Image of stack of asparagus The 2009 asparagus festivals

Here's a round-up of Asparagus festivals taking place during the season. See what's near you and join in the celebrations...

The Asparagus & Music Festival
6th-7th June 2009

Contact: Antony Brew on 01376 563953
Abbey Farm, Abbey Lane, Coggeshall, Essex

Farm gates open from 10:00 am
Cost: TBA

Farmer Antony Brew opens up the farm gates for a two-day celebration at Abbey Farm, Coggeshall which has grown asparagus for 30 years. Enjoy Asparagus tasting in a relaxed dining atmosphere with asparagus-based menus and music from local bands on Saturday and a touch of Jazz on Sunday.

Accommodation can be found locally.

The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham
23rd April-21st June, The Cotswolds

Celebrations begin on Thursday the 23rd April with The Great English Asparagus Run, starting at the Bell Tower in Evesham and then there’s The Bretforton Silver Band & Asparagus Auction being held at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton at 7 pm on the 24th May.

Bank Holiday Monday 25th May marks the Asparagus Festival Day at The Fleece Inn. A fun day for all the family is planned with an asparagus farmers market; rural and handicraft fayre; displays and cooking demonstrations and asparagus tastings and meals. Also, not be missed is the Antiques Roadshow with Henry Sandon- bring a piece of china or pottery for him to value for you.

6th & 7th June are joint hosts to the Balloon Festival, Community Safety Day and Classic Cars event on Crown Meadow, Evesham to include a feast of family activities and entertainment with fireworks, fairground rides and Fabulous ‘Night Glow’.

The festival concludes on the 20th-21st June with the Vale Morris, Ale and Cider Weekend in the Vale of Evesham with entertainment and activities throughout the two days.

The fantastic guided ‘Asparabus Tours’ will also be running again this year on the 13th, 20th, 27th May and 3rd June.

A range of other events will also be held around the Vale throughout the festival.

Claremont Farm Asparagus Festival
Date TBA.

10 am until 2 pm.

Celebrating the Asparagus Season Claremont Farm holds a number of events for food-loving visitors.

The Asparagus Fair sees the Farm’s chef preparing freshly-picked delicious asparagus for tastings. There are demos by local chefs and producers including a soup-maker, Chocolatiere and a baker who will be whipping up delicious soups, and hot bacon and asparagus baps during the day-long event.

Asparagus is freshly picked daily at Claremont Farm and can be purchased in the farm shop.

The Dorset Asparagus Festival

Pub opening hours are 8 am–3 pm, 5.30–11 pm Monday to Friday and all day opening Saturday and Sunday

Hosted by the Award-winning Coventry Arms in Corfe Mullen, Dorset.

Held in May a week-long celebration gives dinners the chance to enjoy fresh asparagus in variety of mouth-watering dishes. Asparagus is picked each morning from local growers and the festival menu changes daily.

The Lobster and Asparagus Festival

Guests of The General Tarleton old coaching inn in the pretty village of Ferrensby can enjoy a two-week celebration in May of local asparagus and lobster.

Meltons Too Asparagus Festival

Highlighting Meltons Too commitment to seasonal and regional food, the modern bistro, known affectionately as ‘Mtoo’, will dedicate a section of its menu to the best Asparagus that Yorkshire has to offer from Friday 8th to Thursday 21st May.

Featuring homemade Yorkshire produce in a charming 17th Century building the restaurant serves bistro style food in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Open all day, every day, the menus cover brunch, lunch and dinner. All the food is homemade and uses quality regional produce wherever possible.

Tulleys Farm

Joining in the seasonal celebrations, visitors to Tulleys Farm can enjoy tastings and a special asparagus menu in the team room during the season.

Wykham Park Farm
22nd to 25th May 2009

Wykham Park Farm is hosting an asparagus event from the 22nd to the 25th May from 10am – 4pm

There will be opportunities to:
• Attend cookery demonstrations given by Sonya Kidney throughout the day (Sonya is a renowned chef and previous owner of the Marsh Goose, Morton in the Marsh) and try samples
• Buy a selection of asparagus gift items.
• Buy fresh asparagus and asparagus products from our shop. Numerous asparagus recipes and books will be available.
• Visit the asparagus field and see the crop being harvested (weather permitting)
• Visit the grading and packing line.

Admission is free and you may enter a free prize draw to win a selection of asparagus goodies!.

The Yorkshire Asparagus Festival

The Old Bore at Rishworth will be delighting customers with its delicious asparagus ‘specials’ menu celebrating Yorkshire asparagus growers.

Image of two people holding stack of asparagusClose up image of asparagus Family holding asparagus accordion playersImage of lady with asparagus