ORGANISERS of a new food festival that will celebrate the North-East’s rail heritage have called on local community groups and schools to take part in the three day event.

The Distinctly Delicious Darlington Festival of Food will feature a food village of local suppliers and producers, workshops and demonstrations and the launch of a food trail.

The event, hosted by Distinct Darlington, will be held in Darlington town centre between May 24 and 26, and will also include street theatre and an ‘eat-along’ movie experience.

Alex Hirst, manager of Distinct Darlington, the town’s business improvement district, said she hoped the festival would encourage people from across the region to visit Darlington and support local businesses.

The festival will end with a Locomotion Cake Parade through the town centre - a giant edible recreation of the 32 carriages pulled by the world’s first passenger engine on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

Businesses, schools and community groups across the region are invited to take part in the parade by adopting one of the cake carriages and decorating it in Darlington-inspired themes before joining in the parade around the town.

North-East producers and suppliers who have signed up to be part of the food village during the three day event have each been challenged to create something new especially for the festival to highlight the best of their wares.

Mrs Hirst said: “This is a really exciting event for Darlington and we’re delighted that we’re being able to bring this to the town.

“We’ve got a packed and very imaginative programme with something for everyone and an opportunity for people to really get involved in the Locomotion Cake Parade.

“There is some really unusual and unique entertainment being planned which we believe people from across the region will want to come and enjoy.”

The event is being organised by Simon Preston, who devises the EAT! NewcastleGatehead Festival and also put together the food aspect of last year’s Festival of Thrift.

To take part in the Locomotion Cake Parade contact Mr Preston via email at simon@graceonline.co.uk 

The event can be followed on Twitter @DarloFoodFest