Macroom Food Festival has the recipe for success
Macroom Food Festival Lee Valley Enterprise Board
Macroom Food Festival began in 2012 when a group of local business owners and volunteers joined forces to create an event that would promote the food, drink and musical heritage of the town and encourage visitors in the later stages of the season.
Since then the festival has grown considerably and now has over 20 local eateries, pubs and food producers involved, along with a growing team of volunteers, each determined to make Macroom Food Festival a bigger and better success each year.
2018 saw over 10,000 visitors to the town over the festival weekend. This has had an extremely positive impact on the area as a whole and local business owners reported an increase in sales and visibility. The resounding response from the attending public was very positive.
Year on year, Macroom is gaining a reputation for being a ‘foodie’ spot and has enjoyed some very positive local, regional and national publicity as a result.
PLENTY OF THE MENU
Two other events that are very popular are the open air ‘Schools Cook- Off ’ showcasing the talent among senior cycle students involving Secondary Schools from Cork and Kerry.
Also, International Food Flavours ‘Celebrating Multiculturalism through Food’ sees approx.11 countries (all living locally) offer traditionally prepared tastings, which this year attracted more than 1,000 people and provided a great opportunity to meet with local people and celebrate the diversity of the community in Macroom and surrounding towns and villages.
Macroom Food Festival now boasts an action packed three day schedule featuring a variety of food events showcasing local artisan producers and craft brewers, live music, children’s entertainment and lots of family fun for everyone.
The organizing team is growing year on year, with food businesses from an ever increasing radius wanting to get involved in what they see as an established, professionally run food festival.
APPETITE FOR MORE
Macroom Food Festival’s aim is to rejuvenate and build on their wonderful heritage as a market town, promote and showcase the remarkable local food producers and eateries in the area and encourage ‘foodie’ visitors to explore Macroom and surrounding areas in late September. Organisers feel there is huge potential for Macroom Food Festival to grow and have a wider reach by adding a variety of additional events each year, with the eventual aim of a week-long festival focusing on foodthemed music, theatre, cultural and arts events along with the original food, drink, music and family fun line-up.