S-MASH-ing programme for Comber Earlies Festivals
Comber Earlies Fringe Festival starts on Fri 17th June with a week long programme of events delivered by Comber Regeneration Community Partnership, in the run up to the Comber Earlies Food Festival in the Square and St Marys Church Carpark on Saturday 25th June from 10.0 – 4.0pm organised by Ards and North Down Council in conjunction with Food NI, Comber Earlies Growers & CRCP. This promises to be a fabulous day out to celebrate our world famous Comber Earlies.
However there will be no couch potatoes in Parkway at 9.0am on Sat 25th June. A bumper crop of over 300 runners will get the Comber Earlies Food Festival off to a healthy start at the Bumper Park Run, organised by Norman Mawhinney.
For those less energetic early birds at 9.00pm, a special bargain along with a wee cup of coffee can be enjoyed at the Car Boot Sale in First Comber Presbyterian Church Carpark.
In the months prior to the Festivals, Comber Horticultural Society, held potato planting workshops in six local primary schools as part of the ‘Potty Potatoes Competition’ which aims to highlight the importance of the Comber Earlie and its special logo indicating ‘Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under European law. Primary Schools taking part including Comber, Andrews Memorial, St Marys, Killinchy, Carrickmannon and Alexander Dixon, will be ‘digging’ up their crops of potatoes, and heading to the ‘Weigh-In’ and judging at the Comber Earlies Food Festival at 2.0pm. There’s great excitement to find out which school will have grown the biggest crop of Earlies!
At the Food Festival, there will be opportunities to sample a range of NI local produce from gourmet burgers to artisan fudge at the Food Stalls or enjoy a cookery demonstration from some of our local chefs.
There’s something for everyone – tractor display, Ulster Scots Highland Games, and lots of potato inspired fun along with live music to add to the Festival atmosphere.
Comber Regeneration Community Partnership comments, ‘Both Comber Earlies Fringe Festival and the Food Festival provide a S-MASH-ing programme of events for the Comber community and further afield. These Festivals will help to promote both Comber and its famous Earlies across the province and are an added attraction for tourists to visit our town. A lot of voluntary work has gone into their organisation so we ask everyone one to spread the word about these events to all their friends and help promote Comber. – See you there!’