Floating market, fodder and tipple at Shropshire Ginger & Spice Festival

THE Ginger & Spice Festival, based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, has been shortlisted for the third time as a Midlands finalist in the Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project category of the Rural Business Awards 2021/22.

Now in its fifth year, the festival is set to take place on Saturday, September 25 and will include a freeof- charge spicy street market (on Cheshire Street) including local artisan producers, many with a ginger and spicy twist!

A free self- guided heritage trail and contest will be available for families, including visiting buildings and places of historical significance, with a fun and educational heritage quiz for the little ones and a best dressed gingerbread person contest for the local businesses – to be judged by the trailgoers.

There will be a brand new Fodder and Tipple Trail which will be ticketed and will guide festivalgoers through the streets of Market Drayton and out into the Shropshire countryside – including the Shropshire Union Canal – towards the floating market (also attending this year’s festival).

This ticketed trail will include local tasting courses and refreshers at several stop-offs along the five-mile route, plus a goody bag with local artisan produce!

The annual celebration coincides with British Food Fortnig ht, championing and celebrating the unique culinary heritage and history of the town – the home of gingerbread.

The festival also acts as a vehicle to promote local food producers, the weekly markets, other community groups, plus to explore heritage and places of historical interest and significance in and around the rural market town.

The Rural Business Awards are divided into six regions nationally. The final round of judging for the Midlands region was due to take place in late July and the winner will be announced via an online Midlands Region Presentation on Friday, October 8. Regional winners from each category will then go on to compete in the grand final on February 24, 2022. www.gingerandspicefest. co.uk.