10 delicious pictures from Market Drayton's 'record breaking' Ginger and Spice Festival 2024
Visitors came from across Shropshire and beyond in record numbers to Market Drayton's famous Ginger and Spice Festival this weekend.
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The award-winning Ginger and Spice Festival, now in its eighth year, took over the north Shropshire town's centre, and Cheshire Street, celebrating the culinary heritage of the local area as well as promoting local business and food.
The festival housed a record 60 traders in Market Drayton on Saturday, as well as new events, including the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band after receiving a £4,000 Government grant towards free activities for children.
Festival director Julia Roberts said the grant money provided through the Vibrant Shropshire Grant Scheme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund helped create events that kept people around for longer.
"It was a great success. We have had a lot of feedback that this was the best ever," she said.
"We had a record attendance and the weather held out.
"At just one point we counted 1,500 people so we can say there were thousands of people there throughout the day.
"The grants paid for events that helped with engagements that meant people stayed around for longer and spent more in the shops.
"Some shops took double their total from last year."
There was live music from the Rajasthani Heritage Brass Band, Longlands School Choir, Market Drayton's Rock Choir, and more.
Meanwhile, Gingerbread fans were in for a treat at the popular festival, and able to take part in a gingerbread eating contest.
Attendees battled it out at the Red Lion Inn trying to consume as much gingerbread as possible in a minute with prizes up for grabs.
At the spicy artisan street market, visitors could view a range of local artisan producers and street food, while James Du Pavey's food theatre showcased several local chefs with live demonstrations.
A highlight of the Ginger and Spice Festival was the Original Biscuit Bakers Heritage Town Trail Contest where visitors were able to choose a winner of the 'best dressed gingerbread character' award from the town's business/shop windows.
Festival director Julia Roberts said planning was already underway for next year's ninth festival on the last Saturday of September 2025.
Some attention is also being given to 'the big one' the 10th anniversary of the tasty event.
And here is a date for your diary on that one, September 26, 2026.
