Newton Abbot’s much-loved Abbfest get under way later today (Friday, September 18) with a weekend of live music, a huge range of local ales and ciders, a food village, celebrity chef demonstrations, craft stalls and family entertainment, including a fun dog show on Sunday.
And it’s all for a good cause; Abbest is a registered charity, the team behind it are all volunteers, and the proceeds from the event are donated to deserving organisations. In fact, the first Abbfest in 2004 was held to raise money for repairs to the parish church, and took place at Abbotskerswell Cricket Club. Since then it’s grown, evolved, and raised around £275,000 for local charities and community organisations.
Festival director Roy Blunt said local people have taken the festival to their hearts, and keep returning year after year: “People come back because Abbfest feels like their festival.
“It has probably one of the biggest line-up of fantastic chefs in the South West, great music and loads going on, but small enough that you can actually bump into people, talk to the performers and feel part of it.
“The bands love performing and ask to come back every year.”
Comments from reviewers about Abbfest include:
“Great atmosphere with friendly staff.”
“Brilliant event with good beer, helpful and smiling volunteers and very well organised.”
“A really nice atmosphere, people were friendly, and a great selection of ales, ciders and food. The entertainment was very good as well.
“Great beer festival. Food stalls were outstanding, beer/cider selection was extensive and the music/atmosphere was great. Will definitely go again.”
“Best beer festival ever ... family-friendly, live music, loads of stalls, highly recommended.”
Abbfest takes place in a large field next to Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Ipplepen, and begins at 1pm on Friday 18th. There’ll be music from Dave the DJ all afternoon, followed by the evening’s live entertainment from Sam and the Strings, The Wave Collective and Riviera Dogs.
On Saturday there’s a full programme of live cookery demonstrations, from 11am until 5pm. The team behind Newton Abbot’s award-winning Indian restaurant, Eastern Eye, will be sharing their authentic techniques, followed by celebrity restaurateurs Michael Caines and Nathan Outlaw.
There’s also a double demonstration by two of Torquay’s top chefs taking to the stage together: Hannah Black from TIDES and Tom Cloherty from Portofino.
Saturday’s music acts are The Rock Choir, The Chordettes Choir, folk/rock acoustic singer Alex Dobson, Torquay funk/rock band Busta Groove, covers band One Foot in the Groove and pop/soul party band Electric Empire.
Sunday rounds off the weekend with Paws, Pints & Party, featuring the ‘DogFest’ canine competition and more live entertainment from Unity in Sound Community Choir, Exeter Jazz Orchestra, Totnes Ukulele Kollective and Grimspound Border Morris.
A full weekend ticket for Abbfest costs £28, and there are lower-cost options for different days and times. For full details visit www.abbest.org.
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