public for supporting the event. He said, “It’s the public response that makes the volunteers and stall-holders efforts so worthwhile. People like coming to Ledbury!”

This event is organised by Ledbury Food Group, Ledbury Poetry and Ledbury Town Council with help from Ledbury Fringe. It has received £1,500 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It has also received financial help from Ledbury Town Council and the Herefordshire Community Foundation.