The Big Dinner on Friday, June 23, will be the week’s main event
Axminster’s revived Cherry Fayre gets under way on Saturday, June 17.
Organised by the Light up Axminster group, money raised will help pay for the town’s Christmas illuminations.
Chairman Cindy Furse and BBC1’s Homes Under The Hammer auctioneer, Graham Barton are spearheading the initiative..
They said: “Our aim is not only to provide an eye-catching annual display of Christmas Lights but also to bring a whole new range of events for the townsfolk to enjoy during the year, the first being The Cherry Fayre running from June 17 to 24.
“Light Up Axminster, is a fresh and passionate group, bringing a new brightness to the town’s Christmas Lights and at the same time harnessing and promoting the community spirit of the townsfolk and its businesses.
Cherry Fayre launches alongside the Axe Vale Festival this weekend and continues on Thursday, June 22, with the historic raising of the glove ceremony on the Minster Green at 11am.
As well as the formalities there will be street theatre performances, various displays, Punch and Judy shows, a Jester and more during the day.
Friday June 23 between 4pm and 9pm sees Axminster’s Big Dinner.
The idea is that nobody will need to go home and cook that afternoon/evening because there will be a host of street food producers and food stallholders - savoury and sweet - and others in the town centre dealing with the crowd’s appetites and thirsts.
In addition, the crew from River Cottage, amongst others, will be putting on food demonstrations and there will be a bar, live music, games stalls, a fairground, bouncy castles.
The programme includes:
4pm – 6pm: Playdough bread-making with the Heritage Centre, Minster Green. Free
4pm – 8pm: Cupcake designs for children with the 70/30 Campaign. Minster Green. Free
4.30pm: River Cottage children’s workshop. Professional chefs will teach youngsters how to make pasta from scratch, and they get to eat it too. River Cottage Marquee. Minster Green. Free.
4.45pm: Elijah Wolf on the music stage. Free.
5pm: Have your Cake and Eat It with Weight Watchers. Church Rooms. Free
5.30pm -7.30pm: Ben Stone, Nicolas Goodwin and Sandie Lander plus The Plum Jam Band followed by Ross Vickey. The music stage. Free
7pm – 8pm: Dalwood Vineyard Tasting, Church Rooms. 18+. £2.50 on the door.
7.30pm: River Cottage Chefs demonstrate how to make the perfect pork chop. River Cottage Marquee. Minster Green. Free.
7.30pm – 8.30pm: The Window Trees. Music stage. Free.
8.30pm: Grand Raffle. £1 per strip. All proceeds go to the Light Up Axminster Christmas Lights 2017 Fund. Stage Area.
8.45pm – 9pm: Closing sing-a-long. Music stage. Free
During the whole event from 4pm to 9pm look out for the HALFF Smoothie bike as well as Wacky Nation’s food challenges including crumpet frisbee, cheese flinging record attempt, a chilli chuckin’ challenge.
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