We’re already counting down the days to our favourite event of the year, Daylesford Summer Festival. This year, the festival has a theme: The Summer of Love – 1967.
Join us to celebrate peace, freedom, love, unity and of course, nature.
We are inviting festival-goers to wear flowers in their hair, come in 1960s fancy dress and celebrate the arrival of summer – slowing down and taking time to appreciate all that we have with friends and family in the surroundings of our beautiful organic farm.
Now in its 10th year, the Daylesford Summer Festival sees the farm come to life with stalls, workshops, debates, crafts, dog show, singing, dancing and an array of delicious food.
Gaven Fuller, head of menu development will be in the market garden, where firepits and barbecues will be going strong, showcasing outdoor cookery and alfresco eating.
There will also be Summer of Love and Bottoms Up bars, serving botanical summer cocktails and rosé from Daylesford’s sister estate, Chateau Léoube.
James Devonshire, head of the cookery school will be inviting guests for demonstrations and tasters. He says: “In keeping with the festival theme, come and learn how to make 60s classics – the perfect Hollandaise, steak Diane, prawn cocktail, chicken á la king and, most fun of all, homemade pop tarts.”
There will also be demonstrations by Thomasina Miers, Lindsey Bareham, Alexandra Dudley, Eve Kalinik and Antonina Parker.
Richard Smith, senior farms manager said highlights would include sheepshearing, bushcraft, garden tours and tastings as well as the chance to meet cattle, sheep, hens and chicks.
He says: “There will also be foraging expeditions, exploring the wilds of the Daylesford estate. It’s a day full of fun for all family.”
Competitive cooks can enter a range of 1960s classic categories for best Summer of Love cake, best peace bread, best wobbly blancmange, best pork pie, best homemade fudge and, for the children, best rainbow cake. There will also be prizes for the best fancy dress.
Youngsters can also enjoy vintage carousel and swing boat rides, retro 1960s games, floral craft, face painting and ride-on mini JCBs. The Dairy Barn, meanwhile, hosts a series of interactive artisan and craft workshops.
Then there are talks and workshops focussing on wellness, nourishment, self-care and reflection and, in the Bamford Hay Barn, calming music with Seedlip mocktails, massages and sound-healing, as well as mini facials, massages and beauty treatments.
And to keep the festival spirit going, there will be a variety of live music for maximum jollity.
* The Daylesford Summer Festival, near Kingham, is on Saturday, from 10am-5pm. Entry is free though parking is £5 per car. Register first at daylesford.com
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